"What do you mean what am I?"
"You were resurrected and now you're an unkillable zombie. Is your knowledge the side effects of the resurrection spell?"
"Umm … no! You can say that the spell worked, but instead of summoning a creature from the abyss, it took me from another world. Let's leave it at that", replied Reeve, with a hesitant expression. It was clear that this was something he didn't want to talk about.
"Fine then! When you're done eating, we can go to meet the alchemist", spoke Rizaneth, getting up. She then left the hall and went up the stairs.
Reeve hurriedly ate the food that had been put on the table. Since the maids were nowhere to be found, he dished himself. For some weird reason, he was very hungry. Ever since he had been reincarnated, Reeve actually felt like a normal human being. Not only could he feel pain, he could also feel hungry. He usually forgot that he was no longer human, and what reminded him was the stitches on his hands.
After eating, he went upstairs to call on Rizaneth. He didn't know which one her room was, so he ended up getting lost. However, before he did any damage, he ran into one of the maids. She had blonde hair, which was tied neatly into a bun. Thanks to this blonde-haired maid, he found the room Rizaneth was sitting in.
"Rizaneth, I'm finished. Let's go see this alchemist of yours", he said, as he got in the house without knocking. However, before he could go any further, Riza came out and chased him out hurriedly. It seemed like she was embarrassed about something.
"Haven't anyone told you to knock before you entered a girl's room?" asked Rizaneth, as she closed the door behind her.
"Well, whatever. Let's get going anyways", he urged.
Together, they left the mansion, and when they were quite a distance, Reeve couldn't help but envy the family. The mansion was not only large, but beautiful as well. It didn't take long for them to reach the alchemist's store. While walking in the streets, the same thing that had happened earlier happened as well. People stopped and stared.
Reeve couldn't help but smile bitterly when he saw this. It seemed like everywhere he went, he'd always be a spectacle. Now, they walked past many shops which had signs and insignias hanging at the door. As for the alchemist's shop, it was at the corner of the street. The sign on the door read: "Portions" in neat capital letters. Reeve was surprised at this. He could actually read the language written on it, somehow.
Seeing Reeve seemingly enthralled by the sign, Riza asked, "Don't tell me you can't read?"
"Okay. I won't tell you then", was the reply she got, causing her to glare at him.
When they went inside the shop, they found neatly arranged flasks with portions of various colours. Some of them were deep blue, others were colourless like water, while most of them had a pale-yellow colour. Reeve couldn't help but praise whoever made these portions.
As they were heading towards the counter, they heard an argument going on in the back room.
"How much time do I have to wait for my portion?" the voice that asked was feminine, but it sounded a bit rough.
"Please calm down, Lady Severin. I really asked for some more time. Can you please be patient? It's really difficult to work under such conditions!" another voice tried to explain to the feminine voice.
However, the feminine voice let out a cold snort, before sounds of footsteps echoed in the empty shop. A few minutes later, a fat middle-aged lady stormed out, before pausing slightly when she noticed Rizaneth, who was in front.
"Y-you… What are you doing here?" asked the middle-aged lady.
"Hello Lady Severin. Long time no see", replied Riza, with a cold smile.
"You think you can just … anyway, whatever! I'm sure you'll be regretting your decisions soon anyways", spoke Lady Severin, and she was about to storm out of the shop, but her eyes fell on Reeve. She was slightly surprised when she saw him.
"What do you mean I'll be regretting my decisions? Are you trying to threaten me, Lady Severin?" asked Riza, as her smile froze.
"Take it as whatever you want! I'm sure your family will deal with you properly! Hmpf!" the lady snorted before leaving the shop.
After she had left, Reeve whistled before saying, "That was enlightening… What was that all about?"
"Remember Cindi, the girl we met earlier? That was her mother!" replied Riza.
"Wait, what? But why is it that when you saw Cindi, you asked her who her brother was?"
"When I last saw her, she was this tall. However, as time passed, I almost couldn't recognize her at all! Of course, I had my own speculations, which I had to confirm. That's why I ended up asking", replied Riza, as she used her hand to show Cindi's height.
"Oh, is that so? That sort of makes sense, actually."
While they were still talking, an old man came out from the back room. This old man had a flowing grey beard, grey hair, and he was holding a staff in his hands.
"How can I… eh? Rizaneth?" asked the old man, as he laid his eyes on Riza.
"Good afternoon, Master Jaen. It has been a long time hasn't it? How have you been doing?" asked Riza, with a warm smile.
"I have been well, how have you been?"
"As you can see, I'm well. By the way, I just saw Lady Severin now. Is everything alright?"
Her words caused the old alchemist to sigh. It seemed like he just lost a few more years as he shook his head. "She wants a portion, you see. I've been trying to crack my head to make it, but … it's just too difficult! By the way, how's that bastard, Astram Saedis?"
"Eh? Did something happen between the two of you again?"
"Never mind it. I'll tell you later. Who's this?" asked Jaen, as he looked at Reeve.
"Oh, him? He's an acquaintance if mine."
"Is that so? Never took you for someone who would make acquaintances, especially after the bar incident between you and that Valdis lad", as the alchemist said this, he laughed heartily.