"One glass of ashmist and two bastille roots." Vasco says to the merchant. He glances over his shoulder before looking in the window again. "And do you happen to have nipnaps?"
The merchant looks over his glasses at him. "How much you need? Nightmares or dayjitters?"
"Yes...Erh, both."
He raises a brow but slides a pouch to him before handing him a bag with the roots and a glass canister. "1 gold and 8 bronze pints."
Vasco raises his brows. "That's including the nipnaps?"
The merchant shrugs. "That's on the house this time, buddy. You look rough."
"Oh...Well, thanks." He nods, running a hand through his disheveled hair. He slips the pouch into his money pouch discretely. He then walks back from the market, his gaze darting here and there around himself. His heart beats in his throat but he pushes it back with a few deep breaths.
This much paranoia is silly and he knows it, but his body refuses to believe his reasoning. Frigus has much better things to do than send anyone to spy on him. Plus, it isn't like he is doing anything bad per se...Just hurting Frigus's business for a good cause.
Vasco darts around a corner before dashing down an alley. He stops at the corner and peeks around it. Straight ahead there is a small building with a gold domed roof and open gold doors. He glances once more over his shoulder and runs for it.
He makes it halfway before finding himself running in place, a foot off the ground. He stops and his shoulders sloop.
"And what do you think you're doing?"
"Sir...I was..." he hangs his head. "I was going to take medicine to that sick human in Paladonia."
"You idiot." The voice growls and Vasco feels himself floating backwards. "What must I do to drill in your vapid head that if you help the dying we have no job? Moron! Absolute moron! But I guess I shouldn't expect anything but stupidity from the son of a messenger and a weather wizard." He snorts.
"F-Frigus...I-I—"
"Shut up, I don't have patience for your blustered stuttering." He snaps his fingers and Vasco falls on the ground face first. "If you're going to beg for your job, then do it right." He sneers.
Vasco pushes himself up and looks at him. "Frigus...Please." He swallows.
"What's that? I can't hear you."
"That's quite enough!"
Vasco and Frigus both look down the path at the approaching woman.
"Pulsatilla, this doesn't concern you. Go your own way."
"I think I'll decide what concerns me or not, and this I think does. Treating a young one like a slave rather than bolstering his abilities? For shame!"
Frigus chuckles. "Abilities? This moron? Lower Maia don't have abilities like you're thinking, doll. They have enough magic to get them through the day, heal a few scrapes, quicken a few menial jobs. Mere tricksters if anything more."
"How much do you want for him?" She rolls her eyes.
"Well, let's see..." he strokes his gnarled gray beard. "I pay him 5 silverpints a day..."
"I'll offer 2 platnia."
Frigus raises his brows. "Fine by me." He catches the bag as she tosses it to him. "The worm's all yours, m'lady." He bows with a smirk before walking away.
Pulsatilla reaches down and helps Vasco up. He won't meet her gaze.
"Thank you, your Grace."
"Just Pulsatilla will do, my boy." She smiles at him. "What's your name? Your magic given name?"
"Bertramus...Vasco is what most call me though." He continues to look at her feet.
"Well, Bertramus. I have a proposition for you. First, I want you to go down to earth and help that woman. Then I want you to come back to see me. I'll send someone to pick up your things from Frigus—"
"Everything I own I have with me, m'lady."
Pulsatilla looks at him with her mouth slightly agape, but regains her composure after a second. "Well, then I'll send someone to find you some things for your new quarters. We'll talk more once you're back, okay?"
Vasco nods and looks up at her finally as he turns to go to the little building. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet, Bertramus. Your life is changing, it'll be up to you to decide if it's for you." She nods. "Oh! But one last thing before you go."
"Yes, m'lady?" He looks at her.
"What color is your magic?"
Vasco looks at the ground. "Scarlet..."
"Why do you look at the ground? Scarlet is a passionate and courageous color."
"I've been told it's an evil color."
"Is that so? Why, do you think you're evil? Do you feel evil?"
"I don't think so...I don't know." He keeps his head lowered.
Pulsatilla looks at him thoughtfully. "We will discuss this more later then. For now, go attend to that poor lady. Don't dally returning hence, please."
"Of course, m'lady." He nods and scampers to the small building before she can ask him anything else.
Pulsatilla watches him go and shakes her head with a sigh. "He's going to take some work straightening out from that scamp. Perhaps I should pair him with Cornelius in training. Or no, no, he may overwhelm him at first. I don't want him to feel too out of place. Maybe I'll let him meet the whole lot and see if he gravitates towards anyone. Perhaps Trisopia will have an idea," She smiles to herself. "Because he has potential. Strong potential, I can feel it around him. He'll be an excellent asset."
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