FSE

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formerly SoFurry search engine

A soft snow had fallen over and around the potion maker's store. The forest nearby was powdered in white as well as the floor. There were still some leaves on the trees, but for the most part, the branches were barren. The potion maker herself was returning from the forest with a satchel hanging at her side. Layne wore her crooked pointed hat as normal, but rather than a dress, she wore a black coat that kept her insulated from the cold along with a small vial of warmth strung around her neck. She had been out gathering materials that only flourished beneath the magic of the Winter chill and her search had gone extremely well. The satchel she wore at her side was bulging with mushrooms, roots and more. There were many things that she could do with the materials she had gathered today and she certainly planned on getting to most of them as soon as she returned to her store. When she arrived at the entrance of her cottage, she saw something out of the ordinary. There was an envelope, not of magic, but of fine paper. She tilted her head and crouched to pick it up before standing back up to examine the thing. The front was addressed to one, 'potion maker,' which was her indeed. With a careful claw, she tore open the tip and pulled out a piece of parchment that felt colder than the snow itself.

Quietly, she muttered the contents of the letter, "Dear potion maker. Whether you deliver or not, I have a request to make. I would humbly ask for a potion that aids with sleep. That is all that I ask and all that I require from your store, but if it were only that then I wouldn't have needed to write this letter. I invite you to my home in the forest beyond the veil so that we may talk and that I may ask something more personal of you. Your words, your advice would be most appreciated and extra payment would be provided. Within, is the payment for the potion and a guide. Yours truly, Euli Ulia."

Beyond the veil? The offer on its own sounded strange, but beyond the veil usually meant in another world, in another realm. In the forest around her home, she could only think that it would be some sort of Fae, but what would someone of the Fae Folk want with one of her potions, and more importantly, what did they want with her? Layne's curiosity and caution were contending with one another until she tipped over the envelope. Bright shimmering coins fell out into her paw that were well worth their weight and then some. Along with that a glass bead fell that glowed just as brightly as the coin. She blinked and then looked toward the forest before shrugging. New business opportunities didn't come this often, so might as well take advantage. With that thought, she slipped through the door of her home to grab what she needed and prepare for another trip through the forest.

It took about thirty minutes give or take before the potion maker stepped back out of her home. She had found everything that she needed, stored what she didn't need and was prepared for her little meeting with the Fae. There was the desired potion in her bag, but along with that, there were plenty of things to protect herself with. The Fae were not a unique species, but rather a group of those who had signed a contract with beings from another plane of existence. None except the original Fae knew the being that held the reigns, but the original Fae themselves were able to offer folk membership should they desire. Great power and an eternal life of serving some sort of strange unseen forces. Regardless, Layne had no quarrel with them and she supposed she could do business, so long as there were no tricks, as for becoming Fae herself? She already drew from a cosmic source of power, she didn't need anything else and certainly wouldn't take anything else at the cost of her own freedom.

Layne left the store when the sun was still high in the sky. She held aloft the glass bead and stared at it as she traveled down the steps on the hill. It shimmered in the sunlight and yet it didn't seem to do anything else for her. When she squeezed, it began to grow hotter until it started changing color. She hissed and let the damnable thing go as it burst into bright orange flames. Layne recoiled and readied herself for a fight, but there was no reason to.

The fires that had burst from the glass bead were now floating harmlessly above the ground and in front of her. They seemed to flicker and twist a bit in the wind, but other than that, they remained still. When Layne tilted her head, the plume of fire began to float away. She supposed that was her guide.

Strange as it seemed to follow a floating fire, she wouldn't necessarily say it was the weirdest thing she had ever done. Magic was abundant, this was simply another form of it. She walked just behind the silent flame and soon found herself stepping into the forest again. Layne had no idea that it would be leading her so far from her home, but her curiosity kept her walking through the snow-covered forest. Eventually, the floating flame stopped just before a large tree. Layne tilted her head and she took a step toward the tree and as she did this, more flames appeared around her. She frowned and found herself tensing as they appeared one by one, all of them blue. A circle appeared below her and it suddenly felt as if her world had been turned upside down for a single second before she was set up right. In a blink of an eye, she had left the cold Winter forest during the day, and arrived at a stone castle at the center of some sort of twisted wood with the full moon shining brightly above. The trees around her were gnarled and their branches turned about in strange ways, but they were covered in flowering leaves that glowed blue in the pale moonlight. There was no snow here and already she felt as if she had come overdressed, but still, here she was. Wherever this place was.

Layne had a few ways she could go, but only one of them looked as if it would take her to any place resembling somewhere she would be invited to, and so she headed toward the castle. Where the gates would be, there was simply an open archway without any defense at all. Perhaps it was more of an aesthetic thing, or perhaps there were other things guarding the castle. When she stepped past the threshold of the archway, she felt a shiver slice down her spine so sharp that her fur stood up on end.

