[CHAPTER NOT EDITED THROUGH GRAMMARLY. WILL BE EDITED AT A LATER TIME.]
.
Join the DISCORD channel to vote, ASK QUESTIONS, get spoilers, see fan art, Etc.
disc**d.(gg) / EQ59UbKhYk (I had to take the link apart to make fanfiction not ban it.)
.
"Somebody speaking."
'Somebody thinking.'
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail, or any other anime/novel/manga/fanfic that I may use.
.
Chapter 9: Fateful Meetings Part 1.5 : The Interlude
July 8th
As soon as I got to the palace in my Katakuri form, I was rushed into a private room where Toma was waiting for me.
"Yes, yes, he is coming in to meet me now.
No, I am not going to force him.
He is not my subject! He does not fall under my jurisdiction to order, and I don't force my citizens to do what I want unless for emergencies.
Oh! You want to go buddy?!
Fine, fine, we will finish this next time.
Oh, he's here, let me call you all back." (Toma)
Walking into Toma's office with an amused expression, I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at him. Kama was holding in his laughter as he followed behind me and activated the security functions for the door.
"Don't look at me like that, it's just politics." (Toma)
I chuckled at that and we shook hands.
"It's a pleasure to see you my friend." (Dante)
Toma matched my smile.
"You as well Dante, thank you for coming so quickly. And you can drop the transformation, the room is secure." (Toma)
"Oh right, I tend to forget about it." (Dante)
Dropping my Katakuri image, I fell back into my normal body and Toma clicked his tongue at the sight.
"You just keep growing son, you weren't that much bigger than me when we met but you're on your way to being a giant compared to me." (Toma)
I shrugged at that.
"Good genes and dieting." (Dante)
He scoffed at me and waved me over to the couches where we sat down and got comfortable.
"I'm sorry to skip the pleasantries Dante but I want to explain the situation to you in hopes that you might accept a job from both myself and the other kings and queens affiliated with you." (Toma)
I nodded to him.
"Feel free. Hearing you out is no problem, whether I do what you ask of me is another story." (Dante)
Toma nodded and got right into it.
"The situation is that Stella has gotten out of control lately and most of the kings conclave wants to have this long term thorn in our side removed.
You probably already know this but for many years, Stella has been a territory run and operated by slave trading circles.
A few decades ago, Stella's government body collapsed and descended into chaos so suddenly that all the other kingdoms could do was shut the borders to find out what had happened.
By the time we got our answers, the leaders behind the slave trade had seized power, effectively starting a council run territory that is mainly closed off at the borders except for trading goods." (Toma)
I nodded.
"That about sums up what I found, but I was always curious, why hasn't anything been done about them until now? I'm sure a non-government run wild territory like that would be a large pie for all the other kingdoms." (Dante)
Toma grimaced a bit.
"It may seem simple but honestly, the answer is politics. We were delayed for so many years with arguing over how we would split the land, population, and recourses that we ended up in something of a stalemate.
Stella was famous for a mineral that can only be found there called Stellanium, a very unimaginable name, but the market for it was high thanks to its properties of being both highly magic conductive and being incredibly pleasing to the eye.
It's not the best mineral around for hardness or conductivity compared to others but it's definitely the most visually pleasing and magic item craftsman and smiths go nuts over the stuff for its unique property.
You should already know that magic items all require lacrima charged batteries to keep running properly. Mages can get around the issue by charging their items with their own mana but for the vast majority of people, they need to buy charged lacrima batteries.
Well stellanium's special property is that it can create effectively eternal magic items thanks to its ability to recharge from starlight." (Toma)
My eyes flashed at that little bit of information.
'Self-charging magic items? That might just solve my problem with that side project of mine.'
I may have been a big fan of the Fairy Tail world in my last life but that does not mean I was one of the guys who would wiki everything. There are many things I simply overlooked or didn't pay attention to enough from the anime.
Outwardly, I didn't change expressions and just nodded along with his words.
"So, to summarize, you were all arguing over who would split the profits, mainly because of this metal, that no one could make a public move to seize the land without offending the others.
And in that time, the slave rings took control, closed the borders, and I'm assuming they have been making under the table deals to grease the right hands with Stellanium to keep the stalemate going." (Dante)
Toma looked away in annoyance at that but didn't deny my claim.
"A good summarization. Now, here is where things have changed.
For some reason, the slave rings have started crossing the borders to capture our citizens and take them back. They have tried very hard to cover their tracks, but we discovered them not long ago in all our territories.
Unfortunately, none of our efforts to gain information have worked. The borders are shut down even tighter than before, none of our scrying magic can get through, and all our spies have gone missing before they could send back their first report.
But because of politics, no one is willing to step up and take the brunt of the force. Pengrande's king is about to burst a blood vessel with how angry he is with us. If that man were bordered to Stella, you better believe he would have invaded right from the start. The man is one of action and military strength, as all his predecessors have been thanks to them bordering the main continent and defending from anything coming out." (Toma)
Before he could go off on a tangent, I pulled him back in.
"And that's where I come in?" (Dante)
He focused back on me and nodded.
"The king's conclave has agreed that we have need for someone, not affiliated with any kingdom, and with enough skill and strength, to step in for us.
Unfortunately, we cannot call on the wizard saints for they are our public face. They are all well-known and every group that matters keeps an eye on their movements.
If we were to call them in, and mind that half of them don't react well to being called on, we would all be publicly admitting how bad things have gotten with Stella. The public will be outraged, and we will all lose face.
We want this to be done quietly and quickly but that brings in the problem of who to call on. This mission will be quite dark and bloody so not many would want to do it as well.
It was the queen of Minstrel who recommended you for the job and I agreed to be the one to ask you since only I could meet with you in person like this." (Toma)
I hummed in thought and leaned back into my chair.
'That queen is a scary woman. She looks so motherly and caring, and she acts like it to, but when things need to get done, she is frighteningly ruthless. If I had to pick someone to serve, it would be her or the Pengrande king for sure.'
"You have yet to say what the job would entail." (Dante)
Toma nodded.
"Right, the job, should you choose to accept it, is to infiltrate Stella, uncover what exactly has been going on, find incriminating information, and get it back to us so that Bosco, Iceberg, and Joya can send in their armies all at once." (Toma)
"And if I run into trouble or see anything I can't walk away from?" (Dante)
Toma eyes hardened.
