What an auspicious start into a new day. Well, I could have done without the scratches, but by now I hardly notice them anymore. Grandma's potion is working pretty well after all. By the time I return from the bathhouse Sour Cream seems to have all but forgotten about that episode as well. The bowl I prepared for her is licked clean and she is curled back up on the bed.

I guess I'll see in the days to come if she is really forgiving me or if she just sticks around for her favorite treat.

Never mind right now though. I quietly open the shop, as not to disturb her nap. My first customers are the two youngsters, Odolan and Tamara. They are not here to buy anything though. That much quickly becomes obvious.

Once again it is Tamara who greets me cheerfully as the duo enters, while the young man stays quiet and in the background, apparently comfortable to let his dwarven companion do the talking.

“A good morning to you!”

I smile and return the greeting.

“A good morning to you two as well. What can I do for you today?”

The dwarven woman, who still carries her makeshift weapon, now together with the used shield, comes up to the counter while the young man looks around the shop.

“We heard that you intend to set up a new policy about returning empty potion bottles. Is it true? We could earn a bronze Crown for each empty bottle we bring?”

Well, it seems either Bogomil or Danuta must have mentioned it at the inn. I nod.

“In general, that is the gist of it. It is not free money though, as I'm raising the prices for the potions by the same amount. Oh, and I only take bottles that aren't damaged.”

As a matter of fact I'm speculating that not all potion bottles will be returned, despite the monetary incentive. Some simply won't care and every once in a while a bottle will break. By all rights I should be able to turn a little additional profit that way in the long run.

The young dwarven adventurer nods. None of what I say seems to surprise her. She still seems to have questions, although she looks a little torn about asking them.

Odolan must have noticed the latter as well. Before he can intervene in any way she continues though.

“Ah, well, you know there is a trash pit a little uphill, to the east and well away from the creek, closer to the edge of the Twilight Forest? People dump broken gear, tools and furniture there. Those kinds of things. And we have been thinking that we might have a look at it. It isn't like we intend to dig the whole place up, but we might salvage some easily accessible bottles if you don't mind.”

As she talks realization dawns upon me. Of course! I hadn't thought of that possibility at all. That might cost me a few coins early on. It shouldn't be a problem in the long run though. It is like she mentioned. People are unlikely to dig up the whole trash pit after all. Not for a few bronze coins anyway. There are easier ways to make better money after all. Finally I nod.

“You probably should talk with Elder Jaromir as well before you dig up the village's trash pit. Just in case. It shouldn't be a problem as far as I'm concerned though. Just don't forget that I'll only take intact bottles though. And if you get them from the pit I wouldn't mind if you wash them before dropping them off with me. There should be only dry refuse in that pit, like you mentioned mostly broken things, but it would be better if you rinse them off at the very least anyway.”

I pause for a moment as another thought strikes me.

“I probably should add that condition to the sign I intend to put up. Right?”

Both Tamara and Odolan nod, as the former answers.

“Probably wouldn't hurt. Sounds reasonable anyway. I think we can do that.”

At that point the young human warrior decides to speak up.

“If clear Brook is anything like other villages there might be an agreement with the local smith that allows them to salvage metal which they can melt back into raw material from the pit. I doubt there is anything about potion bottles though. We'll talk with the elder anyway.”

The female dwarf nods enthusiastically, which sends her thick braids bobbing.

“Right! We will do that. Wouldn't want to cause any trouble after all! Anyway, thanks for the clarification!”

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I wave as the duo leaves once more. At the same time I'm a bit worried. Just how many old potion bottles are they, or others for that matter, going to bring in? Not to many hopefully. Otherwise I might be in trouble.

Well, there is nothing I can do about that now. Not unless I were to go back on the whole thing and I don't want to. And not just because it would damage my credibility. Giving those old bottles a second lease on life instead of just dumping them somewhere sounds just right to me after all.

Well, first things first. For one I adjust the design for the sign I'm working on to include the fact that the bottles should be reasonably clean. Then I set out to adjust the price tags of those potions still on the shelves. I take this chance to check them all with my appraisal skill to make sure none of them have gone bad.

