"Ms. Futureless!"
The name rang within Selina with indescribable fear and confusion. Ms. Futureless?
Then suddenly, Selina saw Ademinsaul began to convulse.
"HAHAHA... It's white! You're white! HAHAHA." He said almost immediately after the name.
"No... I don't want to be near you! NO! Get AWAY FROM ME!" Blood prickled from his eyes as he placed both his hands onto his knees and cradling himself.
"NO! NO! NO! IT'S NOTHING! ONLY WHITE! YOU'RE NOTHING!"
...! Selina's back started to form cold sweat. Immediately, she retracted her gaze and observed the surrounding people. Straining to catch any reactions from the ongoing pedestrians.
To her surprise, none bat an eye.
Ademinsaul is a regular here... Why are they ignoring him!? Selina returned her gaze towards the blood crying Ademinsaul.
Her heart ached at seeing Ademinsaul at a helpless state. Almost quickly, she turned to check at Old Neil, who was nowhere in sight.
Where's Mr. Old Neil? Did he go without me? Selina's mind stirred for a momentary solution. Her eyes darted from one object to another, trying to search for something she can use to sooth the suffering man.
From a corner, a box of candles from the nearby stand. Vials of strange substances from the next. Along with wax, essential oils and herbs.
Herbs! Selina abruptly reached for the compartment of her dress. From there, she took out a small glass tube closed by a cork.
The Amantha ointment given by Darkwill!
At that moment. The surrounding atmosphere faintly shifted and the looming darkness suddenly reached closer to Selina.
Just as she could open the glass tube. With a tumble, Ademinsaul's body turned away from Selina and along with it, his eyes retracted from her visage.
The cork popped open from the force of her hands.
Along with it was the release of scented air being contained from the little space of the tube.
It dispersed and Ademinsaul, seemingly caught a whiff of its calming fragrance, felt a sudden relief.
Before Selina can apply the ointment to her palm. The previously active Ademinsaul fell silent, unresponsive.
What? This immediately alerted Selina.
Thinking that due to the excessive blood loss that Ademinsaul had experienced, there's a high chance that it caused him to faint on the spot.
Selina returned the Amantha extract back to her dress and just as she lower herself to reach out for Ademinsaul.
Her elbow was abruptly halted by a hand.
"Ms. Selina..." A familiar old voice echoed from behind her.
Selina swiftly shifted her gaze and head. From there she saw Old Neil, holding her elbow with his right hand, stopping her from advancing for Ademinsaul.
"... Please, keep a distance from him... He's 'unstable'." Old Neil reinforced his advise with a rather stern voice.
Unstable? Selina echoed the word and engraved it into her mind. Confusion bloomed within her as multiple thoughts surged, trying to seek a valid logic behind it.
Is that why he's crazy?
What does Mr. Old Neil mean by that?
Is there an actual reason behind his manic nature?
But upon searching for a plausible conclusion multiple times. Selina couldn't do anything, in the end she gave up and instead tried to ask Old Neil.
"Unstable?"
Old Neil paused. Within a brief second, he replied. "It's something you should let the officials handle..."
Selina went silent.
Without any sufficient lead, she couldn't connect anything with the nature of Ademinsaul's insanity. Although it greatly eludes her, she forced to set it aside as she turned to look at the helpless man.
Ademinsaul was silent. Yet faint actions like breathing and producing low snores was clearly audible and visible.
Seeing this. Selina heaved a sigh of relief as she steadied herself from Old Neil's grasp.
"Thank you." Selina said with weariness in her voice.
"It's alright. Let's leave the young man alone, Swain and his fellows can take care of him." Old Neil replied dismissively.
"Ah, but not in the way you think. They'll give him food, water, and necessities so he should be fine."
Selina nodded without adding another word.
After reclaiming her composure. She followed behind as Old Neil began to move into the congestion.
She took a one last glance at the helpless young man before disappearing into the crowd.
...
Bright luminous lights coalesced to form a rather narrow street. These lights are casted off by multiple candles across the market, producing a multitude of variations with some being brighter than the last.