"Do what you believe is necessary, I will not stop you from doing whatever you have to. Besides, if you can disrupt their chain of command or cut the head of the snake so to speak, it will make the loss of life on our side much lower than expected." (Toma)
I gave a firm nod at that. Toma was different from canon but I played a small role in that. He wasn't as naïve as canon portrayed, he knew what had to be done sometimes, but it wasn't until I presented him with pictures of what the Phenex had been up to as well as what I found in bandit camps and dark mage elimination missions that he really changed.
As king, he never really had to actually see the carnage that these scum commit on innocent civilians, especially young woman, and only read of them in reports. So, the impact of the incidents were smaller, and he was not as eager to stamp them out so to speak, not that he wanted them around as well.
But after seeing the images, he changed. It's gradual of course, but he no longer believes that every life is as sacred as before. He is still the same guy but with a more ruthless mind for scum in his land. He even walked straight into the magic council, despite our plan, and straight out ordered the council to declare their law of not being allowed to take the life of dark mages on elimination missions to be receded.
For the last year and a half, the rate of production for dark mages have reduced with the slowly rising death toll. It's not like the mages of Fiore have become more willing to take a life, but they stopped worrying about having to risk their lives to keep their opponents alive. If the option was you or them, they had less qualms about doing what had to be done.
The younger mages are not so eager, but the older ones know the risks. Incapacitate and capture if possible but if not, elimination was permitted.
"Understood, now, not that I don't think of you as a friend Toma, but what's in it for me? I hate slavery as much as the next guy but why should I put myself in danger like this?" (Dante)
I'm not a hero, I don't go looking for trouble if it doesn't benefit me. But if I see something I don't like happen before me, I am not against taking action. And my actions tend to be more ruthless than what a 'hero' might do.
Toma's answer was to smirk at me and hold up his hand.
Kama, who had been silently standing by since I entered, moved over to the desk in the room and retrieved a jade box.
"When discussing how to convince the renown Ouroboros to take action, or even his incredibly dangerous mercenary Katakuri, a few surprising offers were made." (Toma)
I raised an eyebrow at his words as the box was placed on the table between us.
"Thankfully for us, you regularly update your listing for possible ingredients to exchange for your products." (Toma)
I felt my excitement rise at that.
'Did they really find one of those? The only ones I put up there were the ones I couldn't find anywhere!'
Toma opened the box and a violet glow began to emanate from whatever was inside.
"It seems that some of my colleagues were holding onto a few things in case they really needed your services. The king of Joya, that fat mole, has had a Moon Tear in his treasury for a while now." (Toma)
My smile was wide enough to show all my sharp teeth at the sight of the box's contents.
Sitting comfortably on a silk cloth was a tear drop shaped mineral. An incredibly rare mineral that is said to be a condensation of the moons energy and dripped down upon the earth like a sole tear.
And it was something I had been wanting for a long time.
"You make a…. compelling offer here." (Dante)
Toma's smiled like a shark at seeing my interest, something that's incredibly hard to see since I usually have such a tight lid on my eternal reactions.
"Oh, that's not all Dante. I made sure to get you the best offer I could." (Toma)
He took out a piece of paper from a breast pocket and read off.
"I got something from each kingdom that will benefit from your mission so that's not only Joya but Bosco and Iceberg as well as Minstrel since the queen recommended you in the first place." (Toma)
His face turned slightly pale and I heard him mutter about how terrifying that woman was during negotiations. I couldn't agree more, she both looked and acted like Queen Flora from Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari.
"From Iceberg, you got four small pouches of Frost Salts.
From Bosco, you got three Taproot's.
And from Minstrel, believe it or not, but she offered the Crimson Nirnroot you have been asking about. She hinted at there being more if you could do some favors for her, she said you would know what she wanted." (Toma)
He gave me a questioning look at that one, but I offered no explanation. Outwardly I was calm and neutral but on the inside I was sweating balls.
'Fuck no! No matter how useful that plant is, I am not helping her there!'
You see, that queen is…. a mentally strong willed woman. That's one way to put it, and due to that, she has lived to the ripe age of thirty two without having a partner.
If her favor were for sexual service, I wouldn't be so averse to the idea considering how fucking hot that woman is, but no, she doesn't just want sexual pleasure. She wants to be impregnated.
She wants a man that reaches her standards to impregnate her and I am so not going there. Not to mention you can bet she would rally her entire nations military strength, not that she is a wall flower, if anyone who impregnated her tried to run away without becoming her husband.
I met her as Katakuri and somehow, she seems to have tagged that persona as her type of man much to my grief. The woman even tried to drug me! Three times! Three fucking times.
Once with a sleeping drug and twice with different aphrodisiacs!
Thank god for the constitution potions because my body managed to filter out their effects before I lost control. Virgo was fired up for punishment, but I had to hold her back much to my dismay considering I can't let her go all S&M torture on a queen.
And she constantly calls my communication lacrima to video chat with Katakuri in lingerie to try and seduce me.
So no, I will be stepping foot into Minstrel. Perhaps I could sneak in to find where she grows the Crimson Nirnroot but that's a dangerous mission, like entering a dragon's den. Never underestimate that woman.
Seeing my stone cold silence, Toma sweat dropped and moved on.
"*Cough* and of course, I will offer my own reward. You can take a look at the royal treasuries ingredient section, but I will warn in advance that I already had it searched for the things you requested on your list. I'm depressed to say I don't have any of them, but the rest are not common so I'm sure you will able to find something to your satisfaction." (Toma)
I gave him a thankful smile.
"I will thank you for your efforts my friend. You can request one advanced, up to five moderate, or ten lower grade potions and I'll give you a very large discount, enough that it would cost less than just the ingredients by themselves." (Dante)
Friends might not need benefits for favors but it's my policy to repay favors with favors. If someone intentionally does something to benefit me, I will give them benefits as well.
"I won't stand on ceremony then and just give my thanks." (Toma)
He wasn't an idiot to turn down free benefits.
"Very well, so the mission is to infiltrate Stella, get the gist of what's going on, find incriminating information that the king's conclave can use to invade in full force, and if possible, cut the head off the snake or cause as much chaos as I can in the chain of command. Is that correct?" (Dante)
Toma nodded.
"The Moon Tear and what you take from my treasury will be the down payment, the others will come after the job is done." (Toma)
I had no issues with that. In fact, it pleased me a great deal.
