Magic Shop System

"Why are you arguing?" asked Kadyn as he looked at Elora and Zelie.

The two ladies turned towards him in surprise as they didn't realise when he entered the Potion Hall. They were too engulfed in their bickering. However, as soon as the surprised look appeared on their faces it faded. Elora was the first to speak. "We weren't arguing but discussing something." She rolled her eyes at her brother.

"That was the discussion?" Kadyn gaped at the duo speechlessly. He could hear their shout even outside of the Potion Hall and they are saying that it was a discussion. Elora and Zelie heard him and scoffed at the same time. "That's how we discuss, do you have any problem?" a small tinge of red appeared on their faces when they realised how loud they were. However, both the ladies being proud and arrogant at the same time, refused to admit their mistake.

Kadyn smirked and didn't press the topic any further. He shook his head and said. "Then please continue your... discussion. But keep it down this time, alright?"

The two beauties turned red at his sarcastic tone. But just as he was about to go back to his work Elora said. "Ah, I need your help with something."

He peered at her in confusion. "What?" he asked.

"Actually I and Zelie were argu…" he paused and coughed before correcting herself, "were discussing a potion, but we didn't agree with each other on something. Can you help us?"

"Oh, what kind of potion is it?" Kadyn asked curiously.

"Draught of Steelskin." This time Zelie replied.

"Oh, what about it?" Kadyn said in confusion. "Isn't it just an Elementary Potion? Why are you arguing about it?"

"Discussing," Elora corrected him.

"Yeah, why are you… discussing it?" Kadyn rolled his eyes at his sister.

"Actually, it's not a big deal," Zelie shook her head. "I think sister Elora made a mistake."

"Do you think I have never concocted a Draught of Steelskin?" Elora scowled as soon as she heard Zelie's words. "I have brewed it tens of times and used the same method. I've sold it to many customers."

"Don't worry, they or their families will come knocking at your door. Be prepared to give an explanation."

"You…"

"Alright, alright," Kadyn interrupted. "If your… discussion has ended, can you tell me what's going on?"

Elora and Zelie turned red at his words. But they still explained the situation.

----

"Venom Thyme?" Kadyn glanced at Zelie and asked. "What's wrong with it?"

"Don't you know that it is a poisonous herb?" Zelie replied. "If you use it in the potion what do you think will happen?"

"So that's what you were arguing about, huh?"

"Discussion!" The duo corrected him once more.

Kadyn rolled his eyes at them and looked at Zelie. "Have you ever concocted a Draught of Steelskin?"

Zelie turned red at his question. "I tried to brew it many times over a month, but no matter what I tried I failed to concoct it." She looked at Kadyn and went on. "Potioneer Yel gave me the formula. However, he said that one herb is missing. I experimented with lots of herbs but to no avail."

"That old man seemed to have a pretty high opinion about you, giving such a hard task," Kadyn said, looking at the girl. He shook his head. "The task he gave you is almost impossible to complete."

"What do you mean?" Zelie asked curiously.

"Have you ever thought the missing herb is Venom Thyme?"

"Are you saying… no, that's impossible!" Zelie shook her head stubbornly, not believing his words. After all, how could a poison do any good?

"That's where you are wrong," Kadyn smirked when he saw her face. It seemed Potioneer Yel was expecting too much from this girl. However, this high expectation shows that she was highly talented. If I could recruit her… his eyes flashed and a cunning smile appeared on his face. He didn't argue and turned towards Elora. "Show her how to concoct the potion."

"Yes," Elora grinned. It was the most effective way to win the argue..err, discussion against Zelie. She scurried towards the long table where they concocted the potions and started to brew the Draught of Steelskin. Zelie didn't say anything, she just stared at the process. She frowned from time to time. It was different from her own method. However, herbs were the same, except the Venom Thyme that laden on the table, some distance away from the other herbs. Elora had gloved her hands when she cleaned the poisonous herb and made a solution with it.

