Trigger-Happy Potioneer

I lost my bow to El- I mean, Ms. Oni

The chief looked up in my direction. Her eyes were a creamy white, absent of both iris and pupil. She smiled cordially and spoke. "How rare. People don't usually recognize a snow woman by looks alone." Her voice seemed to come from behind me, despite her body and lips being in front of me.

"Is that right? Everything about you is screaming 'snow woman' right now. It would be hard not to recognize you."

She smirked. "Children these days have no knowledge of the existence of spirits. They believe power comes from themselves, or from their equipment. I would know; many an adventurer has approached me demanding a powerful weapon. One that I cannot allow myself to make; weapons that sap energy from my kin for power." She now frowned. "Even those who command spirits do not acknowledge them. They drone on about how high their 'mana' has become. Do they not understand that magic power is the life force of spirits themselves?" She now eyed me. "It is interesting that you, such an adventurer, would be so close to Arwin. He dislikes adventurers, as they merely demand him to produce elixirs for meager prices and sometimes ransack his shop when he is unable to provide."

"I'm an alchemist, so he and I have common ground." I thought about her words. 'Weapons that sap energy' are likely magic weapons, and 'those who command spirits' are mages. However, I'm technically a mage, with my MP, so what makes me different?

"I see... yet, that is not all that you are, no? I can sense spirits floating around you. You are favored by spirits, especially by those of earth and water. Can you explain this to me? No other child I have seen is swarmed by such spirits." She raised her eyebrows. "I believe that you are not a simple adventurer..."

I was amazed by her abilities. Able to see spirits? Is that a visual thing? Or something mind-based? I wonder if I could manipulate mana to empower my mixtures in a way that allows me to see such existences.

"Well?" She called me from my musings.

"Hm? Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Nio, and I am the Guardian of Ilidas Forest, partner to Guardian Spirit Loeta. I am an Inheritor of Wood Magic, and specialize in archery and potion-making." I realize something else. "Ma'am, I haven't asked your name. Do you mind if I call you Ellie? That's what Winter called you."

'Ellie' frowned and her eyes flashed dangerously. "He continues to irritate me, that dwarf. My name is Alisnaire, yet the old herbalist continues to call me by a pet name." She hissed. "For you, boy, a warning. Do not ever call me by that name, else you wish to be frozen here for eternity." She stared cold daggers into my eyes. I could feel my skin tensing as the temperature dropped.

"Y-yes, m-m-ma'am." I was freezing; my light armor provided no protection from the cold. "What should I call you then?"

She retracted her freezing aura. The room return from being at subzero temperatures to very chilly. "Address me as Ms. Onna." I stifled a laugh from the originality. "Now, then. A Guardian, you say? How unique. And an archer at that... I suppose you create your own arrows?"

"Yes, but only after asking the closest dryad if I can use the earth's power." I'm not joking; the first time I tried making arrows, a dryad phased out of her tree and scolded me for not telling her I was shaping arrow trees. According to Loeta, arrow-making specifically requires energy from its surroundings to strengthen the arrow. Regular wood magic drew power mostly from the person and supplemented nutrients and extra growth from the ground, but arrow-making uses less mana at the cost of sapping the area for strengthening material. Since then, I've always asked the trees about making arrows, just to be safe. Even as a Guardian, who is favored by the forest, I can't just mooch off them without permission and exchange. I learned that from the creatures that I asked to collect herbs for me. Like Lily, for example: herbs for poison. A fair trade.

"Good, good. As it should be." She once again observed me. "You, Nio. Your character has no equal that I have seen. Amongst children obsessed with power, your eyes reflect one who places exploration above sheer force. I thank you for that and I thank you for your delivery. To repay you, I will allow you to request one thing within my power."

One thing within her power? Well, she's a weaponsmith, so maybe a special bow that uses mana to fire spectral arrows in lieu of wooden ones? No, wait, that might be considered a magic weapon. A magic quiver? Still a magic weapon, and possibly too overpowered for early-game enjoyment. I mean there's no fun in playing games with cheat codes on, you know? Maybe a mount. Wait, that's not smith-based. She isn't Shenlong.

"Ummm... If you could make me a bow, that would be nice. I'll let you take care of the item itself. I have no specifications, except that it is stronger than my current bow." I pull out the beginner's bow. Ms. Onna took it from and inspected it.

"What perfect timing. That bow is about to break. However, are you sure with leaving the specifications to me?"

I knew it was going to break. It's been hedgy since I killed that one paladin-type guy before Lily brought in my friends. I lost so many arrows during that. However, limiting creativity just isn't my thing. Sure, an NPC can only go so far, but still. I like having free rein. No reason for me to stop the system from having it. "Yup. Whatever you want. I don't want to limit you to exactly what I want: I wish to see your own flair in the weapon as well." Three cheers for recklessness and creativity!

Ms. Onna's favor towards you has increased!

Oh, it changed the name.

Ms. Onna's eyes glinted. "A challenge, I see. I, then, will take you up on that offer." She stood up and reached her arm into the leather bag (which still hasn't frozen over - color me impressed) and downed it in a very unladylike manner. As she swallowed the last drop, an aura of fire flickered into existence. Blue and red tongues lapped lightly at her white skin, which was slowly turning to the color of ash. Two curved horns sprouted from her forehead, and her blank irises glowed red as pupils slowly took form in their centers. Her thin smile twitched and curled upwards at the edges, revealing a mouthful of white teeth and four overdeveloped canines. Her slender arms and legs puffed outwards and tightened, revealing well-toned muscles and calloused hands. Her torso expanded proportionally, and her chest inflated until it looked as if her breasts were going to fall out of her kimono. I landed on my bum as professionally as I could manage.

"O-oni!" I gasped in surprise. Her sculpture self had disappeared into the towering figure of a gray-skinned female demon. Ms. Onna walked over to her hammer and picked it up from the end of the handle. She swung it onto her shoulder.

"Heh! Arwin always pulls through, huh? I'm lucky he's around. Anyways..." She turns towards me. "Nio, you have to give me a few days for me to make your bow. Is that cool with you?"

I now understand why no one recognizes her on a regular basis. Not only her appearance, but her demeanor and voice had changed as well. "Sure. I'll just show myself out." I realized something. "At least, that's what I would say, but I don't know where the exit is."

"Haha, don't worry, I'll have someone guide you outside. Come back later for your bow." She kicked her door open vigorously. Heads turned towards us and flashed with delight.

"Alright, kids, we're back in business! Let's get moving! We've got weapons to forge and idiots to cheat!" She shouted raucously. I found it amazing that a single potion could change a person so much. She slapped me on the back and smacked me into the arms of the guy who brought me in. "Take her back outside. While you're at it, tell those impatient sword fanatics that we're back in business."

"Of course, boss." He said it roughly, but his face was covered with a wide smile. He looked down at me. "Alright, missy, let's go."