Actually paying for the garments wasn’t an issue; Mary trusted Jeanne enough to pre-pay for everything we had ordered, although based on the size of the coin purse she had handed me I don’t think she remembered that. And the bulky bundles went into my bag, with no issue. Honestly it was kind of unusual to see, especially for someone still used to reality being a bit more…concrete. It’s still hard to believe Mary’s claim that magic exists in the mundane world I came from, although her explanation makes sense.

A large part of how magic works, if not the core of it, is exerting energy and will towards having an effect on the world, one that might not otherwise occur. Each person has the ability to observe the world, and the very act of observation can cause changes. But, for those with a particularly strong “ability” for projecting their particular viewpoint on the world, the changes are more extreme comparatively speaking.

That’s where the idea of energy comes in. With the above, if you take the average person and ask them to observe a candle flame, and imagine it to shift, say, to the left, their observation might cause a shift but it’ll be so minute that they’ll likely not even notice it. With someone with a stronger ability to exert their viewpoint, but with the same level of “energy,” the candle will likely flicker the direction they wish as long as they keep their attention on it. Which for the average person, isn’t that much.

Then you get someone with both the ability to exert their will on the world and who possesses an excess of the innate energy found throughout the world. If you ask them to focus on the candle, the candle flame will not only go the direction they attempt to shift the flame in, but the candle will likely flare up. I’d imagine if someone wasn’t expecting it the flame would come as quite a shock. But, if they didn’t expect any sort of result then they likely wouldn’t get any sort of result. Because their mental image of failure would doubtlessly get in the way of their attempt of exerting a change on the world.

“But Rose,” you may ask, “if magic is really that easy, then why isn’t it more commonplace in the mundane world. Wouldn’t we have heard of it?”

But the thing is, you have heard of magic. The fact that a word exists for it in practically every language in the world is, if not compelling evidence for its existence, certainly eyebrow-raising. There are examples and reports of people working magic in the world I came from going back thousands of years. On top of that, there are numerous reports of miracles, unexplained events, demonic possession, and of course, mysterious disappearances.

There is even a passing awareness that some spots in the world are “thin” and have a danger of people falling through. Place names that reference the Devil are often used as a warning to avoid a place, and everyone knows of the fairy forts found in the UK and Ireland. I mean, fat lot of good that warning did me, but the fact is that these warnings are out there. Keep that as a warning, I suppose, so be careful in those spots. I really did luck out getting rescued by Mary, most people who fall through the gaps in the world don’t have the same fantasy world experience I’ve had. Just a quick death and a final resting place of a monster’s stomach.

So it’s not like there’s no awareness of magic, but if it’s that easy, wouldn’t it be accepted as fact? Well, for the longest time, the existence of magic and the supernatural was accepted as fact. In much of the world, it was also frowned upon greatly. I mean, people with the ability to manipulate reality are rather scary, at the root of it.

They’re able to twist what is normal and do things ordinary people are unable to do without a lot of prayer. And there’s the fear of malicious use of magic. If magic is that easy for someone with the potential for it, then even a glance filled with ill will can cause a curse with the ability to cause sickness and harm. To this very day charms protecting against this evil eye are common in many parts of the world.

And then, of course, there’s the Church. Thought and prayer are in a lot of ways the same as directing your intention and will upon the world, in the same way magic does. It is very common for those with the traits described above who go into the service of the Church to become known as saints. The ability to exert their will and energy to cause changes upon the world that would otherwise be impossible is quite literally a miracle. But if the church has to deal with people going around doing the same thing outside their umbrella they’re likely to get a bit territorial.

Plus, as mentioned above, there’s the whole risk of magic being used maliciously. The church has done plenty of horrible actions itself, but the actual prayers people say tend to be said towards the benefit of humanity, and the benefit of their believers. Someone going around making people sick, causing crops to fail, and in general hurting people for their own personal gain is bad, if not evil. I mean, I can understand the motivations some of the time, but someone causing harm to the community in such a way is bound to be feared by the people of the community. Which is how you end up with witch hunts, although those themselves were horrific with how many innocent people got caught up in it, tortured, and burned.

There’s even a difference in the general meaning of the word “witch” between the world I came from and this one. Generally, although there’s been people who’ve tried to reclaim the word for different meanings, a witch is a malicious magic user. The term was often associated with herbalists and “Wise/Cunning Men/Women,” which is how it’d become the amalgamation known today. And of course, since witches were associated with herbs and potions already, it was the closest term to use to describe those who specialized in magic related to plants and nature when the language in this world shifted over to English.

Anyway, the big shift was during the Enlightenment, and the focus on an objective scientific reality based on direct observation. So in other words, the scientific method. The idea just got worked into peoples heads that things must work in a certain, very rational way. With this mindset, everyone began to believe the world must work this way, exerting their belief on the world. If the overall human consciousness believes things are that way, then pushing against this grain becomes harder for those inclined towards the use of magic.

Of course, this doesn’t get rid of all the unpleasantness that lurk out of sight. Ghosts are still there, as well as many of the creatures of folklore. But people’s awareness of them is dulled as a result. Those with a heavy predisposition towards the use of magic are less likely to fit into this new rational world. And ironically, the belief in rationality makes it harder for them to return than in the past if they do find themselves falling through the cracks into another world.

