Reuniting with an Acquaintance

When Huvel arrived at the castle, the servants led by Chance were waiting him inside the castle walls. Huvel asked Chance if there was any news about the mage in Bowwl. There was no news about the mage as he had expected and there was no sight of remarkable strangers as well.

Huvel walked to his room as he pondered. He stopped at once when he felt that the presence of someone in his room. All the servants line up at the entrance of the castle and he had not seen any of them went to his room. And his adoptive puppy was beside him so he concluded the one in his room was a stranger.

"I just got back and there was an assassin waiting for me! Who is the culprit this time?" Huvel whined inwardly.

He decided to face the intruder head on. He ordered Meodinand, who was following him to help him change clothes, and Pechie to go away, and not to let anyone come near his room. Pechie grumbled in a low voice and lingered around Huvel before he was finally taken away by Meodinand.

Huvel opened the door with a bang to shock the intruder. In the next second, after he saw the inside, he immediately rushed into the room and closed the door.

"What are you doing here?!"

The person he asked was busy rummaging around in his room. He did not wear anything on his body but a few clothes were hanged on one of his short antlers. His pale spotless body looked as if it was illuminating the whole room. Despite his big body that was about eight feet tall, he looked like a child because of the mess of clothes and things scattered around him. Nonetheless, he was the real Flying Leaf Nymph.

"Oh, you are back." The nymph greeted him. "You have many interesting things here."

"Sigh. What do want… wait… How did even know that I live her?"

"Hmm? It is you who feed me your seedlings in the first place. I followed the smell of it to this room. What? Are you unhappy with my visit?"

Huvel had guilty conscience when he recalled what he did. He was anxious when he thought whether the nymph was angry after learning that he tricked him to do things.

"I… Why would I be unhappy." Huvel replied weakly. "I just want to know why did you come all the way to here for?"

"Oh, about that… I… I want to learn potion crafting from you."

"Huu… it's only that? WHAT?!"

"You know… I came to realize that the reason I can't make potions well is because I don't have the required tools you humans use. So, I want to learn how use make potions using those tools!"

"Nonsense! Tools like flasks and tubes are just auxiliary things humans use to make things a little easier. You are a mighty nymph that control Light Prowess at will. You can make potions even without those trivial things!"

The nymph looked down became silent as Huvel said those words.

"Hmm? Did I touch where it hurts?" Huvel pondered in his mind. "I'm a fool! Why am I trying to antagonize a nymph?!"

He faked a cough and try to cheer up the nymph. "Maybe… it may be true that one need to use appropriate apparatus for potion crafting. Why don't you go to potion towers? With your proficiency in dark magic, it would not be difficult to observe them without being noticed."

"Certain fairies keep a close eye on those towers."

"Eh?"

"I don't want to be noticed by them. Other than the potion towers, you are the only one I know that crafts potions. That's why I'm asking you to teach me! Ahem, of course, if you teach me, I will give you something in return."

"Hmm… What is that something?"

"That is… um… whatever you want or something like that?"

"Okay. Deal!"

"Haha. I know that you will agree. Tell me what you want!"

"I haven't decided yet. I'll tell you later when I decide."

"… Acceptable, I guess."

Huvel believed a favour of a nymph was a big deal that could not be compared to any wealth. And since the nymph in question was a bit naïve, he could exploit him more during his stay in Boswel.

"But do you even have the required tools to make potion?" the nymph said as he tossed the stuffs in his hands. "I've been looking around where your scent lingered most but I can't find any decent tools here. You are not deceiving me, right?"

"Do you think I would make potions in my bedroom? Ahem… I do my potion experiments in the basement. All the tools are there."

"Then, let's go there right now!"

"Wait! Do you just go around like that? Don't you nymphs usually conceal your presence so that people can't see you?"

"Hmm? Ah, I know what you mean. My cousin says ordinary people who do not have elemental prowess cannot see us. It's not like we deliberately hide ourselves from homos. They are just too weak to see us!"

"Is that so? But can't you reduce the aura you are emitting? I was intimidated by it even from afar. There is another mage in this town so I don't want him to be alerted during your stay."

"Oh, there is another magician here. I did not notice it until now. Hmm… actually there are two human magicians other than you."

"The other one is an apprentice of the man I just mentioned. Wait! I just told you to reduce your aura but you spread it further to look for the mage?! Ahh!! He must be fully alerted by now! It would do me nothing good if he asked his academy to help him investigate the matter. Retract your aura now!"

"Fine, fine. Don't sweat over trivial stuffs."

"It's not trivial for me! Haaa…. I'm starting to regret accepting your request..."