Chapter 34: Dress appropriately
“It is mined at Winchester City, east of the capital.”
William turns toward the speaker.
A blond man, impeccably dressed, stands a few steps away. His tailored clothes fit him perfectly, but it is his skin that catches William's attention. It is remarkably smooth, carrying a faint, healthy glow that seems almost out of place among the weathered faces of the city's common folk.
The man's straight posture and quiet confidence mark him as someone of high status. Yet there is something else about him—something strangely familiar. William studies him for a moment, certain they have crossed paths before, but no matter how hard he searches his memory, he cannot remember where.
For a moment, William can only blink at the stranger in silence before finally finding his words.
"Thank you... but how did you know what I was thinking?"The blond man chuckles, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement."Because it was written all over your face," he says. "You don't need to read minds to figure that out.”
“So, what is the reason you came here?” the man asks.
William notices the heavy weight in his hands and suddenly remembers the delivery. “It must be for you.” William pushes the box forward, presenting it to the man. “A delivery for Vigor's Potion.”
Suddenly, the confident atmosphere around the man completely shatters. He looks William dead in the eye, his expression shifting into absolute seriousness.
“I don't think it's for me, kid,” he replies, his voice dropping an octave. “And honestly, I am never going to be in need of this type of potion.” “But I was told to give this to the head clerk,” William replies in confusion.
“And what made you think I am the head clerk?”
William gestures for him to take a look around the vast hall. “You are the most well-dressed person here, And…you look rich.” The man opens his mouth to answer, then pauses. He glances around at the clerks in their plain, well-worn clothes before looking down at his own immaculate, tailored outfit.He shakes his head, muttering under his breath, 'I should make a habit of dressing for the occasion.'
He clears his throat and looks back up.
“Well, I understand your logic, but I am not the head clerk. If you are looking for him, he is behind that door.”
The man points toward a heavy wooden door situated far to the right. Following his gaze, William notices the words Head Clerk neatly engraved right onto the wood.
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“Well then, who are you?” William asks.
“I am a teacher, and I came here to do an important but bothersome task that no one volunteers for,” the man replies with a completely passive expression.
A jolt of excitement runs through William’s mind. He leans in slightly, asking cautiously, “Do you often travel to different places?”
“Yes, it's a part of my job,” the man replies calmly. Even with the stranger's relaxed tone, William can see a trace of amusement flickering across his face. It makes the boy's pulse quicken. Lowering his voice to a near whisper, William pushes further: “Have you ever seen anything unusual while traveling?”
The teacher's eyes lock onto William's. “I've seen many unusual things while traveling. A lake that never freezes, no matter how bitter the winter. Fruit heavier than a grown man. Once, I even came across a bay where the fish glowed in the darkness.”
William interrupts him, his eyes bright with a desperate, burning curiosity. “No, I mean something else. Like... someone freezing water with just a single touch, or throwing a fireball, or summoning rain over a completely barren land.”
“Kid, are you talking about magic?” The man looks William straight in the eyes, a grin spreading across his face.
“Yes,” William whispers, his eyes shining with sudden hope. “But I am not talking about the tricks performers use to impress children. I am talking about real magic.”
“I don't know, kid. I've never seen magic,” the man replies softly. “But I have seen some things that cannot be explained by anything else. Still... aren't you a bit too old to be thinking about fantasies like that?”
William responds with anger vibrating in his voice. “It's not a fantasy. I know magic exists!”
As they keep staring into each other's eyes, the man is the first to break contact. He replies with a light chuckle, “Don't you have a delivery to do?”
William snaps back to reality, The package. He rushes toward the counter, startling a young clerk who is right in the middle of yawning. The clerk blinks in surprise, looking at William as if the boy had just appeared out of thin air.
“Where did you come from, kid? You nearly gave me a fright!”
William replies, deeply puzzled, “I was standing right there with that man.”
“Which man?” the clerk asks, looking past him.
William turns around, only to see completely empty space near the door. There is no one there. Not even a trace of the handsome, well-dressed stranger remains.
‘Where did he go? he wonders, unease creeping into his chest. 'I didn't even hear the doors open. And... Why didn't the clerk notice us? We were talking for quite a while.’
William's frantic thoughts are cut short by the annoyed voice of the clerk, whose plans for a quiet nap have been thoroughly ruined. “Well? What are you here for?”
“I... I am here to make a delivery to the head clerk,” William stammers, adjusting his grip on the parcel.
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In another location inside the city...
“Professor, have you checked the records?” a male voice asks.
“I did,” the Professor replies with a slightly embarrassed smile. “The head clerk is embezzling city funds and using them for all sorts of... personal things.”
The male assistant looks up, thoroughly surprised by his superior's unusual expression. “But why did you have to go investigate yourself, sir? A simple order from a higher official would have had him begging for mercy for his crimes.”
The Professor turns toward his assistant, with an amusing glint to his eyes. “I had nothing better to do today. And besides... I managed to find something very interesting.” He pauses, smoothing down his impeccable coat. “Oh, and remind me to dress appropriately for the occasion next time.”
The assistant looks completely confused, but simply nods back. “Right away, Professor.”