-Moonlit Flour
-Dewdrop Sugar Crystals
-Whipped Stardust Cream
-Blushberry Essence
-Ember-Apple Seeds
-Crystalized Dawn Petals
-Dreamer's Vanilla Pod
-Twilight Cocoa Shards
-Mistflower Honey
Hana traced the list with her fingertip, her heart fluttering. So this is the place where we're meant to find them…
The shop stood at the corner of a winding lane, its wooden beams draped with ivy that shimmered faintly, as though kissed by starlight. Its signboard swung lazily in the breeze, painted with curling letters too old to read clearly. A faint hum of energy lingered in the air, as if the shop itself breathed.
Hana pushed the door open. A bell chimed above her, its sound like a soft note from a music box.
At once, the smell of warm honey filled her senses. She blinked in surprise as golden bees, no larger than her thumb, drifted lazily about the shop. They worked with care, filling glass jars that hovered gently in mid-air before sealing themselves shut.
Shelves stretched high along the walls, and the items upon them shifted restlessly books turning their own pages, jars rearranging themselves, baskets of fruit rocking as though impatient to be chosen. A set of scales balanced themselves, weighing nothing at all, while a feather quill scratched notes into an open ledger without a hand to guide it.
Hana stood frozen in awe. "It's… alive…" she whispered.
Miko grinned at her side, his eyes sparkling. "This is Willowmere Nook where you'll find the things on that list. Rare herbs, unique fruits, healing roots, and sweet remedies you won't see anywhere else."
Before Hana could reply, Miko's nose twitched. He pointed toward the golden jars being sealed by the tiny bees. "Wow… that honey looks delicious. Hana, get me a jar of it!"
Hana huffed, crossing her arms. "How am I supposed to know what these items even look like?"
Miko flicked his tail and pointed ahead. "Can't you see the sign?"
She blinked, glancing around then finally noticed it. Every shelf, jar, and basket had a small, handwritten label shimmering faintly in the air above it.
"Oh…" Hana muttered, her cheeks warming. "That would've been useful to notice earlier."
Her gaze swept across the endless shelves. "This is going to take forever. From outside, this place looked like a tiny nook, but inside… it's huge!"
She clutched the list tighter. "Alright then… let's see. Moonlit Flour. Where would that even be? Food section, maybe?"
Silence.
Hana frowned and turned. "Miko?"
But he was gone. No twitching ears, no smug grin..nothing.
With a small sigh, she pressed on, weaving between the racks as her eyes skimmed over the glowing labels, determined to keep going even if she had to do this alone.
Hana trailed her fingers along the glowing labels as she wandered. Her eyes caught one shelf stacked with small jars. The sign above read: Pickle Section.
Curious, she leaned closer. "Mud Pickle…?" Her nose wrinkled. "Who in the world eats that?"
She squinted at the next one. "Earwax Pickle… with basil leaf?" She gagged softly, clutching her throat. "Ugh! My throat feels thick just reading that. Disgusting."
Shaking her head, she hurried past the jars, muttering under her breath. What kind of place sells these things?
The shelves stretched on endlessly until she stopped before a giant urn standing in the corner. Its surface was etched with faintly glowing runes, twisting into shapes of stars, vines, and unfamiliar sigils. Cool mist curled from its wide mouth, and the water inside shimmered with silver ripples.
Drawn by an invisible pull, Hana leaned closer and peered in.
The water stirred, and visions bloomed before her eyes.
Her bakery, alive with warmth and laughter. Lines of customers waiting at the door. Debtors bowing their heads, offering apologies. Herself, smiling in a chef's hat, praised as a master baker. The future gleamed so bright it almost blinded her.
A voice whispered, soft and echoing: "So, you have found the Urn of Dreams…"
Hana jerked back, splashing droplets onto her sleeves. She spun around. "Huh? Who said that?"
The aisles stretched silent, no one in sight. She turned again, scanning the shadows. "Someone's here. I heard you!"
The voice chuckled. "I'm here, young one. Look down."
Startled, Hana glanced to the floor and her eyes widened.
A dwarf no taller than her knee stood there, tugging at the brim of his pointed hat. His beard was neatly braided, and he is wearing dark brown jacket, smelling faintly of herbs and smoke.
He gave a little bow. "Hello, young lady. My name is Bramblewick Thorne, proud keeper of Willowmere Nook."
"Oh, I'm sorry for the… I didn't notice—" Hana stammered, her cheeks flushing.
Bramblewick Thorne chuckled, stroking his neatly braided beard. "It's quite all right, young lady. This isn't the first time someone's been drawn to the urn. It shows not what is, but what you've been dreaming of your deepest wishes, your little fantasies." His eyes twinkled kindly. "May I ask, why have you come here? Perhaps I can be of some help."
Hana quickly pulled out a folded paper from her pocket, the one where she had jotted down her list. "I… I'm looking for these." She handed it over.
Bramblewick slipped on a pair of tiny spectacles perched crookedly on his nose, scanning the paper while mumbling each item under his breath. His voice had a curious rhythm, slow and deliberate, yet surprisingly quick.
"Moonlit Flour… Dewdrop Sugar Crystals… Whipped Stardust Cream… ah, yes, yes…" He nodded to himself, tapping the paper with one stubby finger. "If I'm not mistaken, these can be found in Level Two."
He turned and pointed toward a staircase tucked between two tall shelves. The steps shimmered faintly, as though carved of moonstone. "Follow those stairs. Everything you need should be there. And if you require anything else…" He reached behind his waist and gave a little brass bell a delicate ring..ting! "just ring this bell, and I'll come."
