As they moved through the bustling village, Nanari excitedly took it upon herself to act as their guide, pointing at various shops and explaining their purposes with a childlike enthusiasm that was almost infectious—almost.
"That's the fruit shop!" she chirped, pointing to a wooden stall brimming with baskets of fresh produce. "Mrs. Tylin runs it! She gives me extra berries sometimes when I help her carry stuff!"
Without missing a beat, she eagerly swung her arm toward a different storefront, this one lined with racks of gleaming blades and various weapons. "And that! That's the weapon shop! Mr. Jun owns it! Mom doesn't let me go in much 'cause of all the big, scary swords and stuff, but he's really nice!"
Nanari bounced slightly on Kuro's back, her tail wagging as she kept Ao firmly in her grip, making sure he wasn't going anywhere. Ao, however, was barely listening—he was still subtly squirming in a half-hearted attempt to break free.
She continued undeterred.
"That's the forge-smith!" she declared, pointing at a large building with heavy stone walls, the faint orange glow of molten metal flickering from within. "He's different from the weapon shop 'cause he makes armor and clothes too! And if he makes extra stuff, he gives it to Mr. Jun! He can make anything! One time, he made me this really cool ring that protects me!"
That last part caught Ao's attention. His struggling stopped, his ears perking slightly.
A smith that could craft both weapons and enchanted items? That was something he definitely needed to look into—especially if this random girl, who refused to let him go no matter how much he resisted, had somehow gotten her hands on a ring with protective properties.
Unfortunately, that wasn't why they were here.
Kuro, who had been mentally noting every place Nanari pointed out, finally spoke up.
"What about medicine? Tonics? Some kind of potion shop?" he asked, his deep voice calm but expectant of am awnser.
Nanari hummed, her grip on Ao loosening just slightly as she tapped a finger against her chin in thought.
"Most medicine comes from Grandma Kori!" she said matter-of-factly. "She knows everything about plants and healing!"
"And for potions… hmm…" She scrunched up her nose in concentration, recalling all the different stalls and buildings, filtering through her mental map of the village.
Then, her face lit up.
"Over there!" she said, pointing toward a distant shop.
Both Ao and Kuro turned their heads to look.
It was a small building with a wooden stand in front, lined with bottles of varying shapes, sizes, and—oddly—colors. The sight of the multi-hued liquids immediately made both of them tilt their heads slightly in curiosity.
That has to be the potion shop.
"That's Mrs. Elana's store!" Nanari explained. "She doesn't just sell potions, though… her store is kinda weird."
Ao narrowed his eyes at the place as they got closer, now noticing why she had described it as odd.
Outside the shop, alongside the potions, were several preserved animals on display—small, stiff creatures carefully arranged on wooden planks. Some were birds, others were rodents, and even more unsettling were the large, exotic-looking insects that had been pinned in neat rows as if they were trophies.
Just what kind of store is this…?
Despite the unsettling sight, something was off—it didn't smell bad.
There was no stench of decay, no rot, no lingering scent of preserved flesh. Instead, the air around the shop smelled sweet, like ripe fruit and fresh herbs. The unexpected pleasantness of it only made Ao more uncomfortable.
Kuro also seemed to notice, his ears twitching as he inhaled the air deeply.
Nanari, however, didn't seem fazed at all.
"She makes all sorts of weird stuff! But her potions are really good!" she assured them cheerfully.
Ao wasn't sure if that made him feel better or worse.
As they neared the peculiar shop, Kuro's movements became more cautious. His steps had slowed as he lowered his head, sniffing at the air and the various stands outside the shop. His four tails swayed behind him in slow, thoughtful motions, an indicator of his wariness.
Ao, perched on Kuro's back, mimicked his companion's caution, inhaling deeply as he tried to pick apart the layers of scent that surrounded the store. His small nose twitched as he searched for anything off—any hints of decay, chemicals, or something unnatural. But no matter how hard he tried, the only thing he could detect was the lingering fragrance of fruit.
It didn't make sense.
Sure, there were a few flowers planted around the storefront, their vibrant petals swaying gently in the breeze, but they couldn't possibly be the only source of such an overwhelmingly rich and intoxicating aroma. It wasn't just floral—it was sweet, like ripe berries and citrus, yet beneath it lay an earthy undertone, something reminiscent of damp wood and crushed herbs.
Yet, the unsettling sight of the dead animals and insects on display should have come with an equally disturbing smell… but there was nothing. Not even a trace of decay.
