Is it wrong to fleece adventurers at the item shop?

Later, after preparing Sour Cream her evening snack, which for her probably is more like breakfast, I sit on the bench out back. The shop is closed for today, but I can't quite go to sleep yet, as I'm feeling a little restless. There simply are too many things my mind insists I should consider or resolve.

It might be my own fault, considering the various avenues I try to explore. Or is it like that for all new shop owners? To be honest, I'm not quite sure. Maybe it is a little of both? And of course I just moved here as well. Everyone has been very welcoming so far, but I'm still not feeling quite like I'm at home. Or am I? Well, some things just take a little time and I certainly get to meet plenty of interesting people.

The black cat, which in likelihood is Agnieszka's, hops on the bench next to me and I pet him a little until he decides that he has received enough attention and is off once more.

I get up and brush of my hands before heading towards my neighbor's home. I don't have to go all the way though, as she is coming down the road already, probably to head to the inn.

She stops at my side as I greet her with a wave and a smile. She looks me over briefly, smiling herself.

“Not going to join us at the inn tonight?”

I shake my head.

“No, not tonight. I wanted to inquire about getting some diapers though. Could you make some for me? Two? Or better three?”

She nods without hesitation. Apparently a request like this doesn't require much thought, probably because she receives similar ones regular enough.

“I presume its for Elzbieta's little one? So you aren't in too much of a hurry? Three diapers? Does fifteen bronze Crowns sound alright to you?”

I consider it for a moment. I don't have any experience, but compared to the clothes I ordered it doesn't sound too bad. In the end I nod.

“Alright, three diapers for fifteen bronze Crowns.”

We shake hands to seal the deal. We don't part ways right away again though.

Apparently Agnieszka still has questions. She doesn't hesitate to ask them either.

“If you don't mind me asking, why three diapers? You mentioned enchanting them? Wouldn't one already be enough? Or maybe two at worst?”

I shrug and motion for her to continue on her way towards the inn. I can explain just as well while walking alongside her. There is no need to hold her up.

“The self cleaning enchantment takes a little time to do its work. And you are right, usually two would be enough, but you know, its diapers. For a newborn. Accidents do happen.”

At that point she laughs out loud. She even has to stop for a moment to catch her breath.

“Oh, gods and goddesses, you are right. It has been a while since I had to deal with those accidents, but there is no doubt, they do happen. Anyway, I'll get you those diapers in the next few days. I still should have some suitable cloth at home.”

We hug and part ways just as we reach the inn, She heads inside, while I head back home.

My steps are a little lighter though, as at least one thing is taken care of. At least for now. I still need to pay for those diapers when Agnieszka delivers them after all. And they don't enchant themselves either. For now though I'm feeling pretty good about this little project of mine.

Should I get busy adapting the enchantment to its new purpose right away? No, better not. Work like that needs better light. I'll save it for tomorrow. Still, I don't feel like going to bed yet.

I'll need to come up with something else to distract me. It doesn't take me long to figure out what to do either. I could head out to gather some more Night Candles. I have to get them while the bloom after all and I most certainly will need more, if not now, then later. Mana potions are always in demand after all.

As I reach my house I stop just long enough to grab my staff, a basket and a sickle. Then I'm back on my way. I have no eye for the sunset this time around either, as I want to reach the most promising spots where the Night Candles grow before it gets dark for good.

Although I hurry I keep my eyes open. I don't feel like another nasty surprise. I'm following the trail of my first excursion to collect these flowers after all, heading in the direction where I came across the corrupted, feral pixies. The adventurers should have gotten them all, as far as I know anyway, but I decide to be careful nonetheless.

As I reach the area where my frantic flight from the little monsters started I slow down. I watch my step even more carefully now, as I don't want to step into any gruesome remains either. The adventurers burned the ones they got, but I'm not entirely sure what happened to those that fell prey to Sour Cream.

I don't feel like finding out by stepping on them. Gods and goddesses, I'm already mighty glad that the cat hadn't brought home any trophies or presents. They supposedly do that at times after all.

Until darkness falls I retreat under a willow at the forest's edge well away from the burned spot where the feral pixie's hive must have been. From there I watch as the Night Candles' glow becomes more and more prominent as the flowers open their blossoms as night falls. It truly is, in a slightly eerie way, a sight to behold.

Once I'm certain that I won't risk mistaking them for any other flowers I start harvesting the glowing blossoms. And thankfully I remain undisturbed. Thus it doesn't take me too long to fill the basket. Not even the fact that I don't harvest too much in any one spot slows me down all that much.

I let out a long sigh as I start on my way back home, much slower this time around.

My mind wanders as I retrace my steps on the way back. The pixies used the flowers to make some kind of paint that glows in the dark. How did they do that? Could I replicate the process somehow? Would the result have alchemical properties different from the dried flowers? Would I be able to enhance my enchanter's chalks with it?

Better chalk is one of the keys to producing better enchantments after all. Another is the complexity if the enchantment itself and the number of circles it uses. And the last is the quality of the base item. Custom crafted masterwork items are better than mass produced second hand gear obviously.

I could not affect the latter to the same degree though as I could the former. Creating better chalks was thus a priority. I would have to experiment a little.

At this point I stop and groan. Damn! Did I just add another item to my ever growing list of things that need doing?

I shake my head and resume walking. Well, I will have to get to it one of these days. I'm not in a hurry though. Which means I can focus on other things first. I nod to myself as I come to this conclusion.

Yes, I'm really not in a hurry. That thought alone is enough to provide some relief.

It doesn't take me much longer to return home and once I do, I start to dry the fresh flowers right away.

Even as the fire in the fireplace crackles and the flowers begin to dry I don't feel sleepy at all. It is not that late anyway.

Thus I decide to do a little stargazing before turning in for the night. I get changed for the first though. That way I really only have to crawl into bed when I get sleepy.

The night sky is especially beautiful tonight. Probably due to the waxing moon. Usually it is easier to observe the stars when there is as little moonlight as possible. I'm not trying to do any astronomical calculations though. I just want to enjoy the view. And the view simply wouldn't be the same without the almost full moon. Something would be missing without it.

I stifle a yawn and get up to head back inside when I catch movement out of the corner of my eye. Or at least I think I did. As I turn to look I can't see anything. For a little while I stand still. I don't just look either. I turn my head ever so slightly to listen as well but all I hear are the sounds of nocturnal animals. Well, it probably was one of those I glimpsed anyway. In the end I just shrug and lock the door behind me before I turn in for the night.