In a street, beside a Firework Shop. East across Municipal Square.
A boy wearing a newspaper cap, brought his hand to his pocket. Patting it before returning his hand to his satchel.
He looked side to side. Ensuring no one is attempting to pry on him.
Then, with a short dash. He ran into an alleyway and into the maze-like area.
After awhile of turning and side-stepping from the nauseating pungent odor coming from the nearby garbage bins and dead rats.
He ran across another boy. At a height slightly lower than his. With a much tattered clothing, disheveled hair, and bruises displayed from his face to toe.
"What happened to you!?" The newsboy raised his voice in worry and frustration.
"Didn't mother told you to stop getting yourself in trouble!?"
"I'm doing this for her! And besides, what I do aids mother more than your newspaper job!" The boy retorted with the same manner.
The newsboy couldn't respond.
He felt ashamed for letting his brother do what he does. But that's all they can do. They're young, but despite that they were subjected into a life of thorns.
With low voice, the newsboy replied in dismissal. "What did you get?"
The boy in overly stained and tattered clothes smiled and said. "Five soli."
"Did they managed to track you? Did anyone followed you?" The newsboy followed a few more questions.
"Easy there mom. No one noticed me."
The newsboy sighed in relief and said. "Good. This will be enough to give mother a few more medicines.
"Let's go to a nearby pharmacy. Afterwards, we'll buy food for the rest."
The boy nodded and handed the few notes to his brother. "You buy them... It's not safe for me to go out, unless you want me behind bars."
The newsboy smiled awkwardly and replied. "Of course not."
Just as the boy leaves. The newsboy added hurriedly. "Be safe bro... Wouldn't want mother's condition to get worse right?"
"I will." He said, before vanishing into the corner walls and into the alley.
The newsboy wearing a cap and a satchel clenched his hand, holding the few notes.
...
Arriving at the nearest cathedral she could find from the Daffodil Street. The Saint Selena Cathedral.
The distance was still the problem, but it is manageable.
At the front of the cathedral. Selina slowly raised her head in awe of the intricate design and carvings of the steeples.
The large lancet stained-glass windows features colorful shards that when put together depicts the cathedral's belief.
It features wide and grand frame that opens the two double door for the public.
Inside is the aisle complete with linear pews facing the altar.
Above the altar lies another stained window. With a circular shape, it depicts a beautiful crescent moon added with gleaming stars and bright distant veil. The crescent also reveals a slight crimson side to its inner layer.
The symbol of The Evernight Goddess.
Selina adjusted a crease of her dress as she enters the grandeur of the cathedral.
Inside contains minimal light. Darkness remained dominant under the solemn gaze of the Evernight symbol. But under the pressuring darkness was masked by serenity and silence of the altar.
People come and go. Yet they didn't made a sound, retraining themselves to be quiet as they preach and pray to the Goddess.
How peaceful... Selena internalized her remark to adhere with the church's sacred serenity.
Over the long line of the aisle and the series of pews. She arrived at the confession hall, from the path left of the altar.
Selina occupied the empty chair and faced the confession board obscured by a velvet curtain.
"The Goddess will forgive you no matter your sin. Child, you may confess." A gentle voice of a male priests resounded from the hall. Seemingly anticipating her arrival.
At this moment. Selina's heart slowly became heavy.
She wanted to confess her existence. Her whole situation, her doings and seek shelter under the safety of the church.
But regardless, she also knew that stagnation would result in regret, failure to even try and possibly lost of control in the longing to return.
So instead, she thought for a moment. Then performed a circular prayer gesture and said in low tone. "Forces unknown lingers my every step... In the process, it harmed the people I cherish and is still continues to seek me."
She thought of the former Selina. Her memories, her feelings, herself integrated into her. She couldn't brush it off even if she wanted to. This body isn't hers to take. Thus, resulting in her current self.
"I want to remain. But in doing so risks the people around me..."
The priest behind the curtains remained silent throughout the confession.
Only after Selina was finished did a voice resounded once more. "My child. The Goddess is our savior.
"No matter the circumstances the world and life brought you upon. Seek guidance in Her and you'll reach a serene conclusion."
Darkness around the hall suddenly grew. Instead of it inducing discomfort, it left Selina with a sense of tranquility, a kind where you gaze into the night.
"Thank you." She muttered sincerely under her breath.
Then, without having anything to add, Selina took out a few pence from the compartment of her dress and before she could exit the hall, she left the pence on the donation box and proceeded to return to the aisle.
After exiting the cathedral. Selina decided to first recall the city's layout in her mind.
Her current residence, 16 Daffodil Street, is located at an equidistant from the Municipal Square and the Iron Cross Road.
Walking would take a minimum of twenty minutes by foot while using carriage would only take her less than ten minutes.
