I gazed upon the shop in front of me intently. It's windows were shrouded in shadows, preventing me from seeing inside. It's wooden exterior was worn and faded, giving off an eerie vibe. It looked exactly the same as when I had first visited it. Yeah even the whole building itself looked incredibly shady and suspicious as fuck!
"Here we are" I muttered under my breath, my eyes focused intently on the shop. Rhea stood quietly behind me, waiting patiently for my command.
I took a deep breath, bracing myself mentally as I pushed open the heavy wooden door, it's creaky hinges echoing throughout the shop. The bell above jingled loudly, announcing my arrival.
I entered the shop cautiously, Rhea following closely behind me. My eyes scanning my surroundings cautiously. It was dark and dimly lit, the faint glow of candles illuminating the interior. Everything remained the same as I remembered, shelves filled with various items lining the walls.
I slowly made my way further into the shop, my footsteps echoing loudly upon the wooden floorboards. I stopped in front one of the shelves, inspecting the items closely. I picked up a strange-looking bottle, containing some kind of unknown liquid. I turned it around in my hands, examining it curiously.
"Welcome back, young man" A deep voice called out to me from deep within the shop. A figure emerged from the shadows, slowly walking to the counter.
"I believe I have a few questions to ask you" I said casually, placing the bottle back on the shelf, keeping my expression neutral.
I turned around, facing the figure that was now standing behind the counter. He wore a hooded cloak, concealing his face from view. His entire body was shrouded in darkness, making it impossible for me to identify him.
"Questions huh...." He murmured thoughtfully, tapping his finger repeatedly against the wooden surface of the counter. "Perhaps the book I sold you is giving you troubles?" He inquired curiously, tilting his head slightly to the side.
"Yeah well... I would say trouble is an understatement" I muttered in response, narrowing my eyes slightly.
"Hmm, I see" He chuckled lightly, his voice sounding amused. "Well, whatever trouble it is, I assume you are seeking answers, is that correct?" He asked, raising an eyebrow questioningly.
"Yeah... that's basically the reason why I came here" I replied bluntly, my gaze fixated on him.
"Ask away, young man" He encouraged, leaning forward slightly, his body language indicating a keen interest.
I took a deep breath, composing myself before speaking up, "Who are you really?" I asked, staring directly at him.
"My name is not important, young man" He responded coolly, shaking his head dismissively. "Ohh, let's just say that I am a collector of rare and unique items" He replied cryptically, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. "However, if you really must know, you can call me Zalruk." He added, chuckling softly under his breath.
"Zalruk huh..." I muttered quietly, memorizing his name carefully.
"Yes, that is indeed my name" He confirmed confidently, nodding his head slightly. "Now, onto your next question..." He urged, crossing his arms expectantly.
"Where did you get this grimoire?" I asked bluntly, holding the grimoire firmly in my grasp.
"Ahh yes, the grimoire" He nodded slowly, a slight smile appearing on his lips. "That book contains quite powerful dark magic, young man" He stated matter-of-factly, his voice laced with amusement.
"Yeah no kidding..." I muttered in response.
"It's contents are extremely dangerous and extremely valuable" He continued, his gaze shifting towards the grimoire.
"Yeah, I figured as much..." I mumbled under my breath, opening the grimoire briefly.
The shop owner suddenly seemed to trembled in confusion, "Impossible!!!" He gasped, his voice filled with disbelief. "How can you open it!?" He exclaimed, his tone laced with surprise and astonishment.
I glanced up at him, raising an eyebrow questioningly, closing the grimoire immediately. "Umm what do you mean?" I asked, taken aback by his sudden outburst.
"That book was supposed to be sealed!!" He exclaimed, intently.
"What the hell are you talking about?" I demanded, furrowing my brows in confusion.
"Young man, that grimoire was sealed by a powerful being" He explained slowly, his voice laced with disbelief. "No one should be able to open it" He added, staring directly at me suspiciously.