The coloration of the venue was the result of the illumination bypassing a series of vials and potions. As such, vibrancy blooms amidst the looming darkness by the underground.
After Old Neil and Selina reached an intersection. Selina looked at Old Neil, who's topic are now beginning broaden from the actual introduction of the underground market.
"Mr. Old Neil. I think it's starting to get late, I really appreciate your guidance but I need to get what I came here for..." Selina revealed a polite smile.
"I think the same goes for you. You've pretty much taught me the layouts of the market now. Thank you."
Old Neil halted in his steps. After hearing Selina, he nodded and said. "May the Goddess bless you, young lady. I hope you have a pleasant evening."
Although he felt guilty for not introducing her to a known merchant she can list as reliable. He already did his part and now won't have to worry about himself.
Selina curtsied before Old Neil. Afterwards, Old Neil left Selina, heading forward from the interception and into the crowd.
Seeing Old Neil's silhouette fading from the distance. Selina strained to feel her revolver from the fabric of her dress.
It's still there...
She wouldn't have to worry about the revolver being stolen or fall if the holster wasn't crudely made.
Ensuring that the holster was still in tact. Selina turned left of the venue. According to what Old Neil had said, the region wasn't too spacious but wasn't too narrow either.
If one were to head directly west from the entrance of the staircase. They would find themselves in an area littered with merchants selling herbs, powders, and vials which are fairly common but in this case, they're condensed in that specific area.
As she walk. Selina couldn't help but recall Ademinsaul's naming of her.
Ms. Futureless... I'm... Futureless? An unknown horror gradually bloomed within her.
That... can't be right... right? Could he be a prophet?
Realizing this, Selina vigorously shook her head out of the thought and murmured to herself. No! There's no such...
At that moment, she recalled the existence of beyonders, potions, and gods residing within this reality.
Thing...
Doubt engulfed her fragile attempt at cradling herself from the words let out by Ademinsaul.
Thoughts loomed her mind as the dread from when she first arrived in this world resurfaced.
I... I-I'll just make a future for myself! Selina forced her thoughts towards a brighter outcome.
If... I'm nothing, then I'll just make myself something! I'm away from Milo now. I've escaped. I'll just have to do that again...
Again...
Selina who's gradually succumbing to her thoughts didn't managed to keep track of her steps.
From the surface, Selina was walking almost mechanically with seemingly normal expression. It was a habit, a behavior, a mask she inherited along with the memories of the former Selina who had integrated with her, including her experience and memories within Milo from child to present.
Her steps became slower and at that moment, she heard a fragment between the exchange of a merchant and a man asking for a specific material.
"Do you have a Paeonol powder? A cow's teeth to be more specific" A man's voice reached from one of the stalls that are still open.
Paeonol powder... A cow's teeth? Selina recalled the Spectator potion formula that The Hanged Man had disclosed.
Her walk now took a steadier turn as she strained to hear the man and the merchant while acting as a pedestrian.
"Yes uhh... twenty grams should suffice. Yes. Yes."
Twenty grams... He's trying to cover his motives by bringing an extra portion?
At this instance, Only now did Selina realized that her thoughts was now shifted from the name given by Ademinsaul.
With this in mind, she sighed and muttered internally. I have the Tarot Club... Mr. Fool as well...
What he probably means by no future is that I won't be here anymore and have already gone back to Earth!
Selina's expression returned as the corners of her curled to reveal a soft faint smile. Mhm. Let's... settle with that...
One of her objectives have now been partially accomplished by the man's purchase of the supplementary ingredient.
But it wasn't entirely done until she's certain that the man is connected to a secret organization revolving around the Spectator potion.
All I need is the name...
With this in mind, she began to lessen and deliberately maneuver her steps as she decided to trail the man behind at a slight distance across the crowd and stalls.
It wouldn't be a secret organization if someone can just ask one of its members for its existence!
Her hand was pressed onto each other as her gaze were sometimes glued and frail from the man's silhouette.
