All should be warned of where a dangerous beast lives. A beast cursed by god itself. It would tear a man apart with his hands without a second thought. That was what the man told me when I first moved into this town. Honestly at that time, I thought he was crazy. To me he just showed up one day and started to rave on as a mad man like he was some sort of prophet. At the time I just humored him. Told him I had no reason to go into the mountains, gave a quick thank you, and started on my work. 

The day started out normal, I was heading out to my greenhouse. As an apothecary, having a greenhouse to grow plants makes both my job and life much easier. Unfortunately, it also gives me headaches as well. When I approached the greenhouse, I quickly noticed the broken glass. God damn it, again. I pinched the bridge of my nose. I’m already used to people breaking in getting some of my plants. Maybe I should move the more valuable stuff in the house. I go clean up the glass and call the guards. I check on the other plants, making sure they’re okay. They only went off with the Malbara plants, a potent pain killer.

The guards arrived and Halmet just look at me and said, “let me guess, someone broke into your greenhouse again.”

“Yep,” I answered.

Halmet sighed, “Have you ever consider not growing that plant?”

“I need it for work. Do I need to show you the papers again?”

“No...just...I am tired of doing this. How often do you think this happens?”

“Too often.”

“Yes too often. Some of the people higher in command are out right saying we should ignore you.”

I nod in agreement, “I don’t blame them.”

Halmet continue the report, “so what are going to do now?”

“Well I can try to grow something else. Maybe something local so it won't cost much.”

“Where do you plan on looking?”

I thought about it, “well the mountains are-”

“I’ll advise against it.” Halmet interrupted, “they say there’s a beast up there.”

I laughed, “You honestly believe that?”

“I do, been a rule around here for generation. Some beast cursed by god to wonder that mountain alone. They say any who gazes on it never return alive”

“If it’s been that long surly the beast is dead by now.”

“Anyway, I'll advise against it.” Halmet leave with the other guards. Well if i die, they know what happened to me.

###

The sun was shining above me as I search the mountains for plants I can use. I can’t believe I've never been here before. It’s an herbalist paradise. My pack is close to bursting with all the plants I found. I found ginsa, orlanco,and even some mandrake roots. Seriously why haven’t I come up here before? Still haven't found anything i can use as a replacement for Malbara yet. I pulled out my plants guide. Should i try using mushrooms as a substitute? Flipping through the pages I settle on the Enice, a mushroom that causes numbness. The book says they grow in dark, damp places, like every other mushroom in existence. There should be at least one damp cave on this mountain. After searching for about two hours, I found a cave. There was a sound of running water echoing from the cave. Hope the mushrooms in here. I pulled out a lantern and lit it as I entered the cave. 

The inside of the was kind of muggy, Made me sweat more than I already had on the way here. I’m so looking forward to the shower when I get back. Despite being a cave, it was more of a tunnel, no twists or turns to get lost under. That was a good thing but something about this cave was odd. The walls had signs it was made with some sort of tools instead of forming naturally. 

The tunnel lead into a large room. Off to the side was a stream cutting through the room. Light filled in from a hole in the ceiling. Throughout the room was random stuff thrown about. Is someone living here? Guess they won’t have any mushrooms in here. I turned around to leave when I hear the sounds of footsteps down the tunnel. “Hello,” I called out, “I’m sorry I barged in.” the footsteps stopped. “I wasn't aware that someone was living here. I just don’t want you to be surprised when you see me.” The footsteps quickened. “There's no need to rush. We’ll see each other…” I sort of drifted off when I saw the source of the footsteps. 

Before me was a hulking beast, a mix between a man and a bull. It coat was a dark brown. This beast towered over me, glaring at me with it’s brown eyes. He yelled at me, his voice echoing around the room.  I was dumbfounded. What was I looking at here? The beast got close to my face, “what are you doing in my lair?”

I breathe a sigh of relief, “Oh good you can talk. I thought I was in danger for a second.”

“You might still be, human.” He sounded pissed.

“Well, I'm sorry I barged in unannounced,” I stuck my hand out, “My name is Alphonse, but most people call me Al. what’s your name?”

The beast stared my hand, then glance back at me.

“What’s wrong never shook hands before?”

“No,” the bull man said, “you aren’t, responding correctly.” His whole body got defensive.

“Well, my mom always reminds me to be polite when I meet people for the first time,” I take the bullman’s hand into my own.  His own hand dwarfed mine, “Now we shake. See, up then down.”

