Is it wrong to fleece adventurers at the item shop?

As we parts ways Agnieszka reminds me one more time to drop by in the evening to get me measured for some new clothes. I in turn hurry back home to open the shop. I can't dawdle in the morning after all, since many adventurers do their shopping early in the day before they head out. The only reason why I'm not in even more of a hurry is that none of them are likely to head out without checking in with Krystina first.

The busy bees greet me, as I finally opened up the shop. As there were no customers waiting for me yet I take a moment to watch the bees buzz about the flowers growing along and up the walls. Not for too long though. I have an enchantment to take care of. Or rather two of them.

Of course I know the enchantment and the runes needed for it. It is a rather common one after all, as far as enchantments go anyway. I still want to prepare properly. Better than messing up because of some silly reason.

Grandma had a design board for that very purpose. It is a cheap wooden board of the same size as the actual enchanting table. On it I can draft up the enchantment with charcoal or something similar without risk. Afterwards I can scrub it clean again with fine sand. I even have some charcoal ready to use!

I take the board with me to the counter in the front room. That way I can keep busy while having an eye on the shop at the same time. Happily humming to myself I get to work.

I write the runes of the enchantment in a straight line at the bottom of the board at first. That way I can easily count the exact number of letters. Using that count I can then calculate the appropriate diameter to use for the actual enchantment.

A little huff escapes me, as I stare up at the rafters while I crunch the numbers. It isn't terribly advanced mathematics but it still is a little more complicated than adding up purchases or calculating a discount. Maybe I should take some time to draft up a table with the right numbers for the most common enchantments to save myself the trouble?

Just as I come up with the right solution to my little problem, someone clears their throat and knocks on the door frame.

It is the warrior and the pregnant ranger. Apparently the priestess is not with them today.

I quickly note down the diameter of the circle I'll use before it can slip my mind before flashing them a smile and greeting them.

“Welcome! Please come in!”

The pregnant woman needs no further prompting. She immediately scampers over to the shelf with the Stamina Potions.

The warrior hesitates for a moment though.

“We aren't disturbing you, right? You had a rather intense and focused look on your face for a moment.”

I laugh and shake my head.

“No, I was just doing some calculations for an enchantment. Nothing extraordinary. Its just that doing these calculations doesn't come quite as easy to me as brewing potions or doing the actual enchantments. I need to focus a little to make sure I get them right.”

He chuckles at my admission. His female companion on the other hand perks up as she hears me mention enchantments.

“Oh! You are doing enchantments as well? Like Iwona? Fabulous!”

Her male companion chuckles once again as he joins her at the counter as she comes over with a few more stamina potions.

“Indeed! That is good news. Very good news even! I was wondering, if we would have to go all the way to Barter town in the future, to get anything enchanted. It is good to know that we won't have to waste time for trips like that.”

Now I'm chuckling as well.

“That almost sounds, as if I should make sure to have some more enchanting supplies in stock in the future.”

I spoke half in jest, but the woman nods eagerly anyway.

“I already have something in mind, but I need to save up a little more. Enchantments are incredibly convenient, but they don't exactly come cheap either.”

I nod. She isn't wrong after all. At the same time my brows furrow a little though. I know adventuring can pay pretty well, but how exactly can she save up at all if she drinks this many Stamina Potions. She bought some just the other day and she is already back for more! And I'm still not quite sure if that is healthy!

She tilts her head slightly, almost as if she can read my mind. Maybe she can? Whether she knows what is on my mind or not, she doesn't let it disturb her. In the end she just flashes me a smile as she points at the potions she brought.

“Can we have them at the same discount as last time?”

The warrior and I both groan at the same time. Probably for the same reason as well.

In the end I sigh and give in though.

“Four Stamina Potions. Ten Bronze Crowns each. Listen though, I can't keep giving them away like that. Once I'm through grandma's stock and I have to brew new ones myself I won't be able to keep giving you discounts like that.”

I try to sound stern but I'm not quite sure if it is having any effect on her. She just nods and keeps smiling.

She doesn't pay herself today either. Since the priestess isn't with them today, it is her male companion who pays though. He hands me three Silver Crowns and four Bronze Crowns.

As the two leave with their purchase I note it down in the ledger and deposit the coins in the strongbox. Once that is take care off I return my attention to the enchantment I'm drafting.

I do the calculations for the circle's diameter once more, just in case. The result remained the same. A piece of string together with the piece of charcoal makes for a simple tool to draw a circle that will serve as a guiding line. I'll do the same later for the actual enchantment as well.

Once I'm done with that I get a new piece of charcoal to do the actual writing. I keep the board in a fixed position in front of me as I won't be able to turn the enchanter's table later on either.

Writing the runes for this enchantment actually takes me some time. I need to concentrate on the task pretty hard as well, especially for the runes I have to write sideways and upside down. This enchantment is quite a bit more complex than the one for the Everlasting Candle.

Finally I'm done though and I let out the breath I have been holding, as I finished the last few runes. As far as I can tell everything looks fine.

Before I can check everything in even greater detail my stomach rumbles though. I blush a little and look around to make sure no one heard that. Maybe I should get a proper lunch for a change.

I nod to myself. I can ask Krystina about posting quests as well if I head down to the inn now. If I have to do more enchanting in the future I will need more chalks after all. And to make these chalks I will need more enchanting dust and I most certainly don't want to develop what we called Mill Arm at the academy. Thank you, but no thank you!

With that it is decided. I will head to the inn and get a meal. My purse feels a little light though. Thus I get a few Bronze coins from the strong chest. As I pick them up I notice something else.

My fingers are stained black from the coal I have been using to write. I'll need to wash up before going out.

With another nod I lock up the chest again. Before I close up the shop for my lunch break I write a short message on the back side of the board I used to test the enchantment.

I place it outside, next to the front door. That way any customer who decides to drop by will know I'm out eating. Well, any who can actually read at least. Maybe I should make a more permanent sign? One with a picture in addition to the text? Later. Now I'm hungry.

After a quick stop by the creek to wash my hands I'm heading down to the village square and the inn. Maybe they have some steamed vegetables? I haven't had something like that in a while.