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MARY's POV:
The door closed behind them, and the sounds of whistles and bells flooded the air.
The lights have long since gone out. The smell of lavender was thick, almost suffocating.
“Hm,” the woman said with a sniff. If Mary looked hard enough, she would’ve thought that the other seemed a bit… unsteady.
“I wonder why they came in here then–does the smell just not reach the back storage?”
Mary blinked at her. “What are you talking about?”
The question felt pathetic on her tongue, and cluelessness clung to her like sweat after training.
Yet, instead of answering her question, the woman kept walking. She headed over to where the kitchen was and turned to face the wooden door, which was still open.
“This is the back storage, correct?” Before Mary could even answer, the woman slid inside.
Quickly, Mary rushed over to see if she could help–
“Stay out there!”
As Mary entered the kitchen, the voice made her freeze.
“I need you to catch one when they come out.”
‘When they come out?’ Mary thought with a blink. ‘Is she planning on–’
A wave of fire lights the storage from the inside out, making Mary yelp and stammer away from the intensity of the heat.
Right on cue, the two pixies are rushing out of the storage. The bell sounds dinging rapidly in panic as they flew around the bakery.
The woman came rushing out.
“Didn’t catch one?” not waiting for Mary to confirm her statement, she continued. “Hope you like cardio.”
The stranger jumped over the kitchen counter and lunged to where one of the pixies was, only to miss and go slamming into the floor, making Mary cringe at the sound.
That didn’t seem to deter her, though, as she just got up and started to chase the thing around the room. “Get back here, you little freak!”
Mary could only watch in stunned silence as the lady chased the creature around the room without a care in the world for the chaos she made as she leapt over the remaining chairs and tables and slammed into walls in her attempts to turn.
While feeling frozen, she noticed she couldn’t see the purple one anywhere.
Looking up, she found that pixie had taken the moment of the woman’s distraction to hide up near the giant chandelier.
But failed to notice Mary right there along with her.
Mary backed up a bit–
Before jumping up onto the counter, propelling herself to the close adjacent wall, before using that to launch herself to where the light was.
She went through the air, her jar cupping around the startled pixie as she slammed the lid down onto it before rolling over the light and landing on the ground, bending her knees before going into a roll.
When she was upright again, she quickly sealed the jar shut tight and looked at the creature she caught.
The pixie rammed its body against the jar over and over again, blast after blast, trying to escape.
The jar just glowed that familiar blue and remained intact.
Mary turned to look at the girl to call her attention to the fact that one was down–
Just to find the girl already looking directly at her, shock in her eyes.
“Dang–” the woman whistled, “Guess you do like cardio–now help me with this one.”
She went right back to chasing after the pink pixie, with Mary still watching it go down like a ship wreck waiting to happen.
It’s clear that–despite her knowledge–the woman wasn’t that good at actually catching the pixies.
So how did she–
It clicked in Mary's brain then.
‘She caught the pixie when it stopped. It stopped to avoid me, so–’
Quickly, she rushed around the bakery to where the woman was chasing the pixie in a circle–
Leaped out right in front of the pixie itself, causing it to freeze up–Just in time for the woman to lunge for it and cup it right up–
And run into Mary as well.
The two of them were sent straight to the floor. Mary had the foresight to keep a good grip on the pixie jar she had and make sure it didn’t touch the floor, while the woman raised her jar high above her head and kept the lid on it tight.
When they were on the floor, the lady quickly sealed her jar shut as well.
Silence hung heavy in the air as the two breathed, with Mary slowly lowering her forehead to the cool cobblestone bumps.
A chuckle from the body on top of her lifted through the air. She lifted her head back up with reluctance as the world tilted slightly.
“Well,” Unknown looked at her, dimples showing from a toothy grin spreading across her face. “Can never say pixie trapping ain’t a workout.”
Despite herself, Mary couldn’t help but respond with a chuckle of her own.
***
Just like that, the bakery was set to a buzz.
Guards came in to help set back up the tables, and the three pixies caught by them were placed on a counter, in clear view of all.
Murmurs were going through the air–Light and surreal–as the knights bore witness to the pests struggling to break free from the glass jars.
A sigh settled through her. The tension from her shoulders melted, and she looked over at the woman who had helped her.
She walked over to where she and Ms. Mayflower were talking, a huge smile on her face.
“Hey there,” she greeted, giving pause on the others' names before moving on. ‘I should really get that name.’
“Thanks a lot for helping us–we owe you one,” she stuck out her hand for the other to shake. “If you ever need anything, Riverden will be here to give aid.”
The other woman sat up at a table, an absent, thoughtful look placed on her face as she muttered to herself. Completely ignoring Mary’s hand.
‘... Hm…’
“We’ll take it from here,” she continued, dropping her hand. Her eyes followed the strange woman as she paced around the dine-in floor. “We can get the strawberry incense out on our own.”
That got her attention.
The lady froze from where she was walking. Murmurs quieted as she looked over at Mary. Eyes wide, but brows furrowed.