I stood up and shook Toma's outstretched hand.
"I formally accept the job. When shall I start?" (Dante)
Toma smiled in joy, he was probably quite worried about whether I would agree or not.
"Give me ten days. In that time, I'll get you everything we have information wise, and the armies of Bosco, Iceberg, and Joya, will be hidden at their borders and ready to move.
Once we get your report and proof of whatever they are up to, they will move in immediately in full force." (Toma)
I easily agreed with that. It gave me enough time to deal with things on my end. I DID have a schedule to keep after all.
"That works for me." (Dante)
Bending down, I gently lifted the jade box and smiled as I stored it in my requip space.
'I finally have the final ingredient for that potion.'
"If you don't mind me asking, what about that ingredient has you so excited? It's rare to see you show so much emotion considering that not even the king of Joya knows what that item could be used for other than display." (Toma)
My face showed a hint of disgust while thinking of that mole.
"That foolish man doesn't know the value of this item. He probably thought it looked pretty and wanted to impress people with it.
As for why, let's just say it's a very 'lucky' ingredient and leave it at that." (Dante)
Toma looked confused but dropped it.
"Very well, Kama will lead you to the treasury. Oh, and do stop by sometimes for a meal, Hisui has been asking about you quite often." (Toma)
I gave a soft smile at that. Hisui was a cute and mature kid. I pretty much treated her like a little sister at this point.
"Sure, I'll let Virgo know to make a time for it." (Dante)
Toma paled slightly but still nodded.
'Heh, the man is still afraid of Virgo despite being reassured she only acts towards those that intend me harm.'
In the years since our first trip here, the guards who have seen us have calmed slightly and no longer have such interesting reactions, but they still pale and shake in her presence.
Kama got my attention, and I redid my transformation
"Come, I'll show you the way." (Kama)
With a final wave to Toma, I followed him out of the room and through the palace to the vault.
I gave a whistle at the sight of the massive metal doors with magic formations carved into it and Kama chuckled.
"I know right? This has apparently been with the royal family since the kingdom was founded centuries ago. This vault was said to be found as it was, and the first king built the palace around it.
Since then, the vault has been studied for the formation it has and improved in slight amounts." (Kama)
While speaking, he went over to a panel on the side and placed his hand on it.
Through my magic sense, I saw him pulse his mana into it and it sent out a scan over his mana before pulling back. It was quite an advanced enchantment.
The panel generated a number pad and he put in a code that I couldn't physically see.
'Must be some protection.'
On the side of the massive metal doors, a regular door shaped entrance slid open.
Kama laughed at my disappointed expression.
"I know, I know, every always expects the big doors to open but that's just misdirection. It doesn't really open to my knowledge. Those with clearance use the keypad to open any door to a specific section of the vault they have access to.
That way everything is kept secure even if you need to send a servant to get something but don't want them seeing everything inside." (Kama)
I nodded at that explanation.
'What a brilliant design, I should try and replicate it if I have need for a large vault.'
We walked through the door and I was immediately assaulted by the heavy scent of medicinal herbs.
The space wasn't very large, just a contained room with a wooden table in the center and wooden and jade drawers along the walls.
"This is what we have. We keep the common things in the hospital wing, but the rare or uncommon ingredients go here. According to the king, you can take a single ingredient from the collection, the amount is something we can negotiate depending on what you choose." (Kama)
I hummed in agreement and began looking around.
'I have that. I have that one. Oh, that one's new, ingredient identification.. hm, not needed. That one's decent. I have that.'
I went around the room inspecting everything until I stopped at a certain drawer I pulled out showing slightly glowing charcoal looking crystals.
'What's this?'
My eyes flashed with my identification magic before I smiled in delight.'
[Void Salts]
'Come to papa.'
I was looking for this as well, but I never listed it.
Void salts are not a direct ingredient to make potions, but they play a very important role in the effectiveness of them.
"I'll take this." (Dante)
Kama looked over and nodded.
"That's been here a while. It seems to be produced when large space magics are performed as some sort of excess, but no one knows what to do with them other than using them for spatial type magic items. Even then, it's not the most common material so we tend to save it versus use it when there are cheaper alternatives for such items." (Kama)
I felt my eyebrow twitch at the mention of using this ingredient for spatial tools. Yes, it could work, but that's a huge fucking waste.
"I'll take as much as you can give me." (Dante)
Kama tilted his head and seemed to think before he shrugged.
"It's been there a long time, just take all of it bar a few pieces so we have some in case it's ever necessary." (Kama)
I nodded at that. it wasn't a problem.
My magic came to life and a space vial was formed in my hand. The action had become so natural to me that even the magic circle was reduced to being on my palm and no longer visible. In a controlled setting, I have the control and skill to reduce it, but during combat, my magic isn't that subtle much to my disappointment. I made it a goal to one day be able to reduce or no longer have a magic circle appear.
Something that not many know or even if they did, they wouldn't care about it that magic circles in this world are not mandatory for magic but a byproduct.
When a mage sends magic out of their body, the world around us reacts to the influx of energy and creates the circle based on the element or typing of magic being used.
But if the mage can control their spells to a very fine extent, no reaction is produced, and no sign will be given that magic was used.
Kama raised an eyebrow at its appearance but assumed I used requip.
Lifting the stones with telekinesis, I funneled them into the vial one after another. Whenever the larger stones hit the smaller entrance, they shimmered a bit and got sucked in like liquid.
Soon enough, the drawer was left with a small handful and I closed it.
"That takes care of my payment, let's get out of here." (Dante)
Kama nodded and lead the way out.
If I used my telekinesis to open a few specific drawers once he turned around and had their seeds enter a new space vial in my sleeve, I didn't say anything.
'A few new ones will be added to my future greenhouse. I WILL have that amenity one day. As soon as I figure out the climate issue.'
Kama led me to a private room where I said goodbye and teleported back home. I used the function to bring Toma over to my home once by sending him a letter with the formation on it so both him and Kama know of it.
Coming out into my courtyard I looked up and smiled.
'Hahahaha! I scored gold with this one! Who cares about the mission? I've been wanting to smash that slave territory ever since I heard of it. Now I have the perfect reason to cut loose! And I can finally make that potion I got years ago.'
What potion am I talking about?
Well, it's the potion of liquid luck. Felix Felicis.
