Is it wrong to fleece adventurers at the item shop?

After our coffee break we get back to work. Elzbieta with the mana mill and I with brewing up more of this mana spiked coffee. This time not for us though. No, the next batch gets bottled up to go on the shelves out front. Except for one bottle. I let Elzbieta pass it along to her comrade Zofia to get the paladin's opinion.

Maybe I'll let Danuta have a free sample as well, when I next see her. This concoction is primarily aimed at spellcasters after all. It should do well enough, of that I have little doubt. I still want to do a little advertisement though and two of the local adventurers speaking well of the new potion would be an important first step in that regard.

That is neither here nor now though. Things get a little more exciting after our lunch break though. Well, they do so for me anyway.

Elzbieta is still busy with the mana mill. No changes there.

I on the other hand want to put my improved enchanting skill to the test. I really want to know if it will allow me to reliably create double enchantments with the means currently available to me.

I really want to double enchant the diapers for my godchild after all. First I have to make sure I won't fail or screw up though.

Thus I decide on one last test. Well, it will be the last test if it succeeds anyway.

With butterflies in my stomach I get the light summer dress Agnieszka made for me from the trunk. I place it at the center of the enchanting table after carefully folding it.

Before I can change my mind I grab one of my regular chalks and get started. The first enchantment is simple after all.

As with the diapers it is a self cleaning enchantment. Something simple and utilitarian. Honestly, I should eventually place it on all my clothes! Eventually, when I can make the time for it. My wardrobe might not be terribly expansive, but that will still take some time anyway.

Well, first things first.

With the dress in place I start drawing the rune circle. The difference is quite astonishing. I wouldn't go as far as to say that it is like night and day, but it still more than just noticeable.

The necessary runes come to my mind much quicker and I finish drawing them much faster as well. My precision doesn't suffer any either, which is a great relief.

In the end I'm done much quicker than before during previous enchantments. I could really get used to this! Ha! No, I have to get used to this! That isn't a bad thing though. Quite the opposite is true.

The enchantment takes hold and the runes are drawn into the dress. So far, so good.

I activate my appraisal skill almost without thinking about it as I pick up the dress to study the results in a little more detail.

[Self cleaning Summer Dress, Quality: Uncommon, A simple but comfortable and light dress for warm summer days. It is enchanted to perpetually clean itself. Even the worst of stains will disappear over the course of an hour.]

I let out a sigh. As expected. Well, of course. I have yet to get started on tricky part after all.

With a little reluctance I fold the dress back up and place it back on the enchanting table. If something will go wrong, it will do so now. I really hope nothing will go wrong though.

Anyway, it is no use to tarry now. I slap my cheeks and grab one of my new improved enchanter's chalks. They may only be half the way to the chalks I envision, but, together with the improved skill, they hopefully will still be good enough anyway.

I created one double enchantment with them already after all and I have gotten better since then. Still I'm nervous.

At last I get started on the second enchantment anyway. I have been pondering this second enchantment for a while now. It is a little more complex than the first one.

As a result the circle is a little larger as well. I still fill the circle quickly, one rune after the other, until the neatly glowing and glittering circle is complete.

As I finish the circle of runes is absorbed into the dress. As with my first double enchantment, there is a little resistance. The runes don't wobble this time though. No, it just takes a little until the second enchantment takes hold this time around.

That is an improvement. Right? I let out the breath I have been holding. My hands are shaking a little this time around as I pick up the dress again and I close my eyes tightly for a moment. No, it is no use. I have to check the results! I have to make sure. I have to know!

As I finally open my eyes again there are no obvious differences at first. Obviously I shouldn't really expect any either. This is a new dress after all and not one that has already seen a few summers.

There simply is no wear and tear for the second enchantment to repair, just like there were no dirt stains for the first one to remove.

Things become a little more interesting as I activate my appraisal skill again though.

[Pristine Summer Dress, Quality: Rare, A simple but comfortable and light dress for warm summer days. It is enchanted to perpetually clean and repair itself. Even the worst of stains will disappear in short order and any minor damage, just like wear and tear, will be mended just as quick.]

“Yes!”

I hug the dress tightly as I let out that joyous shout.

Elzbieta just snorts, while Sour Cream shoots me a devastating look for interrupting her nap. Finally the adventurer speaks up while the cat turns around and curls up again.

“That felt like the last one. Another successful double enchantment?”

I nod, still clutching the dress tightly.

“Yes. And this one took much quicker as well. With the first one I was afraid it wouldn't take at first. Not so much with this one.”

My excitement gets the better of me and the words just keep flowing.

“That skill upgrade really made a difference! I think I might really be able to reliably do them now. I'll have to talk with Krystina again! Right?”

Elzbieta puts the mana mill away for a moment and gets up to put her hands on my shoulders.

“First you need to calm down again. And yes, you probably should advertise something like the ability to reliably create double enchantments with the guild. Are you really sure you are ready for this step though? I mean, this is only the second one, right?”

Her words actually help me calm down. At least a little. I'm rather excited about this after all. I tilt my head slightly at her last comment.

“You think I should make some more first?”

That actually doesn't sound unreasonable. But how many would I have to make until I could be sure I would succeed more often than not?

Elzbieta ponders the issue a little more as well, before she answers.

“Maybe at least a third one?”

“Hm. I think I can do that.”

I start folding my new, newly enchanted dress back up, as I think about it some more. It really is not unreasonable. It will certainly ease my mind at least. Right now I certainly feel capable of tackling the second enchantment on the diapers at least though.

Finally, as I put the dress away in the trunk I speak up again.

“Maybe I'll get around to it a little later, or tomorrow.”

Elzbieta gets back to the mill and resumes her work, although she should be just about done as well.

I take a quick peek at the enchanting dust already collected in the mill's drawer and nod.

“Just about enough. I'll close up the shop. Then I'll take care of your papers. And afterwards we can maybe have dinner at the inn. Maybe even with a little wine. I feel like celebrating today.”

She snorts in response and shoos me away, before she resumes work with the mill.

I do as I said. I take my time though. We are not in hurry and I don't want to rush her after all.

By the time I return she is done and I stamp the quest papers. Then we leave and head down to the inn together.

There still is another little thing on my mind though, something regarding the upcoming dance on mid summer night.

“Say, Elzbieta? You wouldn't happen to know how to earn some Stars Arcana rewards?”

She looks at me, blinks and snorts.

“You have grown up pretty sheltered, haven't you? I mean, if you have to ask, you obviously haven't ever been to a dance. Or am I mistaken?”

I blush a little and fiddle with my fingers.

“Well, you aren't exactly wrong. But anyway, are there any other ways?”

She snorts again.

“You have never had to rough it out in the wilds either. Right?”

I'm a little confused.

“Uh? Right? But what does that have to do with anything?”

“Well, the easiest way to earn at least a small reward, is to spend a night out in the wilds, without shelter or anything. Just you and the stars above.”

“Oh.”

I'm surprised although I probably shouldn't be. Her answer probably is the most obvious after all. Still, I decide to inquire a little further.

“If you say out in the wilds, the meadows or glens near the village probably don't count. Or do they?”

She shakes her head and ponders the issue a little more before she answers.

“You should head out a fair distance. Maybe two or three hours on foot if you go upstream. You probably shouldn't go alone though, as that would put you pretty close to the actual edge of the Twilight Forest.”

I snort.

“Easy, huh?”