"Apologies M'lady. I should have been out here faster to warn you of the threshold, it is a strange thing is it not?"

Layne hopped and turned to see a white rabbit standing there garbed as a butler would in tailcoat and trousers with sharp green eyes and a big smile, "Who?"

"You may call me Lind. I am a servant here at this castle and here to escort you to the one who handles my pay so to speak. She is also the one who invited you, and the owner of this castle. Now now, lower your guard, there is no cause to be alarmed! The threshold you feel is simply a seal, a weave of magic over the castle that keeps this place as neutral ground so that none my quarrel here."

Layne raised a brow, "That apply to miss Ulia?"

Lind's smile grew and grew until it took an eerie proportion, "Clever! You are here at home with a mind like that. Yes, it applies to the mistress. There is to be no violence here, but mind you there are ways to trick and fool and to tempt people into harming themselves. Now then, some rules should you find yourself speaking to a stranger in the castle. Gifts are given in good faith. The truth will never be omitted. Make sure they say the item is a gift before you take it. Oh yes, would you like some tea?"

For just a second, she was about to accept before she crossed her arms, "Is it a gift?"

Lind laughed, a soft and silken sound that for some reason sent shivers up her spine, "Clever girl! However, all hospitality here provided by me and the other servants are gifts. Should you accept something without confirming it is a gift or not, you may find yourself being asked for something of equal value." His voice then lowered, "But you will never be forced into the Fae unless you desire it yourself."

The feline felt the cold chill of Winter even though her body was far too warm beneath her coat, "Right...Lead the way then?"

With a nod and a short bow, the rabbit turned tail to take the lead. Layne walked behind the rabbit while allowing her eyes to wander. They went from the dark blue-greens of the strange forest to the stone walls of the inner castle. There were rugs and furs strewn about floor making for soft footing. Torches lined the wall with flickering fires that seemed to shift and change color and hue. She was led through halls and through great corridors, up stairs and through rooms that seemed like they shouldn't be there in the first place. Layne certainly wouldn't have been able to get out of here herself and she wondered if that was part of some sort of trap. Lind hadn't told her if this was a trap or not, only that it was a non-violent area. To that effect, she supposed it would be a good idea to satisfy her customer to the best of her abilities.

Eventually, they arrived at what Layne assumed was their destination. It was a great den with deep pools of water on either side of the entrance. Those pools of water were fed by sources of water that spilled in gentle waterfalls from the white stone walls. Layne had expected to see a throne of some sort ahead, but instead, she saw a circular table adorned with two teacups and a pot. At one chair sat a dashing beauty, unlike anything she had seen before. A vulpine figure sat there with eyes closed holding one of the cups with a small smile on their features. Their fur was a hazy white that reminded her of the snow with flecks of marble black at her ears. Layne felt some sort of strange presence radiating from that figure and her frozen state was only broken by the rabbit butler edging her on gently.

Before she knew it, she was sitting at the table with her satchel set gingerly on the top. She looked down to see that she was holding one of the teacups and when she looked back up she saw the golden eyes of the fox staring at her.

"Welcome." Said a voice like liquid silver coming from the fox, "I trust that you find the sights appealing? That you are not too bothered by the trip? If you should like anything else other than the tea, please, do let me know...It is all part of my good favor for you, all a gift."

Layne cleared her throat, "I...Thank you. Miss Euli is it?"

The fox's smile grew just a bit and she nodded, "Yes indeed, and what is your name?"

There was a momentary pause as she thought deeply on the words of the butler. She didn't think that their names were that important, else, why would Euli give her name first? "Layne."

Euli set her cup down and clasped her paws together, "Layne. Such a pretty name for a pretty girl. A lunar feline by the looks of those little markings on your wrist, a lovely one at that. I am happy to meet you in person and face to face no less. You have nothing to worry about when it comes to the items presented to you as I'm sure you understand that this is basic hospitality. No doubt Lind has told you of the basic do's and don'ts, but if only that were all hm? One can make assumptions and one can counter assumptions with plausible deniability and the sort. Now, relax. The tea is sweet, nothing spiced or bitter. I have an extreme sweet tooth."

Layne took a sip and blinked as she felt a rush of sugar hit her tongue. Truth be told, she had her own sweet tooth and she appreciated the flavor instead of disliking it. When she set her own cup down she asked, "Well, thank you for the invitation, first of all, this place is strange but beautiful. Now, business." From the satchel, she gingerly took the glass flask containing the potion and set it on the table between them. Euli picked it up and looked at the contents with tilted head before setting it near her back on the table. The feline then asked, "So, what is your real desire?"

