After finishing his meal, Caelum quickly asked the shop owner where he could wash his hands. The man replied, noticing the boy in a hurry, and directed him to a bucket and a scoop behind his shop to wash. After finishing, Caelum quickly ran to where Diana and Scarlett were eating to inform them of what he had just heard.
Immediately he sat next to them, and his hand accidentally touched her food the moment she noticed, Diana screamed, "Why did you touch my food?" Caelum replied quickly. It was an accident," he said, but Diana was still upset and asked, "Did you at least wash your hands he answered her, "Yes," in assurance after glancing at him for a few moments, she immediately went back to her food.
Caelum sized up the opportunity to get close to Diana, sitting opposite her. The moment Scarlett met him, she asked, "Why did you go eat somewhere else?" "He replied, "I wanted to eat in peace,'" Caelum said and immediately shot back saying, "That's besides the point. I heard a very scary rumor." Scarlett looked at him strangely and said So what did you hear about?"
She said as she continued to eat, Caelum immediately told her that he had heard a rumor that there was going to be a bombing at the opera house.
Scarlett paused mid-bite.
"A bombing?" she asked seriously. "Which opera house?" "I don't know," Caelum admitted.
Scarlett sighed and set down her fork. "There are several opera houses in the city. Besides, haven't you noticed all the guards?" She gestured towards the patrol officers moving through the bazaar. "If there were any real threat, the authorities would handle it."
Caelum frowned. Somehow, that didn't feel as reassuring as Caelum thought.
Scarlett then picked up her cup to drink some water before continuing.
"The opera house we're attending has increased security. Don't worry. Nothing will happen." She reassured him and quickly sat him on her lap, beginning to pet his head.
She said, "Since we're done with our food, let's start heading back." After that, Diana walked over to both of them and said, "I'm done." Scarlett asked, "Have you washed your hands?" Diana nodded.
Scarlett then asked them to stay in their seats while she went to clean up.
While Caelum sat down to think, he began to feel uneasy about what he had heard but decided to stay alert.
After returning from cleaning up Scarlett said, "Alright, let's go back to the carriage while saying to Caelum and Diana u have just eaten your food money for today so whatever you see next to the opera, you won't be allowed to eat anything." When Diana heard that, she grabbed Scarlett's clothes, her face turned red with tears in her eyes.
At the same time, she screamed Isn't this supposed to be a family outing?"
Who stops at one meal? Diana asked immediately. Scarlett picked her up and said, 'You are heavy, and unless you want to pay your bill yourself, go ahead. You have eaten a lot just now; any more would disturb you. ' Caelum immediately added, 'I think Scarlett is right. We shouldn't be greedy,' Diana retorted. 'Shut up.
I only came to this because of my mother and the food.
Caelum shook his head and muttered, 'You are such a big baby. 'Diana immediately replied, 'I heard that. And who are you calling a baby?' As they continued to bicker, Scarlett, while carrying Diana, shouted, 'Be quiet, you two. If not, I'll make sure you don't take anything back home, much less eat.' Upon hearing that, the two siblings kept quiet.
As they continued walking past a dark, narrow alley, Caelum noticed two city guards questioning a man beside a large, old wooden crate reinforced with iron bands. The crate was much bigger than anything he had seen sold at the bazaar.
What could be something that large? He thought. The rumor about the bombing made him unusually suspicious. He almost asked Scarlett about it, but after a moment's hesitation, he simply shook his head.
After a brief inspection, the guards waved the man through while caelum watched while walking and thought maybe I'm getting paranoid, as he watched the man slowly push the crate through the alley.
Caelum watched for another second until Scarlett called his name.
He hurried after her, dismissing the incident as just a routine inspection.
As they finally arrived at the carriage, Scarlett opened the door and saw her madam inside with a book in hand. Scarlett immediately coughed and said, "Madam, we are back."
