Sleep really doesn't come easy this night. Eventually though, it does claim me. The next morning I wake up early as well as a result. I just can't stay in bed any longer. I can't help it. I have to get up. Thus I swing my legs out of bed quite a bit before the night sky lightens up outside and well before the roosters start their wake up call.

Sour Cream is not yet home either. I really hope we didn't disturb her routine too much yesterday. She has become such an integral part of my life, I honestly don't even want to contemplate spending my days here without her. Thus I end up waiting for her return, before I head out myself, after preparing her snack and cuddling her a little.

After a quick bath I'm essentially ready for the day. My first stop, after returning home, is once more the inn. Quests still don't post themselves, although that would be incredibly convenient.

Never mind. The trips to the inn are actually pretty nice. Its good to see everyone. I don't have company on my way back home right away this time around, as I'm more than just a little early today. I'm pretty certain that Elzbieta will visit before long anyway.

I have more than enough work to keep me busy in the meantime. First enter the money spent on the new quest into the ledger. I open up the shop early too. Then I finish cleaning up. afterwards I get started on brewing a new batch of healing potions.

Wislawa only used one on me yesterday, but I want more on the shelves anyway. I aim for more potent potions with the brew I prepare from wild rose petals, purple mountain flowers, some bitterleaf and juniper berries. In fact this will be the most potent brew I make here yet.

Before I can get started for good a knock from the shop distracts me though. It is Tamara and her group, which today includes Ryszard, Urszula's eldest, for some reason. He looks a little nervous.

My brows crease into a frown briefly, before I get my facial features back under control.

Tamara must have noticed anyway.

“He accompanies us as a porter, not an adventurer. We will watch out for him. And with him doing the heavy lifting we can properly focus on the adventuring. Anyway, I wanted to get some more healing potions before we head out.”

I nod and point her in the direction of the shelf with the healing potions and she gets a few after looking at them for a moment.

A porter? Well, that doesn't sound too bad. Hopefully they will really be able to properly watch out for him. This way he might even be able to get a first taste for adventuring before he makes up his mind about his future in that regard.

As the dwarven adventurer returns to the counter she is not only bringing over three healing potions. No, she has pulled several empty potion bottles from her pack as well.

I perk up a little at that. I'm glad to see some more returns even if it means that my profits will suffer a little. I check the empty bottles. Even at a glance it is obvious that they have once again been cleaned and mended with magic. Very good! There is no reason to complain, thus I add up the purchase and deduct the coins they get for the returned bottles.

“Three lesser healing potions make forty eight bronze crowns and you get six bronze crowns for the returned bottles. This makes forty two bronze Crowns in total.”

Before she can start to haggle I put the one piece of red chalk I have already used on the counter next to her purchase.

“I'll add this chalk as a little bonus. As you can see it is used a little already, but it should still be good for a warding circle or two. Use it when you make camp. Or if one of you should end up possessed, you can draw a line and tackle them across that line. The one being possessed should pass through just fine, but the ghost should remain behind and be stunned for a moment, like one of us would be after running into a wall.”

Tamara closes her mouth again and nods. Then she counts some coin onto the counter. Three silver Crowns and six bronze Crowns.

While I gather up the coins to deposit them in the strongbox, she distributes the potions among her companions and wraps the chalk into a handkerchief. Then the group is off on their newest adventure.

I wave as they leave and call out after them.

“Take care and come back safely!”

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By the time I return to the workshop, Elzbieta is already waiting for me, leaning against the door frame of the backdoor. She greets me with a cheerful smile and a wave.

“Feeling better?”

I snort in amusement.

“If anything I might be a little too well rested. But never mind. Come on in and sit down by the fireplace until the sun comes around. I'll get a fire started in a moment for a nice brew.”

Even as I speak I move a chair in position for her, before I get the second and the mana mill as well. Only once she is comfortable do I get the mentioned fire started. I use my staff again. It is simply so much easier that way, compared to using flint and steel.

Once the fire burns and the water in the cauldron starts heating up I take care of the ingredients I need for these healing potions. I grind everything, the dried petals, the equally dry grassy leaves as well as the berries down in the mortar. Then I add the mixture to the water in one of grandma's silk pouches.

Now the brew has to steep for a while. This gives me the time I need to prepare the potion bottles and especially the stoppers. I reuse the ones returned earlier by Tamara right away, since I already have those at hand. I prepare a few more just in case though, so none of the brew will go to waste.

Curiously enough it is Elzbieta who alerts me that the brew is ready.

“Oh! Healing potions! I really love this flowery smell!”

I can relate. The smell is quite pleasant. I have no time to dawdle now though. With practiced ease I fill the fresh brew into the potion bottles, stoppering and sealing them all in short order. In the end I have a total of eight of these potent healing potions.

There is one more thing that remains to be done, before I can put them on the shelves out front with shiny new price tags. I need to check if they turned out alright. Thus, while Elzbieta keeps working and singing, without batting an eye, I focus my attention on the first potion bottle to activate my appraisal skill.

[Greater Healing Potion, Quality: Rare, A rare and potent healing potion that will heal any injury, including life threatening ones, almost within the blink of an eye. Still good to use for another 35 days.]

“Yes!”

Marvelous! I check the other potion bottles too, just in case, but the result is always the same. This qualifies as a great success. I allow myself a big smile.

This draws Elzbieta's attention.

“Something good?”

I nod excitedly.

“Yes, greater healing potions! These ones can be real life savers. They can heal just about anything that doesn't kill you right away.”

She whistles in appreciation.

“That is indeed good news! Those tend to be pricey though. Or am I wrong?”

No, she isn't wrong. I think about it for a moment. I sell the regular healing potions for two silver and six bronze Crowns. The lesser healing potions go for sixteen bronze Crowns. If I extrapolate that I could possibly sell these for four silver Crowns and one bronze Crown?

Yes, that sounds about right. Expensive, but not too expensive and it certainly covers my expenses and then some. I nod to myself.

“Four silver and one bronze. Probably.”

Elzbieta whistles again.

“Not bad. Certainly good for the rare emergency. Don't expect people to buy those in bulk though.”

I nod. She is right. Most days the regular healing potions are good enough.

“I'll keep one or two on the shelves anyway. Better to have one ready if someone actually is in need of it. I might donate one or two to the village as well, as part of my militia contribution. The rest I could sell in the city through Agnieszka.”

Elzbieta takes a moment to think about it, before she answers.

“Sounds like a plan.”

Then she looks out the window.

“How about you take care of the price tags and we go and have an early lunch afterwards?”

That sounds good to me. I burn the price in eight new price tags and take the now priced potions out front. Then I take care of the first batch of enchanting dust Elzbieta produced afterwards, as I return from the shop.

“What's on the menu today? You sounded eager.”

The pregnant woman blushes a little and scratches the back of her head as I help her up.

“Noodles with meatballs and lots of tasty sauce! You'll love it! Believe me!”