Creative Writing; Short Story Ch1 (2024)

‘Goooood morning Hazdellin! And welcome all newcomers to the largest city in Brogham! It features several residential communities and a bustling market district. Where else would you spend your hard-earned gold?

And who could forget the overlooking sovereign? Just at the top of the hill is the lovely Citadel housing our Monarch, and the Magical High Council…’

At least once a month, this announcement rang through every sono-orb in the city. It was especially frustrating for Dahlia who had been looking forward to sleeping in. Going from grasping her soft quilt, to covering her head with a pillow in mere moments.

Exard’s grating voice ringing through the room was enough even to disturb Cornelius’ sleep, and he could sleep through a hailstorm. With her head under the pillow, she haphazardly felt around for the offending object on her bedside table.

But she only grew more frustrated and decided to get up to turn the blasted thing off.

“Mmm,” she groaned as she stretched, “Good morning, Cornely.”

He responded with a nod and stretched his wings before lifting himself off of his treehouse. He made his home on her shoulder, coiling himself loosely around her neck. The cool bite of his scales was enough to wake her up fully. For a bit.

The start of her morning was as it always was. She stretched with some satisfying pops and crackles of her back and joints. She took a quick trip into the lav to rinse her face and ran her nails across her scalp. In the vanity, a familiar sight, dull bags under her mossy eyes.

 Soon after, she prepared a fresh kettle; nearly dozing off again before the squealing startled her back. A warm cup of tea with milk and honey would be just the thing to perk her up. She made her way down the steps, gliding one hand across the wall.

It was definitely time to dust again.

Like clockwork, she made sure to dust and sweep, and of course, she couldn’t forget to reorganize the potions on her spinning shelves. She made sure each golden price plaque was shining. She watered every plant on her tables and sprinkled some fairy dust on the magical ones. Her tea had grown lukewarm on the bar table by the time she was done.

However, she wouldn’t open until later that day. She had to go to the market today, for her pantry was dreadfully empty. Cornelius was quick to remind her during cleanup that he hadn’t been fed either.

“Coming with, this time?” Cornelius hissed in response. “I’ll take that as a ‘No’.” She laughed, it would be quite nippy this morning anyway.

He slithered off her shoulder as she yanked on her old boots, and she was sure to say goodbye after pulling on her heavy cloak. She grabbed the wicker basket from beside the door and headed out.

She let out a heavy sigh at the sight of the slums just down the opposite end of the street. The ashy brown bricks, covered in ivy were lively compared to the slums but ‘tacky’ compared to the building next to hers. She turned and took a glance making sure the closed sign was up. She tapped on the stained-glass windows of her shop as she walked towards the market.

She greeted a few familiar faces but didn’t bother to stop for a chat.

She did stop, however, when a familiar ‘meow’ echoed from Mr. Dreg’s brick fence.

“Good day to you, Lady.” She cooed as she stroked Little Lady on her head. “Mraow.” Little Lady rubbed her head against Dahlia’s open palm, her stark white body was warm against her ungloved hands.

“It is a bit chilly, huh? Give Althonius my greetings, dear.” Waving goodbye to the familiar as she walked further along.

Dahlia skipped down the stone path to reach the market. The air was a mix of sweets and savories. Coriandr’s Bakery, Kimi’s Pastries; She nearly had to wipe her mouth of drool. Dahlia patted her belt just to make sure she remembered to bring her gold. She smiled slightly at the lumpy pouch on her side. She made her way over to Gelda’s stall and did a double take. Her haul is huge today! It wasn’t any wonder why there was a crowd today, just about every stall so far had been filled with treasures.

Fresh Catfish, Trout, and Bass from the lake; And an absolutely savory-looking hunk of freshly prepped boar hung from a hook. Dahlia made sure to buy a good helping of everything to stock up, who knows when Gelda would get this much greatness again?

“You gonna have room?” Gelda’s baritone voice was clear even through the crowd, and her hearty laugh made Dahlia smile. “If not, I’ll come back tomorrow.” Soon after they said their smiling ‘goodbyes’.

