The mystery that is melusine

Dian approaches something that seems like a house, but round? Partly burrowed, too, it looks like. The plants around it seem to be a tad out of control, like they are ready to take over the house. To swallow it whole. Leaving behind nothing but a sorry shack, overrun by plants.

A strange smelling smoke comes out of the window. Is this where she's supposed to go?

Hesitantly, she opens the door. It's dark inside. She notices some light blue spots dancing around. Are they trying to get her into a trance? Dian shakes her head. *clap clap* Poof. Candles are slowly lighting up, revealing what seems like a potion room. Dian realises the blue spots are part of tentacles, which in turn are part of.. A Boo? She takes her time taking it all in. Spikes on a... Halo? Dancing tentacles? And what seems like the night sky on ears, arm and leg...

This must be the enchantress Melusine she heard the locals talk about! 

Slowly, Melusine turns around. "Well, hello there. You must be here for some potion brewing." She gestures towards a table and chair. On top stood 2 cups, one of them seems to have something in it. The other visibly empty. Dian approaches the table, getting distracted by the wall. Between the vines creeping through, she notices books. And a lot of them, at that. They are hard to see in the dimming light of the candles. She reaches out, touching the back covers. Feeling the ribs and pressed in lettering on them. It seems some of them are using symbols instead of the usual language. It fascinates her. Dian wonders what they are about. Stories of another world? Mysteries of the universe? She wonders if she will ever get to read them... Maybe one day.

"You like books?" Melusine asks. Dian jumps up. She had already forgotten where she was. "Right, Dian, you're not here for the books. Focus," she tells herself. She pats her cheeks and turns to Melusine, "Yes, actually, I do." Melusine grins and turns back to her cauldron. "Smart girl," she mutters as she continues to stir the pot. It seems to be quite a large cauldron. Melusine is on a little stool, twirling it around under one foot. Keeping her balance perfectly while the other foot is tapping behind her in the air. Is she humming? Dian can't tell as she decides to approach.

Melusine throws in something that looks like rainbow sprinkles. The cauldron starts to smoke once more, filling the room with a subtle purple mist. "Here," she states, as she hands over a ladle to Dian. "Take over for a bit, will you." She gracefully jumps off the stool, leaving it wobbling until it doesn't. Melusine disappears into a room Dian can't see into. She squints her eyes, but it doesn't help. It's simply too dark to see. 

She turns to the cauldron. Dian carefully gets onto the stool and looks inside. It's bubbling softly. She puts in the ladle and starts to stir. Wondering where Melusine has gone off to. All of a sudden, she hears a shriek. And then, soft voices. Is there someone else here? 

Dian looks around the room. Only now, she notices the little jars with different liquids. Different colours. Some have particles in them, and some have what seems to be different parts of different creatures. Near the window are some Berries she recognises from exploring Booterra with Momo. 

Suddenly, she notices someone walking past. Dian can't make out who it is. Then Melusine comes back into the room. She seems to be carrying something in her hands. Are those... needles? As she comes closer, Dian steps back, nearly tripping off of the stool she's on. Melusine looks up. "Are you alright, dear?" she asks while throwing in whatever she was holding into the cauldron. "I.. Yeah, I suppose so." she mutters while nudging towards the window. "Oh, I guess you saw. Nothing to worry about, dear. They will be fine in no time." Melusine grins. 

Dian looks at Melusine. She seems content. "I'm pretty sure it's done now. You can stop stirring." Dian carefully steps off the stool and hands the ladle back to Melusine. "Take a seat." Dian does as she's told and sits down on the chair next to the table, the one with one cup full and one empty. She spots Melusine filling a flask and putting it into a soft velvety bag. She then comes over and hands it to Dian. "Here you go, for your troubles. Thank you for helping out." Dian hesitantly accepts the bag as she gets up. 

Melusine opens the front door, gesturing outside. Dian walks out into the sunlight. She has to cover her eyes. How is it possible it was so dark in there? She looks back and sees Melusine closing the door. There's still a strange smelling smoke coming from the house. What in Boos name is really going on in there? What just happened? Who really is Melusine?

Just then, she realises she is holding a bag. The rough cord dangling between her fingers, leading to a soft velvety bag. Does she have the courage to open it? She reaches for it and puts in two fingers, slowly opening it. Inside, she finds...