Walking through the noble district makes me realise I haven’t truly spent any time here at all, seeing the pristine streets and the people who keep an obvious distance from us is enough for me to feel a bit out of place. The more grandiose buildings mixed well together, the fact that they were all semi detached and painted a rainbow of colours went far to show the disparity in wealth from the lower district.

“Beautiful isn’t it, I know you spend a lot of time down there so you don’t get to appreciate the design of the noble district.”

With a bright smile, mother begins to talk about the noble district, from the jewellery shops to the clothing stores. I know I can’t hide the disinterest from my face.

“It’s all so, over the top.”

“That’s the point Joseph, they have wealth and these designs are just a way for them to show it. Also the people with the most wealth will go to the place that looks the most expensive so that’s another reason for their design. But, you knew that anyway, didn’t you?”

Seeming to have been caught out I can see a shine in her eyes,’ so this is where Alice gets it from’ wearing a bright red dress that compliments her hair and eyes it’s no wonder she’s one of the most objectively beautiful people I’ve ever seen. Feeling a little starstruck and caught out in an attempt to test her I decide to keep my silence and continue to walk ahead.

“Joseph there’s nothing wrong with testing people’s motives, I encourage it even, but I would like to think you can trust your own mom?”

Keeping my head facing forward I attempt to hide my face, ‘mom’ that word only really applies to one person in my mind, even just being here is giving me slight tremors. Holding my hands together behind my back I decide to change the subject.

“Yes mother, by the way where are we going today, as much as I like these streets I don’t really want to walk about for hours on end.”

“Hmm as always, quick to deflect. But anyway, we are going to Elaine’s cafe. My friend has set up a new cafe in the middle of the commercial district and I’m going to show you off to all the women there, hahah.”

Feeling like a show horse I know now why Ann was giving me a pitiful look before I left so this was the plan all along. Feeling that she was no longer behind me I took a look back to see her standing in front of an out of place building.

With a generally darker hue compared to all the other buildings in this area, its simplistic design also made it stand out in comparison to the rest of the shops here. Walking towards my mother I see that the store is called ‘Gullveig, alchemy and supplies’. Looking at my mother I see that she has a distant look in her eyes, staring into the store with a longing that I haven’t seen in her before. Alchemists are the creators of potions and other such supplies used to help soldiers and mages in battle and out of battle, It’s not a surprise to see a shop in the noble district as most of the stock will only be affordable by people in this district.

“Mother?”

Reaching out to her I can’t help but feel a bit confused by this current situation but in response to my call she reacts and is back to normal.

“Oh, Joseph hehe, it's been a while myself and seeing this store has brought back some memories that’s all.”

Sensing that there was more to this I decided to keep prodding, “Would you like to go inside I’m sure they can just wait for us at the cafe?”

“hmm I don’t know, we really should get going?”

Seeing her so hesitant I can see that she wants to go in but seems to have convinced herself that she shouldn’t, in these cases it’s better if I act first. Deciding to enter myself I see the store seems a lot bigger inside, along all edges of the store there is a mixture of herbs and different body parts in jars along one side of the shop, along the other is created potions with their uses underneath. Behind the counter is an older man who looks to be fast asleep.

Mother comes stumbling into the store after me, eyes shooting around until they land on the sleeping man where the look seems to soften for a second. She seems to relax after noticing his lack of awareness and walks with more confidence now as she browses the store with me in tow.

“Joseph, you see this, it’s the horn of a Chamelevolt it doesn’t have that many uses but when broken down and mixed with the scales of a Gardeel it can become a conductive coat that absorbs all electricity under A rank, making it one of the better potions adventures use when facing stronger electrical beasts.”

This is one of the few times I’ve seen mother be so fervent, other than when she talks about religion she seems cold and aloof, but seeing her point out the different uses of these parts makes me feel a bit happier about our trip today. Feeling a smile tug on my face I follow her around, carefully listening to all of the potions and the ingredients for them.

“ And this, feathers of a Feathawk, have ingrained hallucinogenic properties so simply grinding them down and mixing them into a smoke bomb can create a hallucinogenic bomb.”

“Mother, you really know this craft well don’t you.”

In response to my statement this energy seems to drain out of her and she reverts back to how she was outside the store, “Yes, I used to study this craft but, I wasn’t fated.” Immediately after stating this like it was fact I see the religious fervour take over her face, “But it was destiny as after turning away from this craft I was able to become a part of the Miien church and meet your father, that was my destiny in the end.”

Feeling like this conversation has taken a different turn than I expected, I try to change the subject, “Mother, what's that there?” pointing to the only item that is locked up in a glass box, I try to use this to distract her from her religious beliefs.

“Ahhh, good eyes, that's the purple heart.”

Staring at It I find it hard to understand why it’s called that. Inside the box was a purple flower in full bloom, it almost seemed to be glowing inside the dimly lit shop. Still this didn’t explain the name.

“While it is a flower, it only grows from the heart of the Veptis dragon. A poison dragon of A rank that can be found inside the spiderfell forest, the fact that the forest is so close by is probably the only reason why it’s shown up here. It’s poison is so deadly that anybody under A rank that ingests it could die instantly”

“*clap* ohh, As expected of Katja, your knowledge is still so prevalent even today.”

Caught by surprise we both look behind to see the old man standing right behind us, a bald head and purple eyes make the old man stand out from a distance, looking at mother I see that she seems oddly scared.

“Oh Katja, you haven’t been to this shop in 15 years, not since your parents death. I had thought you’d forgotten about this old teacher of yours but I see that the knowledge hasn’t left you at all.”

“And this must be your youngest, Joseph isn’t it, your mom used to be a student of mine, so promising but I guess it wasn’t meant to be.” Shaking his head I can hear the sadness in his old voice.

“Teacher…” mothers words are weak and dispirited, and despite calling out to him she didn’t say anything else after that.

“Katja, I am happy to see what you’ve become even if you’ve given up on this path, you’ve made me proud, seeing this young man here I can see he’s different from the rest of the nobles that travel through this city. Joseph, was it, take this from my wounded heart I hope you will use it well.”

Holding out a heart shaped glass locked, I could see that inside was a luminous purple

powder, lucking behind me I could guess what was inside, and knowing that such powder came from a A rank beast I know It would not be cheap either.

“Sir, I can not accept this, it’s too much.” While I try to refuse the gift I look to my mother to see her eyes beginning to tear up, and the rough old man seeming the same.

“No take it, such a poison. I don't really want it in my store and you look to be trustworthy, I just hope that you will use it to protect others. I have been wasting away here for so long this store is outdated and empty, it’s a wonder how we stay open with next to no customers.” Sending a knowing look to mother the old man smiles warmly, “Joseph look after your mother, she might look reliable but she can be quite clumsy, I’ll see you around Katja.” After saying his goodbye he left for the back of the shop to stay hidden, leaving us alone in the shop. It wasn’t long before I had to tug on mother to get her to leave the store.

Standing outside the store mother is still staring at it, knowing the direction we have to go I lead her to Elaine's cafe. And so I hold her hand while making my way to the cafe, lost in my thoughts of what we’re going to talk about when we get there.