[@Ithradine]

Valmond Anthos lifted his gaze from the counter, away from the ledger that lay open before him.

He had been mentally running through this week's profits.
Business had been rather slow this week, even on days that the weather was not brooding over them.
Although not completely dead, the past few days' income did not compare closely to that of ten or so days ago.

Valmond credited this to a combination of a slow week as well as the unfriendly conditions.

Today alone he had hardly sold any valuable agents or high-profit brewings.

Yet now, here stood this snow white vixen of a woman, bearing an odd and interesting request.
In fact she made her request upon first entry, prior to introductions or any other dialogue.
This was a first sign to Valmond how critical her request could be.

[i]A Phoenix feather,[/i] he thought, [i]what could this vision want with such a rare and valuable component?[/i]

So far, much was clear to Valmond.
Firstly, her purse must run deep to request such an item with such a seemingly casual flair.

Secondly, she was a Vampire. This much was obvious to Valmond upon first setting his eyes on her.
Though he had never encountered one until now, he knew the signs of a Vampire.
The deathly pale skin and the glowing red eyes marked her as Vampier, and the fact that she lacked the ears of an Elf-folk was also notable, and finalized her race.

Valmond suddenly felt his heart very slightly increase to a slight thump in his chest. He knew what Vampires could do, he had heard stories of their powers and their nature.

Or perhaps it was...

Valmond mentally shook his head and stood up straighter, and spoke plainly and calmly.

[color=662d91]"I am sorry madam, but a Phoenix feather is not something I carry in stock. Nor have I ever. Though I wish a did, such a lucrative agent would bring it's worthy weight in coin."[/color] 

He paused only for a minute before asking,[color=662d91]"May I inquire from the perspectives of a businessman and an accomplished alchemist as to why you seek such a thing?" [/color]