With a pack slung over his shoulder, Farah trailed along behind his father and Reven. The two Matorians were jabbering away about a traveling troupe of musicians when a new sort of stall caught their eye. Though the group had only meant to be in the market for a short while to trait off some fish they’d been content to wander, and now their attention was caught.

Magic wasn’t something that Farah saw a lot of. His sister, Faydis, was a natural born talent but the ‘medicine’ she took to calm her visions affected what she was capable of. Beyond her Farah didn’t know many mages, or at the very least, many that stayed in the village. Most generally when a child found themselves with that sort of talent they were ferried off to a bigger city for teaching or did their best to suppress it. So, when a seller started hollering about potions and spells it was definitely an oddity.

The seller himself was also a strange one. For the most part he looked every bit a Matorian, with the exception being his shock of bright pink hair. It was trimmed short, barely touching the tips of his finned ears, and Farah had to wonder if it was natural or a dye. He stood transfixed as the man tried his best to corral a group of teenagers into buying something from him, but when that didn’t work he turned his attention to the men.

“Young man, you seemed stressed.” Oh, he was talking to him? Farah looked to his father who caught his eye before turning to the seller.

“He’s just a little tired.” Taavetti answered with a tight smile. “It’s been a long day and we really should be getting on now.”

“Of course, of course,” the vendor nodded his head. “Days like that can often be draining, especially when you’re young. I’m sure I have something here that can help to calm you. Maybe a lotion to give you the best of dreams? Or a tea to take the stress away?”

Lotions and teas….? Farah furrowed his brow. Bits and pieces were starting to click for the teenager, though he wasn’t sure exactly what it would lead to. “…Do you also have potions that would take away someone’s magic?” He’d never seen the vender personally that whipped up Faydis’ concoctions, but Taavetti brought them to her with every passing moon. Someone had to make them, so what if it was this man and Farah was just now getting to see him?

“Of course I do. I have potions that can give magic and take it away. The power lies inside all of us and with a little twist it can be turned; like a dam in the river.” His smile may have seemed charming and well intentioned, but it just made Farah’s blood boil.

Even if this wasn’t the seller he was trying to block others potential! People like this was exactly why Faydis hadn’t been able to be herself and maybe that’s why she was no longer around! Without thinking Farah raised his leg and kicked the stall as hard as he could. Though it didn’t knock it over, several of the potion bottles jostled and fell to the ground with a loud crash.

“Farah!” Taavetti stepped forward to put his arm on his son’s while Reven went around to defend the frazzled potion seller. “What’s wrong?”

“You can’t just take away someone’s magic with a potion! It’s not right! And if it were that simple Faydis wouldn’t have to keep taking them.”

“Oh, Farah…That’s not why she…” Shaking his head, Taavetti started to tug him down the street and away from prying eyes. He tossed a satchel of gold to Reven who was already doing his best to smooth things over with the seller.

“Potions like that are all smoke and mirrors; none of it’s real. Just fish piss in a bottle. “

“Then why is he selling it?” In a world where Farah barely felt grounded as it was it just felt cruel to lie. He spared a look over his shoulder and frowned when his father kept pulling on him. “Isn’t anyone going to stop him?”

“They might…but honestly, I don’t think anyone else is really paying attention to him. Anyone who honestly buys a bottle that can change their eye color in less than a day has to know it’s toxic.” Taavetti rolled his eyes and continued down the street. Whoever wanted to waste their money on that kind of thing was beyond him.

[762]