The thing screamed high class hotel. Five stories of the same marble-like material with a definitely modern architecture. Warm light bled into the street and a low buzz of activity reached us as we approached. Rather than the fantasy inn I imagined it would be, it wouldn't feel out of place in Dubai. Minus the nearby buildings almost sticking to it, of course.
Talk about suspension of disbelief. I sighed.
The hall that greeted us was wide and furnished with wooden tables, chairs, desks, all the works. Three people were sitting inside, each by themselves. A short man stood behind an exquisitely crafted counter, smiling at us when we came in.
"Welcome to West Cyr Inn." he greeted us with a slight bow. "How may I be of service?"
Lapia put a gold coin in front of him. "One night, dinner and breakfast."
"Certainly, Lady Lapia." he turned to me. "Your Excellency, I must ask that you please return all heavy objects into your Storage. While we pride ourselves in the structural capabilities of the city's buildings, anything too heavy would pose danger not only to your companion, but also other guests." his smile tightened slightly and he avoided eye contact.
I turned to Lapia with an expression that would best be described as 'shocked out of my wits'. This dude is amazing. The stance, the tone, the treatment. I was convinced we were received by the best employee there was.
"The armor's not that heavy, but sure." the receptionist relaxed visibly.
I reached up to my shoulders and unclasped the tight buckle that kept the shoulder plate in place. It fell into my hand and it dissolved into my storage. That's apparently the name. I repeated the process until my chest plate was next and noticed him blushing profusely.
Oi. This is not a show. I thought. Then noticed him looking away uncomfortably. Ah. I realized. If a dude were to undress in front of a gal, that would be her reaction in his position.
I turned around and walked to a pillar, standing out of sight. The rest of the process went smoothly, as I had already done this a few times, the stress drilling the actions to memory. After finishing, I stood wearing only the stretchy leather garments, which felt more like sports clothes than leather armor meant for brutal combat. Feels like yoga pants. The material hugged my body in a comfortable way, at the same time revealing the shape of my body for all to see. That in itself was not a problem, as I had frequented beaches and events wearing even less. I felt vulnerable in a primal, instinctual way. As if something would come out of nowhere aiming for my vitals.
I took a deep breath. Focusing on the present. I'm durable. I told myself. The vivid memory of the bandit's blade shattering against my unprotected skin replaying in my mind's eye. A long breath leaving my lungs and my muscles relaxing.
I returned to the reception desk, my armor now in my storage. The man smiling and Lapia looking positively tired.
"Here's the key to your room." the man handed Lapia a metallic key.
She took it and headed to the stairs on the other side of the hall. I followed the Elf up to the third floor. We stood in front of a door with the number '305' on it.
She opened it and we entered a spacious room with a large King sized bed and various other furniture; a desk, night stands and foldable chairs leaning on a wall. A window showed the city in it's now late evening state, thousands of streetlights showing an image I was no stranger of.
I walked to a table on the left side of the room, opposite from the bed and took a seat. The cushion was comfortable and the height was just right.
Lapia sat directly in front of me.
"Dinner will arrive in around thirty minutes to an hour." she informed me.
"Sounds great." I supported my chin on my hands, leaning on the table. "So, as you might imagine, I have quite the number of questions."
"I bet." she sighed.
"First of all." I pulled a golden potion from my inventory. If things would progress the way I hoped they would, I'd need the elf at her best and full of energy. "I need to know if potions, or elixirs as you called them, have any side effects or a limit to them." I put the 500cc bottle between us.
"They do." she eyed the item. "Much like most things in life, excess is bad." she took the bottle and examined it closer. "Potions are everyday medicine. Elixirs are magnitudes higher in potency, price and quality." she looked at me. "I assume this is better than anything you gave me?"
"It is, by far." I wasn't lying. The first potion I gave her was a Lvl 100 potion, of which I had a considerable amount. The second one was a Lvl 20 potion, those were scarce on my storage, but did their job properly; localized healing if I understood things. The golden concoction was a Lvl 300 potion, it restored health, mana, stamina and boosted stats for a short duration. Those I had in large quantities.
"I'm about to go teacher mode. You okay with that?" she placed the potion on the table and looked at me.
"Go ahead." I nodded.
"You use a potion to alleviate pain. A headache, a sprain, cramps, you get it." I nodded. "Better potions treat light ailments. A cold, asthma, seizures. Instances of biological disorder, and light chronic illnesses." she leaned back on her chair. "Keyword being treat. They do not cure the ailment. Higher quality potions can stop bleeding, cure minor ailments and in general better the drinker's overall health. Those take time, though. Patients would drink them for long periods of time for them to show their effects. Master potioneers can brew something akin to what you gave me when I broke my finger." she knit her brow at that, a hint of embarrassment on her face.
"True geniuses can create what you gave me first." she continued nonetheless, her eyes set on mine. "Elixir of Life. Heal wounds, broken bones, bruises, the works." she pointed at the bottle on the table. "The higher quality a potion or elixir, the less impurities it would have, leading to less side effects." she scratched her forehead for a second. "I have drank many potions and elixirs in my life, and none were as positive as the ones you gave me. I believe they have no downsides. That's how pure they are." she put a hand on top of the potion. "What does this one do? All it says is 'Rejuvenation'."
[Elixir of Rejuvenation]
"Holy shit." I exclaimed, a pleased smile on my face. "You summarized that so well. Damn." I nodded approvingly at the Elf. "It shows you know your shit."
"I would hope so." she smiled. "And thank you."
