Is it wrong to fleece adventurers at the item shop?

The next morning comes soon enough and for a change Sour Cream actually has a tough time getting me out of bed. For some reason I'm way more tired after a night of uninterrupted dreamless sleep than the opposite. Eventually the purring cutie gets her will though and I stumble about to fill her bowl.

I sit down and watch her eat for a little while, taking the chance to properly wake up at a slightly more sedate pace. By the time Sour Cream curls up for her nap I'm ready to visit the bathhouse.

I take my time today, since I have no immediate plans. Well, I take a little time anyway. I don't dare to take a really long soak though in fear of falling back asleep. A short one will have to do. It is pleasant and relaxing enough anyway.

There is another realization as I return home afterwards. I will have to make myself some fresh soap sometime soon. I could of course just order it from the city instead, but what kind of alchemist would I be, if I were to do that? No, I'll make my own!

Besides, some of those soaps the big alchemy shops sell in bulk are pretty low quality. They tend to use too much aromatic oil, or possibly even a mix of aromatic oils, in the mix.

There is nothing wrong with adding a little pleasant smell, but there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.

I shudder slightly at the thought. Eventually I manage to shake it off though.

I only stop at my place to drop off the bathing supplies and my night clothes. Then, after grabbing a few coins, I head down to the inn. Posting the mana mill quest is quickly becoming second nature or possibly even something like a reflex.

I'm done with that particular order of business almost in the blink of an eye. The only thing exceptional is that Elzbieta is quick to snatch it up, almost before Krystina has a chance to pin the paper to the big board. As a result I already have company on my way back home.

Instead of getting to work right away though, I brew a cup of mana infused coffee with extra sugar and a dip of cream for the both of us first.

This one is sure to count as an alchemical potion too considering its effect. It seems the addition of that little bit of cream makes it even more potent than my usual brew.

Too bad that I haven't made enough to have any leftovers I could analyze. I don't want to brew another batch right away either, especially as I'm not too sure about the shelf life of this particular variation. Anything with milk or a milk product in it tends to go bad rather quickly after all.

Ah well, I'll check it tomorrow. Or maybe later today? Either way, it is an issue for another time.

Afterwards Elzbieta gets to work with renewed vigor. I'm a little at a loss though. What am I supposed to do today? Should I make some potions? Or should I get started on enchanting my sandals? Or should I look into drafting up the enchantment Urszula asked me about? The one that is supposed to help her with her duties as a wet nurse. Both will require me to do some planning and possibly some research as well.

I almost groan out loud as the answer comes to me. I, of course, will do neither! Not right away at least. First I need to check my newest chalks!

I pick up the casts still in their molds and give them a once over.

At a glance they certainly look good. They cooled evenly and none broke either. A complete success. At a first glance at least.

Of course a quick glance won't do. I need to perform a more throughout examination! Thus I carefully remove the softly glowing and glittering chalks of creamy blue color from their molds. Placing the others on the workbench I pick the first one up to scrutinize it more closely and activate my appraisal skill.

[Pearly ghosttouched multipurpose chalk, Quality: Legendary, A piece of very advanced, surprisingly light and eerily glowing Enchanter's Chalk used for some of the most potent enchantments. It can be used to draw summoning circles for ghosts as well. Smells like beeswax as it is the main ingredient. Ghosts can touch and manipulate this item!]

I blink, first once, then twice. I barely have the presence of mind to sit down, as realization dawns upon me, what exactly I created.

The secondary property might not be terribly useful to me, but it still is something extraordinary. And the quality, well that is something else entirely.

Then the divine whisper I both expect and dread fills my mind.

[Extraordinary Success! Great job creating your first legendary piece! Keep at it! For you not even the stars in sky have to be the limit! The Sun Mother gifts you 4 point for the World Arcana as a reward.]

My hands are shaking. This is big. Lots of craftsmen and women go their entire life without ever making something of this quality. Yet I did it, still pretty much fresh out of the academy.

There is only one more step above legendary quality. At least as far as I know. Should I even dare to dream of achieving something like that? Could I possibly actually create something mythic?

With shaking fingers I put the piece of chalk back down. I don't trust myself to maintain a firm grip right now.

I barely manage to hold on until the precious piece of chalk is sitting next to its siblings once more. Then I slip of the chair with a sigh, as all strength leaves my body. The last thing I feel, before all thought conscious thought flees me is the cold, hard floor, as I hit it.

When I come to again, I can't even begin to guess how much time has passed. I feel glass against my lips and liquid slowly trickling into my mouth though. At the same time I can feel the atrocious headache I woke up with fade. I let out a groan as soon as the now empty vial is withdrawn from my lips.

“Do you need another one, Valeria?”

Oh my! What an unexpected voice to hear. Wislawa. Usually I visit her at the temple. I'm not at the temple though. Of that I'm moderately certain. No I'm lying down in my own bed. Still a little groggy I finally open my eyes, to take in my surroundings before I answer.

“No. No, thank you. If one was enough to bring me back around, one is all I need. Any more would just be wasted.”

The priestess is sitting at my bedside. Behind her I spy Elzbieta and Agnieszka. My neighbor is rubbing the adventurer's back and talking to her softly.

Damn! I might have given her a real bad scare. I hope she is alright.

I give up on propping myself up on my elbows for now. At least until the potion has finished working its magic.

The priestess withdraws her hand from my head, together with the cold wet cloth she has been pressing against the aching spot.

I can see a little blood and wince.

The priestess nods, but puts the cloth away for now instead of reapplying it.

“It looks better already. Good. Care to tell me why you gave us such a scare?”

After taking a deep breath to calm myself, lying down in my own bed helps as well in that regard, I nod in the direction of the workbench.

“The chalks.”

Before the priestess can even get up to take a look Agnieszka laughs out loud.

“Oh yes! That would do it! Congratulations, dear! Not everyone manages to achieve something like that. Not by far. Even less so at such a young age.”

Despite my neighbor's little outburst the priestess takes a look herself. After a moment she nods.

“Quite extraordinary. With that you probably have walked half the path to ascension. Its a good thing though, that you are still with us, as you still lack the other important part for it to succeed.”

Elzbieta looks around between us, blinking confused.

“Huh?”

That sums up my own thoughts too, thus I refrain from repeating her exclamation. The confused look on my face probably says it all anyway.

The priestess snorts.

“Earning the necessary Karma in the World Arcana to acquire the Ascension gift is only half easy part. You would still need to build a hero cult first, even if it is unwittingly, for the ascension to succeed.”

The thought alone is enough to make my head hurt again. That I shake my head to drive the thought out of it, doesn't exactly help either.

“I couldn't … where would I even …”

I trail off, as I don't even know where to start.

The priestess in turn sits down at my bedside again and pats my shoulder.

“Don't worry about it too much. Better yet, don't waste time thinking about it at all. If ascension is to be the right path for you, and I honestly have no way to tell if it is, letting it happen naturally without actively working towards it, is the best way to go. People who actually work towards tend to fail more often than not. And even those who succeed often lose too much of themselves in the process. So. Please, just don't.”

She pauses briefly, before she continues.

“Anyway, if you are feeling better, I'll return to the temple. I'll leave the rest to you two.”

The last words are obviously addressed to Elzbieta and Agnieszka, who nod in turn.

It is the adventurer who pulls up a chair besides my bed.

“you just rest up a little longer. I'll keep you company for now. I still need to finish that quest anyway. Agnieszka can stop by a little later in the evening to check on you. Right?”

I just nod weakly. Protesting wouldn't be any use anyway. Not judging by the looks on the faces of the three women with me.