The Elemental Connection

The orange golden light from the sun was just peaking through the trees in the distance as Aeris ran down the sidewalk in Hartville park. Her breath making small puffs in the early autumn morning. She took a turn and came down Main Street; the city was still silent in the early morning. Except for Bill's Café, which had a few early risers eating breakfast. Aeris slowed down as she came up to her coffee shop, Mystic Brew. As she unlocked the doors she noticed the 'For Sale' sign next door was gone and the doors and windows were covered with brown paper. I guess it was finally sold, Aeris thought to herself as she walked inside her shop and let the smell of fresh coffee beans rejuvenate her. She turned on the lights and walked to the back room. A low growl greeted her as she stepped through. "Well, good morning to you too, Bato," she greeted the small dark dragon that laid atop her stove. It would be a good morning if you would not wake up every day before dawn, he grumbled as he stretched very cat-like. He got up and jumped to her large fireplace mantle that held a large kettle. She grinned at his disgruntled mental comment as she grabbed a muffin she made yesterday to eat. "You have been staying here for the past 5 years since you've been healed," Aeris chided with a smile, "You should be used to my early mornings by now." Bato rolled his golden reptilian eyes and settled down on the mantle to resume his disrupted sleep. Aeris hummed to herself as she finished her muffin, then went upstairs to her apartment above the shop to shower and get ready for the day. After her shower, she dried her hair then dressed in baggy jeans and an oversize t-shirt. She plaited her long dark brown hair into a long french braid that rested over her shoulder. She applied mascara on her eyelashes and rushed downstairs at the sound of someone opening the shop doors. Aeris waved to Tara as she walked into the back kitchen. Tara was a faun, her large curling horns like that of a ram had new jewelry decorating them. Tara was quiet but worked diligently as one of the bakers/cooks in the back. "You have a customer waiting by the register," Tara said as she put on an apron. Aeris nodded and quickly walked to the front space. A tall lanky Fae male was waiting in a sharp business suit. "Good morning, how can I help you?" Aeris asked, going into work mode. "One large cappuccino with two pumps of confidence," he asked. Aeris nodded and rang him up, she then turned around to her wall of additives. She made the coffee as ordered with two pumps of confidence, which would give the drinker two hours of confidence and then would slowly exit their system. "I have never met a witch who could imbue emotions and feelings into coffee as you can," the Fae male stated as he sipped his drink. Aeris winked and shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "It's a family secret, you know how witches are," she responded as she cleaned up the counter. He shook his head as he left the shop, but he had a smile on his face. Aeris started to take stock of all the items in front of the coffee bar and in the back, she made a list of everything that needed to be restocked. During that time, two more mythical creatures walked in and ordered drinks. Soon, Tara came up front with baked goodies and filled the bakery case. As she was filling the case, a Naga came into the shop. "TARA!" the Naga shouted as she launched herself at the faun who narrowly missed the tackle. "Esper, you have to stop doing that!" Tara glared at the young brown Naga, who laid on the floor pouting. "I can't help it, you always leave before I wake up, and I miss you," Esper grumbled as she lifted herself off the floor. Esper moved to behind the counter and fixed her top and washed her hands. Aeris smiled and helped Tara fix some of the bakery items that had fallen inside the case when Esper fell to the ground. "I swear you two are the cutest couple I have seen," Aeris teased Tara, who turned a dark red due to her dark skin tone. Aeris winked at Esper who was at the register. "I understand how much you love Tara, Esper; but you cannot launch yourself at her while at work," Aeris sternly said. Esper at least looked a bit embarrassed and played with the bracelets on her wrist. Tara sighed and walked back to the kitchen, but as she passed Esper she gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Since you are here now, Esper, I am going to go into the garden to start making some of the additives we need to refill," Aeris said as she walked to the back kitchen, "call out if you need help with the morning rush. Rue will be here around 8:30 to help man the front." Esper nodded as a customer walked up to the front. Aeris went up to Bato who was napping on the mantle, He opened one eye as she stood in front of him. "Could you start the fire while I go collect?" she asked him, "You need to pull your weight if you are going to use my kitchen as your home." She teased as Bato grumbled in his dragon tongue, he quickly shot a flame underneath the large kettle in the fireplace. Keep complaining about where I have decided to live, and this place may end up as ashes, Bato puffed as he settled down again, 5 years is like a month to me, plus that faun keeps giving me treats. I am living the best life a dragon can dream of. Aeris rolled her eyes and walked out the back door to where her garden was behind the shop. Aeris smiled as the warm sun peaked over the forest behind the buildings. She moved around her garden harvesting what was needed for the additives. A loud huff made Aeris look up, and she saw a group of men bringing boxes out of the building next door. A tall man with dark brown hair and a scar running from his cheek to his lip walked out and lit up a cigarette. Aeris wrinkled her nose as the smell reached her. Great, hopefully he doesn't throw his trash in my garden, she thought as she glared in his direction. The man noticed her and turned his light green eyes to her and smiled as he lifted his hand in a wave. Aeris quickly turned her head and walked back into the kitchen. She started cleaning all the produce she collected from the garden. There was a peaceful feeling that wrapped around her as she worked. Aeris started humming a soft tune as she worked. The plants never seeming to wilt in her hands filled the kitchen with a light floral scent that swirled around the area. Quite deftly, Aeris made each container that was needed. Tara was mixing a batter together as she looked up at the row of liquid additives. "It still amazes me that you created such elixirs and still haven't sold the recipe to a big coven," Tara softly said in awe as she stared at the soft glowing bottles. Aeris sighed as she leaned down on the center table in the kitchen and looked at the bottles as well. She has had many people, witches, fae, and other creatures ask or threaten for how she creates the elixirs. "Everything might have a price, but some things are better kept a secret," Aeris replied as the elixirs softly glowed almost in a way that provoked her deepest thoughts.