You see various slimy, creepy, and crawly creatures in the cages. Nothing too exotic: a bat, a toad, a rather large spider, even a snake. Even though they are interesting, they still give you gooseflesh. It's not like you are going to run out screaming, but the idea of turning into one of those and then having to deal with that form on a regular basis...being Spider-man might be cool with you, but being a woman turned into a spider on a regular basis is not.
The old lady observes your reaction, and only after a minute do you realize that she is watching you. You feel a bit self-conscious; I mean, the lady is offering you her critters, you probably should show some appreciation. While you attempt to hide your ambivalence, the old woman shakes her head.
"No use, dearie, it is fairly obvious you don't connect with any of them, otherwise you would have been drawn to it immediately," the old lady explains, then sighs. "I suppose we'll have to ring up the LCE." She notes your confused look, and explains, "The Living Creatures Exchange, like I mentioned before. Hopefully they are still as resourceful as they once were."
You follow the old woman back out of the room, but instead of going to a phone, she enters a room with somewhat ornate full-length mirror. You're not sure where she gets the flame from, but you watch as she lights two candles on either side of the mirror.
" Imaga Creatura , Arte Lycos, if you please," the woman says while you stare dumbfounded. The mirror begins to shimmer, and almost like a TV screen, a person's image pops up. The image is that of a burly, middle-aged man in a rather archaic looking hunting outfit, except for the top hat with...are those antlers?
"Lady Vargaz, what an unexpected pleasure! It has truly been too long. How I do miss your elegant soirees. Dare I hope you have decided to return to the social scene?" the man, who was apparently Arte Lycos, patters on joyfully.
"Hardly, Arte, I am getting too old for that sort of thing. Rather, I was hoping to consult you on a professional matter," the old woman, who you now gather is Ms. or Mrs. Vargaz, replies. You blush slightly, realizing you never bothered to even ask the lady's name.
"Oh? Just a moment then," Arte says, and before you can react, he steps through the mirror and into the room, as though it was a doorway and not a pane of reflective glass. Ms. Vargaz simply nods at his dramatic entry. "Pray do tell," Arte grins, his mouth smiling almost uncomfortably widely.
"I need something special for this one here," Ms. Vargaz nods in your direction, and Arte turns his disconcerting eyes to you. "I intend to take on an apprentice, but I'm afraid I'll have to go the familiar route first."
"My, you must have taken quite the liking!" Arte exclaims as he starts circling you like you were prey. "A chance to be the apprentice of the breathtaking Lady Vargaz, I know quite a few mages who would give an arm for such an opportunity!"
"Enough nonsense, Arte, do you have anything suitable?" Ms. Vargaz dismisses his prattling, but you get the feeling you have stumbled into quite the illustrious household.
"I do have some options that might do. Let's see here," Arte quickly gets down to business, probably unwilling to take the risk Ms. Vargas might become impatient. As you watch, he reaches through the mirror and pulls out a few cages of varying sizes. As he lines them up in the room, you cannot help but be drawn to one of the cages. Before you can stop yourself, you take a step or two forward.
"Ah, that's quite the special one you've chosen there," Arte smirks.