Felix Felicis, also called "Liquid Luck", is a magical potion that makes the drinker lucky for a period of time, during which everything they attempt will be successful. It turns an ordinary day into an extraordinary one
It's incredibly similar to the one from Harry Potter but with different ingredients and just as difficult, if not as time consuming, as the other one to brew.
Humming to myself, I skipped the front entrance and jumped up into my second floors balcony in a single leap.
Never forget legs day.
I called over my mental link.
'Virgo, love, where are you?' (Dante)
She responded a moment later.
'In the basement master, have you returned?' (Virgo)
'Ah, is it the time to alternate the barrels? And yes, I just got home. We have to change the schedule up a bit, so let's meet in the living room in an hour or two.' (Dante)
'Understood. And yes, the honey mead, blackberry mead, and elderflower wine is finished but I'm afraid to say your attempts at Firewhiskey have once again failed.' (Virgo)
I swore at that last bit. I had been trying to make the fabled whiskey that allows one to blow out fire or smoke while giving it's drinker a magical sense of calm. Unfortunately, there is no recipe on it so I'm going through trial and error here.
'Don't worry about it, I'll take a look and try again later. Please keep the attempt on the side for now.' (Dante)
'Understood master.' (Virgo)
With that, I cut off the connection and walked up to my brewing table.
'It's time to finally start making this baby.'
I got the recipe for the luck potion years ago, but I couldn't find a Moon Tear no matter where I looked. I didn't want the potion to make money, I wanted it to improve my chances at creating and consuming certain potions. Like a certain blood red potion, I keep locked away until I can improve my chances.
'Let's begin the brewing.'
Taking off my upper body clothes, I refreshed myself with a quick application of water and fire magic before calming my mind.
In many traditional blacksmithing schools of teaching, before a master would perform a great work, he would dump freezing water over their heads and backs while meditating to focus their mind to an optimal state.
Once I reached my state of calm, I began the process to create a very difficult advanced grade potion.
Like a conductor leading an opera, I began waving my hands around the room.
Over a dozen cauldrons came into existence made from copper, bronze, and silver. I didn't even use pewter anymore unless I wanted to hit someone with it.
They were all having various and specific sizes, set all over the work table.
With another wave of my hand, forty two ingredients were summoned from around the room, one at a time, to land neatly in a row on my side.
Once I had everything I needed, I lifted the first ingredient, an unfertilized egg from a Runespoor. My kids, even though they are male, cough up eggs from time to time. It's part of their ecology and they make fantastic potion ingredients. Thankfully, they do need a female to fertilize the eggs, so I am not killing unborn children.
Placing it down in one cauldron, I added some water and horseradish before igniting a low flame underneath to heat it.
While that happened, I moved on.
Squill bulb, chopped up and mixed with mint leaves, boil on high heat.
Mashed Murtlap, heated on its own at medium heat.
Powdered Occamy shell, mixed with thyme, stirred gently, and left to heat.
Blood Vitality Fruit mashed finely in a mortar, and having the seeds and stem removed.
Iron Grass, frozen and broken into small chunks, pour the mashed Blood Vitality Fruit over it and carefully control the chemical mixture of the two ingredients so they don't violently react and implode.
Once the mix turns a bright blue with a hum to it, pour it into a silver cauldron and let sit for fifteen minutes.
One by one, I finished dealing with all forty two ingredients separately except the Moon Tear.
When I reached that one, I carefully lifted it out of its box and marveled at its violet glow.
'It's almost like an aurora with its glow.'
Placing it on a petri dish, I added a mixture of purified water, Murtlap Essence, Quicksilver, powdered lacrima stone, and my own blood.
Using my blood at this step, and another four, would not bind the potion to work only for myself, but it would be tuned to myself to create an even greater effect without any side effects.
I watched in satisfaction as the Moon Tear seemed to vibrate for a moment before it began absorbing the mixture and increasing in size like a sponge.
Turning away from that, I began pouring the contents of cauldrons into their next corresponding place, like a stack of cups falling into place on the next cup below it.
Forty two ingredients were mixed into twenty two cauldrons of various sizes and shapes. Most potion masters would be using beakers for this, but it takes away from the final product if this step is not done in proper cauldrons.
Eleven cauldrons were emptied into another.
From those eleven, seven were poured into the final four.
My main cauldron and three medium sized ones. I dispelled the rest of the empty ones and focused.
My main cauldron had a brown mixture spinning around slowly and calmy. The other three were respectively a bright blue, a lime green, and a deep orange.
The blue one was spinning on its own and giving off a strange sound like sirens singing.
The green one was churning like a beast was being kept inside.
And the orange one was bubbling and steaming despite no flame being put under it.
'Good, the first step is complete.'
Taking a deep breath, I began the next part.
Using telekinesis, I began to lift the blue, green, and orange mixtures. My magic only allows me the ability to control at most five separate things at one time with one being controlled incredibly finely and five being very shaky.
With three, I was stable, but it took a constant effort.
I began pulling a thin string of each mixture and entwining them around each other before lowering into my main cauldron at a steady rate.
The mix had to be a ratio of 3:2:1 respectively while it is added or the whole thing could go to waste.
Slowly and carefully.
The blue liquid hummed with a musical tone before melting in, the green attempted to fight before calming and losing strength, and the orange attempted to boil the others before cooling and mixing.
The brown was the main body and stabilizing agent for all three to combine.
With sweat falling down my forehead, I spent ten grueling minutes keeping up the steady stream without allowing myself any lapse in concentration.
As soon as the last drop was successfully added, I sighed in relief and leaned on the table for support.
'*Huff* *Huff* Fuck. It's so much easier to control a single item for hours than have to concentrate so hard on three streams.'
A knife for example is a single solid object, it's like lifting it with an invisible hand. But liquids are different, you have to lift each drop, or it will slip through your fingers. And the knife can shake slightly, all animals have a slight vibration to them, just as a person will find it incredibly difficult to one hundred percent stop their hand from shaking minutely.
Creatures are beings of movement.
With these three liquids, that tiny bit of vibration would have screwed me over.
Thankfully, only a potion master with levitation magic could make this method work. Any attempt to use a tool would prolong the brewing time for the potion and reduce the final result because the mixtures can only be contained the cauldron they were born for maximum effect.
After catching my breath, I refocused.
Biting the skin on my pointer finger, I allowed blood to leak out and used water magic to take control of the liquid.