She took around forty-five minutes to brew the potion. After completing the process she turned around and looked at Zelie with a triumphed grin across her face. Zelie didn't look at her and continued to stare at the potion inside the vial in Elora's hand with a blank face. She could not believe that she succeeded. She could tell with just a single look that the potion was Draught of Steelskin as it had the same colour as a genuine potion. However, she still was having a hard time accepting it. She strode to Elora and said. "Can I check the potion?" she said. This time her face was completely serious.

"Of course," Elora said and passed the vial of red liquid to her.

Zelie opened the stopper and took a sniff. Then she lifted her gaze and looked at Elora and said. "Not poisonous." 

"Of course, it's not poisonous. Do you think we would sell the poison in our shop as a potion?"

Zelie turned slightly red as she heard her words, remembering her own words from before. But then she looked at Kadyn and asked. "Why did its poisonous property has disappeared?"

Kadyn smiled and explained. "Do you know about Pigmy Rosemary?"

Zelie looked confused but still nodded. "It's one of the ingredients to brew the Draught of Steelskin."

"Correct," Kadyn clapped his hands appreciatively and went on. "Do you know why we use it in this potion? After all, every herb has its uses. What is the use of Pigmy Rosemary?"

Zelie shook her head as she had no idea. She had still to succeed in brewing the potion and Potioneer Yel refused to tell her. He wanted her to find the answer on her own.

Kadyn replied when she shook her head. "It is used to control the poisonous characteristics of Venom Thyme. Though Venom Thyme is poisonous, it also has another property: it could increase the body's defence. That's why when someone eat the herb would feel as if he has become stronger, but after some time, the poison would overwhelm the former property. However, while concocting the potion, Pigmy Rosemary will dissolve the poisonous property and strengthen its defensive properties. So now you know why we use the Venom Thyme." He looked at Zelie and grinned.

Zelie nodded and turned towards Elora before speaking. "I'm sorry. I was wrong."

"Don't worry about it. I knew that Venom Thyme was poisonous but I didn't know about its properties. Because of you I also learned something new today." Elora replied. The situation had become somewhat awkward for Zelie. Elora didn't want to linger on the same topic anymore. So not to embarrass the girl.

At this moment Zelie looked at Elora and asked. "Hey, who taught you potion brewing? Your techniques were somewhat unique. Furthermore, in the sequence you added the herbs was also different from mine."

"Hehe, of course, my techniques are unique." She puffed her chest proudly. "My brother has personally taught me after all. As for your second question: there are hundreds of sequences to concoct every potion. The sequence of adding herbs can differ; however, with that, the timing would also differ, so you need to pay attention to it. And there won't be any difficulty in brewing potions." Elora explained.

Zelie looked at Elora and asked with an eager tone "All this was taught by your brother?" she glanced at Kadyn in amazement. Kadyn was even younger than her. How could his knowledge be at such an eye-popping level? She was having a hard time believing it.

Well, some of the things I have learned from the Library." Elora replied.

"Library?" Zelie was surprised at this. Only powerful houses like Irabel and Palius, or an organisation like Magic Association would have their own library where they could hold all kinds of books and scrolls, storing their precious spells and methods of magic. The library was the most important place in any sect, family, or organisation. She never thought that Kadyn's shop would have a library. She peered at Elora and asked earnestly. "What kinds of books are there inside your library?'' As soon as she spoke, she realised her mistake. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…"

"It's alright." Elora interrupted. She knew that no one would be able to steal anything from the library. As an employee, she could not bring any book out of the library, much less someone else who had no good intentions. She looked at Zelie and went on. "There are all kinds of spells. Scrolls about potions, artefacts, poisons, and many other things. Even Rank 1 Spells are available."

The more Zelie heard the more her eyes widened. Kadyn saw this and curled his lips. The fish had already taken his bait, he just needed to pull the fishing pole out of the water, and the fish would be in his grasp. 

At this moment Elora looked at him and winked. Kadyn was surprised. It seemed that his intentions had been seen through by his sister.