The bull man shook out of my grip, “no, you aren’t doing this right,” he backed off, looking visibly frightened. “Your supposed to run away and whoa,” he lost his footing and tumbled into the stream.

“You okay?”

“No stay away! Don’t come any closer!” the bull man jumped up from the stream and hid behind some junk, trying to make himself seem small.

This is what the people are scared of? “Look I’m sorry I wandered into your home. I was looking for some mushrooms.”

“Well there are none here, so just leave.” the bull men dove behind another pile of junk further away from me. As he moved his tail was going all over the place.

“Well, there might be, is it okay-”

“No,” he shouted, “I just want you out of here, NOW!” 

I was getting angry, “Look I know I intruded here, but there is no reason to be so rude here. I am trying to be polite here. There is no reason we can’t have a chat. `` I move some junk out of a chair and sat down, “so what can I call you?”

The bull man glared at me.

“I have no plans of leaving till we talk like the civilized person we both are.”

The bull man grunted, “Asterius.”

“Well then Asterius, you live here?”

Asterius glared at me, “yes.” he sounded like he was still trying to sound tough.

“Well the rent must be cheap, since it’s in the middle of nowhere,” I joke.

He didn’t laugh. Poor joke.

I look around the room, “so how is it like living out here?”

“Fine,” he answered. He’s not much of a talker. 

“Okay, so where did you get the stuff?”

“Found it.”

I feign ignorance, “On the mountains?”

“In town.”

“Where do you find them?”

Asterius stopped hiding behind the junk pile, “In the trash. I clean it when I come back.”

I pointed at the stream, “in there?”

“No, that for my drinking water. I use a different river to clean things and myself.”

“Oh, that's good.”

Asterius looked at me confused, “What is?”

“You clean yourself and your stuff. You never know if something may have some deadly germs or not.” I opened my pack, “I have some extra soap on me I can give to you if you’re out.”

He smiled. “I would like that, thanks.”

That smile is quite cute. I pulled out the soap. I was about to hand it over, but I thought it would be better to just put it on the table. “So how is your health?”

“Why do you need to know that?”

“Well I’m an apothecary. Besides just making medicine, I also have to work as a doctor.” I sat back down, “if you feel ill you can always come to my clinic for a checkup.”

“I don’t have any money,” Asterius looked sad

“Don’t worry, checkups are free. I only charge you for the drugs. `` I thought for a moment, then I snapped my fingers, “but I'll also take some herbs found on the mountain, in case you need some medicine. Oh,” i pull out the plant guide, “there are a lot of plants on this mountain you can use for medicine. I’ll bookmark the ones I saw here for you. ``

“Don’t you need your book?”

“Don’t worry, it’s an old copy. I can always get another one.” I scanned the room. Paper, paper, paper. There was a stack of newspapers, “perfect.” I tore up one of the newspapers and putting the scrapes on pages of the plants I found while I was here. “Oh yeah, I’m writing my address behind the cover, so you would know where to find me. Do you have a pen or something to write with?”

“I know where you live, you don’t need to write it down.” 

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah, it's the one with the greenhouse who keeps getting broken into.”

I laughed, “so even you know my reputation. Just some drug users breaking in for a fix, nothing to be concerned about.”

“You should be. I know who does it and he’s dangerous.”

“How do you know him?”

“I see him from time to time. Had a few run-ins with him. He’s mostly breaks into people’s houses, sometimes they end...badly.”

“Hey you wouldn’t happen to have a name to this guy would you?”

“No, but I remember him responding to ‘Lenard’.”

“Lenard doesn't ring any bells. But I’ll tell the guards and see if they know anyone. Thank you for telling me Asterius”

He looked confused, “Why are you thanking me?”

“Well if it is the same guy, you would have saved my life. I know what drug users are willing to do for a fix, most apothecaries do, so any help is appreciated. `` I finish book marking all the pages and wrote down my address. “All right that's everything. It was nice meeting you Asterius, hope to see you soon.”

“Wait,” he said, “you want to see me?”

“Well you wanted to see me, right.” 

He looked confused. 

“See when you heard me earlier, you didn’t run away. You could have easily ran away from me and I would have thought you just didn't want to be seen. You obviously didn’t want to kill me, just scare me off. when you learned I wasn’t scared of that big bad persona you cooked up, you started to hide behind you pile of stuff. To me it clear you want to meet people, but find it awkward doing so. `` I relight my lantern, “well, I should head back. Don’t worry, I'm keeping this meeting all to myself. Welp see you soon. `` I then descend into the tunnel, humming my favorite song.