Speaking With The Shadow Alchemist

After returning from their visit to the Rhymoss herd, Vespera strolled through Shadow Veil Pass, taking it slow so that Ripple could enjoy the sights and sounds of the Ancient Echoes Festival. The gleaming Nether Moon up
above was framed by the sharp spires of the mountains all around,
looking like another Festival decoration presiding over the whole
valley.

They paused when they reached the front door of the Shadow Alchemy shop, and Vespera decided to step inside. "Wait here, Ripple." Vespera patted the Quenaris on the shoulder. "I'm just going to have a quick word with Naveen." Ripple nudged Vespera's shoulder back gently with its nose, seeming content to sit tight for the moment.

"Just a moment," a voice called out as Vespera entered
the Alchemy shop. Behind the counter, a white-haired elven man was in
the process of pouring a glowing green elixir from one bottle to
another. He expertly finished transferring the potion and put a stopper
in the bottle before carefully setting it down. "That's that!" He
remarked, then looked up to see who had come to visit. "Oh -- welcome, Vespera!"

"Good to see you, Naveen!" Vespera replied with a smile. "I hope the Festival season has been treating you well so far."

"Ah, yes," Naveen said, grinning wide. "The Nether Moon has many mystical properties. I'm excited to experiment with the effect of Nether moonlight on my concoctions..."

"Interesting!" Vespera said. "Do you have time to tell me more about it? I'm researching the NetherDust, you see. I'm sure there has to be a way to collect it -- but every time I try, it just scatters everywhere."

"Oh?" Naveen leaned closer to Vespera over the counter, mind already filling with possibilities. "Yes, of course I have some time to spare for such a fascinating quandary! Let's see, let's see..."

The alchemist busied himself behind his workbench for a moment, gathering a handful of bottles and containers of different shapes and sizes. "Come around to this side, Vespera -- I'll show you some ideas. In alchemy, using the right kind of vessel to contain a substance is of the utmost importance!"

Vespera joined Naveen behind the counter to survey the arrangement of potions he had selected. She picked up a round glass bottle stoppered with a cork and tilted it to watch the sparkling golden potion inside slosh back and forth. A faint sparkling aura surrounded the bottle as she moved it.

"Yes, yes - you see," Naveen said, watching, "simple glass will do for many formulations. It will do in a pinch at least! But you can see how the seal is imperfect." He waved at the sparkles of energy and wisps of magical steam that surrounded many of the potions on display in his shop. "It's perfectly serviceable, perfectly safe -- but not the best solution for your NetherDust. I don't think so, no..."

Naveen gave Vespera a tour of the rest of the shop, explaining various alchemical distillation methods and potion storage techniques all the while. Vespera nodded along, interested -- but not totally sure if Naveen's potion-making expertise would end up being the key to the mystery of the NetherDust.

Then, a faint crimson sparkle in the very back of a nearby shelf caught her eye. "Wait, Naveen!" Vespera interrupted the alchemist's lecture. She reached deep into the shelf to pull out the tiny vial and held it between her thumb and forefinger to inspect it. "What's this one?"

"That? Oh!" Naveen raised his eyebrows. "What indeed? I'd nearly forgotten about that piece. In fact, I was never able to properly identify it. It's been in this shop for as long as I can remember."

Vespera peered closely at the vial. Inside was a thimbleful of luminous red dust, as crimson and bright as the Nether Moon outside.

"Naveen!" Vespera gasped. "This is NetherDust! It's not much...but it has to be!"

"Aha! I believe you're right!" Naveen agreed, taking the small vial carefully to get a closer look at it himself.

"Now this is fascinating..." the alchemist continued. "I wonder how this was collected? It must have been a very long time ago."

"If the NetherDust was collected once, it could be captured again," Vespera declared with a grin. "We just need to learn more about how!"