The shop's aromas blended into a pungent stench of sweet, foul, floral, and earthy. Dimly lit and well kept, Lye stood among its wares eyeing the various contents, ingredients, and oddities. For a shop tucked away in a trade hub such as Scara Brae, rare finds came to no surprise to the seasoned killer. Some of the upper shelf items piqued his interest. Despite the history with the land of Althanas and its neighboring continents, much remained unseen to his eyes. The unknown ingredients spoke to him and his hobby of alchemy. From healing serums to elixirs of fatality, Lye dabbled in a broad range of alchemical concoctions.

"Might I help you?" Asked a dry, weary voice from behind the counter.

Obscured by the fabric of his hood and further by the limited light of the shop, Lye turned to the source of the voice. An elderly fellow in his twilight years propped his weight upon the worn, wooden surface. The assassin weaved himself carefully between the shelves and displays, careful as to not let the many hilts of his weapons snag some unknown mixture to its untimely demise on the creaky, aged floor. As he approached the owner, one gloved hand and another clad in metal gripped the counter's edge.

"I'm interested in new ingredients," Lye stated vaguely. "Something to prevent invasions of the mind and various elements that lend to numbing agents or coagulants."

His hoarse, dry tone did little to hide the underlying desire for the ingredients. Lye wanted poisons and the means to protect himself from less physical threats. The elder showed neither interest or irritation. More so, Lye felt this man had more pressing matters on his mind. Serving a fledgling alchemist ranked low in his list of priorities. An old, wrinkled finger, calloused and cracked from exposure to chemicals unknown, pointed to the top of a shelf in the corner.

"There." He did not ask questions. "They will not come cheap."

"Money is no issue."

The elder paused and the outstretched hand returned to his chin with a grunt of intrigue.

"Wait here." The old man vanished into the doorway behind him. Sounds of glass clinking and books falling to the floor sounded softly behind solid walls.

Then, a bell rung at the front door. Lye trained his eyes to the source where new light poured into the dark interior. A woman with hair like fire, walked in and stood beside him. Her hand rung a bell atop the counter. Lye remained silent and curious. She seemed young to him and the environment starkly contrasted her youth and vigor.