When enough came out for me to form a stirring spoon, I stopped the flow and hardened the shape as much as possible.
Another trick of my unique branch of magic was that the second inclusion of blood for the potion can be used during the stirring process rather than using magic or a physical object to increase the success rate of the potion.
The less external elements added in that are not included in the recipe, the less of a chance for failure. An example is a wooden stirring spoon. Even if it's not an ingredient, it would still be an external element.
Using my blood spoon, I stirred my cauldron and kept mixing the contents as it slowly melted in like butter melting in a pan.
Once the contents turned a nice light purple, I stopped and placed the smaller but still usable spoon to the side.
I picked up the now dry petri dish with a bloated Moon Tear and gently lifted it up.
'Like a tear falling from the night sky in the bright moonlight.'
Having it hover at about head height, I let it go and watched it fall into the direct center of the cauldron.
It hit the liquid and no sound or movement was made aside from a single circular ripple that spread to the wall and bounced back to the point of origin.
The second the circle closed at the origin point, a beam of light shot up from the point to hit the ceiling and cause an artic aurora of colors to spread along my ceiling, covering the entire room in its glow.
A harmonious sound of bells jingling and spirits singing spread for a moment before it all receded like a dream.
Looking down, I noted the mixture had turned a deep violet and was completely still without any movement and smiled.
'Step two complete.'
Step three is the long step.
A low but steady flame must be kept on the cauldron for anywhere between two to six months, depending on how well the first two steps went along with the quality of the ingredients used, and the scum that accumulates at the top needs to be skimmed once a day.
Thankfully, I do in fact have magic burners for times like this.
Setting it up wasn't hard and I soon had the correct heat going.
'I wonder just how long it would take, if I did everything as well as I think I did, it should be exactly two months. Every day after that will tell me how far I still have to go to have mastered potion brewing at the advanced level.'
There were different benchmarks for a potion master to test themselves in how far they have come. From studying and discovering recipes, to gathering the ingredients, to having the right equipment and skills, and to actually brew the potion, there was a lot that went into the art. I had long since mastered moderate level potions and become confident enough to even brew this potion, one of the hardest among the advanced level, and it would help me check my progress.
Looking up at my clock, I noticed it had been about an hour and twenty minutes since I started.
'Time to go meet up with my adorable maid.'
Heading out of my lab, I went first to my room to get a change of clothes since I had sweat so much earlier. I keep a few sets of clothes in my requip space but it's not THAT big. It's mostly covered in vials, although small, they take up space in large amounts.
Refreshing myself with my magic, I changed into a tank top and my usual style of pants before heading down barefoot.
I found Virgo preparing tea in the kitchen and snuck up behind her before wrapping my arms around her waist and pressing into her back.
"Eeeeepp." (Virgo)
I would have enjoyed her eep if it weren't monotone.
"I know you can feel vibrations in the earth but thanks for humoring me love." (Dante)
I rested my chin on her head and hummed as she leaned back into me with a soft smirk on her face.
"Anything for you m-a-s-t-e-r." (Virgo)
She moved her hips in a circle for each letter just for fun.
"Does my beautiful maid need some attention?" (Dante)
She placed a hand on my cheek before tilting her head back and telling me to come closer with the other hand.
I leaned in with a smile and she whispered in my ear.
"Your maid is very happy master, but your mistress needs more than just your attention right now." (Virgo)
I chuckled at her before pulling back slightly to meet her face to face.
"My mistress is a glutton, but I am honored to satisfy her every time." (Dante)
I leaned in and kissed her gently at first before it became a bit rougher with need and desire from both our ends.
Before it could spiral out of control, I pulled back much to her disappointment if her groan were anything to go by.
"Masteerrr." (Virgo)
I felt myself waver at that throaty moan, but I held firm.
"Business first my love, you know once we start, it would take a monsoon to stop us." (Dante)
She pouted at that but eventually nodded.
"Fine but leave my sight for more than ten seconds and you will wake up chained to your bed in the morning." (Virgo)
I broke out into laughter at her adorable but realistic threat. She gets a bit more violent when you deny her sexual advances.
Still, I hummed in agreement and helped her prepare the tea, while ignoring her protest to the action of course.
I just bumped my hip into hers and told her I would be in the living area, which IS in sight from the kitchen, so I wouldn't be breaking my word.
A minute later and I was seated on the large lounge chair by the fire with tea on the table to my side and an incredibly horny and attractive maid and mistress sitting on my lap with her back to me and her beautiful round ass slowly grinding into me.
Once we were comfortable, I explained the job I was given including the reward. I also told her about the potion brewing upstairs and got a congratulatory kiss before we got focused.
"I have to leave for the job in ten days, I need everything set on my schedule for this month to be ether completed in these ten days or pushed aside until next month, can you do that?" (Dante)
Virgo hummed and summoned a book to her hand before opening it and skimming through. I already said it before, but Virgo was the one who organized my schedule. I would be lost without her.
"You have eighty two orders for this month, eight of which are needed urgently so they can't be put off while six are asked to be finished within the month. The rest can be pushed off without any issue.
You had an auction set for the 22nd, I recommend you do not cancel that as many of your clients were looking forward to it. Instead, we can move it up to the 12th or 13th. Let's do the 12th, please update your clients." (Virgo)
Chuckling at her demanding tone, I requiped my sub communication lacrima.
You see, as I have two identities and multiple clients of different tiers, I had to create a system for communication.
Inside one of the locked drawers in my office desk lies a very large and rare communication lacrima that I have connected wirelessly to four sub communication lacrima's. All my calls are sent to that one and then filtered into the proper sub lacrima according to its parameters.
One for client under VIP's, meaning new clients or long standing ones, that garbles my voice and is voice only for my side, they can video if they want.
One for VIP's, it allows video and normal voice for Katakuri.
One for Premium VIP's, it is used for my actual body and voice, and it's technically my main communication lacrima I use for friends.
And the final one is for the purpose of me sending updates to all my clients at once for the listing of potions for sale, ingredients they can trade in for value, prices in Jewels, and a bulletin board where notes are posted like when an auction is or if there is a limited time sale.
Its only one way so no one can edit or post anything.
I have had a long standing project for a new Premium VIP communication lacrima, but it wasn't feasible until I heard of Stellanium today. I hoped to gather some and finally complete a long standing wish of mine. (AN: To the readers who are fans of this idea when it's revealed, I hope you laugh because the amount of comedy I can create with it is amazing.)
