"You! Where the f**k did you put it?! I know you took my potion you bastard!"
"You're insane! Get off me!"
"Where is it, where is it?! M, my potion! Someone took my potion!"
"Hey you in the uniforms! What kind of bulls**t is this?! I paid hard cash for my potion and it evaporates from my hands?! Is this a sick joke?!"
Chaos and indignation quickly spread throughout the venue of the Manus' operation. People who sought to cure themselves of the hallucinations brought about by an unknown force quickly became enraged upon seeing their potions — which they had paid or begged for — was taken straight out of their arms and made it seem like they were schizophrenic.
What made it especially more baffling was that it wasn't concentrated nor targeted — but rather, was happening all throughout the venue in random locations at erratic intervals — sowing disorder in all directions.
Confusion and disarray permeated the grounds.
...and none suspected the thin fog hovering near their feet.
---
"What's going on?"
Maintaining a solemnly respectful tone as well as a composed demeanor, Isaac looked around as the situation around him gradually became more and more disorderly with each passing minute with people — mostly tramps — were starting to gather and riot for their stolen potions.
Some wanted compensations, replacements, or even answers — thus forming a vortex of tantrums among the crowd.
Druvis, who was beside him, looked at the scene and frowned slightly, a hint of incomprehension present on her reticent face.
"I don't know. But it seems that something or someone is harboring all the potions being handed out."
"Could it be an arcanist?" Isaac chimed in, seemingly genuinely concerned for what was happening. "I mean, from what's happening, surely it's an arcanist, right?"
"It's highly possible." Druvis didn't refute his statement and merely looked at the members of the Manus on stand-by. "I'll make sure to send over some personnel to investigate the matter."
"How kindhearted of you, Ms. Druvis." Hearing her sentiment, Isaac couldn't help but praise her — albeit it was unclear whether it was a genuine one or a sarcastic comment. "Honestly, those fellows from the Manus should be more like you — a model citizen."
"...you sing of praises yet your tone indicates otherwise." She didn't take his comment seriously. "You remind me of Forget Me Not a lot."
Isaac chuckled and didn't respond, continuing his walk beside her towards the tent where Vertin and Forget Me Not was situated.
It had been quite a while since the two of them met. Druvis went around the venue inspecting and maintaining order while occasionally giving out potions, while Isaac merely followed her around like some kind of loyal puppy, often helping around or chatting with her.
Albeit, it was worth mentioning that he wasn't doing it without reason. For the most part, he was actually glad to accompany her since she was part of the main cast of the story — something he needed to get close to if he wished to stay by Vertin's side to reach his end goal.
As such, he had been doing his best at giving out good impressions of himself to her. Suffice to say, he felt like he was doing a good job at it.
Not only that, but he had also been meticulously trying to find a way to break through Forget Me Not's fog, albeit that still hadn't yielded much results yet.
But of course, he was also doing something else behind the scenes.
Turning his head and looking over at the tent where the members of the Manus were, he saw some of them drink water and other liquids inside. Seeing this, he smirked darkly, making sure to hide it from Druvis.
'That's right... Drink it all up... Don't waste a single drop...' He murmured to himself while following Druvis around.
Since he harbored quite a bit of information about the future, he of course couldn't just waste that important asset and was actively using it for their advantage later on the story.
'Oh, Vertin, you ought to be grateful to me for this...'
All he needed now was to wait for the seeds he was sowing to grow and reap the rewards.
Just then, while he was in the middle of imagining the outcome of the events he had laid out, Druvis' voice reached out to him, snapping him out of his revelry.
Turning around and facing him, she spoke. "I've been meaning to ask... Do you find pleasure in the suffering of others?"
"Huh?" Taken aback by her sudden question, Isaac's jaw cartoonishly dropped. "Wait, where the heck did that come from?"
"Hm, I've been observing for a while now and noticed that you smirk a lot watching the refugees spiral down to disorder." She explained. "Is it not reasonable to think that you enjoy witnessing their misfortune?"
As she spoke, a subtle look of skepticism managed to crept up her reticent expression.
Listening to her, Isaac couldn't help but think that him trying to make good impressions to her until now had all but been to naught, causing him to feel a tad bit indignant — especially since he had put in an effort in it too.
Baffled by this one-sided profiling, he immediately retorted. "Well, no? Uh, I was thinking of something else!"
"For some reason, I can't take that statement at face value." She turned her head sideways after saying such a comment. "If that's your reason then so be it. Come, let's meet up with Vertin. I'm sure she's being troubled by Forget Me Not."
She then walked off, about to walk in near the tents where the potions were being handed out, expecting him to follow her.
However...
"...oh."
Isaac abruptly came to a stop. Looking at her departing figure, he stood in place for a moment — a frail frown adorning his face — before forming a brittle smile, his dark murky eyes softening as a realization dawned upon him.
"...of course."
How could he forget?
It wasn't just normal humans that his fog affected, but also arcanists too, albeit much less provocative.
Vertin was certainly an exception to his ability — but Druvis... Druvis was a normal arcanist. She wasn't excluded from the subtle affects of Isaac's fog — one that would only manifest if someone had been with him for a set period of time.
Skepticism, cynicism, and suspicion... Those were the three leading emotions an arcanist would feel if they lingered around him for a while.
Looking at Druvis' figure, he felt his heart ache. This was not the first time this had happened to him, but every time it does happen, he keeps being reminded of his alienation to this world — an outsider. It was as if his fog was there to constantly remind him that he was not originally a part of this world.
...he felt complicated.
Noticing that she wasn't being followed, Druvis turned around and looked at Isaac. Seeing his shoulders slumped down and his dark murky eyes looking crestfallen, she stopped walking.
Watching him appear to have rooted himself in that spot, she was just about to come back and get him when he suddenly lifted his face with a brittle smile.
Then, noticing her gaze, he looked at her and a confident expression appeared on his face, quickly covering the previous demeanor he had.
"Sorry about that, Ms. Druvis. Seems like there was something on my shoe, haha." He chuckled lightly. "It's all fine now, though. Come, let's go meetup with Vertin."
"..." She lingered for a bit, watching him approach her, before giving a reply. "Alright."
Watching the man who she just witnessed look downtrodden mere moments ago look lively and energetic now, a slight frown managed to form on Druvis' reticent face.
Seeing him walk past her, a few words escaped her mouth in a murmur. "You were..."
"Hm? What is it?" He turned his head and looked at her with a seemingly innocent ignorance. "Is something the matter, Ms. Druvis? If not, then let's go."
With that said, he led the way and started walking past her, appearing laid-back and carefree while he was at it.
But Druvis didn't believe that impromptu façade. No — she knew what she saw at that brief moment when he was looking down. She witnessed how fast his demeanor changed and how adept he was at covering his true emotions.
Watching his figure walk off, Druvis remained silent for a few moments before muttering to herself;
"...be careful with that bottle."
It might burst.