"It does a lot, really. I don't know the exact extent, as I have yet to drink it. If it works as I think it does, it should restore you to your best." I gestured to the potion. "What I'm worried about the most, is addiction." My eyes drilled Lapia's.
"A very sober thought." she nodded at my words. "I have no antidotes or that kind of medicine on me, unfortunately."
"Mhm." I searched my inventory and found many antidotes to poisons and magical effects, but none for addiction. "Let me try it first." I grabbed the bottle and undid the cork.
I brought the drink to my lips and noticed Lapia watching me intently. I took a sip and the moment the liquid came into contact with my tongue, I instantly recognized the taste of caffeine. My tongue, however, was not used to the flavor, having being reborn anew. I choked. Hard. The bitterness was all invasive, my eyes watered and I coughed like a madwoman.
"This cough! shit cough! tastes vile." I continued coughing for a full minute. I quickly read my status and found the numbers raising slightly. I had only taken a sip, and little of that made it to my stomach.
"How do you feel?" she asked, worry evident on her face. A smile forced itself through the grimace the foul drink brought on my face.
"Normal, works as I thought it would." I said after calming down. "Take a sip. It's pretty strong." I handed over the flask.
She carefully took the potion from my hands, a wary look on her face. She closed her eyes and took a tiny sip. Her eyes shot open.
"What do you mean it tastes vile." she took swig, a pleased sigh escaping her lips. "This is divine."
"New tongue." I said. "Take it easy." I warned, reaching for the bottle.
She let it go. Her eyes glazed and the effects were instant.
Her skin went from slightly discolored to a healthy tan in a second. Its shriveled state one would associate with a malnourished individual disappearing completely. Her so far unruly chestnut hair turned dark blonde and silky straight with a healthy shine to it. Her face filled in and her cheeks were no longer slightly sunken. Her body followed suit, filling out where fat had vanished due to starvation. Breasts, hips and legs thickening to a perfect triangle. Her hips widening to fill a meaty behind, thighs with a healthy tone to them and perky breasts. Her clothes were several sizes smaller than what she should have been wearing.
Dark blonde hair like soft sunshine flowed down her shoulders. Her skin like brown sugar looked supple, flexible and youthful. Her facial features were defined and sharp. Her dazzling almond shaped emerald green eyes looked at me for a second and I felt my heart skip a beat.
My jaw fell. I even looked under the table to see her legs. There was not a single blemish visible on her. I quickly looked away.
Oh no. She's hot! I screamed inside. The woman in front of me was not the half corpse I had met. The few elves I saw earlier must have been way under the line that Lapia drew when it came to beauty.
I reluctantly turned my gaze back to her.
"How do you feel?" I asked. My voice came out as a croak.
Her emerald shining eyes locked with mine. "Like never before." she smiled and I saw beauty for the first time in this world. The kind that would turn one stupid.
I felt myself gulping by reflex. I kept my face cool. This was an Elf that flirted like there was no tomorrow.
"I can see where that earlier confidence came from." the words left me before I could stop them.
What am I, a teenager? I chastised myself.
Fortunately, my comment came out as a sarcastic comment rather than gay panic. She laughed and her voice tickled the base of my skull. Even her vocal cords improved.
The woman in front of me was such a surreal difference from the previous creature, it made me think how much abuse she went through. Also just how above average she really was, that even in that state of utter famine, she was not absolutely horrid. Like a diamond you find underground; you'd find it pretty, but until it was polished and processed, its true beauty would be hidden. My ridiculous comparisons returned, revealing my state of mind.
My feelings were a mess. I couldn't simply say 'wow you look way better', that'd make her feel even more miserable about how ruined she was the past few days. Neither could I keep quiet. Were it me in her position, I'd like some encouraging words. Unless this world's people mental strength is high as clouds.
She was examining her hands. Her fingernails, or claws, grew a couple centimeters and became sharper, her digits now sleek and refined. Her teeth were not the wretched grayed out bones they were, she wouldn't look out of place in a toothpaste commercial. Their sharpness was delicate, hidden behind plump, full, soft pink lips that glistened like fine china.
I realized I was staring when descriptive words became over the top.
"Now I'm closer to your divine looks, though I still lack a bit." she said with a smirk as she checked her changes.
"No way." I snorted. "You're way above." I waved her comment away.
She stared at me with unimpressed eyes. "You've absorbed sunlight. Go check yourself on the mirror." she pointed at a door behind me.
"What do you mean? I just glow with sunlight, don't I?." I tilted my head, having forgotten my own species features.
"Yes, you glow. You also absorb it and improve yourself with it." she stood up. "Go, I need to change clothes in the meantime. This are too tight." she said, pulling at the linen pants she was wearing. Those were about to burst, her bottom was that thick.
I went to the door, a bathroom inside. I was surprised for a second, but then again, in a world of magic, people with incredible lifespans could easily come up with construction technology. Egyptians had pipes thousands of years ago for fucks sake, why couldn't a dwarf or something think of it.
I stood in front of a full body mirror and froze. My mind reeled for a minute until I understood that the reflection in front of me was of myself.
Gold. The color was everywhere. My skin, my hair, my lips, my eyes. I did, in fact, look like I was touched by King Midas. There was no uncanny feeling, however. I did not look like a statue, just a really golden person. My hair was braided as I did every morning, shades darker than my skin. I pulled it in front of me and it reached my knees. That didn't change. My lips were a pale gold, full and plump. I pouted and even I was struck by the effect. I smiled and platinum silver teeth showed themselves.