The clatter of hooves echoed in the courtyard as the sleek black carriage, emblazoned with the golden crest of Countess Fiona Venti, pulled up in front of the mansion's grand entrance. Aiden stood beside Fiona, his excitement barely concealed. It had been eight long months since he had ventured outside the confines of the mansion, and the thought of exploring Dermon City again filled him with anticipation.
Fiona, ever composed, gestured for Aiden to follow her as the coachman opened the door to the carriage. Dressed in her usual regal attire, she exuded an air of authority that made her presence impossible to ignore. Aiden climbed into the carriage after her, settling into the plush velvet seats.
As the carriage began its journey down the winding streets of Dermon City, Aiden couldn't help but press his face slightly toward the window, his golden-red eyes wide with wonder.
The streets were bustling with life. Merchants shouted to advertise their wares, children ran through the cobbled lanes, and pedestrians moved in every direction, their arms filled with goods. Aiden's gaze darted from one sight to another, his excitement palpable.
"It's been so long since I've seen the city," he murmured to himself, his breath fogging the window.
Fiona, observing his enthusiasm, allowed a small smile to grace her lips. "Enjoy it while you can, Aiden," she said. "The city has its charm, but it can also be overwhelming."
As the carriage passed through the busy commercial district, its elegant design and the Countess's crest immediately drew attention. People stopped in their tracks, murmuring among themselves as they watched the carriage roll by.
"Is that the Countess Venti?" one passerby asked.
"And who's that boy with her?" another whispered.
Speculation grew as the carriage finally came to a stop in front of Angeline's Alchemy, one of the most renowned alchemy shops in the city. The shop's ornate wooden sign swung gently in the breeze, and its large windows displayed rows of potions and alchemical tools.
As the door to the carriage opened, Fiona stepped out first, her graceful movements drawing the attention of everyone nearby. Aiden followed, his eyes taking in the familiar sight of the shop. Memories of visiting it with his mother resurfaced, bringing a small smile to his face.
The shop's owner, Brianna, a tall woman with silver hair tied into an elegant bun, hurried to greet them. Bowing deeply, she spoke with deference. "Countess Venti, it is an honor to have you visit my humble establishment. How may I assist you today?"
Fiona waved a hand dismissively, her tone light. "Don't mind us, Brianna. We're only here to browse."
"Of course, my lady," Brianna said, stepping aside to let them enter.
As Fiona and Aiden entered the shop, the knights who had accompanied them took up positions around the building. Their presence created an unspoken barrier, keeping curious onlookers at bay. Outside, the gathering crowd began to speculate.
"Why would the Countess come here personally?"
"Do you think she's purchasing some rare potion?"
"Who is that boy with her?"
Inside the shop, the air was filled with the faint aroma of herbs and potion ingredients. Shelves lined the walls, filled with glass vials, powdered reagents, and jars containing mysterious substances. Fiona glanced around, her eyes sharp and calculating.
"Aiden," she said, "show me where you found that stone."
Aiden nodded and led her to the second floor, where alchemical materials were stored. The upper level of the shop was divided into sections, each dedicated to different types of ingredients.
As they walked through the aisles, Aiden spotted the same woman who had conducted business with his mother years ago. She gave him a polite nod but didn't seem to recognize him.
Finally, Aiden arrived at the section where he had first seen the unusual stone. But as he looked around, a frown crept onto his face. The shelves were nearly empty, with only a few mundane items remaining.
"It's not here," Aiden muttered, scanning the shelves. He searched the entire section, hoping to find even a trace of the strange materials that had been there before, but it was futile. The shelves that once held peculiar alchemical items were now barren.
Disappointed, Aiden turned to the woman overseeing the section. "Excuse me," he said, "what happened to all the materials that were here?"
The woman tilted her head thoughtfully. "Oh, you must be referring to the unusual batch we had a while ago. Those materials were sent to our headquarters in the capital for further research."
Aiden's shoulders slumped. "Do you know when more of those materials will arrive?"
The woman offered a small smile. "You're in luck. A new shipment of alchemical ingredients is due to arrive in just a couple of days. If you're interested, I can notify you when it comes in."
Hearing this, Fiona stepped forward, her tone calm but authoritative. "Yes, please inform me as soon as the shipment arrives," she said.
The woman nodded eagerly. "Of course, Countess. I will ensure you are notified immediately."
Satisfied, Fiona turned to Aiden. "It seems we'll have to return later," she said. "Let's head back for now."
Unbeknownst to them, One, a high-ranking member of the shadowy organization, had been informed of Fiona's rare public appearance. His spies reported that the Countess had personally left her mansion with a boy and visited Angeline's Alchemy.
Sitting in a dimly lit room, One frowned as he processed the information.
"Why would Countess Venti personally visit an alchemy shop?" he muttered. "She could easily summon the owner to her mansion."
The boy accompanying her also piqued his curiosity. "Find out who the boy is," One ordered his subordinates. "And learn what business the Countess had at that shop."
His mind churned with possibilities, but little did he know, Fiona's motives were far simpler than he imagined.
Inside the carriage on their way back to the mansion, Fiona's eyes sparkled as she glanced at Ciara, perched gracefully on Aiden's shoulder.
"That cat of yours," Fiona said suddenly, breaking the silence. "It's truly remarkable. The more I look at her, the more I want one for myself."
Aiden blinked in surprise. "You want a cat like Ciara?"
Fiona nodded, her tone turning almost wistful. "When I first saw her, I was intrigued, but I didn't have the chance to do anything about it. Now that I've seen her up close… well, let's just say I wouldn't mind having a companion like her."
Aiden chuckled softly. "You might need more than luck to find another stone like that."
Fiona smirked, leaning back in her seat. "Perhaps. But who knows? Maybe the shipment arriving at Angeline's will have something equally interesting."
As the carriage pulled into the mansion's courtyard, Aiden stepped out with a mix of relief and amusement. Fiona's unexpected interest in Ciara added a layer of levity to their outing, but it also reminded him of how unique his companion truly was.
As he made his way back to his room, Aiden couldn't help but reflect on the day's events. Though he hadn't found another stone, the promise of new materials arriving soon gave him hope. And with Fiona's sharp eye and relentless curiosity, he was certain that their next visit to the shop would be even more eventful.