William had mentally prepared himself before coming here, fully aware that he wasn't in the position to purchase magical items. He came with the intention of learning, broadening his horizons in this strange new world. Still, a quick glance around the Magic House left him feeling a sting of inadequacy deep in his heart.
Why does everything here cost money? he thought bitterly. Why do you need to spend so much just to play a game? His frustration mounted. This miserable game doesn't even provide enough startup capital!
With a resigned sigh, William rummaged through his bag, pulling out the few magical materials he had collected during his travels. He handed them to the Magic House's appraiser for an estimate. It wasn't long before a curious fact surfaced. The one doing the appraising wasn't Calcifer; the enigmatic figure lounging nearby, but rather an owl, perched with an air of importance.
Calcifer, with his graceful, aristocratic demeanor, had only moments before been reclining like some nobleman at tea, legs crossed, exuding an aura of effortless elegance. Yet it seemed this establishment wasn't his. According to Calcifer, the true owner of the Magic House had always been the owl.
"And I," Calcifer remarked with an amused glint in his eye, "am merely the power behind the curtain. A capitalist, if you will."
William could only groan inwardly. Of course. An evil capitalist!
"Twenty silver coins," the owl hooted as it shook its head, offering its valuation.
The materials, mostly dropped by a rare flower fairy, were valuable enough to make potions, which was no small sum at this stage of the game. Yet, compared to the hefty prices of magical items, it was a pittance.
Reluctantly, William placed another item on the table: a ruby glowing with a faint, magical light. He had found it in an abandoned mine, and now, with no other choice, he was ready to part with it. He couldn't afford to hold onto sentimental items when he was this broke. Desperation called for hard decisions.
The ruby immediately caught Calcifer's attention. His calm, refined composure shifted as he bent forward, his green eyes sparkling with interest. He picked up the gem with his slender, alabaster hands, his gaze locking onto William's in surprise.
For a moment, Calcifer chuckled softly. "So... you and I are from the same tribe, after all."
William raised an eyebrow, unsure what to make of that statement. Before he could respond, the owl interrupted.
"This magic gem is valuable," the owl said, "but it's uncarved. I could offer you 80 silver coins, maybe a little more. But in the right hands, it could be worth over a gold coin."
Calcifer, still turning the ruby in his fingers, smiled. "I'll give you the full gold coin for it."
William stared, surprised by the offer. The owl, however, did not take it well. Its feathers puffed up indignantly as it flapped its wings in a fit of frustration.
"Calcifer! You reckless fool!" the owl screeched, its voice shrill with exasperation. "You have no idea how hard it is to keep a business running! I've worked tirelessly to set up this shop in the middle of nowhere, and here you are, throwing around money like it grows on trees! You can't run a household; let alone a business, like this!"
The owl made a desperate attempt to muss Calcifer's perfectly smooth, golden hair with its sharp claws. But Calcifer, chuckling under his breath, gently pushed the owl aside.
"Calm down, Hall. The price is fair, especially since the magical properties of this gem are exactly what I need." He turned back to William. "Even so, even with a gold coin and 150 feathers, I'm afraid I can't help you make any magic items."
William blinked, confused. "Why not?"
"For reasons I won't explain," Calcifer said with a casual roll of his eyes, "I can't use magic right now. But," he added slyly, "if you do me a favor, I'll make whatever magical items you need; for free. And I'll use all my power to do it."
William couldn't help but laugh. "A favor? For you?" He looked Calcifer up and down. "I'm not sure how I could possibly help you with anything."
Calcifer's expression turned serious for the first time. "I've been plagued by nightmares lately. If you hadn't woken me earlier, I would still be trapped in one right now."
A flicker of curiosity stirred in William. Nightmares? There was more to this mysterious character than met the eye.
William tilted his head, studying Calcifer's face. There was something about his calm, almost amused smile that intrigued him. This wasn't just any ordinary person standing before him. There was an ethereal charm to Calcifer, something otherworldly, like he wasn't quite human. More like some kind of elf, with his flawless grace and enigmatic allure.
