Intoxicated (Stardew Valley)

Chapter Twelve

AFTER SPIRIT'S EVE, no one wanted to talk about what happened in the old community centre. It was fun, yet creepy. We all concluded to never step foot in there again. I, on the other hand, had other plans.

I closed my notebook, glancing at my latest diary entry and sighed. Writing in the book has helped me these past few days, but I constantly feel the burden and guilt on my shoulders.

Walking outside to my porch, the fresh autumn breeze struck me like a slap to the face, almost like telling me to snap out of it. I took a breath.

I walked to the mailbox and saw an unfamiliar piece of parchment. It looked like any other type of letter, except it had a magical feeling to it...

My hand slightly shook as I picked it up, reading its contents.

My sources tell me you've been poking around inside the old community centre. Why don't you come pay me a visit? I may have information confirming your "rat problem"...

- M, Rasmodius, Wizard.

Could he have information about how to restore it?

I glanced to the west of the ranch, seeing a tower in the distance. The wind howled, almost like compelling me that direction.

"Alright," I said, cracking my knuckles. "Let's pay this wizard a visit."

⋆

I stepped inside the tower, my mind whirling. I've always seen the tower from afar, but stepping inside was a huge deal.

The first thing I saw was what looked like a man. Except this man was not normal. He stood in front of a circle drawn on the floor with candles surrounding it. He had dark purple hair—the same shade of Abigail's amethyst hair and his eyes hid beneath his hat. He looked up and grinned.

"H—" I started.

"I am Rasmodius," he said with a voice full of wisdom and authority. "Seeker of the arcane truths. Mediary between the physical and ethereal. Master of the seven elementals. Keeper of the—you get the point."

I stared back at him, mouth ajar, ready to back the hell out. This man was crazy! But for some reason, my feet felt planted to the ground and I couldn't move. I glanced at Rasmodius to see him curiously staring at me. My eyes found shelves filled with unfamiliar substances and a cauldron stirring something unusual.

"Ah... I've been expecting you, Mae," he said, turning his back to me.

"You wrote me a letter. Of course, you'd expect me!"

"Yes, but I meant your arrival here in town. I foresaw the future. You boarded the train in tears—ready to escape. Hm... what had you done that made people hate you?"

"I... I don't know what you're saying!" My face was filled with shock and confusion. How does he know?

"I'm a wizard," he replied, almost like being able to read my mind. "Come closer, I need to show you something." I hesitated but walked to where he was standing.

"Behold!"

A white light flashed and soon there was something in the centre of the white circle. It was green and small and looked to be the shape of a pumpkin.

Resignation crossed across my face. "It's a junimo," I breathed out. This was what Emily was talking about, the little creatures that were rumoured to live in the community centre.

"Excellent!" Seeing my scared expression, the wizard said, "You shouldn't fear them. Look." The little green creature looked up at me and blinked, muttering some sort of language.