Next up was Matil’s Produce stall. “Have good day.” He mumbled. Matil rarely spoke because of his accent, so it was nice to be acknowledged by him. Her basket was already nearly full after grabbing an assortment of fresh veggies and fruits. Good thing she had plentiful spices and herbs this time around. She really needed to curb that impulse-buying habit. But, it always put a smile on Matil’s face, which strangely suited his tired eyes.

She nodded at him with a smile so big it hurt her cheeks before she left.

She did have some restraint, she only bought one cherry tart for brunch this time.

Her back ached once she reached her shop again. She closed the door with her foot a little too hard causing the bells to clatter and ring against it. She still had to make her way up to her apartment.

She yelped when she nearly dropped her basket when she missed a step.

She hummed while organizing; the meat in the cryobox, Fruits in her table basket, and her veggies laid out on the counter. She would get to them later when she closed the shop.

Dahlia eagerly jumped down the stairs once more, a familiar hissing noise joining her. She flipped the store sign to ‘Open’ and sat at her bar with a ‘thump’.

Today would be a slow day, but that was no reason to close the shop. Dahlia lost the time as she read the book on her bar. Fantastical Fungi. She’d read it at least twice already.

She jumped at the ringing of her shop bells.

A figure clad in dark clothing started perusing her herbs. She couldn’t quite make out their features, a hooded cowl covering most of it. But their messy white hair peeking out was quite the contrast. They made their way to the potion shelves and studied them, in a way that almost seemed like they were hiding their face.

“You wouldn’t happen to sell poisons here, would you?”

The lilt in their voice was strangely familiar. “No, Stranger, I don’t.” Suspicion was laced in her tone. Dahlia brushed her dark curls back over her shoulders and crossed her arms. She knew their type; many mercenaries had come to her shop before asking for poisons.

Perhaps she should put up a sign.

The stranger’s head raised to look at her when she spoke. Recognition in their amethyst eyes. Wait... Amethyst eyes, white hair, sickly paleness... There wasn’t a doubt in Dahlia’s mind.

“It couldn’t be- Rowan? Is that you?”

The stranger- Rowan­, Smiled under the cowl. They pulled it down to show the rest of their face.

“It’s been a long time, Dolly. Hasn’t it?”

Dahlia huffed and gestured to the large plaque on her wall. It was engraved: ‘Odalia Hemlock – Alchemical Botanist-’ Signed and dated by the Magical High Council.

“Don’t call me Dolly.” She hated that name, her father used to call her that. Rowan raised their hands in defense and rolled their eyes.

“What are you doing here, Rowan? I haven’t seen you in years! I thought...” Dahlia’s eyes lowered, and her brows furrowed. She thought they’d been dead. Their mother had been caught up in some scandal, and the Monarch Guard got involved.

“Still kicking.” They smiled. She missed that smile- it hadn’t changed since they were kids.

“And as for what I’m doing here; Coincidence, mostly. But also,” They pulled a parchment from their pouch. It was a bounty poster. With her face on it. She carefully took the poster from their hand, while looking up at them questioningly.

It was legitimate. The seal of the Order of Eyes was unmistakable. “Are you here for me, old friend?”

They shifted in place. “I was,” they slowly reached for the poster back, “looking for you.”

“But, no.” That smile again.

“What is one to think when you come into their shop, asking for poison, and armed to the teeth?” She asked while she backed up against the bar table, Even Cornelius was on edge on one of his posts behind her. You would think there was a leak with how he was hissing.

Rowan let out a strained laugh. “I was looking for you, yes. But only to warn you.” Dahlia wasn’t exactly convinced. And neither was her familiar.

“I would not insult your pride as to suggest I would protect you from this. You have always been capable. But...” Rowan took an echo gem from their pouch and wrapped it carefully with the bounty poster. “I am offering my services. If you ever need help. Nothing is too mundane.”

They backed away from her, leaving the bundle on one of her tables. And as if in a show of trust, they turned their back and pushed through the creaky wooden doors. The bells chimed quietly, and Dahlia let out a breath she didn’t know she’d held.

Cornelius was the one to break her from the trance she’d been in for a few minutes after. He laid himself across her shoulders, still looking towards the door. And an immense rush of energy filled Dahlia to hurriedly lock up her shop.

“Even if- and I mean a huge ‘if’, Rowan isn’t after my head... Someone is.” She took one final glance at the bundle on her table, before taking it in her shaky hands.