Is it wrong to fleece adventurers at the item shop?

It is a small miracle that I don't sleep in the next morning. I do not owe the miracle of waking up on time to the roosters though, despite them certainly doing their best to make sure everyone is awake. No, it is Sour Cream who gets me to actually blink open an eye in the end.

She stands atop of me and is kneading with all four paws as if the fate of the world depended on me waking up. And just as I blink she leans in close and gives my nose a quick lick with her rough raspy tongue. Well, now I'm awake for sure!

“Mew.”

I run my hand along her back first before touching my forehead to hers.

“You want a treat before your nap?”

“Mew!”

Before I can even really think about getting moving she boops my nose and, as she turns around to head in the direction of her bowl, I get tail slapped across the face as well for good measure.

It takes all the resolve I can muster not to laugh out loud. Oh, you silly kitty!

Sour Cream is already waiting impatiently by the time I reach her spot to pour her the last of her namesake treat. I'll have to get some more later.

I drop heavily on bed again and watch her eat for a moment, until she jumps up onto my sheets as well. She circles twice until she finds the most promising spot, then she starts grooming herself, purring all the time.

At this point I grab my things and head out to the bathhouse, as I'm actually running a little late by now. It isn't an issue yet though, as I don't intend to soak today. A quick wash will have to do. Ah, what a pity. Well, I'll survive.

By the time I get back my feline housemate is fast asleep, curled up on my bed and I decide not to disturb her.

Not much later the other semi housemate I'm pretty much already expecting shows up as well.

Elzbieta looks terribly tired, as she knocks on the backdoor.

I simply usher her inside and get her the trusty old mana mill so she can get started with her quest.

She perks up soon though, throwing me a slightly confused look.

“Something feels different. I'm not sure … somehow …”

Her words trail off as she shrugs, unable to clarify exactly what she means.

I have a decent idea though. With a grin I point at myself.

“A new gift. Auspicious aura.”

“Oh! That is a good one! Most adventurers can only ever wish they had a crew mate with that gift.”

She sighs dramatically.

“Too bad that you aren't an adventurer.”

I snort in amusement.

“Ha! Yes. I'm not going to go adventuring out there anytime soon. Well, probably anyway. I might have to venture forth into the forest eventually to get my hands on some of the more exotic ingredients there are.”

She nods and shifts her focus to the mana mill.

“With an aura gift like that you certainly will have an easier time finding escorts for gathering quests like that. Especially if you improve it once or twice or get another aura to go with it.”

I nod. This is a solid suggestion after all.

Before I can say anything else though someone knocks out front and I peek through the door to the shop to greet my most recent customer.

The adventurer looking back at me from the front door is a familiar elf.

“Nuutti of the Iivari, welcome once more! What can I do for you?”

His face brightens immediately at the warm greeting.

“Valeria, it is good to see you again! I heard that you have some potions to cure diseases in stock now. Can I have a look at them?”

Well, I have no clue what he might need these potions for, but I don't hesitate to show him the most recent additions to my shelves.

“Here they are. They can only deal with minor illnesses. If you need something more potent I can brew something up for you though. In addition to curing a minor illness these will restore your stamina as well though, to make for a speedy recovery.”

He patiently listens to me and picks up one of the potions to give it a closer look, probably using a skill himself to inspect it and it's properties. He, of course, has a look at the price tag as well.

“These should do for now. Probably. If I need something more potent I will take you up on your offer though.”

Without even trying to haggle he counts the required coin onto the counter. Twenty four bronze Crowns, the equivalent of two silver Crowns.

I don't mind him paying in the smaller denomination though. I can always do with a few more bronze Crowns for various expenditures myself after all.

I brush the coins off the counter and into the strong box below it after shaking hands with him.

“Thank you for your patronage! And don't hesitate to ask if you need something more potent!”

“I will. Thank you and congratulations!”

He winks at me knowingly. Of course, an experienced adventurer like him, probably is pretty familiar with all kinds of auras after all.

With a cheerful wave he is off and I take a moment to note this most recent sale down in the ledger.

Afterwards I retreat to the workshop, where Elzbieta is humming a happy little tune by now. It doesn't take much effort to recognize the song. Its the one about the misadventures of Ksawery the catfolk adventurer.

Elzbieta nods in the direction of Sour Cream on the bed, without breaking her stride, either with the humming or with the mana mill.

It seems a little weird, but the cat seems to be really enjoying the tune. Considering the way her tail flicks every once in a while, while her paws move just a little at times, I'd say that she seems to be having a really good dream. She is even making those weird little, most adorable chirping sounds in her sleep!

I watch Sour Cream's antics for a moment, then I get to work myself. I try not to make too much of a racket though. My little guardian deserves her sleep after all. Especially if she is having a good dream.

I don't get started on a new potion or the enchantments for the diapers right away though. First I want to try something else. I really want to give the mana spiked coffee a try!

For this purpose I roast up some beans as usual. That is where I deviate from the usual procedure though. I don't crush them with pestle and mortar this time around. No, instead I grab the other mill. The new one.

With it I grind the beans. The result is both finer and a lot more even. More importantly though, there is crystallized mana mixed in with the ground coffee and that is the difference that matters right now.

That isn't all though. I add some crushed sugar to the mix as well. Once everything is properly mixed up, I get two cups and brew both me and Elzbieta a nice cup of mana spiked coffee.

The smell wafting from the cups alone is already energizing. Even the cute little movements of the still sleeping Sour Creams get a little more energetic.

Elzbieta sniffs the air as well. The smell of coffee isn't entirely new to her, but this recipe is. Thus she raises an eyebrow, as I motion for her to take a break so I can hand her one of the cups.

“What is this? You never made your coffee like that before.”

I grin and take a first sip from my own cup.

“Technically, this isn't just a beverage. This counts as a potion. A rather potent one at that, combining the effects of a stamina potions with a potion of mana regeneration.”

“A mana potion? You know that I'm not a spell caster. Not like some of the others anyway. I know a little everyday magic, but …”

I wave her off before she can continue.

“Not a mana potion. A potion of mana regeneration. It improves your natural mana regeneration instead of recovering a flat amount of mana. It doesn't contain any of the ingredients that make regular mana potions taste awful either. Just coffee, sugar and some enchanting dust.”

At this point she takes a small sip as well.

“Oh! Prickly! And sweet! You definitely didn't skimp on the sugar for this one!”

I grin and nod. I sure didn't. Then I take another sip.

“Want to take a little break? Maybe we could catch a little sun out front.”

She nods and I help her up after putting the mill she has been using away.

“Go ahead, I'll be right with you. I just need to do something first. Don't want to mix up these mills now that I used one for coffee.”

She leaves through the backdoor to head around the house.

I in the meantime grab a price tag and put it onto the mill I used. I don't brand it with a price though. Instead I write coffee on it with a hot poker. Once that is taken care of, I follow my house guest to sit down at her side on the wooden bench out front.

It is just about the right time to catch a little sun as well. It's not noon yet, but the sun has already driven away the chill of morning. Thus we can comfortably sit there, surrounded by buzzing bees and flowers while sipping our special coffee.

Oh yes, as far as I'm concerned more days could be like this. Then another thought strikes me.

“Say, do you think the bees can benefit from my aura as well?”

Elzbieta just bursts out laughing in response.