Feathers & a Dash of Magic

Chapter 2: Roman's Cameo

CW: talk about gore, sorta?

Virgil had a large basket in his arms that was already quite full of food. The carriage was mostly filled with food back at the town stable, now he was just walking in a skinnier part of the market to get the last things.

He was itching to go home already, or at least find a safe place to let out his wings. They twitched in pain, but the large cloak hid it from everyone. He wasn't planning on stopping by Logan's though, he just needed to get some strawberries for Patton and he can leave.

Luckily by now, Miss Kayda had to have set up at her usual spot. It wasn't late enough for lunch, but it was getting close. He didn't want to be late, he should get home soon to make sure Patton is doing okay. He knows that his brother doesn't need help all the time, he's pretty strong even if his legs aren't, but Virgil always has been a bit protective.

He smiled when he saw Miss Kayda behind her stand, selling some blueberries to another customer. She looked up when they left and saw him, her smile becoming even brighter.

Even before their parents death, Kayda had been close with them. She was one of the kindest ladies in the village, and was only single because she had turned down every man. Though she had an adopted son named Brandon. She was also one of the few people that know about Logan and Patton's relationship. Plus, besides Patton and Logan's family, she's the only other person who knows Virgil is gay.

"There's my favorite oddball! How are you and your brother, Virge?" She asked. She was an older woman, her brown hair tied in a loose, low bun and stripped with gray. She had crows feet in the corner of her dark brown eyes, and wore a red dress with yellow flowers at the collar.

"We're doing good, I'm just shopping for some food. When I get home, I'm going to help pick our harvest with my brother. Maybe in a few days we'll have enough to sell again."

"That's good to hear! Is there anything I could help you with today?"

"Some strawberries please, just one box." Virgil set his basket down and untied the top.

"That'll be two bronze pieces please." Kayda reached down and grabbed two small baskets, one with strawberries and one with blueberries. "I got the best for you two here, the blueberries are on the house."

"Oh you don't need to do that, I have enough money for both." He set down the two bronze pieces before looking for two more.

"Nope! I'm only accepting these two!" She grabbed them from the table. "Don't make me give you one back, mister."

Virgil couldn't help but laugh slightly. "You're too kind."

"Oh I am huh? What about you? Or have you forgotten all the times you have offered to help me for free? Like repainting or fixing something?"

"And you pay me every time." The fairy set the two baskets down in the bigger one, tying the top back on.

"Because your time is valuable! Running that giant farm with only your brother to help, and occasionally Logan. You really need another set of hands to help out."

"We can handle the farm on our own, we're doing fine. Mom and Dad were able to handle it by themselves before Patton was old enough to start helping!"

"If you say so dear," Kayda put her hand on his shoulder. "But if you need any help, I'd be happy to come around a few times."

"You have your own farm to take care of." Virgil lifted the basket onto one of his shoulder, being careful so that it wouldn't rest against his wings.

"So? I have plenty of people to help me! I'm not the only one that works out there, I'm just the one in charge. Besides, picking berries is easy. Pulling out potatoes... Now that's gotta put some muscle on you."

Virgil couldn't help but rub his arms with a slight laugh. "Yeah, you got a point there."

"Maybe I could send Brandon down to your farm to help out sometime. He could help pick tomatoes or something, and maybe you two could get close." Kayda gave him a cheeky smile.

His face burned bright at the implication. "Kayda!"

"I'm just saying, you're very strong and handsome. He's also not a stranger to staring at men."

Virgil pulled his hood over his face, he was as red as the strawberries in front of him. "Stop it..."

She laughed loud, "I'm teasing! You don't have to date anyone unless you want to. I mean, I'm not!"

He adjusted the strap on his shoulder. "Yeah... I should get going. Oh, but Patton says hi."

"Aw! How nice of him! Tell him I said hello. Oh, and you two need to eat your carrots."

Virgil made a disgusted face. "Sorry mom, but no." He turned to leave as she shook her head at him with a chuckle, but before he could take more than a step he felt a strange tug in his chest. He looked down the street and saw a red cloak, freezing on the spot.

"Oh, it's the scarlet man," Kayda whispered.

The scarlet man, or as it was rumored to be his name, Roman Alastor. He was a giant town gossip, everyone talks about him every time he comes since he only appears once a month at most. No one knows where he came from, he just showed up one day, and it made Virgil highly suspicious.

He didn't know what to make of him since he's only seen him a few times. Many people believed he was magical somehow, not quite human. He had healed those who were deadly ill and had been seen talking with animals, but that was the extent of it, and they could be chalked up to exaggerations, as Logan says. The alchemist didn't believe he had any magic at all.

Unfortunately, creatures with magic were rare. Most magical creatures, or monsters as dubbed by most humans, have something that humans could 'use.' Claws, fangs, scales, and even feathers. Some towns have forbidden the sale of such things because of how humans get it, but humans will find ways to get their hands on things. Then there were the creatures that had actual magic, like sirens, witches, and fairies. They have cores that give them powers like healing, element control, and more. The cores can be crushed into a paste, and when ingested by humans, for a little bit they could control that magic, it was disgusting. Virgil had even heard rumors that it wasn't just cores that do that, scales, feathers, and fur of magical creatures can do the same. He wondered if his feathers had magical properties, but he really didn't want to find out.

All of that is the reason Virgil hides his wings, because magical creatures are hunted by monster hunters. If he was caught, deemed a monster by the very village he loves, they could give him away to them. They could steal his feathers, cut out his core, or even cut off his wings to sell to someone who would love to have them as some fancy wall decorations.

Of course, the reason for the scarcity of magic creatures is also why Logan doesn't believe Roman is really magical at all. But every time he's near Virgil, the fairy can sense something coming from him. Question is, does that something belong to him or was it stolen? Virgil really didn't trust him, he's heard rumors of monster hunters hiding their profession from others.

The man in the red cloak looked over as he passed them, and Virgil quickly looked away. The last thing he wanted was to draw the attention of a stranger to him. He had a run in with monster hunters in the past, and they're too dangerous. His wings laid uncomfortably against his back, almost unbearable. He really needed to get going.

"Do you think he's here to buy or sell?" Kayda asked. Typically he sold stuff to the alchemists, his herbs were very strong and useful, hard to grow too.

"With him you never know," Virgil said, starting to walk away. "I'll see you later, Miss Kayda."