That Night...?

[Yukika Inoue]

“Whoa, wait. I don't recognize you.” He says to the red-head, rising from his wooden chair. It let out a terrible creak as his weight shifted off of the seat. Pyrrha halted in her tracks and put her hands up slightly to show that she came in peace.

“Don't worry, sir, safety is on.” She said in response. The gate-man eyed her suspiciously with his hand ready to reach for his axe.

“Ya, well you look like you don't have much business in Darkshire.” Pyrrha took a step back and rubbed her head.

“Uh, actually I'm just here to pick up a delivery of medicine for a plantation down the road a few miles. My business in your town will strictly be professional.” She attempted to persuade him. Pyrrha clearly harbored no ill intent on Darkshire.

“Hmm,” he grunted. His arms shifted to his his side and he seemed to relax a little. “Alright, Darkshire has seen a rough few months. Don't judge us too harshly.” He motioned her through, towards the gate, signaling her right of passage.

The Huntress nodded and passed through, giving Darkshire a good look from the gate. Structures were being rebuilt by residents from what seemed like an onslaught no far in it’s past. Maybe there are larger Grimm around than Pyrrha initially suspected. If that were the case, then there was definitely reason to come here. Still, while the Grimm are the only thing she has found that clings her to her memories - What else is there?

All she remembers is that one night, so far. A tower - some kind of giant building, possibly a library or university - lit aflame and people running scared for their life. Others were either destroying, or being beaten up by the creatures of Grimm who seemed to be totally ransacking the place. Why can't she remember past that part?

When she came back to reality, she realized she had been walking aimlessly through the streets. Many of Darkshire’s people had set their eyes towards her. Reasonable enough. She was a stranger to them, and although she knew she wouldn't draw her weapon on anyone in this town, they still had to be cautious. Better safe than sorry, presumably.

The redhead shuffled through her pack for the paper with the information of the herb shop which she was heading to. The place was called Grave Concoctions. Painfully funny puns. She didn't let that distract her, though, she was on a mission after all. It took some questioning and time to locate this shop, but finally, she did. It was on the edge of the other of town, which is why it took so long to find it.

The wooden door cried in pain against its hinges as the huntress swung it open. It was a bit dark at first while her eyes attempted to adjust to the dimmer lighting of the shop. She called out a bit nervously, blinking several times to focus her vision.

“H-Hello?” Her voice broke the silence inside. After a second, another woman’s voice called back.

“One moment, I'm cleaning the alembic.” The shopkeeper’s voice called back. Pyrrha made her way into the building, now able to see better since she shut the door behind her. There was a wooden counter behind which was a doorway that led into a back room. Most likely where the woman who runs the shop had called from and makes her medicines. A small, round table rested underneath a lit torch sconce off to the right. Behind the counter, she could see glass vials of differently colored substances.

Just as she was really getting intrigued by the glowing liquids, the shopkeeper came out from the doorway.

“How can I-” She pauses for a moment, getting a good look at Pyrrha. “I don't get many travellers around here. My apologies, ma’am, how can I help you today?” Pyrrha straightens up a bit as she talks and reaches into the leather pouch at her side. She pulls the receipt from its confine and puts it down on the counter.

“Uh, yes. You see, I'm not here for myself. I came in the stead of a farmer on the plains of the Moors. He requests the medicines you were agreed to make for him.” Pyrrha said in her soft tone.

“Hm,” the woman say scooping up the paper with the proof of purchase on it. “Oh right, I remember this order. Let me go grab it.”

With that, she goes back into her secret room and produces three vials of some kind of lightly-blue liquid. It was much thicker than she had imagined it would be. It swished around slowly as she passed them to Pyrrha.

“What...is this?” Were the only words she could think of using.

“You’ve never seen a tonic before?” Was the only reply the woman could think of using.

“Well, not really.” She said nervously, and with a laugh continued. “I was assuming something along the lines of vitamins or pills.”

“A tonic is used for cuts and bruises. It helps them heal more quickly and keeps the wound clean so it doesn't get infected.” She explains.

“So...it’s a liquid band-aid?”

“Uh, sure, if you want to look at it that way.” She says. “Well, that’s all the order he put in. If you don't need anything else, I have to get back my other orders.”

“No, that’s it then. Thank you.” Pyrrha says before heading out the door behind her and back out into Darkshire. It takes a moment again to navigate back through the city, but after finding some recognizable landmarks she finds the gate where she entered before. She gives a nod to the gateman as she passes and thoroughly ties the hide sack containing the glass vials to her side.