"Alright then," William said slowly, not fully committing but not backing away either. "What exactly do you want from me?"
Calcifer leaned in slightly, his eyes glimmering with a hidden purpose. "You live in Border Town, yes? Have you ever heard of a witch who resides deep within the Misty Forest?"
William's curiosity piqued. "A witch?" he echoed, his tone cautious.
Calcifer nodded. "Yes, what I need from you is simple; help me find her."
William narrowed his eyes, suspicion creeping in. Is this some kind of romantic entanglement? He couldn't help but ask, "Will it be dangerous?"
Calcifer raised an eyebrow, pondering the question. "A witch? Well, she's a bit... eccentric. Gloomy, keeps to herself, always messing around with her potions, and her hygiene is... questionable, to say the least. She doesn't wash her clothes, rarely leaves her home, and reeks of herbs. But dangerous?" He hesitated, his certainty wavering. "Probably not."
The image Calcifer painted of the witch, a hunched figure crouching in the corner of a dark room, surrounded by bubbling cauldrons; did little to reassure William. He frowned, wondering if this witch was the type to lock people up in her home, turning them into ingredients for her next brew.
Seeing the hesitation in William's face, Calcifer added quickly, "The witch may be eccentric, but she's also a master of potions and a demonologist. If you help me, she might even be able to solve your problems."
William blinked. "My problems? What do you mean?"
Calcifer's gaze sharpened, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "The demonic power inside you, it's incomplete, yes, but it's still there. You must feel the strain it's putting on you, both mentally and physically. If left unchecked, it'll turn you into something... less than human. You'll become half-demon, unable to live among humans. Trust me, you don't want to be forced into a life in the wilderness, hunted by both demons and men."
William's frown deepened. Half-demon? He hadn't felt anything too severe; yet. But Calcifer's words weighed on him. Maybe it was just a matter of time before things got worse. He had heard stories about demonic traits, and he knew they were nothing to take lightly.
"And the witch can fix this?" William asked, his voice laced with skepticism.
Calcifer's expression remained guarded. "Possibly. It depends. Witches can dispel demonic power, but they can also enhance it. They have the power to make you a full-fledged demon if you desire that kind of strength. Demons are a superior race in the dark world, with immense potential. Don't you crave that kind of power?"
William shook his head. Becoming a demon held no appeal for him. He wasn't interested in walking down that dark path. But the prospect of understanding this world better and the potential dangers it held, was something that did interest him.
Still, he was cautious. "So, assuming I agree to help, what exactly do you need me to do?"
Calcifer sipped his tea elegantly, as if the request was as simple as asking for a cup of sugar. "The witch possesses a treasure known as the Spirit of Spring Water. I need that, but she's unlikely to give it to me. However, if you could bring me back some of the Spring Water of Life, it would suffice."
William narrowed his eyes again. "Doesn't sound like you and the witch are on good terms."
Calcifer let out a soft chuckle, though there was a trace of melancholy in his voice. "You could say that. She probably hates me. We... had a falling out. It's been a long time since we parted ways."
This is definitely some kind of old love debt, William thought to himself, growing more skeptical by the second. He folded his arms across his chest. "And what if she refuses to give me the Spring Water? Or worse, what if she's angry with me because of you?"
At this, Calcifer's previously bright and charming expression darkened. His handsome face took on a shadowed, almost brooding look. For the first time, his smile disappeared.
"If she won't cooperate," Calcifer said, his voice low, "tell her that the Scourge of the wilderness is moving toward the kingdom's borders. Not even the mighty fortress of Blizzard will be able to hold back its fury. When the Scourge arrives, she'll be forced to come to Border Town to reclaim what she once lost. At that point, all of us will be exposed to the Scourge's wrath. Cooperation may be our only hope."
William felt a chill run down his spine. The way Calcifer spoke of the Scourge, with such certainty, left little room for doubt. Whatever the Scourge was, it wasn't something to be taken lightly. He was beginning to understand that this mission was about far more than just a love-struck favor.
"Alright," William said finally, his voice steady. "I'll do it. But this better not get me killed."