The alleyways exists in a linear path while in the area of Daffodil Street. Afterwards it will branch into multiple sections, leading to an almost narrow and confusing paths.
Selina already figured out the most appropriate path to take after entering the boundary of Daffodil Street. This is was thanks to her gaining increased memorization from her Apothecary potion.
So it's a trait of a skilled Apothecary... Selina mumbled inwardly as she finally reached a nearby stop and boarded the already stationed carriage.
...
In a herbal shop, further east of Municipal Square between the East Borough.
The door chimed open.
From its glass pane. A beautiful silver-haired lady entered with mechanical steps. Exuding refinery and elegance without effort. In a sense of display, she somewhat depicts an evil but wealthy woman from the classic novels.
She arrived at the counter. Looked at Darkwill with an impeccable, polite smile and said. "Greetings, Mr. Darkwill. I'm here for the trial job."
Selina lowered herself afterwards and performed a brief curtsy before him as she added. "Please take care of me."
Seeing this, Darkwill scorned inwardly. Heh... Taking care of you would be equivalent to having a candle in a place full of moths...
"Go ahead and inspect the materials in the back. Ask me before you touch them and I'll explain their usage and why they're used for it." Darkwill said in a solemn and laid back expression.
"After that, if you're willing, I'll present you with a chance to concoct a few medicines using the formulas at that bookshelf." He pointed at the shelves filled with arranged books about medicines and herbs.
"And since you're here. On occasions, take my spot in the counter and tend the incoming customers."
If there are even any... Darkwill added inwardly to himself.
Selina nodded and said. "Can I read the books first?"
Darkwill kept an indifferent expression as he replied. "Help yourself."
Then, he followed. "After that, help me with making medicines."
He paused. Turned to glance at the back door for a moment before facing Selina again. He resumed. "We'll make them here instead..."
Darkwill pointed at an another counter, located right next to the door.
I never considered having an assistant... But here it is, having a beautiful lady as one... Darkwill muttered with sarcastic tone to himself. Maintaining his stance until the lady understand him.
Selina nodded once more. Then proceeded towards the bookshelf and began browsing the shelf with what she thinks are the books for basic concoction and medicine making.
"Series of Medicinal Plants and Herbs."
"First Attempt of Concocting Medicines."
"Medicinal Foundation Theories."
"Herbal Compounds and Properties."
Thinking that the amount of books she'd already gathered are enough. Selina brought them over her chest and placed them at on a table by a corner and occupying the seat after.
Seeing the stack of books and considering the perplexity it might give her while she read. Selina decided to rearrange them in an order from required, basic and foundational to complicated and theoretic.
While in doing so. Selina stumbled upon a book, with a title that was not so in line with the rest:
"Stormwind Mountain Villa."
Storm... Villa? Selina was taken aback by the unusual book being placed in a categorized bookshelf.
Curious, she checked the back page. Written in the vernacular of Loen, it reads:
"Madam Fors Wall."
Fors wall... Is this a novel? A bit confused. Selina decided to dismiss it off as a slight error of Darkwill, placing it on a categorized bookshelf without considering the chances of someone encountering it.
After finishing the arrangement of her books in a neatly ordered reading sequences. Selina resumed her first book and began reading.
...
Hours later. Darkwill finished preparing and moving the brewing station from the backroom and into the counter next to the door.
Even though he knows Selina would help him if he asked. He didn't have the heart to actually order the maiden to move the furniture around.
Despite his body structure, he was still capable of exerting force better than an average build. As such, he didn't bothered the immersed Selina reading quietly by the corner.
Now with the station in place. Darkwill poised to look for anything that he might have forgot.
"Cauldron... Vials... Mortar and pestle... Materials... Tools... Utensils and..."
Darkwill suddenly looked at Selina. Then went silent for a moment. Afterwards, he returned his gaze to the wooden station and muttered to himself. "Basic formula papers and instructions..."
Couple minutes had passed and Darkwill finally completed the basic set for making medicines.
Why am I doing this when her stay would only be limited to a week? He grumbled inwardly.
Seeing the station. Darkwill slightly raised his voice and called. "Ms. Roy! The brewing station is here."
The immersed Selina was startled, abruptly stopping her reading. She gave the book a slip of paper to mark her progress and left the seat.
It's been an hour and Selina already noticed the scarcity of customers entering.
Some occasional passerbys only took a quick glance at the establishment, before briskly walking their way out of its periphery. While others won't even bother acknowledging the establishment as a herbal shop.
This made her suspect that Darkwill had some negative reputation concerning the public view.
Mr. Darkwill... I wonder what medicines you offer them... Why do they loathe your shop so much?
Regardless, she resumed towards the back of the counter, where Darkwill is standing.