At least in regard to the latter issue there is no real problem. There are still a few days of shelf life left even in the worst of cases. I don't have to do much reordering either, to make sure that the ones with the least time remaining are up and front. Very good!

As the trio of Feliks, Lotar and Rafal drop by to stock up on all kinds of potions, the issue quickly becomes even less pressing. Quite the opposite is true actually. I really need to get brewing, so I can restock the shelves with a fresh batch before anything runs out.

I will need those bottles before long after all. I will have to check up on the ingredients I still have in store as well. I'll probably need to go and collect some more. Or I'll have to post more quest. That costs money though and I'm a little worried right now in that regard. No, I'll see about collecting some herbs by myself first. After consulting grandma's book.

First I note the latest sale down in the ledger though and I take a moment to deposit most of the coin I earned through it in the strong chest as well. Once that is done I retreat to the backroom. I leave the door to the shop open though, in case anyone else should drop by.

First I check on the herbs and other ingredients I still have. The result is sobering. I will really need to stock up one way or another. Especially if I want to put some stronger potions on the shelves, something beyond what grandma apparently produced in greater quantity.

Then I dig grandma's book out of the chest which promptly draws Sour Cream's attention. I'm not sure what it is that draws her like a moth to the flame. Is it the chest itself? Or is it the clean laundry inside? No matter what the reason, I have my work cut out for me, keeping her out of the chest. Silly cat.

In the end I have to spread out one of grandma's blouses in her sleeping spot on the bed to placate her. Maybe she is just missing grandma? Can cats get attached like that? I'm not sure, but considering the way the little cutie purrs up a storm after curling up on the garment I won't just dismiss the idea either.

In the meantime I take the book with me as I return to the counter in the shop. I have an easier time reading there. Thankfully no one interrupts me as I read up on the closest spots where I might find some of the herbs needed for healing, mana and stamina potions without the need for a bodyguard. There still is a risk, as sometimes dangerous monsters roam beyond the border of the Twilight Forest, but this close to the village it shouldn't be a problem.

I get my own, much smaller and lighter notebook and copy a few details. Maybe I can still get to some of those spots today if I close the shop early? Well, first I should get myself some lunch and maybe a little snack for underway? Oh, and I need to find someone to make my new sign as well. That has priority!

Satisfied with the order of things I have decided on I close the shop for my lunch break. I pour Sour Cream another bowl of her favorite snack as well, before I leave. I can't help but grin as I realize that the lure of a treat seems to be greater than the need for sleep, at least as far as cats are concerned.

I make sure the window by the bed is open before closing the door and heading towards the inn. Today's lunch is a hefty meat pie. I wash it down with some watered down beer. I get myself another piece, tidily wrapped up in a piece of cloth, for later.

Afterwards I take a moment to sign and seal the quest I asked Krystina to prepare. I have no doubt that someone will deliver some Twig Wight sap to me before long. The reward and the fees together cost me another seven bronze Crowns. Oh, woe is me! Hopefully I can earn some more coin with stronger potions soon.

Last but not least I ask Elder Jaromir for directions to someone who can do some carpentry for me. Curiously enough he directs me to the smithy across the village square. Apparently most people take care of their own carpentry needs around here and Nawoja and Olgierd, the couple running the smithy, take care of anything else besides working the forge.

I have to wait a little as the duo works a brightly glowing chunk of iron, or rather steel. By the time one of them has time for me I'm sweating profusely. I show Olgierd the design I have drawn up and he just nods.

“The day after tomorrow soon enough? Five bronze Crowns?”

He sounds like he is gargling with stones regularly. Despite this he doesn't seem unfriendly though.

Now it is my turn to nod.

“Payment upon delivery?”

Once again he nods and we shake hands to seal the deal. Then he promptly returns to work with his wife as piece of steel they are working on apparently has heated back up enough to continue.

I don't stick around any longer than necessary either. The heat in the smithy really isn't for me. And besides, I'm busy myself.