“I’m sorry?” she asked. Her voice measured in a way that Mary had never heard from her before.
Mary blinked. The feeling of something being wrong slithered through her bones and wrapped around her like a cloak. She hesitated as she spoke, “Gah–We’ll get the incense out, and–”
“You most certainly will not,” the woman snapped. “Why in the five realms would you do that?”
Mary felt her chest tighten slightly as her brain whirled, trying to figure out what she said wrong. She squeezed the hilt of her sword in an attempt to regain herself.
“Well, Dr. Layhorn–the man that helped with our pixies before–told us to–”
“HE WHAT?!”
Mary voiced her now booming voice. The entirety of the knight squad froze in their tracks. The room went dead silent as all eyes went on to Mary and the new face.
Mary felt her hands grow sweaty. She could feel the judgment simmering below their gazes–a thin coat of respect waiting to snap.
She swallowed back her panic and spoke in a steady tone. “Dr. Layhorn–after he captured the pixies–told us to leave out strawberry incense due to its repelling properties against pixies–”
“Oh my fawn–No!” The person was quick to cut her off. With heavy footsteps and wide eyes, she approached her.
“I have never heard a false statement than the time my peer told me that fay drackles don’t nest in requisite school!” she stated. “Pixies love sweets! They’re attracted to strawberries–not repelled!”
Something cracked in Mary then.
“... What?”
“No wonder your infestation got so large,” the woman started to talk lower again, her eyes flickering off to the side. “You’re basically inviting the pixies to keep coming–Ardo, I’d be willing to bet that big pixie wasn’t even the biggest one there is.”
She chuckled as she turned around and continued. “I was wondering why this investigation got so large. I thought it was just because you all broke and had to get a cheap controller.”
She waved her off. “Get what you pay for, and all that.”
Mary reared back–blinking rapidly–offended. “Excuse you, but that man costs 60 silver–”
The stranger sputtered and tripped a bit, catching herself on a table. She looked on the verge of a heart attack.
“WHAT?!”
She spun back on her, face contorted in a mixture of astonishment and rage, “Pixie infestations are one of the easiest things to clear–It should only cost 10 silver at the most to remove for the size you have!”
Mary's cheeks were growing redder by the minute. Whispers flooded the building.
There was no way this could be true. No way.
Her father worked with this man for years. She trusted Dr. Layhorn.
There was no way she could’ve been so blind–so stupid–no way that she could’ve missed something like this.
A scam? Really? For something like pixie-catching? This woman has to be out of her mind. No one would willingly do that, even if the money is good.
“He’s a magiologist!” She argued, “He might just be more expensive!”
The words felt hollow in her mouth. Fragile and bitter. A despite thread shaping in her hold.
What even was a magiologist? Were they even real? They had to be. He was one. He was a professor. He had to be.
A sharp, cruel laugh came from the stranger.
“I can assure you he was not!” her voice was high and strained. “What’s his name again?”
Mary huffed. “Dr. Layhorn.”
The unnamed one gave her a look like she just spoke elvish.
“Yeah, no, that man is a fraud,” she said simply.
Mary gritted her teeth. “Excuse you! My father had worked with this man for years–How dare you accuse him of such an act!”
The girl snorted. “And who is your father?”
“Sir. Vinehowler,” Mary stated, her chest puffing with pride. The other stared at her blankly, though.
“Never heard of him.”
The tone took a glove and slapped Mary right across the face.
“I–Wha–”
“Magiologists,” the other held up her hand and cut Mary off. “Are specialized, high-ranking nobles who hardly interact with their peers. They would not waste their time on magic pests, nor spend their words talking to a guard from an isolated town.”
The words hung heavy in the air, crushing the movement from those inside.
Eyes remained on Mary, looking for her reaction. Looking for her defense. The vindication of everyone’s words–everyone’s thoughts–about her laid bare in front of them all.
“Now!” The lady turned to Ms. Mayflower.
“I smell lavender–do you mind if I borrow some?”
Ms. Mayflower flinched, clearly not having suspected to be roped into this conversation. “Huh- Right. Right away ma’am.”
She scuttled off, tossing glances over her shoulder to where Mary stood, a knowing glint in her eyes.
Mary was frozen–rooted to the spot–her mind twisting in on itself. Her throat dried and her hand tightened on her sword hilt.
In her chest, her heart squeezed and her lungs ached as warmth spread through her body.
“Hold it now!” Her voice boomed through the room, but her manic guest didn’t seem to notice.
Mary huffed, storming forward and grabbing the other by the shoulder.
“My father–” she started, the woman’s back still turned to her, “–was a good, smart man, and that professor has been working with us for years.”
She gritted her teeth, hand tightening on the shoulder. “Who are you to come in and try to challenge such a respected man?”
Her voice shattered and shook as she spoke. Her eyes stung.
That was her father’s friend. There was no way he would work with someone like that. No way that the one person he seemed to trust was such a–
The person whose eyes Mary thought could only shine with naïve wonder turned to her. Her expression was stern and icy.
