The scent of thyme and dried lavender drifted lazily beneath the ceiling of the shop. With the first rays of sunlight, the Moon Lotus filled with a warm, soft glow that refracted through the glass vials of potions and the crystals laid out in display cases.

  Reika sat behind the counter, a book of ancient alchemical recipes open before him, idly puffing on his pipe. He loved this time of day—when the city still slept and the shop seemed to breathe on its own, like a living creature: memories in its walls, a temper in its glass jars, and a heart pulsing in the candlelight.

  “Where are you, my kitten…” he murmured, flipping a page.

  From the storeroom came a loud thud, as if something heavy had fallen. Without lifting his eyes from the book, Reika called out:

  “Nao, I know that’s you. Fell asleep in the catnip basket again?”

  Two jet-black feline ears peeked out from behind the door, followed by a slender figure in a rumpled haori. Nao yawned, his face a mix of sleep and irritation. His tail swayed lazily side to side.

  “I was just checking the herbs hadn’t gone bad,” he muttered.

  Reika smirked, set down his pipe, and walked over to ruffle the spirit’s hair.

  “Good morning, my favorite source of drama and hissing.”

  “Don’t touch me. I’m not in the mood.”

  “Perfect. Ideal mood for grinding dried floreth petals and not poisoning our breakfast.”

  Nao huffed and headed to the kitchen. After rummaging through the pantry, he pulled out a few eggs and some dried meat. The smell of fried herbs and spices soon filled the shop. Reika settled lazily at the table while Nao set a plate in front of him.

  “Hmm, you’ve improved. Last time you served me a burnt something and called it chicken,” Reika said, poking the egg with a fork.

  “That was just a fluke. The fire was stronger than I expected,” Nao grumbled.

  “To burn chicken that thoroughly, you need talent.”

  Nao growled but sat down to eat in silence.

  After their meal, Reika lit his pipe again and returned to the counter, sipping freshly brewed coffee. The shop filled with a light herbal aroma and faint spicy smoke.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  And that’s when the bell over the door chimed.

  A man stepped in, cloaked in gray. The hood shadowed his face, though a few dark strands of hair slipped free. He walked silently between the shelves and stopped at the counter.

  “I heard the owner of this shop is a skilled alchemist. Said to be able to brew anything,” the voice was low but confident.

  Reika adjusted his glasses and folded his arms across his chest.

  “The rumors are true. What do you need?”

  “I recently came across a rare beauty potion recipe in the market. I’d like you to make it.”

  Reika’s fox ears twitched slightly.

  “Beauty potions may not be illegal, but their effects… questionable. Often irreversible.”

  “This one is different,” the man said with a faint smile. “It promises eternal beauty.”

  Reika blew a smoke ring, paused, then gave a lazy nod.

  “Very well. I’ll take the commission.”

  The man handed him a small bundle.

  “Everything you’ll need is inside. I’ll return in three days.”

  And just like that, he turned and left. The bell chimed again, and silence settled over the shop.

  Reika unwrapped the bundle: a few vials of thick liquid, dried herbs, a pouch, and a folded sheet of parchment.

  Cheap paper. Nothing special. The title at the top read: Beauty Potion Recipe. The ingredients, preparation method—everything looked ordinary. Too ordinary.

  Something felt… off.

  He removed his glasses, wiped the lenses, then slid them back on—and froze.

  Thin runes shimmered along the edges of the text. An illusion spell.

  “Clever trick,” he muttered. “Even my lenses almost missed it.”

  He traced his finger across the parchment. The illusion crumbled like dust.

  And the real title revealed itself:

  Shadowbind Elixir — Original Formula

  Section VII. Chronicles of the Eternal Void

  Nao peeked over his shoulder.

  “‘Chronicles of the Void’? What’s that?”

  Reika didn’t answer. The candle beside him flickered, as if the shop itself recognized the name.

  He lowered his gaze back to the parchment.

  If this really is the original recipe… then things are about to get interesting.

  If you enjoyed the morning chaos, tsundere cat spirit, and that mysterious customer — stick around.

  Next chapter brings silver hair, smoldering tension, and a potion no one should be brewing (or drinking).

  Let’s just say… things are about to get dangerously close.

  Comments are welcome — even a nine-tailed fox likes a bit of praise.