"This place is weird…" Ao muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Kuro to hear. His ears flicked as he glanced at the wolf evolved spirit beast beneath him. "I can't smell anything bad… but I should."
Kuro hummed in agreement, his crimson eyes still fixed on the entrance. Then, after a brief pause, he exhaled through his nose, letting out a small bit of ash.
"Seems we have no choice but to go inside," Ao mumbled, gripping Kuro's thick fur a little tighter.
Kuro didn't reply. Instead, he stepped forward, pressing his nose against the wooden door and pushing it open.
The moment the door creaked on its hinges and the dimly lit interior was revealed, both Ao and Kuro instinctively froze. Their eyes widened slightly as they took in the scene before them.
Nanari, on the other hand, casually slid off Kuro's back, landing on the wooden floor with a soft thud. "Oooh! It still smells so nice in here, she really changed stuff around since I last been here!" she chirped, completely unfazed by what she saw.
The shop's interior was nothing short of bewitching.
The first thing that struck Ao was the light—or lack thereof. The shop was dimly illuminated, but not by conventional lanterns or torches. Instead, strange, softly glowing light blue crystals hung from the ceiling, suspended by thin golden chains. Their eerie luminescence cast pools of blue, violet, and deep amber light across the room, creating shifting shadows along the walls.
The shelves—if they could even be called that—weren't normal wooden planks, but twisted, gnarled tree roots that had seemingly grown out of the walls themselves. The roots spiraled and curled in unnatural ways, forming compartments where hundreds of delicate glass bottles rested, each one filled with a swirling, iridescent liquid of varying hues.
Some potions glowed faintly, others had an odd, misty consistency, as if tiny wisps of fog had been trapped inside the glass. There were even bottles with tiny, floating objects suspended inside—leaves, petals, tiny bones, and in one case, an entire eyeball but the eyeball had a odd swirly design for the pupil and the sclera was black, there were crystals and random objects that also let off spiritual energy in the glass as well.
A long wooden counter stretched across the back of the shop, cluttered with tools of alchemy—mortar and pestles, parchment covered in odd symbols, dried herbs hanging from the ceiling in delicate bundles.
And then there were the jars.
Along one entire wall, rows upon rows of glass jars were neatly arranged on thick wooden beams. Each was filled with something preserved—coiled snake skins, dried mushrooms that shimmered like silver, and most disturbingly… small, pickled creatures floating in a thick, viscous liquid. Some had extra eyes. Others had no eyes at all.
Ao felt a shudder creep up his spine.
Yet, for all the unsettling oddities, the shop still smelled of fruit.
What is this place?... it had so many different things in here it's overwhelming to my eyes.. Not to mention the confusing smell..
The scent wasn't just strong—it was unnatural. Overwhelming. Almost as if it were masking something else. Kuro's sharp eyes flickered around the shopmas he stepped cautiously over the wooden floor, which creaked beneath his weight.
"...This is no ordinary potion shop," he murmured.
Ao gulped, still clutching Kuro's fur, his gaze darting from one strange item to the next. His instincts screamed at him that something was off, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Part of him wanted to leave, but if whoever owned this shop had a cure or even something to postpone the negative spiritual energy, then he needed to get it.
Meanwhile, Nanari had already gotten Kuro back and skipped over to the counter, rocking on her heels as she waited, completely unbothered, the place was so unnerving that Ao had completely forgot about his previous discomfort with Nanari or the fact she had let him go. "Mrs. Elanaaa! Are you here?"
Silence.
Kuro and Ao continued their silent inspection of the shop, their eyes darting from one peculiar object to the next. The space felt too… unnatural. Not just in its appearance but in its presence.
The dim lighting and eerie glow of the suspended crystals cast shifting shadows across the twisted wooden shelves, making them seem almost alive. The very structure of the shop felt less like it was built and more like it had grown into its shape, its wooden walls contorting as though they had a will of their own.
Despite the unsettling atmosphere, Ao couldn't help but be drawn to the counter where a single object captured his full attention—a bright yellow crystal that was just laying in a brown box.
It pulsed. Not with light, but with spiritual energy.
Ao's breath hitched as a deep shiver ran down his spine. His entire body reacted to the sheer force radiating from it. It wasn't just powerful—it felt alive in some way. It thrummed like a heartbeat, vibrating with raw energy that sent static racing through his fingertips before he had even touched it. What is.. this.. thing..
