I need to wash up after my time in the temple's pool, otherwise the salt of the water will form a crust before long. For now a quick sponge bath will have to do though. Especially my hair will need some more attention later.

Right now though I'm returning to the inn with a little extra spring in my steps. Acquiring the Silver Tongue gift is after all a big step in the right direction for me. The best thing is that I don't even have to actively practice using it, unlike skills that have a similar effect. I might still get a skill as well some time though, to double down. Just in case.

Krystina greets me with a smile and a wave as I return.

“You seem to be in a good mood. The visit to the temple worked out as you planned then?”

Now I'm grinning from one ear to the other.

“Better than I had hoped! I earned a gift instead of just getting a new skill!”

Her smile brightens even more at these news. My good mood seems to be contagious. Or is this already the gift at work? Well, one way or another, I don't mind. There is nothing wrong with spreading a little cheer after all.

She nudges my shoulder.

“Good for you! Anyway, I have consulted the book and drafted up a proposal for a quest regarding cleaning up your garden. Here, have a look at it.”

She pushes a quest notice across the counter towards me.

I read the task description, noting that it mentions that experience in gardening or magic to the same effect are required. Next up I check the reward. Four bronze crowns. That is considerably more than the other quest I posted. Yet it still is not terribly much. I look up at Krystina.

“Are you sure about the reward?”

She waves off my concerns, her smile never wavering.

“This should be about right for half a day's work for a skilled laborer and a little magic. The fee for posting it will be two instead of one bronze Crown as well. I hope that is no problem.”

I shake my head. Sure, this is more expensive than the other quest, but it is still quite affordable. It will take another worry off my mind as well.

“No, no problem.”

“Very well. If everything is to your liking you can sign it and I can put it up on the notice board. Just so you know, it might be a while before anyone takes it though. We have some adventurers with the necessary skills, but they are out in the Twilight forest right now and it could be a few days before they are back.”

I just nod as I sign and count the coins for the reward and the fee onto the counter into two small, separate piles.

“I'm not in a hurry. It is just a worry I want to have off my mind.”

We shake hands and Krystina swipes the coins into a drawer after noting the payment down in her own, or rather the guild's ledger. Once she puts the quest notice up on the board we hug and I'm on my way again.

As I return home I take a moment to quickly wash the rest of the salt out of my hair with a bucket of cold water from the creek. That has the additional benefit of waking me properly back up after my lunch break and the dream vision it included.

My new little house guest seems to be done with her nap as well. Or at least that is what I think at first only to be disabused in short order, as she curls up next to me on the counter as I reopen the shop.

Well, at least I'm not alone as I wait for my next customers. I even have some time to draft up a first design for the new sign I want to put up about buying back used potion bottles. Progress is slow though as I have to pet the cat pretty regularly. Not that I mind. It is pretty relaxing after all.

“Have you kept grandma company like that as well? Hm?”

I scratch her under the chin, as she stretches briefly only to curl right back up. Before I can go back to the task at hand though a familiar voice interrupts me.

“Hello again, Valeria! I take it there were no problems with the paperwork?”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

It is Danuta, the voluptuous witch I met only a few days ago. A few paces behind her, her father, Bogomil the aging barbarian, approaches, with a thick length of wood slung over one shoulder.

Their search for the wood Danuta wants to use for her new staff seems to have been successful. The duo seems to be back a little early. Not that I mind though.

“Meow!”

My feline companion has sat up to greet the duo as well.

It puts a smile on my face and the same is true for Danuta.

“Oh my! Cream moved back in with you! What a nice surprise!”

The witch takes a moment to pet the feline cutie who promptly starts purring up a storm.

“I take your journey into the Twilight Forest went pretty well? Since you are back a little earlier than I expected. Right?”

She nods and waves the old man in to join us.

As he approaches to lean the heartwood he is carrying against the counter I can't help but notice that he seems to be walking a little funny.

“Indeed!”

He sounds a little funny as well. As if he is in pain and trying very hard not to let anyone notice.

I raise an eyebrow and look over at Danuta.

She immediately bursts into laughter. After a moment she manages to calm down enough to provide an explanation though.

“We ran into a young dryad that set up a new grove a little earlier than we expected. What a lucky coincidence!”

The old man groans.

“Lucky! As if! You weren't the one who had to pay her price after all! I'm not a young grasshopper anymore!”

Again the young witch laughs as the old man complains.

“Yes, yes. The young ones tend to be a little energetic. Or is it enthusiastic? Maybe both? Ah, never mind. Could we get a healing potion? The old man is a little sore.”

“Sore?”

It takes a moment, or rather two, until I make the connection and understanding dawns upon me.

Yes, dryads are known for their appetites. Or rather, there are rather infamous for them. Even if you don't want anything from them they will try to talk you into spending a good time with them. They don't know any restraint either and their stamina is well beyond what most mortals can muster.

The old man just grimaces while I blush. I point over at the shelf with the healing potions.

“Lesser healing potions are over there. I'm raising the prices a little right now though, so please don't pay the tags any mind.”

Danuta gets one of the bottles and hands it to her father while fishing her coin purse from a cleverly hidden pocket in her dress.

“Oh? How much … and why? You aren't just taking advantage of my poor father? Or are you?”

“Oh? Now your old man is your poor father?”

We both laugh briefly. Then I let her have a look at the design for the new sign I have been working on.

“I'm considering paying customers for every intact potion bottle they return. Of course the coin for that has to come from somewhere.”

She looks at the design and nods.

“Call it a deposit. Very sensible actually. How much should it be?”

“A single bronze crown? Quick and easy?”

She nods.

“I like it. So, fifteen bronze crowns instead of fourteen if you buy one of these?”

I nod and she counts the coins onto the counter without any further protests.

The old barbarian has downed the potion in the meantime and lets out a long sigh that speaks of the relief it provides him.

I can't help but blush.

Before he can offer to return the bottle right away though, his daughter taps the wood they brought from the forest.

“Hold on to the bottle for now. We can return them later in bulk. We can, right?”

She looks at me for confirmation.

I nod.

“Of course. And maybe you could mention this idea at the inn? Spread the word a little?”

The old man nods in time with his daughter.

“We will.”