Chapter 414: Alchemist’s Shop ’I do like Azel...’ Esme repeated the thought as she hurried down the stairs, her heartbeat was loud in her ears. It wasn’t something she enjoyed admitting, not even to herself, but it was the truth. What wasn’t there to like about him? He was handsome to the point of looking like some prince from an old fantasy tale, tall enough that she always had to tilt her head up slightly, and physically perfect in ways she didn’t understand. Yet none of that was the core of it for her. He was kind and considerate, and even when she had been jealous of him, he treated her with an amount of patience she didn’t deserve. When they first met, she had assumed the worst of him. She accused him of cheating for the Class Rep position and even marched to Miss Brown to file a complaint against him. It was embarrassing to think about now. The reason had been simple... jealousy. He was effortlessly good, and she wasn’t used to that. But instead of holding it against her, he helped her afterwards and they became friends in a way she had never expected. That alone made her chest ache whenever she thought too long about him being someone else’s fiancé. ’But it’s not like I haven’t researched. You need good reasons for loving someone.’ Yes... she had studied that too. Real relationships, healthy ones, needed years of mutual understanding, growth alongside each other, stability built over time. That was the normal way. But at the same time, she had never felt this strongly about anyone else before. Not any noble son, not any prodigy from the academies, not any quiet boy in the library who praised her potions. No one except her father... and Azel. Her steps quickened as she moved. A maid turned a corner and Esme nearly collided with her. "S-sorry..." she mumbled, not slowing down. She pushed through the front doors and into the open air, her cheeks burning from a mixture of nerves and pure adrenaline. She wasn’t doing this because Helena lectured her. She wasn’t doing it because she wanted to "beat" Sybil either. She simply wanted to understand this feeling in her chest. ’He’s just up ahead, I can sense it...’ She reached the backyard gate and pushed it open, only to freeze in place. Her lungs stopped working at the scene laid out before her. There were corpses. A dozen of them... they were dried and wrapped in cloth that hadn’t masked their condition. Azel was kneeling near one, lifting the limp body and easing it into a waiting body bag. Sylus was nearby, guiding several corpses with wind magic into other reinforced bags. ’What the hell...?’ Esme swallowed thickly, her stomach twisting. The sight of corpses had always been her weakness. She could dissect monster parts and organs just fine, but dead humans were different. It felt personal. Azel zipped one of the bags closed and finally looked up at her. His silver hair shifted with the breeze. "Oh, hey Esme. How are your accommodations?" he asked gently, as if he wasn’t literally thigh-deep in corpses. Sylus gave him a sideways look but continued his work, pushing the last of the bodies into place. "I’ll personally deliver them to their families..." Sylus said. The wind gathered around the stacked body bags, lifting them slowly. "They’re within Astra City, and I’ll break the news myself." Before either Esme or Azel could respond, a shockwave blasted the area as Sylus launched skyward, disappearing into the clouds. Esme’s hair whipped wildly behind her while Azel’s tracksuit flapped against his body. "Damn... he’s gone." Azel muttered before turning back to her. His expression softened. "So... the accommodations?" Esme clenched her fists before answering. "The accommodations... they’re nice." Her voice wavered slightly. She regained her footing. "Is it true you’re engaged to Sybil?" "Yes, I am. We finalized it today." Azel walked toward her, close enough that she could smell the scent of stew still clinging to his clothes. "Is there anything wrong?" "N-no..." Esme shook her head quickly. "I wanted to say congratulations and also ask for some help." Azel tilted his head. "Help? What’s going on?" ’Just ask him on a date... say it... just say it...’ Her heart screamed the word. "I want you to come with me on a d-d-d-d..." She choked. "D?" he repeated. She panicked, stumbled toward him, and grabbed his hand for balance. "I want us to check the alchemical materials that Astra Town has to offer!" she blurted out desperately. Esme internally screamed. ’I can’t even say a damn date... who goes to shop for ingredients on a first date?! What the hell is wrong with me?!’ She shook her head vigorously. "Helena is busy and I don’t want to disturb Sybil either..." Azel sighed softly, then smiled. "Sure. Let’s go." ... The streets were filled with everything a normal city had. Azel found himself enjoying the walk more than he expected. Flying was convenient, but walking made the world feel closer somehow. Merchants were shouting prices, children were running around with wooden swords, and the scent of roasted meat drifted through the air. "Do you even know where the alchemist shop is?" Azel asked, looking around. "I just got here last night so I’m not well informed..." Esme tugged on his hand and pointed. The shop looked cozy with wooden panels and a small hanging sign with a bubbling cauldron. They stepped inside to find shelves stacked with jars, powders, bundles of herbs, crystal vials, monster organs, and even floating ingredients suspended inside orbs of water. A short woman stood behind the counter... She had a stocky frame, thick arms, and sturdy build. It didn’t take much to see that it was a dwarf. "Welcome to my shop, young ones. Do you need anything?" she asked warmly. Esme stepped forward with confidence. "I’d like to check your ingredients. I want to test some, but I’ll pay well." "Oh, feel free! I love seeing young alchemists with passion." The dwarf pointed to a poster on the wall... one featuring a black-haired young woman with a determined expression holding glowing vials. "Everyone wants to be like Esmeralda—wait..." Her gaze snapped from the poster to Esme. "Lady Esme!!!" The dwarf bowed so sharply her forehead smacked the counter with a loud thud. Esme froze while Azel blinked in confusion. "Welcome to my humble shop!" the dwarf exclaimed again, rubbing her now-bruised forehead but refusing to lift her head. Esme quickly waved both hands. "N-no, no, no, please lift your head... there’s no need to bow that hard!" But the dwarf simply beamed, completely starstruck. "My shop is honored! The greatest alchemist of her generation standing right here... please, anything in the shop is available for inspection!" Azel chuckled under his breath. Esme glared at him, her cheeks turning bright red. ’Why... why is everything embarrassing today...?’