Temporary Visit to the Potion's Shop

Howard is escorted by the group to a 5-story yellow building with full springline glass windows and a large wooden sign on the front door, with the words "Amelia's Potions Shop" written on it with black ink. From the name, it was obvious to Howard that this was the magic shop they were planning to stop by.

As they approached closer to the shop, he wondered why the mages wanted to go there first. For all he knows, Howard is supposed to be swapped with his 'other' body double at the horse stable, while this shop was just for the healers to get something before, they leave.

However, considering the circumstances, it was very unlikely this was a random event squeezed into the plan constructed by his parents to fake his head. Maybe the healer mages are there to provide him with an alibi. If there were some malicious individuals following them, they wouldn't probably wonder why Howard was wearing such an oversized hat, covering his face, and especially his eyes. 

Although there were a few individuals with silver hair in the kingdom, only people with Kant's curse had the aforementioned jet-black eyes. They could have the shopkeeper tell their pursuers that the man with the large hat with a description that would match his body double. 

So, in the event that they do catch up to them after Howard switched with his body double in the stable, they will find a man matching the description the shopkeeper here would have provided them, and not a description of the prince Kant Maybale. But then again, that is just a theory Howard came up with.

Upon opening the door to the shop, he finds himself being greeted by an opulent interior with tiled floors, painted walls, and a nice flower scent. Behind the desk counter were a wooden cupboard with glass doors, displaying different types of potions stocked on the shelves. 

On the desktop itself was a small little bell that anyone could press to summon the shopkeeper to the counter, and a flowerpot holding a blue rose* flower that emitted the strong rose smell that dominated the room. Seeing that the shopkeeper isn't around, they immediately start ringing the bell.

"Alright! Alright! I am coming!" he can hear a muffled feminine voice speak to them from above. Howard assumed that was the owner of this fine establishment. 

Eventually, a short woman in a loose-fitting black gown with a pointy hat and a long cape comes walking through the door and stands behind the counter. She puts up a nice smile, and greets her customers.

"Welcome to my shop, gentlemen! How may I help you?" she queried in a polite tone. 

"Can you have some Potions of Serenity?" one of the healers ask. The woman nods, replying…

"I just brewed up some today! How strong do you want it to be?"

"The strongest one you can concoct up. We are willing to pay the price," other mage stepped in, answering her question. A Potion of Serenity was a potion that induces a calm and peaceful mind. It was most popular with healers and knights who had witnessed the loss of a comrade, or a patient. It helped them cope with dealing with dead, a healthy remedy to ease their minds.

"Do you want the potion to take with you, or to take them here?"

"The 5 of us want to drink it here. This man…" the healers point to Kant… "will take a glass veil with him."

"I understand. I will bring them over to you right away!"

The shopkeeper heads back through the door behind the counter, only coming out 5 minutes later holding a silver tray with a ceramic teapot and 5 glass shot cups. She places the tray down on the table and fills up the cups to the brim with a calm green liquid before handing them out to the healers.

"Enjoy your potions, gentlemen." The mages took a glass shot and gulped the potion down. Once they have taken their drinks, the woman felt it was a good time to throw in another question.

"May I ask what happened to you all? Not many would come into my shop and request a strong Potion of Serenity. Did something terrible happen?"

"Unfortunately, yes. However, we are not in any position to tell you exactly what it is."

"Someone important?"

"Yes. Very important," the healers replied.

"Say, can you do us a favor? Do you see this man right here?" one of the mages pointed to Kant. As soon as the woman took a proper glance at the man, she immediately spots his jet-black eyes, unique to the people with a particular curse.

She did not, however, identify him to be the Prince Kant Maybale. Instead, she thought he was someone else more closely related the healer mages rather than the royal family.

"Is he a friend of yours?" the shopkeeper asks. Howard was surprised. Despite possessing the face of the prince, the woman had failed to identify him. Why is that?

He wondered how the woman didn't recognize the prince. You'd think the people would not know what the prince looked like. But then, just as he was about to question reality, it hit him!

In a world without photography or the camera, the only way the people could separate a head of state from an ordinary man is by the attire they wear, the wealth they display, and the number of knights dedicated to protecting them. Sure, they could parade a portrait of the family to the entire kingdom, but why would they?

Why not leave the option to have the royals travel around incognito? It could be really helpful if they want to roam the city without anyone noticing.

"Yes. He is a good friend of ours that has been wrongfully accused of murder. We have a plan to get him out of this city, but we need your help. If anyone comes in here asking what he looked like, tell them he had silver hairs and brown eyes. Can you do that for us?" 

The woman remained silent. Howard could see that she was thinking everything through. Amelia was clearly hesitating, and Howard knew it.

"Um… I am sorry, but I do not want to lie to any authorities. I really don't want to get in trouble…" she finally reasoned. It was here that Howard expected the healers to put down a pouch of gold coins to try and convince her to lie. Instead, they yanked him by the arm, and brought him closer for her to see.

"I don't think you understand, miss. Our friend is being targeted by some powerful people because of his curse. They don't think he belongs in the community and wants to get rid of him!" one of them claimed.

"If he is caught, they will send him to prison for something he was not guilty of! You don't want an innocent young man to have his life ruined by some evil people, would you?" another spoke up, throwing the woman a question.

Although the woman couldn't see what they were doing, Howard could. They were simply trying to manipulate her emotions and appealing to her empathy, to try and get her to agree to lie for them.

Amelia falls into silence once again, giving her more time to think. In the meantime, the mages continue to throw in more words to make her feel bad as possible, to try and exploit any empathy this woman had. After a few minutes, she lets out a high sigh before turning to the healers for her answers. 

"Alright, I won't tell anyone. His secret is safe with me," she answers, albeit reluctantly. A wide smile from across all their faces, glad that the shopkeeper accepted their favor.

"Thank you, Mrs. Amelia. I am glad you are able to understand."

"Anyways, the potions will be 14 Duracat and 37 Orracats. I can refund you a Duracat if you return the glass bottle to me on time," the woman spoke, informing the healers of the price of the goods they bought. 

"Keep the Duracat. We won't be coming back to this city anytime soon," a mage replied as he handed her a couple dozen coins, some shiny and others dull. Once the woman has been paid, she bends down and grabs a small glass vial filled with a calm green liquid, before handing it to Kant. 

"Here. Though I don't think this is for you, you might need it for whatever you are planning," she commented. 

People with Kant's condition not only cannot affect my magic spells, but also cannot be affected by magic potions either. This is because magic, both spells and potions require mana to react to be able to be effective. Casting a spell or making a potion is a way of telling mana what the user wants it to do.

Howard picks up the glass vail and immediately checks the lid of the glass vial. On top of the wooden lid, the word "Amelia" was carved into it. With that piece of information gathered, he puts the potion vail on his pocket, and thanks the shopkeeper.

"Thank you, Mrs. Amelia. You have helped me a lot today. I will try to repay your kindness, if possible."

"You can repay it back by keeping yourself alive. Have a good day gentleman."

With that settled, the healers left the shop and headed straight to the stables, which weren't that far away. Along the way, Howard asked the healers whether they would think she would hold up her promise. They replied by citing what Howard assumed was something straight out of the mouth of a very charismatic priest.

"If she doesn't, the angels will throw her into the deepest pits of hell," they all claimed. 

*It wasn't actually a blue rose. However, it was a flower that looked a lot like a rose with blue petals.