Quickly inputting the information I wanted on a projected keyboard, I posted the update for the auction of the 12th rather than the 22nd and Virgo nodded in approval.
"Good, moving on, you had seven meetings scheduled for the month with clients who are clean and have met the requirements to fill the free VIP slot." (Virgo)
I grimaced slightly at that.
We had a VIP who got a bit hooked on some potions, non-addictive ones of course, but he got addicted on the power high he got and attempted to coerce more from me for less.
Virgo paid him a visit and the man seems to have changed his mind, permanently. All I know is the guy went from a quite confident and slightly arrogant man to a very happy go lucky….feminine… guy. He disappeared after that last video chat and not even Virgo knows where he went.
Anyway, with a slot open, we allowed new clients to fill the slot.
"Five of these are questionable and can be pushed back for the next opportunity to keep an eye on them but the last two check out. I can schedule them both for the same day, let's say the 10th, in two days." (Virgo)
She nodded without my input and corrected the schedule in her book while I chuckled and poked her in the sides lightly.
"You forgot to ask me for my opinion." (Dante)
She swatted my hand away and kept writing.
"That would be unnecessary." (Virgo)
My chuckle turned into a laugh and hugged her against me. I noticed the smirk on her face and tickled her mercilessly.
"Wa! Hahaha! Master, I'm sorry! Hahaha! Please, let me do my hahaha! Job!" (Virgo)
Once I was satisfied, I stopped and held her to me while she caught her breath. It was always a beautiful sight to me to see her with so much emotion.
"What are you smiling like that for?" (Virgo)
I told her exactly why and got a deep kiss and a look of fire and passion in reply.
"You are making restraint for an immortal spirit that embodies a constellation very, very difficult my master." (Virgo)
I placed my forehead against hers and smiled at her.
"Just a bit longer love, what's left?" (Dante)
After rubbing her forehead against my own affectionately, she turned back to her book.
"Dealing with the alcohol in the basement and tending to the herbs in your lab I can take care of, I assume I will have to stay behind to tend to your potion?" (Virgo)
At her look I nodded apologetically but she waved it off.
"Worry not master, I am always just a thought away and can be by your side whenever you need me. And you can send me back here through the teleportation formation.
I would like a second maid around however, perhaps a helper? I'll check with the spirits to see if I can find anyone appropriate." (Virgo)
I gave her a stern look at that one.
"Please remember they have to trustworthy. I know how celestial spirits are, but loose lips are not a breach of the contract. I have to many secrets to be allowed out." (Dante)
She shivered with a repressed moan at my look, considering how internally horny she was, and nodded.
"Not to worry master, I know what is needed." (Virgo)
I smiled and patted her head while she went on.
"You had a party for our kids to gather together on the 19th, we can move that to the 16th before you have to leave the following day. It will take you a day to reach Stella while flying so if you leave on the 17th, you can be there on the 18th." (Virgo)
I had no issue with that, I try and make a get together will all my kids once a month while having random visits throughout the month. I never want them to feel like I put them aside, but I also want them to enjoy their own lives without my interference.
My kids can live in my territory for their whole lives, but they need to be able to fend for themselves, they are magic beasts with powerful instincts after all.
"And finally, you had a get together with sir's Laxus, Bacchus, and that woman on the 27th, I advise moving it back." (Virgo)
I had to repress my laughter at the face she made. Virgo and my final close friend and premium VIP don't get along. It's not hate but more like they can't stand the others presence for some reason.
"Got it, I'll send them a message. I'm sure they will be curious about the date change for the auction anyway." (Dante)
Virgo nodded.
"So, you should focus on your fourteen orders, do them tomorrow and knock them out. Out of the fourteen, one is advanced, eight are moderate, and five are low grade potions so it should only take you half a day of consistent work.
The day after, you will have you two meetings on the 10th.
That will leave you with half of the day and the following to prepare for the auction on the 12th.
Following that is four days to relax and prepare for you job on the 17th with our house party on the 16th." (Virgo)
*Snap*
She snapped the book closed and gently set it down on the side. Then with the same gentleness, she turned around and straddled me. And then with the strength of Escanor at noon, she gripped both my shoulders.
"And now, on the 8th, you will fuck me, not just love me, not just pleasure me, you will fuck me hard enough to shake the roots of this house. Understood?" (Virgo)
My answer was to capture her lips while gripping her ass with both hands and squeezing hard while pressing her deeper into the erection she had been grinding against ever since she sat down.
Once I was forced away for a breath, I spoke my final words for that day.
"You are not the only one who has been holding back my love." (Dante)
From midday on the 8th, to the sunrise of the 9th, we danced a primal dance of mating, one of passion, of love, of blood and sweat, and one shared between two partners who gave everything to each other, without borders, mental or physical.
We were one. In body, mind, and spirit.
For those hours, we had no other thoughts, no other feelings, and no other actions that ones for each other.
When I awoke from a deep slumber close to noon on the 9th, I smiled at the sight of Virgo trying to combine herself to my chest.
I was laying on my side, my body almost enfolding and protecting the smaller woman snuggling in my embrace.
She was perfect, more than I could ever ask for, and someone I never wanted to let go of. I may allow others into my heart and life, but Virgo would never fall from the place in my heart she eternally claimed for herself. She carved it out with her own shovel and pickaxe, and that spot could never be filled by anyone but her.
The midday sun shined down on her blissful face and I raised a hand to gently rub a finger across her cheek and down her body.
It took an incredible force of will, but I eventually tore my gaze from her face to try and get up.
I had only a short time to go check on my luck potion before it becomes ruined after only a single day. Not to mention that having so much sex, even for me, leaves a guy dehydrated as fuck. I needed water and to empty my bladder.
Getting out of Virgo's iron cuddle grip was a challenge but it's one I had experience with. I just had to wedge a body pillow in between us and make her think the I was the pillow, and the pillow was me.
Once out, I quietly went to freshen up.
'After all that, I need a bath.'
An hour later, I was cleaned up and in my lab, skimming the scum from the luck potion. Thankfully, I made it within minutes of the daily time limit.
'Damn, I literally finished this thing and then after twenty minutes, I ended up having sex until sunrise.'
I stopped to think about that and shrugged.
'Not my best but I think we went a little wild compared to usual.'
