Aello strode over to the chair nearest the cabinet, and tugged it over to the side of the wooden case. She ignored the dust that now caked her fingers, and took a deep breath. In through the nose, and out through the mouth. "Alright, here goes," she whispered, as she put her right foot on the seat of the chair, and then the left. She pushed her legs against the bottom, and urged her body to stand up straight and tall. The seat wobbled beneath her. Tipping forward, and then back. The floor must be uneven, Aello thought, as she decided it was best to get this over with as quickly as possible, lest she fall over and hurt herself even more than Vulpin already had.
Slowly, the young spiritist raised both of her arms, extending her hands, and pushing her fingers apart. They glided silently through the air towards the bowl. Almost there... almost there... almost... Aello's fingers brushed up against the dust-caked bowl. Flecking some of the powdery grey away from it. They began to curl around the gentle slope of it, as it turned away from her. As its fading porcelain sheen sank away into the shadows cast upon it by the darkened walls. Her fingers walked along the bowl's curve, inching it closer to her, closer to the edge of wood.
Aello was biting her bottom lip, trying not to breath as her chair continued to wobble, as she inched the bowl closer to her. Almost... there... Aello tipped the bowl closer, and curled her fingers around the edge. Smiling at her small victory, the girl made to get off the chair, putting her left foot down first, and then the right, nearly tripping over it as the chair shook beneath her once more.
Phew, that was a close one, Aello thought, as she made her way back into the kitchen, and placed the bowl down on the counter, gently. Now to make some soulmist, she thought, as she blew on the bowl, lifting the dust off of its surface and into the air. Where it swirled around slowly, floating in space as it fell softly, silently, and settled on the countertop. As the dust moved, Aello reached for the closest bottle of wine, and pulled the cork off. She poured the liquid into the bowl, just enough to cover the bottom completely, before she set it back down on the counter. She reached for the flour next, and poured a thin coat of white powder upon the shallow red puddle. The two mixed together, forming a clumpy pink blob, as the powder was overcome by moisture. Last, Aello reached for the sugar, and poured a few grains inside the bowl, before placing the sack back down on the counter.
Aello sighed. Hopefully this recipe will do, she thought, as she reached for the bowl, and encased it in each of her tiny hands. Pale hands, trembling with the thought that she may fail, for she had never made the mist quite like this before. Gingerly, Aello lifted the bowl to her lips, and tilted it upwards, easing the mixture past them, and onto her tongue. The girl winced at the taste, but forced everything in, before placing the bowl back down. She chewed slowly, methodically, for a time, before pulling her dagger out of concealment.
Time to add the final ingredient. The girl raised her left hand a little higher, and then ran her blade across the middle finger. A line of blood appeared as she put the dagger away, and lifted her hand to her lips, careful not to let her prize spill. When the finger had reached her lips, she turned it over, and held out her tongue, letting the blood drip onto it. She raised her right hand, and pinched the wounded finger, to help the process along. One drop, two... three...
Finally, Aello dropped her hands, and closed her mouth. She resumed her chewing, and tried to think of pleasant things, just to distract herself from the unpleasant taste in her mouth. Things like feeding Yune, or what it would be like to meet Dira, or spending time with her companions. After several chimes, the girl's mouth had grown cool. Her teeth began to chatter. Thin wisps of white smoke slipped through her lips, creating a slender, transparent veil that stretched from her mouth to her dark brown eyes.
It is ready, Aello thought, as she lifted the bowl to her lips, and spit the mist into it. It was an off-white gel, which seemed to glow despite the lack of light. "Now we're in business," Aello whispered, as she put the bowl down on the counter.
If only she knew that to do... |