The Memory Thief | ONC2020 [AMBASSADOR PICK]

Chapter 4

"I'm sorry, Miss Rawiri, there is nothing I can do for you."

Liliya's heart sank as Jack Conti, her potion supplier, turned and exited the backroom of his shop. His grey ponytail disappeared around the corner, leaving her alone in the little meeting room. She took a deep breath and followed him into the shop, where he busied himself straightening out the rows and rows of flasks lining the walls. The bright colours she usually loved so much, seemed to taunt her today.

"Come on, Jack. I've been your loyal customer for years. Surely you can cut me some slack during hard times."

The clinking of glass stopped a heartbeat before Jack turned to face her. He stared down at her with eyes like ice.

"That's not what you're asking me though, is it? You're asking me to sell you a potion for a tenner, while it's currently worth thousands of Tezy."

"You've always sold it to me for ten Tezy a piece!"

"Yes," he growled. "Back when Ginkgo leaves were aplenty."

He grabbed a couple of flasks filled with what looked like swirling, emerald smoke and carried them to the till.

"Well, can't you make a potion with similar effects? Even if it works less well, it might still be worth it..."

"Yeah," said Jack, letting out a dry, humourless chuckle. "As soon as the Inventors come up with one, I'll let you know. In the meantime..."

As he turned back, Liliya stood in front of him, blocking his path through the shop. Looking up at his wrinkled face, she held out her hands in a praying motion. "Look, I'll level with you. I'm in serious trouble. Without those potions, my clients are leaving me. Without them, I don't have any income. I can't pay the bills much longer. I need them, Jack, please!"

The ice in his eyes melted and his eyebrows drew together.

"I'm sorry, Miss Rawiri. Those leaves cost me a fortune right now, and if I sell them to you for such a low price, I would be out of business in no time."

A lump of pure desperation formed in her throat. "Well, what am I supposed to do then?" To her embarrassment, her voice cracked.

Jack glanced around his shop, then lowered his voice. "You know, harvesting the leaf is illegal. But there's no law against making that potion. If you can get your hands on some Ginkgo leaves..."

"I've tried that," Liliya interrupted him, averting her gaze. "They're guarding the forests too well."

"Oh." Jack's shoulders slumped. He sighed. "I really am sorry. I understand what you're going through, but there is nothing I can do."

Fighting back the tears that stung in her eyes, Liliya cleared her throat, unable to get the lump out. "Right."

Jack laid a hand on her shoulder. "Maybe you simply need to find a new way to make money."

It was a simple sentence, a genuine piece of advice, but it stabbed into Liliya's heart like a dagger. Find a new job? Give up healing? The profession she'd put her heart and soul in for so many years?

"Right," she repeated, voice hollow. "Well, I'd better go then."

Without waiting for a response, she turned around and trudged through the rows of jampacked, colourful shelves. The shop suddenly seemed a whole lot larger. Jack's eyes burned in her back the entire way to the exit. She pulled the door shut behind her with a little more force than she meant, flinching as it slammed shut.

Finding another job... How dare he suggest that! Her fingers grabbed at the hairband at the bottom of her braid as she marched blindly across the sidewalk. Why can't he understand how important this job is to me?