Hiii here's a bit about the setting of the story! Witches and Wizards are more accepted in their society, but they are still rare. There are different specialties of magic; Sophie is specifically potions which she uses to help people, although they have the power to be used for evil O.o
Sophie let out a small sigh as she placed down the glass flask onto her workbench. She stared at the pot plants lining the window of her bench, each containing a different herb that could be combined with a few other ingredients to create something new. Pot plants hung from the ceiling boards and papers lay all about the shop. A black pot simmers in the fireplace. Sophie loved her parents shop and following their legacy, yet at times she finds herself growing tiresome of the same routine day in and day out. She attempted to focus on her work but when she felt herself drift away into her fantasy of being in some otherworldly place, she gave no resistance; imagining a life in which she truly belonged, where she was worth something, as if she were the most precious jewel anyone could find-no, wait- the most amazing potion in the world! Sighing once again, Sophie shook her head in an attempt to lecture herself for slacking off when there was work to be done. She intently scanned her eyes across the faded scripture of her mother's handwriting in her black notebook. The ink had slowly faded in some areas, leaving behind the rough brown paper that lay beneath it, rather than the secret to reviving a plant. Sophie's finger slid down the page as she searched for the ingredient she was missing, but it was to no avail. She would have to attempt a trial and error method. This was going to take longer than she had expected.
Suddenly Sophie was pulled away from her focus on the notebook when she heard the dinging of the bell from the door to her shop. Rising to meet her customer, Sophie picked up her latest masterpiece.
"Good day, Sophie" a middle-aged mother gave a slight smile. She had wrinkles made of worry and her shoulders were bent with burden.
"Good day, madam" Sophie returned, "I have what you requested", she handed her the completed potion that would alleviate her pain and reduce her overall stress, due to the aroma.
"Oh, thank you Sophie! You truly are wonderful, I don't know what I would do without you" she gave Sophie's hand a squeeze, "I just pray that you don't become like poor Mr. Jones", she gave a grim turn of her head from side to side.
"Whatever do you mean?" Sophie questioned.
"You haven't heard? Mr. Jones is out of business! Poor, poor man", once again she shook her head, "I heard he made a deal with that Mr. 'Howl', like making a deal with the devil it is! Good heavens, my dear Sophie, whatever you do, avoid that man at all costs" she shook her head one last time, "I'd best be leaving now dear, farewell" she nodded her head and turned as Sophie showed her out.
"Farewell madam, safe travels with you" Sophie held the door open as her customer left and couldn't help but notice the sign across the street stating "CLOSED" and another that simply said "OUT OF BUSINESS". Wooden planks boarded up the windows so that no one would break into the store, and some lay spread out across the ground. Mr. Jones was nowhere to be seen.
Once Sophie had re-entered her own, secretly threatened shop, she glanced at the clock and was shocked to notice that it had become 11:00 AM in the space of what felt like two minutes-she was supposed to meet Lettie right now! She grabbed her hat and her bag as she turned her 'OPEN' sign to 'CLOSED' and fled her potion shop, rushing down the cobblestone street, dodging the men in suits, the women in fancy frocks, the cars rattling by in every direction, and finally, she made it to the quieter part of town where she could take the back pathways that lead to Lettie's bakery. The bustle of the main roads was now just a murmur in the background and all Sophie could hear clearly were the quick tapping of her brown boots on the ground as she rushed down the path.
She arrived at the always-busy bakery and ducked past the crowd of men coercing the ladies for their undivided attention. She scanned the workers for her sister and spotted her at the end of the counter. Sophie frowned. Lettie was being pursued by another good-looking man. Sophie watched as Lettie giggled at a remark from the man and then as she noticed Sophie, she waved for her to come over.
"Sophie!" they hugged, "why are you so late?" she gave a concerned look.
"I'm so sorry Lettie, I just lost track of the time", Sophie glanced sideways towards the man who was silently watching the interaction.
"Oh my! Where are my manners? Sophie, this is Mr. Howl! He was just complimenting the way I handle the customers" she smiled brightly at him as Sophie glanced worriedly to and from her sister and the man, who was apparently the notorious 'Howl'. It was evident her sister hadn't heard the stories about him.
"A pleasure" he stated as he picked up Sophie's hand, drawing it to his lips and giving it a quick peck. Sophie withdrew her hand, holding her arm close to her chest.
"Likewise" she stated dryly while avoiding eye contact, in her most subtle way possible. It was no wonder he was chasing after Lettie, they were both so beautiful, unlike her.
"Lettie, may I please speak with you privately for a moment?" she pulled her aside, "Don't you know who he is!?" she scolded in a hushed voice.
"Why yes, Sophie! He's a rich gentlemen who lives in Kingsbury! Isn't he handsome?" Lettie gave him a little wave and he returned it with a charming smile. Sophie sighed.
"Lettie I'm worried about who you're associating with, what I mean is, with the likes of him-I just don't think-", her warning was cut short by Lettie when she remembered something.
"Oh! Your package! I almost forgot!" she rushed to the back of the bakery and brought with her a basket filled with biscuits, scones and cakes. Sophie always placed the basket in the centre of her shop for her customers to enjoy.
"Thank you." She regretfully accepted it and dropped the subject of Howl. "I'll be on my way now then, take care Lettie".
Lettie said farewell and they began to part ways when a scream erupted in the west corner of the bakery, along with the clatter of a chair. A young lady lay sprawled across the ground; her hat had fallen from her head and lay beside her. Her friend was crying out, glancing around at the customers asking for their help. Sophie glanced around hurriedly looking for someone who could assist them, when she saw no one else she ran to the lady's side.
"What happened?" Sophie demanded.
"She-she just collapsed! I don't know what to do! Please, help her!" she begged. Sophie nodded and opened her bag. Her hands brushed against different vials of potions, hesitating between two of them. She swallowed the lump in her throat and clasped one of the vials, praying she had chosen the right one as she poured it into the young lady's mouth.
The bakery went silent; Sophie's hands shook uncontrollably as she willed the woman to be alright.