Relieved, Hana bowed her head slightly. "Thank you."
With careful steps, she clutched the paper tightly and proceeded toward the staircase
Hana balanced the paper in one hand, muttering as she checked things off the list. "Moonlit Flour… check. Dewdrop Sugar Crystals… check. Whipped Stardust Cream… check…"
One by one, her arms filled with jars, satchels, and boxes until she could barely see over the pile. She staggered through the aisles, her steps wobbling. "Ugh, what's left? Mistflower Honey. I think I saw it near the entrance… on Level One."
Her knees wobbled, her fingers cramped, and she groaned. "This is ridiculous. My hands are about to fall off."
At last, she stumbled to the wooden counter and dropped the ingredients in a heap. She exhaled deeply, flexing her sore fingers. "Finally…"
Relieved, she turned toward the honey section. But as she approached, her eyes widened.
There, perched on the edge of a wide jar, was Miko. His little paws dipped straight into the golden honey, which glowed with a faint, enchanted shimmer. With complete delight, he licked his paws clean, humming as though in a trance. Around him sat five empty jars, stacked like trophies.
"Miko…?" Hana's voice dropped into a sharp whisper.
Miko froze, paw still halfway to his mouth. His tail stiffened, and his ears twitched. Slowly, his eyes lifted to meet Hana's.
"Busted."
Hana crossed her arms. "What do you think you're doing? This is stealing!"
Miko puffed out his cheeks defensively. "I'm not stealing, I'm… taste-testing!" He gave her the sweetest, most innocent smile he could muster, sticky honey dripping from his whiskers.
Hana groaned, grabbed the jar of Mistflower Honey, and seized Miko by the scruff of his neck. "That's it. You're coming with me."
She hauled him toward the counter, her patience running thin. "Miko… how are we supposed to pay for this mess and all of these ingredients?"
"At here," Miko said between licks of honey, "people pay either with mana or Starcoins. Mana is important, it fuels your magic and your daily life. The more mana you have, the stronger your magic will be. Most magic folk pay with mana. But for normies, they use Starcoins instead."
Hana's grip tightened on the jar. Her voice wavered. "But… I don't have either. Not mana, not coins…" Anxiety prickled in her chest.
Miko tilted his head, his whiskers twitching. "That's where you're wrong. You do have mana, Hana. You're just not aware of it yet."
Her brows knitted. "What do you mean?"
"The symbol," Miko said simply, pointing with a sticky paw toward her hand.
Hana slowly lifted her palm. There, faint but unmistakable, glowed the clove-shaped mark the old woman had stamped onto her skin that day. She stared at it, her heart thudding.
"That mark means you're bound to magic," Miko explained softly. "And if you're a magic user… it means you have mana."
Hana's breath caught. She traced the symbol with her thumb, unsure if she should believe it. Me? A magic user?
Miko gave a sly little grin. "If you don't trust me, you can always test it. Try to pay."
Hana's throat went dry. She looked toward the counter where the glowing orb rested, pulsing faintly as though it was waiting for her touch.
"So then, how would you like to pay?" asked Bramblewick Thorne, tilting his head as his spectacles slid down his nose.
Hana swallowed nervously. "By… mana."
Bramblewick's eyes twinkled with approval. "A fine choice for a magic buddy." He reached under the counter and placed a crystal orb before her. It shimmered like a tiny galaxy, stars whirling within, swirls of silver and violet drifting endlessly. "Here. Place both your hands on the surface. Don't worry it doesn't hurt"
Hesitantly, Hana set her palms on the orb.
The moment her skin touched it, the sphere pulsed alive. Rings of light rippled outward, casting the shelves in soft hues of blue and gold. Tiny constellations flared inside, rearranging themselves as if mapping her essence. Warmth spread up her arms, gentle but powerful, tugging ever so slightly at something deep within her chest.
Then, with a soft chime, the light folded into itself, leaving the orb calm once more.
Bramblewick nodded with satisfaction. "And done. A smooth transaction." He reached behind the counter and held out a small vial filled with shimmering dust that glowed like sunlight caught in sugar. "Here is your Golden Starlight Sprinkles, a token of welcome, free for first-time buyers. Sprinkle it on any dish, and it will gleam like it was kissed by dawn."
Hana's eyes widened, wonder filling her voice. "Wow… thank you so much for your generosity." She clutched the vial tightly, her chest fluttering. Looking down at her glowing-marked hand, she whispered to herself, "Is this… even real?"
Gathering her bags and jars, she carefully balanced the items, her heart racing with disbelief and excitement. At last, she prepared to head home unaware of how much her world was about to change.
As Hana stepped out of Willowmere Nook, the jars and packets nestled in her arms, a sudden wave of nausea washed over her. Her vision blurred, the ground beneath her swaying.
"Hana?" Miko's ears perked as he trotted beside her. "You don't look so good."
She pressed a trembling hand to her temple. "I… I feel dizzy… like I'm going to…" Her words faltered as her stomach churned.
Miko's tail flicked knowingly. "Ah. That explains it. This is normal when you first give away your mana. It drains your energy. You need to eat to restore it."
Hana stopped, leaning against the wall for balance. Her breathing grew shallow. "Y-you didn't tell me… there were side effects…"
Her knees buckled. Darkness crept at the edges of her vision, the world tilting as her grip on the bags faltered. "Everything's… spinning…"
Miko's eyes widened in alarm.
"Hana!"