The figure covered from head to toe stepped out of the shop, the soft chime of the bell fading behind her as she paused on the cobblestone street.
For a moment, she just stood there, holding the wrapped pot in her hands, her head tilted as if she herself were surprised by what had just happened inside.
Then, with the faintest shake of her shoulders, a low chuckle escaped her lips.
"What an impulsive purchase."
She murmured to herself, her voice muffled beneath her coverings yet rich with amusement. She gazed down at the pot in her hand and allowed herself a small, private smile.
"I got lured in by that sweet smile of the little shop worker."
Her fingers lightly traced the rim of the pot as she examined the plant she had taken.
At first glance, it seemed harmless enough—green, almost ordinary—but she knew better.
She could recognize the subtle curve of its leaves, the faint shimmer of its sap. A poisonous strain, the kind one did not keep without precautions.
