Brewing Time

After everyone ate, Marianne began stretching. “Wanna join me for the afternoon workout?”

“Sure,” I said. I really wasn’t sure what to do with myself here. Going with the flow felt natural.

She guided me out to the courtyard and I noticed all nine girls were here. Natalia was facing the other eight, or ten once me and Marianne joined them.

“Welcome sister!” Natalia said looking at me. “We like to loosen ourselves up before it gets hot. Glad you made it.”

I nodded. Natalia than began demonstrating, it started with light stretching. It wasn’t anything too difficult. We did some poses that required other girls to help and if nothing else it felt really good to feel all my muscles loosen up.

Looking around I giggled. Probably good no men were watching.

“Oh?” Natalia asked looking at me.

“Nothing. I just thought of something funny,” I said.

Elise jumped on me. “I like funny! Tell. Tell!”

“I was just thinking how bad it would be if a man saw this. Ten women in sexy outfits glistening in sweat from a workout.”

Everyone stared at me dumbfounded. I looked around to see if there was something wrong, which only caused Elise to laugh. “Your silly sister. Ten. Ha.”

“Huh?” I asked.

The Lady of the Night pushed up her glasses. “There are eleven of us Rosemary. Did your head injury reduce your mental processing ability or are you implying one of us is ugly?”

“What! No I mean! Ten of you! You aren’t counting me, what?” I said.

Lillian covered her mouth with a soft giggle but then suddenly all the girls bowed. I turned to see Master. I bowed instantly.

“Rosemary,” he said. “You don’t think you are sexy?”

“I do not, Master. I am but a humble adventurer. Compared to these ladies I am assured that I would fall short.”

“Rosemary, use divination. Ask the goddess of beauty if you are sexy. Report to me at dinner.”

He turned to leave without a word.

My chest felt a sense of pressure. Not bad, it was almost kind of a fun sense of pressure. Like if you see a rare plant hanging over a cliff. Excitement.

“Oh my,” Celeste said. “So are you waiting for a reason?”

“I can’t commune with the goddess of beauty without components,” I said. “I need some plants.”

“Oh! Me! That is a job for me than!” Iris said. “The sister of the garden, at your service.”

“Can I come too?” Lillian asked. “I would love to see a spell that is meant to contact the goddess I worship.”

I smiled. “I don’t mind.”

The other girls left to do other things. So me Iris and Lillian went to the garden. It was stunning. Beautiful flowers but way more than that. This garden was a magicians paradise. Kafal plants. Osse weeds! And even utul grass!

“This is an impressive collection! Funny enough, I could brew almost anything with this. I could even make an anti charm potion.”

Iris and Lillian stared at me with a confused expression. “Is that a potion that is in high demand?”

I looked up. I mean, we needed them. Kind of. Since we were charmed. “No, not really. Anti charm potions are best brewed to order. For demand? Healing potions would be much more in demand.”

“In either case,” Iris said. “Only brewing potions that Master approves of. We do sell ingredients. So I could see Master and Vivi approving of you making potions to sell, but we don’t get ahead of it. Okay?”

“Of course,” I said. I felt the utul grass. I want it. I… am supposed to ask the goddess of beauty. But I could free myself if I could just mix this with…

“You okay?” Lillian asked. “You look a bit flushed. I am ever so excited to see this divination spell. Do you need any help.”

I let go of the grass. Lillian. She healed me. She was worried about me. Yeah. This utul grass wasn’t going anywhere. “I need a pestle. Some kafal plants. Oh and some honey. And some leaves.”

The girls brought me the ingredients. I began mashing them. Except the leaves. I explained to Lillian that the leaves were a great facial mask when mixed this way. This was less a potion and more a beauty regimen. The goddess of beauty was particular happy to receive them as an offering. Divination to the gods was mostly about giving them a proper offering.

I placed five leaves in the bowl with the mixture on them. “Goddess of Beauty. I beseech you. Please hear me and grant me with your divine knowledge. I seek to know if I am sexy.”

Somehow it was lost on me what I was doing until I said the word sexy. I instantly blushed. I mean. Was I really brewing to ask a goddess if I was attractive? Why! I mean. I knew why. Master’s orders. But gaaah. This was so embarrassing.

All five leaves vanished. And a voice thundered around. “How adorable. I sense my healing light on you. Is that my patron with you?”

“Yes my goddess! I Lillian serve you for the sake of Master!”

“This master of yours pleases me. He has assembled many sexy people together. Yes Rosemary, you are sexy. As all the ladies in this palace. Inform your master if you continue to spoil me with such nice offerings I shall bless him and this entire estate.”

The voice vanished.

“Wow, my goddess!” Lillian said smiling. “I didn’t know divination users can speak to the gods themselves!”

“That is not normally how it goes,” I said. “To be frank, that is only the second goddess I have spoken to, or fourth depending how you label them.”

“A goddess considered my plants to be a fine offering!” Iris was also beaming with embarrassment.

I guess this is going to be an awkward report. Also, wait! I just realized she called me sexy! I turned bright red. How can I deny it if the literal goddess of beauty called me sexy! This was too much!