As soon as she noticed they had returned, the madam asked Diana and Caelum if they had fun. Diana replied happily, "Yes, mother." With a stern face, she told Scarlett that they had spent a while eating and were about to be late.
When they heard her scolding, they all bowed their heads and entered the carriage. She tapped the front of the carriage and said to the coachman, "Please branch to Castelow's Apothecary before heading to Vienna."
Immediately after speaking, the carriage began to move. Caelum, with his head down, said, "Mother, please don't be angry." She replied, "I am not, but you spent way too long eating." Caelum asked again, "Why are we going to the apothecary?" She responded, "I have a weekly checkup due today, and I planned to do it before going to the opera."
Caelum asked, "Why didn't you leave early and get it before we came back?" She replied, "Why would I leave my own kids I brought with me?" she said in frustration.
After calming down, she quickly carried Caelum and apologized for lashing out, also apologizing to Diana. When her eyes met Scarlett's, she asked how much was spent on the food. Scarlett replied, "Ten bronze each for all of us."
The mother immediately said, "That's quite expensive," and asked about her change.
Scarlett quickly pulled out ten bronze coins from her pocket. Seeing that, the mother told Scarlett to keep the change.
After a few minutes, the carriage stopped, and the coachman opened the door and said We are here madam she immediately called both siblings' names and told them I will be back just then, Caelum asked can I come with you after deliberating about it for a while she agreed and immediately told Scarlett to watch Diana.
After hearing that, Caelum immediately stepped down from the carriage and followed her as she walked into the apothecary which was beside a tailor shop and jewellers.
Above the polished oak door hung a neatly painted sign.
Castelow's Apothecary.
The moment Caelum and his mother stepped inside, a cool herbal scent greeted them.
As he looked around in astonishment, the tall wooden shelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling, each filled with neatly labeled glass jars containing dried herbs, colorful powders, preserved flowers, and strange roots he had never seen before.
Among them were a handful of faintly glowing blue leaves and silver-veined vines sealed inside crystal containers, their soft light illuminating the shop without a single lamp nearby.
Behind the counter stood rows of amber medicine bottles, polished brass scales, delicate measuring spoons, and mortars stained from years of grinding remedies.
A few well-dressed nobles quietly waited their turn, while an elderly apothecary carefully prepared medicine with practiced hands, measuring each ingredient.
Immediately, the elderly man saw her, bowed, and greeted Lady Ashbourne. "Good to see you today. Have you come for your weekly checkup?" Mother replied, "Yes." "Mr. Castelow, how are you doing? Are you free now?" Mr. Castelow replied, "I am almost done taking care of a customer."
He continued, "Please, my lady, have a seat. My assistant will direct you to me once I am done."
While looking at Caelum saying it's been a while u have grown bringing his face closer to him and began to chuckle the last time I saw u were still a baby and now u are a grown boy ha how time flies the moment caelum heard that he became flustered and said I don't remember u sir he replied of course u don't anyway I have some people to attend to so I would see your mother in Just a bit.
After saying that a young boy with green hair and pointed ears who looked to be in his teens came out and directed us to the waiting room after seating us down, Caelum suddenly asked What's wrong with your mother that u need a weekly checkup.
She suddenly smiled and said Nothing serious I haven't always been feeling good since I was little so I've always come here since my childhood.
Caelum looked at her in fear noticing his expression she said to him Nothing is going to happen don't worry I have been like this long before I had u or even married and am still fine alright as she hugged him.
After a while, the assistant came and said, " Madam, he is ready to see you now, My Lady after hearing that she immediately stood up and was going to the inner area of the shop it's was then that she noticed Caelum's face and asked do you want to see him work Caelum immediately shook his head.
The assistant gently opened a polished oak door, in front of them revealing Mr. Castelow's consultation room.
Unlike the front of the shop, Caelum felt a sense of tranquility inside.
As sunlight streamed through a tall window, illuminating shelves filled with carefully labeled medicine bottles, dried herbs hanging from wooden racks, and rows of neatly arranged glass vials.
