Chapter 55: First Contact

“Ouch” ‘cracking my back’ that bed is evil, like the rest of this town. I wonder what they made it out of? I don’t understand why that bed appeared comfortable when I first slept on it, now it feels like a wooden board.

I suppose I should get up, I’m very awake now after all. Removing myself from this terrible bed, missing my handcrafted super soft bed from home. I should get a spare from that carpenter. Appreciating the quality of his crafts within my mind.

I should get more furniture from him. Supporting local businesses and all that. Although, likely less important given the clear lack of aggressive supermarket chains. A very good money maker business if I ever find myself lacking in funds. Scoffing lightly at the insanity of such a situation. I will never be poor here unless some ‘divine’ intervention takes place.

Checking the clock, 12pm, not bad. I will stay here for an extra hour or two. Don’t wish to join them for breakfast. Removing some fruits from my bag of holding. Enjoying a light meal and doing some light reading on witchcraft; always do your homework. What if they start asking me questions, I would rather not wing it with potentially curse flinging witches and warlocks.

From what I recall in mythology, warlocks were considered male witches. Although mythology disagreed if it was a gender distinction or if they used a different variant of magic. A lot of games and novels portrayed them as someone who bought power from stronger entities in exchange for a variety of things; faith, sacrifice, gold, anything really.

For now, I will refer to myself as a magical practitioner until I find the correct term for myself. Whether that’s witch or warlock. Admittedly, that’s a rather narrow view of my range of skills. Given enough time, I can wield all forms of magic. Although currently on the magic spectrum I lean heavily towards witch and druid. I wonder if the technology side of things has different terms for specialization.

For a short period, I snook back home; gathering witching supplies, for trade and evidence. Also, a copy of each of the witchery books I have. I also created a charged attuned stone, stored a small white ritual circle within a circle talisman, and prepared the ingredients for the call storm ritual.

If they want a demonstration, I will give them one, it's stupid cheap too. Charged attuned stones really are magic batteries, it's freaky how similar magic is to technology. Especially thaumcraft and botania. Botania especially is designed as a magic-themed tech mod. Like mushrooms, they appear like plants [magic] but are far closer to animals [tech.] A fun comparison I will remember.

Now druidcraft is definitely among the pure magic variety. Placing heavy focus on farming, exploration, and mystery. Thaumcraft I think is a pure hybrid, containing the mystery of magic and advancements of technology. I would consider it like alchemy, real science combined with magical elements.

Now that I think about it, few magic mods are actually ‘magic. Ars magica is a glorified tech mod, PSI is pure tech pretending to be magic and astral sorcery is a magic mod by association.

Witchery, evil craft, blood magic, mystcraft, and all those unexplainable magic artifact mods. Those are true magic. They all draw heavily upon mystery, curiosity and deviate from the scientific backbone of technology. They require more creativity than logic, although can use in different places.

Looking at the clock, I just smile. I lost myself in my own world mentally studying different mods. 2pm already, best get going. Heading downstairs, I am immediately greeted. “Hello, sorry you missed breakfast.” Says the slender man.

Not missing a beat, “No stress; I can find food in town.” Watching his nod silently to my reply.

Depositing the key, having already checked the room for personal belongings. I leave the inn, with no plans to sleep in another shoddy bed for a long time. I immediately head to the center of the town, finding a similar all be it smaller market at the core.

Getting directions from the less silent and brooding passer-byes I find my way towards the governmental building hosting the mayor of this town and or governmental officials/nobles.

Walking into the dreary decrepit building, I find an old man. No, not old; ancient. How is this bag of bones alive? Pushing those thoughts aside I walk up.

“Hello, I wish to speak with the mayor or some high ranking official. I have the fast-track access code.” Lightly flashing the long numerical code on the note, I received.

The older man removes a small book, containing a large number of similar codes with names and locations attached. After flipping through a couple pages, he finds what he is looking for. Comparing the 2 he nods slightly, closing the book.

In a voice like a whisper, he tells me “One moment.” Before leaving with an odd-looking walking stick. Creeping up the hallway towards the back.

I wonder what the Mayor will be like. With all that I have seen so far, it's likely to be someone positively terrifying or a complete curveball.

Hearing the tell-tale pitta patter of footsteps, a slightly younger man walks through. Young in comparison to this century-old geezer running the counter. This man is later thirties early forties with a white streak through his hair. Muscle silhouettes show through his clothes but nothing extreme. Just very healthy with a light bronze color to his skin.

With a voice matching his face, a masculine voice carries across the room. “The mayor will see you, follow me.”

Complying, I follow. Attempting to strike up light conversations. “So, what's your name?” ‘crickets.’ Rude, just ignore me then, see how I care. I totally care but I won't show it.

Coming towards a large ornate door, he ushers me to enter. Entering silently, I find the mayor. Definitely a curveball. A woman looking like a teenager sits in a chair too big for her. Managing to stem my laugh, I appreciate how bright the room is. Artificial light, pink walls, and a variety of interesting pieces of art.

She gestures to a chair slightly too small for me. Wishing not to cause any trouble; I sit without complaint.

She begins to speak; a feminine squeaky voice leaves the pale-skinned woman. “Hello, now who are you? You must have some pull if you can flaunt a mayor's personal code.”

Keeping my posture straight I reach a hand out for a handshake. “Aeternum, my name is Aeternum; a pleasure.”

