Is it wrong to fleece adventurers at the item shop?

I try to ignore and forget the last message the divine whispered in my mind. I try very hard. I can't quite forget it though. Supposedly everyone receives a few of those. One every once in a while. Mortals aren't perfect after all. It still stings a little though.

At the same time the advice Krystina's father gave me keeps coming to my mind. I should get myself a skill to either fortify my mind or to actively improve my sales by influencing others. Maybe I can use that Karma on such a skill? That way I might be able to put it to good use at least. Or maybe not, since I probably would need more Karma in this particular Arcana first.

I'll need to visit the temple and talk with the local priest or priestess about it. Maybe they can give me some solid advice in that regard? And I should get to know them anyway, as is only proper. Maybe I can take an hour or two off tomorrow. An extended lunch break perhaps? Business is slow around that time anyway.

Yes that is what I will do. Tomorrow. Now I slap my cheeks though, before heading out front to sit in the sun for a little while. I soak up some sunlight while the bees buzz around me, to properly ground myself for the task that still lies ahead of me.

Since I sit out in front of the house I can see an adventurer approaching from the direction of the village center. That is a surprise, a small one at least, since most are out in the Twilight Forest or its dungeons this time of day.

He isn't just passing by either. That much becomes obvious as he comes closer. He waves as he reaches the short path that leads away from the actual dirt road to my front door.

“Hello! Are you Valeria? The alchemist?”

He sounded a little uncertain. He probably was new around here. No, he definitely was new around here or rather to adventuring in general.

Of that I'm certain beyond a doubt as I get a better look at his face.

He is a warrior of some sort, although his equipment is too generic and cheap to give me a hint at what kind of warrior exactly. More importantly though, he is young. Quite probably younger than me. At least that is the impression his face gives me and his voice only reinforces that impression. More importantly though, he is clutching a piece of paper. It is a very familiar piece of paper.

I get up and extend a hand in greeting.

“I am. Let me guess, you want to see me because of a quest?”

He shakes my hand and nods enthusiastically.

“Exactly! I just got here and it is a little late to pick up any of the other quests. And for most I would need to find a group first anyway. I can't afford not to work either though … and I'm rambling, aren't I? P … please forgive me.”

His handshake is pleasantly firm, at least until he starts stuttering. At that point he quickly withdraws his hand to scratch the back of his head in embarrassment instead.

I pat his shoulder to reassure him.

“Don't worry. I'm sure there are worse habits. Anyway, this is about creating enchanting dust with the mana mill, right?”

He calms back down at my words and nods as he shows me the piece of paper. It is indeed the very quest I posted only a little while ago.

“It is. I … uh … I don't need any specialized knowledge for this, or do I?”

I shake my head and put a hand on his shoulder to lead him in through the shop and to the backroom where I keep the mana mill.

“No need to worry. All you need to do is to crank the mill. Slow and steady until the little drawer at the bottom is full. It takes a while but it shouldn't be too hard. Just don't crank that handle too fast or you'll get cramps before you are even halfway done. Anyway, pay attention. I'll show you.”

He nods and watches me with wide eyes, as I proceed to demonstrate the proper use of the mana mill. My demonstration doesn't take too long as it really is a pretty simple task. It gets boring pretty fast as well, which is the chief reason why I'm outsourcing this part of my job.

“It is important that you crank the handle at an even speed. The less you slow down or speed up the better. It helps if you know a song with the right rhythm. You can sing it or even just tap the rhythm with a foot. Think you are up to it?”

He bites his lip, but quickly nods as he notices that I'm looking at him.

“I'll manage. Should I do it here? Or can I take it elsewhere and sit down with it?”

I grin. That is some good thinking. He really doesn't have to stand around until his feet fall asleep for this job after all. I nod in the direction of the back door.

“There is a bench outside, right next to the door. I'll be busy with an enchantment. Just call out to me when you are finished or if something comes up. Not that anything should come up.”

He grabs the mill and lifts it with some effort. It isn't exactly light after all.

Still, I get the impression that he could do with a little more exercise. I open the door for him, since he has his hands full and watch him sit down. Once he gets started and I'm satisfied with his efforts I return inside.

I take a deep breath and look around. These enchantments will take a while. I open the windows and get my enchanted lantern as well to make sure I will have enough light. Then I get the practice board and study the design I drafted up one last time.

Then it is time to get serious. I draw some circles with coal on the enchanting table to help me with the actual enchantment. The measurements for those I take from the practice board. I put the first girdle down at the center of these circles as well.

After taking one last deep breath I pick up one of my new enchanter's chalks and get started.

I have the enchantment memorized and the rhythm my recent guest is tapping out back is actually helping as well, as I draw rune after rune with the sparkling and lightly glowing chalk.

Time passes in a blink as I finish the enchantment, placing the last rune exactly where I want it at the very end of the circle. As I lift the chalk away from the table the enchantment is drawn into the girdle resting at its center.

[Success! Great job creating a masterful enchantment! The Sun Mother gifts you 3 points for the Magician Arcana as a reward.]

I almost jump as I hear the divine whisper in my mind. That is a surprise. A pleasant one at that! Before I can to think too much about it I get started with the enchantment of the second girdle.

A smile finds its way onto my lips as I draw the exact same circle of runes around this second girdle. Having someone provide a rhythm to which I can draw the runes really helps. As I place the last rune of this second enchantment some time later I'm rewarded with another divine whisper.

[Success! Great job creating a pair of useful objects! The Dusk Maiden gifts you 1 point for the Magician Arcana as a reward.]

Being rewarded twice in such quick succession is quite rare, even if the second reward is substantially lower than the first. Never mind the other rewards, if you want to call them that, I already received earlier today. Today is good day indeed!

Just as I take a step back to take a deep breath I hear someone calling out to me.

“Miss? Valeria?”

It is the young warrior, who is leaning against the door frame and looking in.

I turn to face him and nod.

“I think I'm just about done. Would you please have a look at the result?”

I nod again and head outside with him, where he put the mill down on the bench. I pull the little drawer with the gathered enchanting dust open ever so slightly. I don't want any of it to be caught by the wind after all.

The dust seems to have just the right color and it shimmers with just the right brightness as well.

Once more I nod, as I push the drawer closed again.

“It looks good. Would you be a dear and put the mill back inside while I get my seal for the quest notice.”

He does as I ask of him without hesitation and I stamp the quest notice in the place Krystina indicated earlier today.

“Now you can go and get your reward from Krystina at the inn.”

A bright smile spreads across the boy's face at my words. He bows his head.

“Thank you for having me! I'll look forward to working with you again.”

I laugh out loud.

“I'm glad you picked up the quest, and there is no need to be so formal. This is a small village after all.”

I wave as he turns to leave with the quest note in hand.

“I wish you the best of luck, finding a party and some better paying work!”

He bows his head again at my parting words and heads back towards the inn.

Once he disappears from view I head back inside to take a second, better look at the girdles I enchanted. I trigger my appraisal skill as well, for good measure. The result is the same for both girdles.

[Enchanted Ceremonial Girdle of fertility, Quality: Rare, A flawless masterwork piece created with love and care. A woman wearing this girdle, even if just briefly, is certain to conceive if she lies with a man within the next 24 hours. The same is true for any woman lying with a man who has worn this girdle sometime in the last 24 hours.]