"I need you to find a root. They're kept in a special container. It's not hard to point out. The witches typically keep it in a glass jar and wrap it in a special cloth so that other witches cannot use it. Hazel root." Simon replied as he carried the knife back over to the table and set it down on the wood.

(Going to bed. Talk to you tomorrow. ^^)

"There's not any other root to mistake it with? You know.. I don't want to be eaten by your c-crows", mumbled Naoki, shivering a bit remembering how their claws felt on his skin.

"It's a black root in a jar, covered with a cloth that's softer than silk. It's usually radiating an aura, depending on how strong of a witch it originated from. I just need one root for the spell. Bring it here and you'll be spared." Simon replied.

He walked away from the boy to a table where an hour glass was sitting and he placed a hand over the top. The top half of the hour glass was halfway empty. "This hour glass...only moves when my time to cast the spell has come. I only have a little longer before it completely empties." he said softly, then he turned his head to look at Naoki from over his shoulder. "Do this for me...and you will be rewarded."

Naoki's ears perked at the word 'reward'. Hmmm.. Right now it didn't seem so bad. At least it was interesting.. though the thought of being eaten by the crows still scared a shit out of him. Clearing his throat he stood up, already feeling his strenght going back to his joints.
"Fine. Where I should meet you when I'm done?", he asked, checking out if his muscles funcionated just like they used to. "And how much time I have.. since I can't see that hour glass of yours..?"

"You will wait by the fountain in the city square. You have until the moon vanishes, but I suspect you will get it done before then." Simon responded, then he walked over to the blond. "The ship you'll be looking for is "Neptune's Maiden"."

Observing the darkhaired mage he nodded his head and took a look around, seeing they were in a cave. With his new eyes he seemed to see more in this dark place.. He inspected the place further, curious actually where he was.

The cave was decorated with scrolls on the walls and skulls of past victims. A cage with a black owl with bright yellow eyes stood near the wooden table where the hour glass sat, a tall book case filled with forbidden books and spells stood next to a large king-sized bed with black and dark purple sheets made of Egyptian cotton and with black see through curtains along the sides. Wanted posters decorated a wall as well as pictures of victims. Simon opened the black iron cage and offered a hand to the owl and it obediently stepped onto his hand to stand on as he pulled his arm out of the cage while the owl still walked until he reached Simon's shoulder, his wings spreading a little as he adjusted his position so that he was comfortable before he closed them.

"Wow.. you're a freak", he said quite amused, walking up to see the skulls closer. "Fine. I'll be back with your fuckin' igredient. It would be really lame to have my skull standing as a decoration on the shelfs."
With that said he left the cave. After walking a bit he cursed himself. Damn.. he should ask where the town was. If they were in caves it was clear it wasn't near town. Scratching his head he asked himself if he had enough guts to get back and ask the mage for directions.

The black owl flew out of the cave and onto Naoki's shoulder, a rolled up paper with a map on it in a back around the owl's body. He hooted in a deep tone at the blonde and stared with his wide golden eyes.

Naoki flinched and ducked down when he heard flapping of the wings near his head. Then he felt claws going into the skin of his shoulder as something heavy landed there. Seeing an owl.. he remembered it from the cave.
"Oh.. a map.. Thanks.. though land next time on a branch.. or something, will you? You have really sharp claws.. and my shirt is rather thin, ya 'now..", he said, taking the map from owls back.

With a map it didn't take him more than three hours to get to the town. First thing he had done was going to docks and finding Neptune's Maiden. He didn't have much problem with finding it, it was rather big merchant ship. Observing it from where he hid he sighed.
"Sure.. Why not to sent one boy when there would be needed at least three people to do it.. Sure. Why the fuck not. Fuckin' insane bastard", he grumbled after two more hours.
It was dark already and he didn't have much more time. Biting his lower lip he looked at the ship. Damn.. What should he do now? But soon he heard some screams on the deck and someone fell from there. Blinking he understood it was his only chance. Whatever happened up there would be enough of a distraction for anyone that could see him. Jumping out from his hideout he scuded to the gang-board and hid himself once again, this time behind some boxes. His bright hair were covered with a bandana and face and hands covered in dirt to make him less visible. Now.. where's that damn root? He then saw few open crates. There should be some jars...? Where the fuck could be kept that damn roots..? Maybe some smaller boxes.. something.. Sighing in irritation he rolled his eyes. It was miracle no one saw him till now. Really.. Though he needed to admit one thing, those eyes were really useful. And those ears as well. He heard much more than he was used to and it was a bit stressful as he wasn't used to it.. but it sure would useful in the future. Changing his position he bumped a bit on the box behind him and then heard faint rattle, as if glass bumped on the glass. Making sure it was safe to stand up he looked inside the box. Bingo! He had so much luck right now.. though meeting the mage was quite bad luck.. so it evened somehow. Opening the jar he took one of the roots and his it inside his pocket. Okay.. so now... how to get out of here?