The Fae fox looked at her with a quirked brow before giggling, "I suppose it was obvious wasn't it? I'll have you know that I do have trouble sleeping and a bit of this will help with that, but more importantly, I do have something else I want of you. Just a chat and perhaps some guidance. I am willing to pay since I doubt your consultation is not free."

Layne frowned and leaned back in her seat, "It isn't, but what would a Fae need with a potion maker's magic advice?"

Euli's eyes glimmered for a second as she responded with her chin resting atop the back of her paws, "My, a good question, but I am not infinite, and I am not as powerful as the ones who have given us this power. For instance, there are beings much older than I that control the ebb and flow of the world. You've met one such as that?" Layne thought of the old elemental and touched the gem at her neck before nodding, "Mhm...Not only just immortal creatures but even people in the guild of Witches in your world hold knowledge that the Fae cannot touch for various reasons. So, let me be frank now. How would one go about capturing your heart?"

The feline's cheeks flared with color beneath the fur and she coughed, "Excuse me?"

Silence fell between the two and those golden eyes remained on her own before Euli laughed, "I'm teasing you, dear, I'll save that question for another time." Layne sighed hoping that she wouldn't have to endure this place for much longer while the Fae fox continued, "What from you is, how would you go about in killing one of the original Fae?"

Layne sucked in a breath this time and she felt her heart nearly stop at that bold question. It sounded like such a terrifyingly sincere question, "Pardon?"

"How would one, go about killing one of the original Fae?"

Layne shook her head, "I'm sorry. I'm just a simple potion maker. That is not my realm of knowledge. I can tell you how to poison, how to chuck a fireball and I know enough hexes to get by just fine to defend myself, but killing Fae is not something I make a habit of doing, nor do I get involved in interdimensional political conflicts."

She let her answer hang in the air for a moment and surprisingly, Euli never stopped smiling. When Layne relaxed again the Fae answered, "Well, that's disappointing. I suppose I'll just have to ask something else. Do you know of any of your kind that have joined the ranks of the Fae?"

Layne shook her head, "Hmmm, not that I can think of."

"Ahh...Neither can I think of any. Lunar felines value their freedom and have never been tempted or shown any desire to cut their connection to the stars for one of our powers."

With arms crossed arms the potion maker prodded, "So, what is it that you actually want me here for? The first question was far too dangerous and the second one was something extremely plain."

Euli smile never faded as she answered, "Partially boredom and in some parts hope. I believe, though, I have one last question to ask of you. Would you come back for a visit? Just for tea and conversation? I would be happy to trade information with you. Would be happy to meet your every desire and curiosity." Layne noticed that her eyes were growing brighter and that the room around her was suddenly growing dimmer. The Fae continued, "I could teach you how to harness your magic in better ways than you could ever imagine, I could find for you any object and any single little thing within your desire. Those hearts which you ache for could be yours...Even your cousin's should you wish."

Layne slapped her hands on the table and stood from her seat with her eyes closed. She had felt the vibrations within her heart, the fog coming over her mind, the suggestion of control, and she knew that she was in some kind of danger, "I think, that I have no reason to come back and no reason to stay. If our business is concluded then I would like to leave. I don't require any payment for that since I didn't say anything you could really use."

Still, that smile continued on even as Layne opened her eyes to see the fox leaning back in her seat, one leg crossed over the knee languidly, "My, nothing at all? Not even a kiss from me? That one could be on the house you know."

Layne felt a sudden surge of warmth in her heart, a heat the pressed against her groin and she cleared her throat, "No thank you. I think I'd just like to leave now. If you need anything else, feel free to come by."

The Fae fox giggled, "Oh! Gladly. I will gladly come to your home for a visit. Now, go on Lind, take our dear friend away. She's most certainly done enough for today, oh, and give her proper compensation."

Just as Layne was about to ask for what, they were back in the forest at the great tree where the blue circle had appeared. She looked around with her heart thumping wildly and she was suddenly facing the rabbit butler who was bowing deeply with both paws outstretched with a small pouch resting atop. She carefully took it and Lind disappeared. As if it were about to pop into flames at any moment, she took the pouch and turned it over. Scales in a myriad of colors flashed out onto her paw. She blinked and gasped as she realized she was holding dragon scales. Oftentimes dragons and dragon kind would donate scales for alchemical purposes, but there were some who poached them for the ripest ingredients. Along with the scales, a small vial of crimson liquid fell into her paw. She shuddered and slipped her payment back into the pouch before starting to walk. The payment would suffice. The ingredients existed, they there and she would use them, but what worried her was something else. What had she just been paid for?

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