There are evenings when the noise of the world seems to fall silent and thoughts, as if suspended in the fresh air, are carried away by the wind. It's a strange feeling, but sometimes a pleasant one, to be alone in an inn lost in the hollow of a valley, far from worldly preoccupations. That evening, after a day's picking, the bite of the winter cold and the heavy snowfall had forced me to seek refuge in one of these inns, which I had been told was welcoming but not very crowded. It was a fairly common tavern, but it wasn't by chance that I'd ended up there. Indeed, I had been told of four illustrious wizards from the region who liked to stay there from time to time. Their names could be heard in every corner of the village, like a persistent rumour to those who knew how to pay attention. Their fame was far from usurped, as they were the founders of a vast wizarding school whose reputation within their community was already well established!
So I sat down, not far from the fireplace, a few vials placed in front of me alongside various parchments, a little work in progress and my mind searching for answers, my attention captured by my task, despite the heat - a little heady - of the fire.
Gradually, the inn became more crowded. I continued my work, barely distracted by the conversations of the other guests, to whom I listened with barely an ear. It wasn't long before the famous figures I mentioned earlier made their entrance, and I looked up mechanically when I heard the door open. A solidly built man, dressed in red, led the way, looking conquering, wearing a patched hat with a rip near one edge, set against his thick golden hair. He waved to the innkeeper, with a frank smile that not even his thick beard could hide. Behind him came a woman dressed in blue and wearing long brown hair. She also gave the innkeeper a more enigmatic smile, while observing the assembly of day-trippers with a keen eye. Finally, their last companions arrived, a woman as redheaded as she was plump and an emaciated man whose impressive beard reached below his belt. They paid little attention to their surroundings, so absorbed were they in their discussion, that they followed the first two, their yellow and green robes floating in their wake. The four of them sat down at a secluded table, their voices raised occasionally, but always in a restrained manner, as if each word carried more weight than the others.
It was only after a while that one of them, the beautiful woman with the sharp eyes and discreet smile, approached my table. Absorbed as I was in my operations, I hadn't noticed that she had been watching me in silence for several minutes, so I didn't have time to react before she had already started talking. She asked me about the manipulations I was doing, whether I was studying a particular potion or the properties of one ingredient among others. I replied that I was studying both and she sat down at my table. Unfortunately, I don't remember exactly what we said, so you'll forgive me if I simply transcribe here the impression I got from that conversation, which was a most pleasant one. The only thing I remember very clearly, apart from her tone of quiet wisdom, was my amazement and admiration at discovering the sharpness of her mind and the abundance of specialist knowledge she possessed. I had a great time debating with her and learning new things! We were soon joined by her acolytes and the discussion lasted a long time, as is often the case when enthusiasts exchange ideas. However, as the day drew to a close, they suggested that we continue our discussions the next day and that we take this opportunity to visit their establishment. So they took their leave and set off again into the cold, fighting the wind and the snowflakes that continued to swirl around them as they made their way towards the imposing castle that towered above them.
After a restful sleep, I got up refreshed and alert. The inn was quiet, and most of the travellers who had stayed to sleep had probably already left. So I set about finishing my work from the previous day, as it had been agreed that I would not set off until late morning to meet my new companions.
When the time came, I collected my equipment and went outside. I could tell from the thick white blanket covering the paths and vegetation that the snowflakes had continued to fall for most of the night and only stopped at dawn. The day was clear and the sky had the characteristic colour of the dry cold of winter, while the morning light, pale and frank, skimmed over the roofs of the inn, highlighting the silhouette of the smoking chimneys that were lost in the icy air. All around was calm and the trees, frozen under the weight of the snow, seemed suspended in time. Taking a deep breath, filling my lungs with invigorating air, I took a few steps along the narrow path, my boots sinking into the still immaculate powder.
The biting, icy air bit into my face as I made my way along. On the horizon, the silhouette of the castle loomed, massive and impressive. Its grey stone walls seemed to spring from the bowels of the mountain itself, like a sleeping giant, and its towers rose skywards like frost-capped sentinels. The building seemed to defy time. The path that led to it, winding through the bare trees, was lost in the infinite whiteness. The almost unreal silence was broken only by the crunch of the snow beneath my feet. I walked on, my thoughts occupied by the memory of the previous day's conversations. Finally, as I approached the large gates guarding the entrance to the castle courtyard, a shiver ran through me, brought on by the feeling that I was about to enter a world apart.
You will forgive me, I hope, for my inability to put into words the wonder that was mine when, passing through the wide oak doors, I discovered the building's majestic entrance hall. I'm also at a loss for words to describe the many rooms my hosts showed me, the treasures of knowledge they contained and the astonishing moving staircases that served them, a feat of both architecture and magic.
In my deepest heart, I hoped to have the opportunity to explore the area in much greater depth. It was certain that several days would hardly be enough to begin exploring its mysteries. However, I didn't need to ask. In fact, the founders had an idea in mind when they invited me to join them for a visit the day before. They were looking for someone who could give occasional classes to their students, and they thought that my profile might suit their needs. So they asked me to introduce some of their older students to the rudiments of alchemy. During this brief period, as well as having the pleasure of sharing some of my knowledge, I had plenty of time to explore the castle and discuss fascinating subjects with the various teachers at the school. It was a most rewarding experience, and one that I may one day have to tell you all about!
This collection includes 4 medium-sized eggs and one larger egg.
The store will be updated on January 15 at 8.30pm.
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