>>18729460Surprised by the sudden shift in topic Amy just blurted out the first things that came to mind; "it was initially bitter, I wouldn't call it unpleasant, it had a surprisingly sweet aftertaste and a smell that was kinda like... burned oak".
>"Oak? That's rather specific. How do you know it was oak and not a different kind of wood?"Amy furrowed her brow. "I... remember... I was in England... I was small... there was a storm and I was in the woods at night for some reason... lightning hit the old oak tree... the tree was ripped in half and I remember wondering what power could do something like that... I remember the smell... I'll never forget that smell."
>"Auntie Icicle's Special Blend"Huh?
>"It seems this 'Winter Girl' really wanted to make an impression on you, my dear. The bitterness is her feelings towards you, the sweetness is the possibility of reconciliation, the burned oak is conflicting emotions, and those stains are definitely never coming out.""I... see. So the only way out is through?"
The old woman nods, she places some items from behind the counter in a brown paper bag and hands it to Amy who takes the package with both hands.
>"Brew this in hot, not boiling, milk and I promise you'll feel a lot better. Good luck Fire Angel."Having gained a little useful information Amy thanks the woman and quickly leaves the store. As the door closes behind her a younger man appears from behind the curtain wearing an agitated expression.
>"Ma, why are you working the till?! You're supposed to be resting not telling your crazy stories to our customers, did you give her free shit too?! Goddamn it, we're barely breaking even here, it better not have been the good stuff from under the counter."As the woman solemnly leaves the storefront she pauses to look at an old sepia coloured photograph on the wall in the hallway. The picture shows five women in front of a newly built mansion dated May 1823.
>"Oh Gemma, I can't wait to see how they do!" 