In a Bottle
Chapter 2: The Solution

In his dust covered home, there were many different bottles and vials that were placed compulsively on shelves. Each of them contained a translucent solution pertaining to a different color. Crowe reached onto a shelf and retrieved a container holding a scarlet liquid and handed it to Vulten.

“What is this, exactly?” Vulten asked, accepting the drink.

“It’s passion in a bottle.” Crowe replied. “All of these are personalities in a bottle. I can tell them apart by colors.”

“So, I drink this and I will become passionate,” Vulten quirked an eyebrow at him suspiciously.

“Precisely.” Crowe nodded and signaled for her to drink the contents of the bottle. “It takes a few hours to work, though.”

Vulten quickly finished the bottle off and handed him the bottle again. Her deep emerald eyes glistened with hope for herself. “Thank you.” She hugged Crowe, kissing his cheek gently as she left his house eagerly.

“Now, for the love-sick pup.” Crowe said, procuring the vial with orange liquid and headed out the door and into the graveyard. 

He quickly spotted William moping around the headstones as he usually did. “William, are you up for a chat?”

“That depends on what the topic of interest is.” William looked up from the ground at the short black haired man advancing toward him.

“I know how you can prove Vulten wrong! I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before!” Crowe cheered merrily.

“How? She’s right. I am a coward.” William sighed.

“Would you change your personality to prove her wrong?” Crowe grinned.

“Yes. I’d do anything at all.” William replied.

“Then drink this.” Crowe handed William the vial and watched William finish the liquid without question. “You just drank courage in a bottle. Give it a few hours, then prove her wrong.”

William shrugged. He trusted the alchemist and knew that he would not be so easily fooled. An odd euphoria over-came his body as he watched the young man walk away.

Crowe snickered at his own cleverness. He had finally solved their problems and he didn’t have to do anything at all.

---

In a Bottle 3