And with so prevalent of a belief that magic just doesn’t exist, the effects that can be manifested on the mundane world through magic are dulled. While in the past Pharaohs’ sorcerers turned their staffs into snakes to try and flout Moses, someone attempting to work magic in the modern, 21st century world of the internet and social media would rely on subtler effects. Someone who’s capable of casting explosions and fire in this world full of magic would be limited if stuck in that world of attempted rationality. Something like this bag I got from Mary would be downright impossible.

So, after settling up my tab and saying my goodbyes, I left the Tailor’s shop and headed to the docks. Mary’s list was more of a wish list than a list of must-buys, but it’s important to at least try to find most of the items on my list, and Jeanne recommended talking with the ship’s captains first to try and score deals on wholesale. Plus, thanks to Mary’s nepotis- favorable position with the lord it should be possible to obtain good before duties have been paid on them, as her apprentice. Sucks for the retailers buying the imports, but the potions Mary makes help out the community so they really shouldn’t bitch too much about this.

The atmosphere of the town grows rowdier as I get closer to the docks, with shops turning to taverns and inns. Soon enough I can make out the tips of masts over the roofs of the city, the inns turn to warehouses and merchant’s offices, and eventually the road opens up in front of numerous docks full of ships. I begin to look around. Mary did go out of her way to ask me to look for someone selling coca, so I begin to ask around for ships here from the southern continent. Eventually, I’m pointed towards a large 4-masted ship. I hail the captain, and he comes down the gangplank with his quarter master to speak with me.

“What can I help you with, madame witch?”

“I’m told you’re the one to talk to about plants from the southern continent?”

“Yes, yes, I’m so glad you came! I’ve been trying for ages to find the best products for people up here in the north! Someone in your profession would love some of the wildlife they have down there. Vast jungles, teaming with magical plant life and animals the likes of which you’ve never seen! Mysterious herbs, used by arcane priests in vast, towering temples! And I do my best to bring the choicest of these products to you, the customer!” His manner of speaking gives off the air of a rehearsed sales-pitch, but he seems amiable enough, and he has described what I’m looking for. I’ll give it a shot.

“I’m looking for a specific plant. It should grow in the mountainous regions down there, and be known for giving people a boost in energy. Do you have anything of the sort?” I ask

“Several, in fact! Two in particular stand out.” He motions to the quartermaster, who then shouts at a crew mate. While we wait, the captain continues to speak.

“The first is a leaf, used by runners in a vast mountaintop nation. They’ll wrap a pebble in the leafs and suck on it, which is said to increase their endurance.” No fucking way this worked out that well. “The other… it was actually imported to the country by traders from a desert nation across the ocean. There’s a specific manner in which they need to prepare it though, which I’m not sure of the method of, but since you’re a which you might be able to figure it out. I only got a sack full of the second since it seemed suspect, but if you want it it’s yours for a good price.” Halfway through his last sentence, his tone changed, as if he noticed me shaking in excitement. As a matter of fact, I think I am shaking in excitement. There’s no way I hit this big of a jackpot.

The crew mate comes up with a bale, with another one carrying a large sack. The bale is wrapped in a rough cloth, and the captain opens up a corner to reveal roughly dried leaves. Yup, that’s what Mary was looking for. Hopefully she doesn’t go the route Freud went when he discovered how it worked. I’ll have to warn her about that, although she’s probably somewhat aware of the risk. But my attention was really drawn by the sack.

.

I looked at the captain for permission, and he nodded. Drawing a belt knife, I cut the first couple stiches holding the sack closed.

It was full of green beans. Coffee beans. At last, my weeks of suffering, having nothing to drink but tea were over. I fucking finally had coffee, and from the smell of it fine, central American coffee. While staring at the beans, I notice the captain looking at me askance. Wiping the drool from my mouth, I turn to face him, working at regaining my composure.

“I’ll take both of them. Also, if you pick up more of the second plant, you can consider it purchased. Just tell someone when you return from the next trip to send a message to the apprentice of Mary Korppi. Er… ‘the Madness Witch’s apprentice’ unfortunately might be the title more recognized, Mr…?”

“Stevens.”

“Mr. Stevens. Pleasure to do business with you.” We shake hands. Little did I know at the time what this simple purchase would set in motion.

I’m downright gleeful as I purchase the rest of the supplies Mary had asked me to purchase. Words cannot describe how I’m feeling about this. To paraphrase HP Lovecraft in all his verbal word-smithing glory, it’s indescribable. I’m absolutely preoccupied with thoughts of that savory, slightly nutty aroma. Black, with cream, with sugar.

I probably could find a way to make an espresso pump too. With a little creativity and possibly some magic, it might even be possible to make cappuccinos, lattés, americano’s, half whites, and, dare I say it, frappucinos. Coffee truly is one of the greatest single plants in existence, or at least that’s what I usually think in the morning with my first pot of the day. I’m so caught up in thinking about it, that I completely ignore the nagging feeling of being watched in the back of my mind.

A cloaked, hooded figure knocks into me.

“Excuse me- Rose! Imagine seeing you here! What a coincidence!” the hooded figure exclaimed, in a tone that made it clear it was anything but a coincidence. It was a voice I recognized too, in a world where I really don’t know many people.

“Elizabeth, what are you doi-“

“Shhhhhh! Don’t say that name too loudly. I’m just an average person who happened to bump into you.” I’m guessing she snuck out again, like she did previously. “As an apology for that, how about I buy you a drink? There’s a tavern right over there.” She gestured, a predatory gleam in her eyes.

Nobles really are scary.