Mary flinched back at the sight, her grip loosening.
“I’m a person who has been outside of your echo chamber and who is now trying to help.” she brushed off Mary’s hand and walked over to where the stove was.
“I’m also a person who needs their water heated–” Ms. Mayflower walked down once more. “–Ah, there you are, do you mind if I use your stove?”
Mary knew that Ms. Mayflower had given the other a response, but she couldn’t hear it.
Her mind was wringing itself out, trying to find an excuse. A reason. Something, anything–
But there was none.
She had no proof that what the woman was saying wasn’t the truth.
No reason to suspect her of lying. She had captured the pixies, had she not? And she was offering to clear this out for them for free?
What reason would she have? What would she gain from lying?
But how far from that line of logic is from what kept her in the dark for so long?
Kept her from seeing the obvious?
Was there anything obvious to begin with? Or was it all just as shocking as she believed? Was she truly tricked, or did she let herself be blindsided?
The thoughts in her head raced and raced, trying to come up with a scene where it all was laid bare for her to see. An action that would’ve clued her in that Dr. Layhorn was anything but honest.
She couldn’t find anything in her memory, but what would she have to look for?
She didn’t know how the actual magiologist acted. She didn’t know any global laws surrounding them or whatever made this lady in the bakery so sure that he wasn’t one.
She didn’t know.
How could she? She had never been outside of the village, let alone in the presence of someone in the magical community.
She kept her head buried in paperwork. In trade routes. In fines. Never bothering to look outside of the little box she had found herself in.
Spending coin after coin, year after year, investing in some ‘treatment’ that, apparently, didn’t even work as her village suffered under the wrath of the flying creatures.
This was her own fault, really.
If she had only looked into other ways. If she had only seen the signs–
Her mind swirled as she dragged her feet over to where the woman had set up at the stone. Humming about as she was now back to her more cheery tone.
Her eyes were glazed over as she watched the other. She could hear her mumbling.
She took out a matchbox from her bag and struck one, lighting the wood under the stove to fuel it.
“Okay, so we bring this to a boil…” she waited until the water started to bubble.
“Then soak these in water,” she grabbed the lavender and put it in before grabbing a bottle from her bag–‘How big is that bag?’–and sprinkling in some of the white, fine powder from it.
“And some of this to enhance the smell… And we wait.”
It wasn’t long before the scent of lavender poured through the room. Engulfing them all in a tough gas that made even Mary scrunt up her face from the suffocating smell.
Her mind continued to race as she watched the woman. She came to her side and put her hands on the counter, leaning over to watch as she stirred the water slightly, causing another waft of lavender to flow through the air.
The woman’s bright eyes flicked over to Mary. “Hey, do you mind getting me a map?”
Mary flinched at the acknowledgment. “Huh–Yeah, of course–”
Her eyes flicked about. Guards were still tossing glances over at her. Wondering what her next step was. Wondering what she was going to screw up next.
Something wormed in her chest, but she shoved it down.
“Aiden,” she called out. He froze where he was looking at the pixies.
He looked over at her, confusion clear on his face. She met his gaze head-on.
He may not like her. He may question her–for good reason, it seemed–but she knew that he was a hard worker and would get what she needed fast.
“Do you mind getting her a map of the town?” she asked, gesturing over to the woman. She figured that if it was for someone else, he'd be more likely to comply.
Aiden hesitated, though. He stepped toward her, mouth twitching into a frown.
She leveled him with a hard look.
He paused.
“Of course,” he said before turning away and walking out of the bakery.
With that done, Mary’s attention went back to the pot.
“What are you…” her eyes trailed up to the other woman’s face, which was basking in an orange glow from the flames. Her brows furrowed and her nose scrunched up in focus.
… She also looked pale.
Mary paused as she watched the other swayed a bit.
“Are you okay?” she asked in a quiet voice.
It felt pathetic–just a moment ago, she was ready to verbally rip her shreds from the embarrassment that flooded through her at the situation laid before her.
How the village was sent to disarray month after month by creatures they paid so much coin to get rid of.
She knows, logically, that it wasn’t the other’s fault. That this person–whoever she was–only helped.
Her pride is going to be the death of her.
The other pursed her lips.
“No–I’m really sensitive to smells–Does someone mind getting me another bucket?”
Mary flinched. “Huh–yeah, right, hold on–”
After getting her a bucket and dealing with that situation–the woman got back to the water.
When she seemed satisfied, she turned off the stove and put the bucket on a non-heated part of the stovetop.
Right on cue, Aiden came back with a map.
She turned to him, eyes gleaming with excitement.
For what? Mary would have to ask Shimmer.
“Perfect!” the woman stated. “Roll it out on a table; let’s get this done.”
Aiden did as he was told, and walked over to the table.
Mary’s eyes flickered to her back.
“What are you going to do?”
She turned back to her, smiling widely, yet Mary saw a softer edge to it.
“I’m going to solve your pixie problem with a piece of paper and some lavender water.”
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