He had to.
It looks.. He had slipped off of Kuro's back, as if in a trance, his small hand instinctively reached forward, his fingertips barely an inch away from its smooth surface when—
"Coming into my store unannounced and trying to touch my belongings without permission?"
A smooth, almost sultry voice rang out from behind him and Kuro, sending a deep, visceral chill down both their spines.
Ao's body snapped around so fast it was almost unnatural, his ears flattened against his head as his heart pounded violently in his chest. Kuro's eyes narrowed, his four tails tensing as his stance shifted ever so slightly—ready for whatever, whoever, was behind them.
And there she stood.
A woman.
Not just any woman—her.
She was tall—taller than Ao had expected—roughly 5'9, her presence effortlessly commanding the dimly lit space. Her skin was a rich, smooth chocolate, dark yet kissed by warm undertones, complemented by jet-black hair cascading in sleek strands down to the middle of her back, streaked with deep crimson highlights that caught the glow of the floating crystals.
A wide-brimmed black hat sat atop her head, tilted just enough to cast a shadow over her piercing crimson-red eyes, framed by sharp, elegant eyeliner that extended into delicate, almost artistic points at the corners with small black stones on the top of her cheeks near the corners of her eyes. Her lips, painted a deep glossy red, curved into something between amusement and mild disapproval.
The robe she wore was long, flowing, yet barely concealing the curves of an hourglass figure. Unlike the heavy, layered robes of a scholar or a shaman, hers was subtly fitted at the waist, the fabric draping over her form like a dark, rolling mist. Strapped to her side was a wand nestled among the clinking glass vials attached to her belt, each one filled with mysterious liquids. A sheathed dagger rested against the small of her back, barely hidden beneath the folds of her robe.
"Quite rude of you."
Her words weren't harsh, nor were they playful. They were spoken in that same smooth, unreadable tone, hovering between genuine irritation and amusement.
Before Ao could even think of a response, a voice cut through the tension like a blade—
"Mrs. Elana!"
Nanari.
The young girl's excitement broke the heavy silence as she practically vibrated with energy, her tiny tail wagging behind her like a hyperactive pup.
Ao, still stiff from the initial shock, slowly turned his head toward her. That's Elana!?
Elana's expression softened—not into a smile, but something more close to fondness as she placed a single hand on Nanari's head, her fingers gliding through her hair in a slow, almost methodical manner.
"Nanari, darling," she murmured in that same cool tone, "how I've missed you."
The rings on her fingers caught the dim light, each adorned with a different colored crystal—red, orange, blue, green—each one humming with an energy of its own.
Nanari practically melted into the head pats, her small body leaning forward as if to savor every second of the affection. "Hehehe! Oh! I brought some friends along! They need your help!"
Elana's red gaze flickered—just for a second—toward Ao and Kuro.
There was no surprise in her expression. No curiosity.
It was the look of someone who already knew exactly who they were.
And yet, she played along.
"Is that so?" Her lips barely curled into something that wasn't quite a smile. "And who are these two?"
Her voice was teasing now, but not in a friendly way. More in a way that made Ao feel like she was sizing them up, weighing their worth before deciding whether or not she truly cared for the answer.
Nanari didn't seem to notice.
"This is Kuro!" she announced, enthusiastically grabbing a fistful of Kuro's thick fur and nuzzling into it.
The massive wolf-like spirit beast grumbled under his breath, clearly not pleased with the sudden invasion of personal space but choosing to endure it. His tails flicked behind him, brushing against the floor in a slow, rhythmic motion, the fur sharpening and cutting the flood boards slightly—a silent warning.
Then, without warning—
"And this! Is my teddy bear!"
Before Ao could even process what was happening, Nanari grabbed him—her deceptively strong arms wrapping around his torso—and lifted him.
It was an effortless snatch.
"AYE—GET O—!!"
His words were cut off as he was held up like a prize, his small legs dangling helplessly in the air. His ears flattened in pure mortification, his tail stiffening as he twisted in her grip.
"Excuse me!?!"
He turned his head sharply, shooting an outraged glare at the girl holding him up like a child's favorite plushie.
Nanari, unfazed, grinned. "See? He's just the right size!"
Elana's gaze slowly drifted to Ao, her crimson eyes flickering with silent amusement.
For a moment—just a brief moment—her lips curved just a little higher.
"…A teddy bear, huh?" Elana repeated with a small giggle.
Ao wanted to die.