Is it wrong to fleece adventurers at the item shop?

Once more I draw line after line, one rune after the other until the gently glowing circle around my sandals is complete. And once again the runes get drawn into the footwear as I finish.

This is a great relief. At the same time I'm weary though. So far I haven't failed at a double enchantment once. While this is a good thing it makes me worry too. After all no one succeeds every time. Everyone fails at something at some point.

So far careful preparation, training and the right divine gifts and skills have worked out in my favor. That won't be enough every time though. Especially if routine sets in and I end up getting careless.

Maybe I shouldn't worry about that right now though. I have just created another successful enchantment after all. I should check it out! And, if there is nothing wrong with it, I should try the sandals back on to experience the effect first hand, since this is an enchantment I'm not yet familiar with.

I pick up the sandals and focus my attention on them to activate my appraisal skill for another check.

[Sure step sandals, Quality: Rare, These sandals have been enchanted to enhance the wearer's agility and willpower under all circumstances. The wearer's movements will be more decisive and sure as a result. Curiously enough, the effect is not limited to the wearers steps, despite the name. These make the wearer move more agile, lithe as well as decisive and sure overall.]

I take a deep breath and let it back out. This is pretty much what I expect. By now not even the addendum about it effecting all movements and not just your steps is a surprise anymore. It looks like I succeeded.

Elzbieta stops too, raising an eyebrow, as if to ask if everything is alright.

I grin sheepishly and scratch the back of my head.

“It looks good. Not entirely as intended, but good. In fact this enchantment might be a good fit for any agility based fighters and possibly scouts.”

She nods and resumes her work with the mana mill, apparently satisfied by this explanation.

I in turn head out and down to the creek where I wash my feet before I slip my sandals back on. I have been going barefoot for a while now after all and maybe I should grab the broom and clean the workshop as well every once in a while, not just the shop out front.

The effect is subtle but noticeable. Especially as I make my way back up the incline from the creek to the backyard I can tell that I have an easier time. Curiously enough the most noticeable part is the lack of doubt and insecurities about where I should place my feet. This is most curious! It certainly isn't unwelcome though. No, quite the opposite is true. I really like this turn of events.

As I reach the garden a thought strikes me and immediately my lips curl in a mischievous smile.

I stop for a moment to recall some of the dance steps I learned so far, mostly thanks due to Agnieszka's hard work. At the same time I try to banish that smile. The latter is proving much harder than the former. In the end I succeed though.

Once I finish composing myself I dance the last few steps towards the back door of my home and in through it.

Elzbieta stops what she is doing and stares at me wide eyed, as my dancing steps take me in her direction.

Then I loose the fight against the grin that is threatening to split my face. The look on her face just is too much for me.

As I break into laughter she soon joins me. Not without reprimanding me first though.

“Oh you!”

I giggle, and as she sets the mana mill aside, I pull her to her feet, to twirl her around once.

“Got you there for a moment, huh?”

As we come to a stop, she elbows me lightly.

“Don't tempt fate like that!”

In the end I nod to appease her. I don't really regret anything though.

“Don't worry. The only way these would have turned into cursed dancing shoes would have been if the enchantment were to affect a dance skill directly. At worst these would have turned me into an indecisive, bumbling, clumsy fool if the enchantment would have gone wrong.”

She nods. She still looks a little miffed though.

For a brief moment I'm tempted to kiss that little pout right off her lips. Just for a moment though. She isn't here for anything like that, thus it would be terribly inappropriate. In the end my improved willpower squashes the thought, the very tempting thought, before I can even think about it for real.

Curious. Very curious. Is this a side effect of the enchantment as well? Will it allow me to withstand temptations I might otherwise give in to?

Never mind right now. I will think about it some more later. I flash her a grin as I let her sit back down.

“I'll make us some coffee to celebrate another successful double enchantment. You don't mind? Right?”

She blinks an nods.

“One of those cups of special mana spiked coffee?”

She sounds downright hopeful and I can relate. That stuff is seriously good!

Anyway, now it is my turn to nod.

“Sure. Think they have something sweet to go with it at the inn?”

She tilts her head and taps her lips, deep in thought.

“Maybe? To be honest, I'm not sure. They usually have sweet treats like those little cup cakes when ever Krystina or Maryla fancy something sweet themselves.”

I guess I'll just have to ask. I'll have some time anyway, while I wait for the water for the brew to boil.

First I need to roast some beans though. Thus I start a fire and do just that. Then I put the water on while I grind them up with the other mill.

I leave the ground coffee in the mill's drawer for now though, as I head down to the inn real quick.

It is not yet time for dinner, thus the place is rather quiet for a change. Only Krystina looks up from her spot at the guild counter where she seems to be doing some reading.

“Valeria! Welcome! Is something up?”

I'm quick to shake my head.

“No, no. I just wanted to inquire with your parents if you have any sweet treats today. Something like those little cup cakes?”

She blinks once. She doesn't seem to be too surprised though.

“No cakes. Neither cup cakes nor regular ones. We have fried mice though.”

That stops me dead in my tracks. Without the enchantment on my sandals I might even have tripped. My voice might just be a little squeaky as I inquire if I heard right.

“Fried what?”

Krystina laughs out loud.

“Fried mice. And don't worry, they do not actually contain mice of any sort in any way. It is a fried, sweet treat. They are called that, because the dough usually forms long thin appendages when you drop it into the hot oil. These look a Little like mouse tails, you know.”

Maryla must have head us talking, because she appears with a wooden bowl with half a dozen of the mentioned treats in it. They are in fact roughly mouse sized pieces of fried dough and they do the mentioned appendages that look a little like tails. More importantly though, they are covered generously in sugar and look delicious. They smell delicious as well.

“Two bronze Crowns for half a dozen. Better get them now. They are best when they are fresh!”

My slightly improved willpower crumbles almost right away, accompanied by a rumbling noise emitted by my stomach. My coins and Maryla's bowl of fried treats change hands before I can even begin to formulate a second thought. I don't mind though.

“Thanks! I'll return the bowl later!”

I have delicious baked goods now and that is all that matters! With a little extra spring to my steps I return home. I still need to finish the coffee after all. Fresh mana spiked coffee and fresh baked goods in good company! I doubt it can get much better.