Dungeon collection

Arlecchino was mesmerized, running his finger over the smooth surface of the crystal, which shimmered in his palm with a soft bluish light. He sat on the floor, surrounded by countless glass flasks, gilded books, and strange artifacts whose purpose he could only guess at.

- You've got quite a museum here, Pierrot - he said admiringly, squinting his only visible eye. - How long do you have to collect everything to fill the tables and shelves like this?

Pierrot, lazing in a chair against the far wall of the shelter, didn't even lift his head from the book he was reading.

- Years.

Arlecchino snorted, twirling the crystal in front of his face.

- Of course, and I thought you just found some magic shop and bought everything in bulk!

Pierrot grinned wryly, but made no comment. Arlecchino continued to look at his collection. On a shelf near the wall were neatly arranged vials with colorful liquids, and a slight smell of herbs and alchemical reagents floated in the air. A thick scarlet-colored mixture bubbled in one of the vials, while another glistened with a silvery suspension resembling liquid metal.

- And you did all this yourself? - Arlecchino asked with interest, reaching for the nearest vial.

- Don't touch it, - Pierrot immediately replied, without even looking in his direction.

Arlecchino froze, holding his hand to his chest.

- Ah-ah-ah, what distrust of a friend! I only wanted to admire.

- Last time you “admired” it took me two days to repair the damage,- the alchemist reminded him nonchalantly.

Arlecchino grinned, remembering that time. Yes, it had been fun. For him. For Pierrot, not so much.

He skipped over to another shelf that held ancient books. Some looked as if they were about to be crumbled to dust if you touched them. Others, on the other hand, shone with a fresh gold finish.

- Let's see what we have here. “Magical Correlations and Their Effects on Plasma Structures”... Ugh, boring. “Encyclopedia of Rare Reagents,” also no. Oh! “Transmutation and its side effects”! Interesting, - Arlecchino opened the book with curiosity and started flipping through the pages.

Pierrot looked up at him.

- You don't need it.

- But what if it comes in handy? I'll know how to turn a piece of stone into gold!

- You'll find a way to get rich without alchemy, - Pierrot said dryly.

Arlecchino slammed the book shut with a satisfied smile.

- All right, you've convinced me. But still, Pierrot, you're amazing! You should have been born an archmage instead of locking yourself in a dungeon.

- And then I'd have to put up with plumiis. No, thank you.

Arlecchino laughed.

- Well, at least you put up with me.

Pierrot lifted the corner of his lips slightly.

- It takes effort.

Arlecchino burst into laughter again, clutching his hands to his stomach.

- At least it's not hopeless!