Even my regeneration had an issue at certain points with Virgo.
It's my deep regret to say that while my constitution is growing stronger, I am still not a match for Virgo completely letting go. She has to make a conscious effort not to squash me like a bug and when I get her so riled up, that control slips.
I've broken bones while having sex with her and I regret nothing. I'm a potion master, I can fix anything as long as I have the ingredients and my brain is not damaged. Even if my heart gives out, I have a potion for it.
The body only truly dies when the brain dies. You have minutes after your heart stops to be brought back since your brain is still active when you go unconscious.
Virgo is my contracted partner on a magical and spiritual scale, if my heart ever stops, she will know, and she has three potions I gave her in case of emergencies to inject me with.
Just like Leo the lion, she has the freedom to come to me even if my mana gets cut off. All zodiacs have that ability if they really want to. Leo is just the strongest combat wise, and even then, that is only in the case that two spirits have equal access to their true power.
To my knowledge, there exists no living celestial spirit mage that can and is willing to give more mana to their spirit than me.
And the spirit world works on equivalent exchange of energy. All the mana I funnel them with? It is not wasted, it is remembered.
To put it in other words, I have a tab with them, and I keep paying daily charges with a 100 dollar bill despite only buying drinks worth $5.
Virgo never has a need to access her full power, but in case of extreme emergencies, I have a literal god ready to explode out with full force.
The celestial spirits, specifically the zodiacs and king, all have the true power of literal gods in the spirit world but in Earthland, the restrictions are harsh. When you add in that they need a source of mana to keep their realm alive, it's doubly as harsh.
But with all beings, they adapted and got used to it, and now they are used to life in Earthland.
But never forget, with all those chains removed, those at the top of this world have another group of players to contend with them.
In fact, I believe the spirit king is the truly terrifying existence among them all without his restrictions.
With the same power descaling that the other zodiacs suffer from, he was still able to fight the leader of Tartarus without any serious damage. He didn't even have a mana source, he was only there because of the rule that if a zodiac key is sacrificed by a willing spirit, he could be summoned to fight.
Imagine what he would be like with a mana source that could supply him? Or if he had no restrictions at all? I shiver at the thought.
Coming back to myself, I got myself ready to brew fourteen separate potions. Thankfully, Virgo's notebook was left on the table in the living room so I could find what potions I had to make.
I did, however, find it funny at witnessing the carnage we carved out on the way to the bedroom.
We fucked almost everywhere, up each stair, in the bath, on the balcony, and eventually made it to our bedroom. The house was fine, the wood of this tree is no joke, but many pieces of furniture was knocked over and out of place.
It was something I was used to and had potions for cleaning purposes. It's important to sterilize these things or it would be quite gross.
It's not like sexual liquids, sweat, and blood is gross at first but don't leave that stuff on your furniture. Clean up after yourselves you animals!
*Cough*, back to my potions, I read down the list and nodded.
Azure potion – increases mana reserves by .5%, decreases in potency with each use by an individual. I abused this one until the effect was less than .01% because why the fuck not?
Reactive Elixir – increases a mages connection to their highest affinity for thirty minutes. Useful for young mages who don't know what their affinity is to. Not great for anything else really, you don't want your affinity increasing in battle considering any control you have would go to shit.
Look at Laxus when he got his tattoo. He was getting electrocuted by stray electricity and he is a lightning mage with a lightning dragon lacrima in him. Enough said.
Strength potion – increases the physical strength of the user by five times using their internal mana as a substitute for five hours. Great for regular civilians. It's incredibly popular among the craftsman guilds in Bellum. It's again not great for mages because of its side effect. Mage or Civilian, it will leave you feeling weak and lethargic for a day after usage. No real harm is done as its just temporary.
Grine Water – large increase in magic usage. At the cost of permanently cutting off your future potential, the drinker can raise their magic ability by a one third. It's an instant power up for the cost of your future.
Many of those who can no longer see progress on their path for one reason or another, be it physical, mental, or spiritual, would take this potion to go just a little bit farther.
Tears of Mary – temporary high increase in control of mana. This one I was surprised to see on my list as not many understand the true value of it. Sure, you could use it in a fight but that's a waste. The best way to use it is in deep meditation. Let's say your ability to control your mana is at level 1. The potion will raise you to level 5 for a short time. If you can get a feel for level 5 and how it works, you can potentially reach level 5 on your own within a very short time.
I had no idea why the client wanted it, but I hoped they knew what they were doing. It's not my job to instruct them on the best way to use it after all.
Nourishment potion – Provides all the nourishment a normal civilian needs for seven days. It ensures the body and mind of its user will have the vigorousness of one who had a full meal of the most nutritious thing they body could handle. It's perfect for mages on longer missions.
Of course, the downsides were that its seven days for a normal civilian doing normal daily things. Farm work can fall under normal; casting spells is not normal. The more magic a mage uses, the more time they burn from the seven days. The risk is twofold. One, once the potion is done, if you forget to eat or sleep, you could become severely injured or possibly die. And two, for mages, their magic would be slow to recover for a few days once the energy flushes from their system. It can be negated with other potions.
Advanced Antidote – a cure for ever rare and unusual poisons if taken within an hour of being poisoned. When Hisui was poisoned, it had already been many days since it was administered, so I had to brew a specific type of potion to counter the poison. General antidotes work great only if you catch the poison early on.
'Hmm.. it seems like someone is worried about their current situation.'
Many paranoid people or those who know they are at risk would want this potion. Politics and money to scary things to people. I have no shame in knowing I have a higher grade of antidote with me at all times even with my high poison resistance from the constitution potions. No shame at all.
Serenity Potion – brings a forced sense of calm to the user. Great for those with anger issues, medical issues, or special circumstances.
The last six are mana, stamina, and health potions.
Specifically, three moderate mana potions, one lower grade mana potion, one moderate stamina potion, and one moderate health potion.
They are self-explanatory but for the lower minded, they help a person recover their energy or health.
I got to work, moderate grade potions, unless specifically necessary, don't take me longer than a half hour to work on.
Most of them have to be brewed in between steps for specific periods of times but the actual amount of time I need to spend on them are no more than thirty minutes.
I can be making up to four separate moderate grade potions at one time and did just that to get the first twelve potions finished.
Colorful lights and strange sounds of mythical creatures sounded out inside my lab during each potion's creation and success before the required amount was stored and labeled while what was left over was saved in separate labels.
