Is it wrong to fleece adventurers at the item shop?

With the calculations done and a charcoal circle drawn to help me properly place the runes of the enchantment I take one last deep breath. Then I get started. With practiced ease I draw rune after rune, without ever slipping into thoughtless routine though. Thoughtless routine is what makes you slip up after all. No, I properly consider every rune as I complete the enchantment's circle.

I don't let the effect of the new chalk distract me either, although the way the runes glitter and glow, more so than usual, is both pretty and exciting.

In the end I'm rewarded for my diligence. The circle of runes is absorbed into the already enchanted dagger.

It doesn't work quite the same as usually though. It is almost as if there is some kind of resistance. For a moment the runes wobble and I'm already afraid that I might have failed, but in the end the new enchantment takes hold, even if just barely.

I let out a long, drawn out sigh. Only then do I realize that Elzbieta has stopped singing, or rather humming.

She stares at me wide eyed, her mouth opening and closing first once, then twice, before she finally finds the words she must have been looking for.

“Oh! That … that was something else. I'm not quite sure what just happened, but it is almost as if there was tension in the air, thick enough to cut it with a knife.”

Before I can answer a divine whisper startles me.

[Success! Great job transcending your limits with this enchantment! The Sun Mother gifts you 6 points for the Magician Arcana as a reward.]

I laugh out loud and relax a little. Then I pick up the dagger for a closer inspection. It is almost as if I can watch the dagger's edges regain a sharpness they haven't held in years. Most curious!

The divine whisper already let me know that I must have succeeded in some way. That on its own is too vague for me though. I want to know the details! Thus I focus on the dagger and activate my appraisal skill.

[Keen Dagger, Quality: Rare, A common enough dagger that has seen plenty of use already. It is enchanted to both clean and sharpen itself. No matter how much blood or grime gets stuck to the weapon, it will shed such filth within the hour and be sparkling clean once more. In the same amount of time the dagger's edges can regain their sharpness without any loss of durability. As a matter of fact it can and will hold an edge sharp beyond what one would usually expect from a weapon like this.]

Oh my! That is a lot of information. More than usual for sure. It is a little dizzying.

I stumble backwards, dagger still in hand. Thankfully someone catches me before I can fall and injure myself with the incredibly sharp weapon.

It isn't Elzbieta though. She has barely begun to react by the time I manage to steady myself again. I can't really blame her though. She isn't in any condition to jump across half the room at a moment's notice after all. In the end she drops back down on her chair with a sigh of relief, as she realized that disaster has been averted.

The one who caught me is Maryla. With her husband Patryk and elder Jaromir behind her in the door. The looks of relief on their faces match the one of Elzbieta.

I chuckle weakly as I straighten myself out with the help of the innkeeper, while the others file in.

“Sorry about the scare. Just used my appraisal skill and got a little more information in return than usual.”

She raises an eyebrow.

“Something unexpected?”

“No, not at all.”

I carefully place the dagger back down, as excitement bubbles up within me.

“Actually things went extraordinarily well! I just managed my first double enchantment!”

It takes all the effort I can muster not to hug her or any of the others, or to jump in place excitedly like a student that just managed to brew her first potion.

It is the elder Jaromir who whistles at my comment.

“A double enchantment? Those are quite rare, aren't they? Congratulations!”

I scratch the back of my head sheepishly as I finally manage to calm down again.

“Thank you! But, please, don't let me keep you waiting! Please, come in!”

They do and the elder doesn't waste any time either. He places the contract he wrote up on the workbench and starts to go over it with us in detail. Well, he goes over it with the innkeepers and me.

Elzbieta in turn resumes her work with the mana mill, although I'm pretty certain that she does listen in. Well, why wouldn't she. None of us have asked her to leave after all. It's not like any of this is a big secret either, so I don't mind.

The contract mirrors exactly what we agreed upon in simple and concise language that leaves little, if any, room for interpretation. The actual writing is very pretty though. There is no doubt about that. It is definitely worth the little fee we end up paying the elder.

Once we pay and stamp the contract with our seals he leaves one copy with the innkeepers and another with me. And while the elder leaves the innkeepers and I are not quite done yet. There is something else though. Just as I put my seal on the contract another divine whisper reaches me.

[You sealed a deal that has the potential to change your life! The Sun Mother is your witness and gifts you 4 points for the Wheel of Fortune Arcana as a reward.]

Oh my! Today seems to be a pretty good day. You certainly don't earn that many rewards on most days.

I'm obviously not the only one who receives this message, judging by the looks on the faces of Patryk and Maryla. Their faces brighten considerably. It is Patryk who comments on the obvious.

“Well, the divine certainly seem to see great potential in this deal. I think we can see that as a good omen!”

The rest of us nod in agreement.

I quickly note the expense for the contract down in my ledger. Then I show the duo from the inn how to best roast and grind coffee beans. They both pay close attention. And although they don't seem to have any questions right now, they can drop by any time in the future should any arise.

Once that is taken care off we all share a cup of coffee. With the leftover I demonstrate the use of the ice bucket as well before handing it off the Patryk in exchange for a silver Crown, as we agreed.

“Always make sure there is a thin layer of clear water ice all around the inside of the ice bucket. It will reduce wear and tear and you won't have any wood shavings in your iced coffee that way either. I doubt anyone would appreciate those.”

The two innkeepers nod and after one last handshake they are off again. I in turn note the silver Crown I just earned down into the ledger as well. I'll really need every coin all too soon after all.

Once that is taken care off I relax a little.

Elzbieta finishes her chores for the day just in time as well.

Together we enjoy the last of the coffee, with a little extra sugar.

My house guest nods in the direction of the knife that kept me busy earlier today.

“What will you do with that? Do you think it will sell?”

I shrug and bite my lip lightly.

“I'm not quite sure. Double enchantments and any even more powerful are usually rare and more often than not, they are custom commissions. I'm really not sure if there is a market for random double enchantments in a small village like Clear Brook. I might have to sell it through the guild.”

She nods and sips some more of her beverage.

“So, how much do you think you can get for it?”

I scratch the back of my head as I think about it. Usually enchantments like these are pretty damn expensive. Even a combination of two of the most common low level enchantments I know should earn me quite a bit.

It takes considerable effort not to grab the design board and a piece of coal as I juggle the numbers. The calculations aren't terribly complicated, but I still loathe doing them without writing them down.

Lets see. The price for the dagger itself, then the up mark for each enchantment. And the suggestion at the academy was to ask for at least ten times the result for even the most basic double enchantment. Finally I nod to myself.

“I probably shouldn't sell it for less than forty silver Crowns. If I auction it off through the guild I can probably make quite a bit more than that.”

At this point Elzbieta almost chokes on her coffee.

“Forty! Silver Crowns?”

She stares at the dagger in disbelief.

“It would take me years to save up that kind of money!”

I nod and pat her back.

“And that is why enchanters usually only make those as custom commissions. The commissioners in turn often treat them as family heirlooms afterwards. I guess you can see why.”

“I still have a hard time believing it.”

I nod. The reaction is quite understandable.

“The individual enchantments are really quite basic. With either one the dagger would go over the counter for maybe two or three silver Crowns. Together though … say, are you familiar with keen weapons?”

It is now, that understanding dawns upon her.

“Oh! Oh my! No doubt plenty of people would want an ace like that up their sleeve!”

I flash her a grin.

“Yes. This things should cut throats, even the ones of damn tough monsters, like butter. And of course, besides the synergy effect there is still the normal effect of the two enchantments.”