A sturdy mahogany desk stood in the center, covered with what looked like ledgers, with multiple documents and a brass oil lamp hanging from the top
Against one wall rested a cushioned examination couch draped with spotless white linen. Beside it stood a washbasin, folded towels, and a small cabinet containing medical instruments.
Several potted medicinal plants rested on the windowsill. Their leaves shimmered faintly whenever the breeze drifted through the open window, releasing a refreshing herbal fragrance.
Mr. Castelow adjusted the small pair of round spectacles resting low on his nose before smiling warmly.
"Now then, Lady Ashbourne," he said, opening a well-worn leather notebook. "Shall we see how you've been feeling this week?"
As he began to ask her multiple questions about how she had been feeling this week, her mother replied to all of them while Mr. Castelow took notes and asked, "Has your medicine finished?" She replied yes, and that part of the reason she came today was for the check-up.
After listening to her, he lifted his spectacles closer to his eyes, and suddenly Caelum noticed that behind the lenses of his spectacles, the brown in his eyes slowly faded until only deep black remained.
He quickly jotted something down and rushed to ask the apothecary why his pupils were black.
Just as he was about to disturb him, he suddenly felt a hand pulling his collar back, saying, "Kid, calm down. I know you are wondering why his pupils turned black, so you shouldn't worry your mother is fine." He turned to see who it was and realized the one holding his collar was the apothecary's apprentice.
The young man introduced himself as Edward, explaining that his master wasn't doing anything shady. Caelum refused to believe him and he further explained that, according to his "Master it's called Spirit Magic. It helps him see things ordinary eyes cannot he told Caelum.
By the time they finished talking, Mr. Castelow finally lowered his spectacles and called Edward to fetch him something from the back, while he began opening drawers and removing some leaves from the shelf, taking sap from another.
Caelum observed his actions and wondered to himself what he was mixing, and if they should really let someone with sinking pupils or spirit magic—whatever his assistant called it—treat someone.
Caelum looked at his mother and saw a trusting face, so he pushed his complaints aside.
After he was done, ..The mixture shimmered like liquid pearl before slowly settling into a pale silver paste.
Mr Castelow carefully placed it over a silver lamp until the moisture evaporated, leaving behind a fine silver powder
Before he packed it into a small tube while writing something on a piece of paper and handed it to his mother. After stepping down from the medical chair, she thanked him and asked how much today's check-up was. He replied,
"Twenty silver, my Lady." She turned and asked Mr. Castelow. "It's usually fifty silvers," he replied, "it's a family discount," and continued, as he adjusted his spectacles, "since you come to me every week, I can't keep charging you fifty silvers all the time."
"I would have initially wanted to do it for free, but knowing you wouldn't accept, I did it for twenty silvers instead." After paying the bill and packing the drug in her purse she quickly thanked him as Mr Castelow instructed Edward to see us out.
As we reached the exit, Caelum turned and asked Mother, " Why do you trust this man as your apothecary I think I saw his pupils go black during the check up she replied, " Oh, is that why you're asking it's spirit magic.
Caelum turned his head to ask, "What's that?" She replied, "Hmm, I don't know the specifics, but I do know it's used in the apothecary field, so don't worry.
There isn't an apothecary I trust more than Mr Castelow," she said with a reassuring smile.
"He's been treating me since I was a little girl, so don't worry," she replied, smiling at him. "Alright, let's run; we are going to miss the opera."
After quickening their steps, they immediately reached the carriage and opened the door. Diana immediately jumped into her arms to embrace her.
Scarlett greeted, "Welcome back, madam. How was your visit to the apothecary?" she asked politely. "Fine. Let's go, or we won't get good seats."
As the carriage kept moving, a thought kept nagging at Caelum's mind—about the cause of his mother's illness, whether it was even true that she had been sick since she was young, and what was up with that apothecary. He eventually concluded that this world has many mysteries, and he hopes he can eventually learn them.