I sat at my parent's normal, everyday stand, as I took the traveler's coins in exchange for a potion; he left as promptly as he had arrived. It feels as if I haven't left my station in centuries, but being only a seventeen-year-old boy, I know that can't be the case, although I could have sworn on Gaia that it was. Everyday, I sit here, and sell magic potions to passersby. Sounds exciting, doesn't it? The same spot, mostly the same people, same words out of my drying mouth.
"Buy potions from 'Olric's Potions stand'! We have anything you might need!"
It's a blast.
If you couldn't tell already... I would rather be doing most anything else at this current moment. But, in all honesty, it's all I know. It's not where my heart is by any means, but my parents owned this stand before the Forbidden War. After that I took it over, so it's purely out of respect for them that I stay here day after day.
I was lost in my thoughts, not selling anything for nearly fifteen minutes, I sat and watched the people pass by me, something I often did on a slow day. As a hooded cutomer started to approach, the crowd cleared into two, like a split making a path for him to walk towards me. I thought nothing of it, as he must have been some sort of important person, such as foreign royalty, though judging by his clothes, he looked more like an upper middle class human.
He spoke and awoke me from my trance.
"Say, what's the purple one do, kid?"
"Uhh... It's for warriors, hunters, and mages, increases your focus like a lazer on any enemies nearby, also gives you hawk vision for 30 minutes to spot faraway prey for hunting." I answered, spewing my line as if it were memorized for a play.
"And... the green one?" He asked.
"A simple healing potion, cures any cuts or battle damage, but can't work on a sickness, keep in mind." I said, monotone.
"Fifteen of each, think you can manage making all that?" he said with a beaming smile.
I was flabbergasted! Thirty potions? The coins for that would be enough to eat for a week, and perhaps buy a new earring, too.
"Coming right up, Sir!" I said, flashing a smile back at him.
I gave him what he asked for, took me a little while to mix up the concoctions, though, so we made some small talk, nothing noteworthy. I found out his name was Cilan, and he claimed with much excitement that 'back in his day' he was a pretty popular mage. I went along with it, not wanting to lose my sale, but I highly doubted it, as he couldn't of been more than... thirty-five? Most mages were old men and woman of about one hundred-and-ten, it takes a while to master your craft. This guy wasn't the real deal, and if he is, I would have heard about him. But as any customer would, he thanked me and left, just a he arrived, with the crowed split into two.
To be honest, when mages come about the potion stand, which isn't very often considering most of what a potion can offer them, they can just do with a spell; they always captivate me beyond words. They have this aura about them that just makes you want to get up and start learning magic, too. I love the way that their words hold so much meaning, everything out of them seems like a wise fortune.
I finished up my day, it was slow today, but that didn't matter, That Cilan guy gave me a week's worth of coins. I could probably even take tomorrow off. That sounded like a good idea so I put up the 'We are closed today' sign for tomorrow and went off to bakery. I was able to afford some jam for my dinner bread, a commodity that I praised Gaia for. I love sweet things, but normally i don't have the coins for jam, sugar, or white chocolate; so I do without. Bread is... all I eat for my meals... bread and salad. Maybe some fruit or berries if I can afford it. I dont eat meat, thats a human thing... some Elves have adapted to the melting pot of the capital city of Arden and started to eat cooked dead animals, but... It's not for me. Something shouldn't have to suffer so I can eat something tastier than bread and salad.
I finished my meal, thanked the baker, and left to sleep by my favorite tree. I saw no need for a house like most of the others. Although, I wouldn't consider myself homeless, the edge of the forest is my home. Some people ask me if the bugs bother me, sleeping in the forest and all, they don't. This is their home, too. If Im lucky a fox or deer will approach me and I can snuggle with them while I sleep. Today wasn't one of those days, but it's okay. Thoughts filled my head as to what I would do tomorrow, since I'm taking off. First thing, I would probably buy a new earring, my current one is getting old and tarnished. Then maybe after that I could mingle with some townspeople. Despite being very different from most of them, I enjoyed talking with them. I like hearing stories from the elderly, about their lives when they were younger. Most of them were travelers, and had a lot to say, but no one to talk to. I also quite enjoyed playing with the children. They are the future of Arden, so showing them kindness and love is only my natural duty.
Thinking about tomorrow started to make me... melancholy. I know that someone like me, could never have children, after all, I'm a poor merchant, I can barely support myself; let alone a child. Even if I could afford to feed and dress them, an Elf like me could never give a kid a good life. We are the lows of society, according to humans. They think that becuase we are different from them. I dont want to bring someone into this world just to be judged harshly by it. I'm content though... Even if I'll never have a spouse or a child, Ill be content with the life I was given. As long as at the end of the day I get to become one with this forest and rest my head on the soft grass. I drifted off to sleep before I knew it.
I had no idea the dream I had that night would change my life forever.
ns 18.68.41.177da2
