The Shoppe

Written by Jenn

One sky-hued hand tossed the round object to another hand, which in turn tossed it to another. Filibai rolled the small red apple in her palm, thoughts drifting in and out of coherency as her brains vied for control, one pondering the problem of the apples and the other focusing on the myriad rainbow gems that hung from strings like colorful crystalline faeries.

As a Divine Advisor, she was both deity and subordinate to her Leader, assigned to solve the most difficult problems and work on the trickiest bits of research. Several months prior, Yuukuj had assigned her to the task of augmenting his creatures via secondary means. Her magic was up to the task, but crafting something subtle enough to take effect when eaten and not before took work and planning. Additionally, there would be many ‘spells’ placed within the various fruits and gems, which would take effect differently. The crystals would need an entirely different system of delivery, since their bearers certainly wouldn’t be eating them to gain their effects.

The brain concentrating on the apple dilemma, which she had good-humoredly nicknamed ‘Project Fertility Fruit’, was currently in ascendance. Enchanting them would be simple enough for her power, but crafting it to take effect the instant they bit down was the block.

Or maybe it didn’t have to be at the moment of a bite. She sat up suddenly, clutching the fruit as her focus turned inward. If she could coax the spell to take effect slowly, as the natural stomach acids dissolved the food, it would...

Yes. Something in her shouted at the prospect, telling her that was the route she needed to follow, the path to success. Delighted, she stared at the apple and began to cast the simplest of her spells, a temporary gift of increased fertility.

Filibai would have danced in delight if not for the shred of dignity she clung to like a tattered cloak. Yuukuj had not only been pleased with her breakthrough, but had decreed that she should open herself a shop in one of the larger human cities to supply Euclide with her newest creations. It would be situated in one of the more dilapidated areas of town, a floor above the theatre of a well-established and loyal cast, which was just fine with her. So long as he allowed her to continue experiments, she would do whatever her Leader asked of her.

Her trunk was an ungainly burden, packed with a variety of ingredients that would have an alchemical expert drooling in envy. Let no one say that she lacked an inventory of supplies. It contained all she needed to start her small venture.

When she first settled in, a rickety staircase led several apprehensive creatures to her door. She greeted them with a lipless smile and a broad two-armed gesture of welcome. She would know instinctively if they were worthy of her time and effort, and treat them accordingly. The situation was better than she could have hoped. “How may I serve you?” she asked the first smoothly, mockingly, in a clear telepathic message. Yes, this would be enjoyable.