All leftover's ether get kept for my own stores or placed on the auction at a lower price that their listing.
The last two was the lower grade mana potion and the advanced grade potion, the nourishment one.
The mana potion took me ten minutes, Two for work, Eight to brew.
The nourishment took me about two hours. Forty minutes of work and an hour and twenty of brewing. It's on the lower scale of advanced grade but its solidly in there.
With a couple hours of work, I had fulfilled the necessary quota for the month. At the ones I really needed to get done.
I only really service my VIP's these days but many of them are on something of a pre-order plan where they get specific potions in intervals.
Such as the guild masters, they order mana potions on interval basis's, so it's spread throughout the month.
Virgo was able to clear me for the rest of this month's quota but that just means next month I will have double my usual quota.
That thought made me wince.
'Honestly, I might get some done if I have time in these next few days, I don't want to spend next month slaving away.'
Sure it only took a few hours for fourteen potions but it's a lot of work! The concentration necessary can drain a guy you know? And that's after an 18 hour sex marathon.
That thought reminded me that I was still quite tired.
'Maybe some more sleep is best.'
Cleaning up my work space, I made my way upstairs and saw Virgo still in the same place I left her, cuddling with the body pillow, and laughed.
I wanted to just jump back in and forget about life, but those sheets needed to be changed and my beautiful partner and lover needed a bath.
Picking her was easy. I just walked over and as if sensing my body heat, she turned over and clinged to me like a koala.
"Nnnn.." (Virgo)
'How can she be so adorable?'
Lifting up her light frame, I princess carried her to the baths while she slept on my shoulder.
You ever try to clean a sleeping person? Not easy, especially the private parts.
Virgo actually sleep slapped me when I tried to wash her lady bits.
"Nnn.. no more master…. It's sore…" (Virgo)
I rolled my eyes at her words.
'I'm not trying to have sex with you, I'm trying to clean you, now stay still you little troublemaker.'
With that troublesome job done, I carried her into the bath. The fact that it was my second bath didn't matter much to me.
I stayed long enough for her to get warm and comfortable before getting out, with a slightly shivering Virgo refusing to leave my body heat, until I used fire magic to dry us off.
'Using a towel is nice once in a while but life is so much more convenient with water and fire magic.'
Getting back to our room, I faced the real challenge. Getting Virgo off me so I could change the sheets.
After trying and failing to pull the much stronger woman off my body, I managed to maneuver her so she would stick to my back and I could move my hands.
Quickly changing the sheets and opening the windows for some fresh air, I removed my clothes and got into the fresh bed with Virgo naturally moving back to her original position against my chest.
Seeing her snuggling in with a smile, my eyebrow began twitching as I came to an annoying conclusion.
"You have been awake this whole time, haven't you?" (Dante)
Her 'sleeping' head turned up slightly to give me a smirk.
"You were treating me so gently; I couldn't bear to disturb you or tarnish your efforts." (Virgo)
I just sighed at that while giving up. It wasn't worth being annoyed about. As I closed my eyes to get some more sleep, a small hand was placed against my cheek.
I nudged into it slightly and cracked an eye to see Virgo had moved so her face was laying in front of mine.
Her hand began tracing the outline of my face with a great deal of affection as she seemed to trace my image into her mind.
Eventually, her eyes reached mine and had more emotions that I could currently count in my tired mind. After a few seconds, it decided to settle on a tender smile.
"I have lived for many, many, years. I have seen so many things that most of them blend together and seem to disappear from my memories. Time may be written down, but my memory is not perfect.
Even then, I can say this with upmost confidence and joy.
Dante, my master, my partner, my savior, my love.
No one has ever cared for me, with such genuine and tender love than you have in my entire existence.
I have loved before. Friends, family, even lovers and mates, but none of them can match the level of intensity I feel for you.
I have never loved one romantically so much only to find out each progressive day brings a new height for that love to achieve.
I love you Dante, I love you so, so much." (Virgo)
My eyes widened at her words; I didn't expect such a random confession.
'Why do woman spring these things so randomly?'
When I tried to open my mouth, a finger was placed on it.
"It's ok, I just felt I had to say that. Don't say anything, just hold me, feel me." (Virgo)
I smirked and licked her finger while she laughed and snuggled into my embrace.
I naturally curled around her, protecting her from the world, from time, from the past, from everything I could, despite me being nowhere near her true strength.
It didn't matter to me.
As I saw her laying there, I couldn't prevent myself from muttering eighteen words in her ear.
"I love you Virgo, today, tomorrow, and till the ends of time. Not even death can separate us." (Dante)
I felt her tremble slightly and burrow even deeper, as if she wanted to meld herself into me.
As the sun set in the distance, I felt sleep calling me in as the combination of the soft bed, clean sheets, setting sun, summer breeze, my own fatigue, and most importantly, the first love of both my lives entrusting her everything into my arms.
Her pink shoulder length hair had become something that instinctively brough a smile to my face.
Her curves, modest breasts, beautiful round ass, legs, and soft skin never failed to ignite my lust and attraction.
Her scent brought me peace.
Her breathing lulled me to sleep.
Her presence, in both magic and physical, had begun to unconsciously blend with my own.
One thing I tend to forget, is that magic is in reality, very much alive.
Not alive in the way we humans see it, but in the way of being. It was always there, in everything. If there was a one above all god in this world, it would be the magic itself. And magic in this world responds strongly to emotion.
So, when two people who feel so strongly for one another also have a deep magical and spiritual bond thanks to a contract, interesting things begin to happen.
Even between a mortal and immortal, magic does not have such boundaries.
As we both slept, ethernano gathered from the atmosphere, it filled the room, it wrapped around us, it…bonded us, much deeper than we could have imagined.
It was this moment, this random, seemingly strange moment in time, that my path to immortality took its first steps.
I wasn't going to let death stop me, not from seeing her, not from being with her, and you can bet it won't stop me from loving her. She is mine, forever.
Along with that first step, was the strengthening of a will, a will that would awaken a beast, a beast that would grow beyond what was expected of it, and reach the height known as eternity.
For in every world, chaos, order, and eternity always have a champion, and one of them was still waiting in this one. The champion of eternity, the eternal beast, the one who shall never fade, the one who defies fate. The world will know the word, the name, of the one called the Ouroboros, the Serpent of Eternity.