She shakes my hand softly but energetically. “Ever so polite, what's your surname?”

With a slight laugh, “Fishing for a noble name hu?”

She just winces lightly; “That obvious, well it doesn’t matter. You got yourself inside my office; what are you here for?”

Feeling excitement rise through me, finally, I can be done with the middle part of this damned journey. “I am here to secure a trade with the local ‘Coven.’ My information tells me they are a circle magic specializing Coven.” Pausing slightly, “Of course, it's far easier with local government support.”

She looks at me coldly for a moment, “Got to say, I did not expect that. Few seek a coven with bad rumors afloat.”

Crossing my arms and straightening my back, “I feel no fear, even if they are true; I can protect myself even upon the worst of circumstances.”

She looks across my Armor for a moment, “Wearing Armor indoors, that screams a coward, not a fighter.”

Laughing slightly, “This Armor is to hide my face, although it does double as excellent protection.”

Curiosity in her eyes, “And why does your face need hiding?”

Choosing to be honest, “It can cause problems, not from a criminal past but a different appearance to the average.”

She seems satisfied with that answer, “Avoiding racism, interesting. What race would that make you?”

Her prying questions getting under my skin, “A race called, I don’t intend to tell you.” Enough of that, can you aid my contact of the Coven? Of course, I will reimburse you or the local group running this town.”

She sits back, clearly giving up her prying. “What reimbursement are we talking about?”

Annoyed at her trying to fish for information to get a leg up in trade. “First, can you contact the coven, and can you get me in direct contact with them? And what are you interested in as payment?”

She smiles lightly, “I can get you in direct contact, I am not interested in money. We have enough to sustain us. What we want is recipes and difficult to acquire materials and products.”

Thinking lightly, if I offer something, she will immediately have full control of the trade. ‘sigh’ I am not good at this bartering thing.

"I can get access to most materials, although I assume you would be most interested in materials from foreign dimensions. And I don’t think what your offering is worth any ‘high value’ recipes. Of course, I could also offer a singular item of high value for it."

Her interest piqued “What interdimensional materials are we talking about?”

Concentrating on my stock, I suppose this should be decent bait. “I can offer ender pearls and nether materials.”

A pregnant pause fills the air, “The ender pearls are a rare commodity, yet we cannot gain more after you leave.”

Interjecting lightly, “You could always contact me and ask to trade again.” Gazing at her, “Anyway, I plant to ‘trade’ the coven; I am simply buying a fast track from you. Don’t push your luck.”

She just sits back dramatically, immediately losing the air of decorum she portrayed up until this point. “Fine, 20 ender pearls and we have a deal.”

“16, makes a stack.” I helpfully add.

Smiling as If fell into a trap, “A pleasure doing business with you.”

She starts laughing, really laughing. Almost fell off her chair with laughter. “You know, I am part of the coven, thanks for the free ender pearls.”

I just lightly massage the part of my helmet where my brows would be. At least I know to be careful around this coven.

After she finally settles her laugh, she looks at me. “I am high enough within the coven to make trade deals. What do you wish to buy?”

She just acts like she didn’t just scam me. Handing over the ender pearls in a show of trust, I state my request. “I need demon hearts, or if you have none; demonic blood.”

She just looks at me shock on her face. She quickly corrects her face. “We don’t have such items, don’t joke like that.”

Using the only fact, I know to my advantage. “You have familiars, no?”

She squints her eyes slightly, clearly considering whether, to be honest. It's not a carefully hidden fact, so It would be foolish to lie. “Yes, we have familiars.” Slight recognition of what I am getting at. Still, she is waiting for me to say it.

Taking a dark tone, “The primary ingredient, excluding the familiar of course is demonic blood; which is only gainable from the heart of a demon.”

She takes a grave tone, “How do you know that?” watching her tense up, hand under the table for some reason.

Finding this whole charade silly, “Calm down, remove your hand from under the table and act normally; what are you doing. I stated a fact I didn’t threaten to expose it.” She loosens ever so slightly but keeps her hand under the table. “I am a ‘magic practitioner, similar to yourself. I need the blood to bond to my, familiar; well future familiar.”

Tone lightening slightly, “You’re a witch?”

Bingo, it would make me a witch, gender doesn’t matter. “Yes, dumb ass.”

She just sighs lightly, “Hypertheticly, if we did have demon blood, Hypertheticly; how would we know you wouldn’t rat us out?”

I don’t even know, but I can't say she should just trust me. “Well, I don’t bloody know, do you want me to sign an instant death contract or something stupid?” “I need the blood, I will pay you handsomely; I don’t know any methods to assure you I won't rat you out, but it's obvious you have it.”

She seems to finally give in to her greed. “Prove to me you’re a witch, then we can talk.”

Noting the floor has a large space in the middle, I place my talisman on the ground. Placing my hand over it I press it into the ground. It instantly places the small white circle, to which I collect the now empty talisman. Placing the charged attuned stone and the ingredients I cast the call lightning spell. “You asked for this.” She tenses as she hears the rain suddenly come before a bombardment of lighting.

Shouting as she rushes over, “Fine! I believe you! Turn it off now!”

Complying, I deactivate the ritual. She just sighs, slouching in her chair. I couldn’t help but add, “Sorry if I damaged your roof. Now let's talk business.”