She would often stop to check for a stall then after the man turned or moved further from her vision will she begin trailing him again.
This continued for half an hour. When it passed, Selina's breath escaped her lips as she settled inwardly as she halted at one of the stalls. He's been buying materials and scented candles that aren't related to the formula the entire time...
Is he deliberately misleading me? Had he noticed me?
Just as she began to doubt. The man's voice caught her by surprise. "Do you have elf flower and a tube of Autumn Crocus extract?"
Bingo!
Selina was now certain that the man is trying to gather supplementary ingredients for the Spectator potion.
After the man asked. The merchant replied. "We don't have the extract, only elf flower which you're lucky enough that a few was shipped here."
"Those Autumn Crocuses become highly demanded in the capital city of Loen. Probably because of its natural healing agent, so you'll have a hard time searching for them."
Hearing this, Selina chose to leave the current stall she's at and proceeded closer to a stall across.
The man wearing a gentleman's top hat and a two piece coat accompanied by a silver cane sighed to himself. "Only one was available..."
The merchant noticed this and grumbled. "Did you say something?"
"Ah! No, I'm only conversing with myself." The man smiled sheepishly at the merchant.
Afterwards he left, carrying the elf flower and a few miscellaneous items with no other supplementary ingredients for the Spectator potion was visibly present.
Although Selina failed to garner anything related to the man's identity. She was still able to graph and visualize the man's visage and structure.
Now the mysterious dreamworld's ability to make sculptures of people will come in handy!
"Hey... Are you going to purchase anything?"
Suddenly, Selina's breath hitched as she was startled by a voice of a man coming from her front.
She turned towards the merchant. Almost instantly, after realizing the visage of his customer, the man quickly assumed a poise and gave his voice a gentleman's manner.
"I mean uhh... Miss, care to buy something? My goods are much cheaper than anyone in this market!" The man boasted with a hint of confidence.
The corner of her mouth twitched as Selina lampooned the man's differential attitude with a dry, drawn-out. How fast...
Thinking that it would be impolite to leave without buying, her eyes darted and landed onto the nearby book display stand. She gave a forced smile and pointed . "I-I'll... just take the encyclopedia. Thank you."
After spending a few notes. Selina turned to the crowd and left the area.
...
With a book by her right hand, along with a paper bag of bottled black-rimmed sunflower powder, gunpowder, matches, containers and a box of bullets she luckily managed to purchased from a dealer.
Selina returned to the staircase entrances and ascended back to the bar.
From there, she noticed the increased rate of customers, loud streamed voices and mingling people.
At this moment, Selina wished she brought her cloak or her sun hat with her as the stares and intents of drunken men often made her stomach ache.
With deliberate steps, she assumed a bystander poise and briskly left the small arena for crickets at the center and left the bar almost unseen.
As she finally gained distance from the bar, Selina first ensured that her revolver was still in tact before boarding a recently parked carriage in front of her.
"Municipal Square." Selina said to the coachman.
...
After buying a takeout from Macadamian East-Well restaurant. Selina didn't waste any time returning to her residence as evening is already present.
From the front door, she repositioned her paper bag and takeouts to her left hand and took out the key from her pockets.
The handle clicked open.
Behind it, Selina saw the short hall, brimmed with darkness and distant vivid light.
The candle lights must've been reduced completely... Selina muttered under her breath before proceeding inside.
After rekindling the gas lamps and igniting the chandeliers. Selina brought her purchased items to the dining table alongside the take-outs which includes a few desi pies and a grilled fish.
Finishing her meal, taking a shower and changing to a comfortable clothes. Selina quickly returned to her work afterwards. Bringing the materials she brought to the lounge on the second floor.
In doing so, she noticed that the paper also contains a book.
"Herbal Encyclopedia?" Suddenly, she recalled her hasty decision of purchasing an item from a merchant.
Realizing this, Selina shook her head and placed the encyclopedia aside. With her available time, she ascended the stairs and returned to the lounge, end of the corridor.