Valerie held two small vials of glass in two hands. Inside was a very thin liquid, filled up a little over the halfway point within each of the vials. Night had begun to settle, so discerning the color of the liquid was rather hard. However, there was a noticeable dark blue glow emitted from the liquid, bending as it passed through the glass. A cork prevented the liquid from pouring out.
"Gosh, potion inflation is real. I mean, look at how little I got! Or maybe it's just more potent in a smaller volume. Actually, that might be better. Potions don't really taste all too good."
"Huh? What do you mean they don't taste good?"
'Starting to get a little nervous consuming… whatever that is.'
Quies sat on the grass, cross legged with his large Zweihander in his lap. He was juggling 5 balls of red liquid, the blue glow of the potion mixture reflecting off of its crimson surface.
"It's not that bad, per se, but it's not something you would want to taste again. Also partly the reason why there's potion addicts… b-but not too much since mixtures are rather costly. Think, like, the flavor of a redd fruit skin, dragged through the dirt and coated in acid from acid rain."
"I've… never had any of those things before."
"Great! You can try them all in one go!"
Quies rolled his eyes behind closed eyelids, almost fumbling one of the balls. The good thing about Valerie's illusory realm is that his gear was basically untouched after sparring. However, he still sustained some physical injury from the trauma inflicted to his imaginary self. However, they weren't as severe, which was why he was surprised to see that his wounds actually clotted. His armor was untouched, also.
"So what kind of mixture is that?"
Valerie observed the two glowing mixtures intensely.
"I got them from an alchemist back at Vigil. These will be our sensory enhancing potions, so you can see better in the dark and all of that. Although I don't recommend you use one during the day."
"You said that already."
"I know."
Quies paused his juggling, the balls of liquid floating in the air.
'Ah, what do I do with all this blood? It would be a waste to just drop it.'
He thought for a moment, then the balls of blood split, moving towards each of his arms. Upon contact, they moved to cover his hands and part of his forearms, coating them in a layer of crimson liquid.
"Nice gloves."
"Is it time yet? I've been sitting here for an eternity."
"I mean, not yet. But, if you wanna walk around Etris for it there's time for that."
Quies looked at her with a bored expression.
"Is there really nothing better?"
"Hey, I wasn't the one stranded on an island for 8 years. How the depths did you pass your time there?"
"Uhhmm… not gonna lie, mostly fishing. Most people dream of sitting on a beach and relaxing, and I got to do that every day!"
"Right…"
It seemed like Valerie didn't exactly share Quies' sentiments on fishing. However she turned away and began organizing her items, putting the vials in the coat pockets of her thick matte coat.
"Well, maybe I have a place in mind I want to visit."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Just curious to see it."
Quies stood up, careful not to touch his armor with his blood gloves. He didn't want to stain this new armor with the scent of his cursed blood.
***
Two inconspicuous figures walked on the stone paths of Etris. Dim paper-like lamps illuminated their faint silhouettes. One wore a long and dark coat, the dim light getting absorbed. The other wore a light leather form of armor with crimson red gloves.
Under the sky shrouded in clouds, the moon glowed with a faint white light. Its white purity is an offset to the veil of darkness surrounding it. Leaves rustled from the breeze coming down from higher areas, pyres of stone jutted out of the cracked surface like spears.
Together, the two walked deeper into a residential area of Etris. They walked farther away from the commercial and entertainment district, the lamps seemingly growing dimmer and less abundant as they walked further. From afar, the light coming from the bustling district of the town could clearly be seen.
"I swear it was on this street." The leather padded man remarked.
"We have time to burn anyway."
The woman wearing the thick matte coat didn't seem all too bothered by the younger man's miscoordination. The young man's eyes felt heavier by the minute as night settled further. He looked around with a slight rush, observing every major and minor detail to rack his memory.
Eventually, he found what he was looking for.
A humble home, a single story tall. Slightly raised above the ground by what seemed to be a solid platform. Its walls were as monotonous as the other buildings, painted tan with wooden framing. It was no bigger than the adjacent houses of the small street, and two lamps hung at the corners of its roof. Its entrance had a shallow set of light colored stone steps leading to the simple looking door. Tall glass windows, textured with wood paneling, let the soft glow of the lamps and the moon into the empty house.
There were no lights on inside.
Which was good news for the young gaunt man.
'Would've been a shame if somebody bought my family's home. I wouldn't be able to visit it if it were for that.'