As planned I close the shop earlier today, to go out and gather some herbs. Not without leaving a note scribbled on the board I use for enchantment practice though. I clean Sour Cream's bowl as well before pouring her another small helping of her favorite treat, should she wake before I get home. I leave the window by the bed open for her as well, so she can come and go as she pleases.

I check myself over one last time before I leave. I wear the same sturdy clothes I usually wear. Today I wear a dagger on the belt in addition though. I don't think that I'll run into trouble and I'm not much of a fighter anyway, but its weight alone already reassures me greatly.

I'm bringing a nice, wide brimmed, low woven reed basket as well. I'm pretty sure that grandma already used this one for gathering her ingredients. Right now it only holds my small notebook with the notes I made earlier, the piece of meat pie I got myself for this occasion and grandma's trusty sickle.

Before I head out I make a quick stop at the grandma's grave, where I brush a hand over the headstone.

“I'm heading out to gather some ingredients. Wish me luck.”

With those words I'm off. Today I'm going to look for ingredients I can use for healing potions. I already have abundant access to Wild rose petals, as those grow all around the house, clinging to the walls. There still is some Bitterleaf left as well, as that is one of the most abundant ingredients that can be found in this area. In theory these two are enough to brew some very basic health potions, like the ones still on the shelves.

To brew something stronger though, I will need at least one more ingredient with similar properties though. And even if I don't aim for stronger potions I can still use it to substitute one of the other ingredients. At least in theory. I'm not a great fan of substituting ingredients. The potions tend to work just fine, but their taste tends to be off which can be confusing or even disconcerting to anyone drinking them. It is better to come up with an all new recipe in a case like that, at least in my opinion, even if it is more work.

Anyway, the ingredients I'm aiming for today are Pixie Stools and Blister Caps, mushrooms that should grow in abundance in lightly forested areas around here. Especially the small groves along the water should provide perfect conditions for those almost all year, except in winter of course, according to grandma's notes.

Many alchemists, especially those from the city, prefer other ingredients over these mushrooms as it is too easy to mix them up with similar looking ones that are not usable as alchemical ingredients or which are, in some cases, outright deadly poisonous.

I'm not too worried though, as I have the appraisal skill. As a matter of fact I got it primarily for occasions like this. Being able to appraise finished potions and other objects is a nice bonus, but making sure you don't get the wrong ingredients is where the skill really shines.

Of course a gift with a similar effect would be even better, but beggars can't be choosers. I don't mind anyway. The appraisal skill is plenty useful after all!

Even ignoring all that my little excursion makes for a pretty nice field trip. It allows me to see a little more of the immediate environs. Maybe I'll be even lucky enough to find a few scenic spots. Not that that is a top priority, but I certainly wouldn't mind.

At first I follow the well trodden path all the way upstream to the bathhouse. Afterwards I follow other, less well trodden paths along the creek. They aren't exactly game trails, but it is obvious that they don't see a lot of regular traffic.

I don't think that I'll be able to find any of the mushrooms I'm looking for this close to civilization and just off the path, but I keep my eyes open anyway. I have to climb over rickety old fences twice before I reach the point where the small groves along the creek turn a little more wild and I start looking in earnest.

I leave the path now as well. I'm not in any danger of getting lost though as the creek is almost always in view and even if it is not I can still hear it. Even when I get turned around, and that happens occasionally, I can easily orientate myself again thanks to the gurgling water. I have more trouble keeping track of the flow of time to be honest. Especially as I can't see the sun most of the time.

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If I'm not careful I might not return before nightfall. That of itself wouldn't be a problem, but supposedly there are more monsters roaming the land in the dark.

Never mind though. Not right now anyway! Any worries are quickly forgotten as I spot the first promising stand of mushrooms nestles in between ferns at the foot of an old tree. At a first glance it seems to be a stand of Blister Caps. Their reddish, blistered caps are pretty distinctive after all.

I set the basket down nearby and get the sickle to harvest the first one. Once I have it in my hands I hold it up to inspect it more closely, activating my appraisal skill as well for good measure.

[Blister Cap, Quality: Common, A pretty common mushroom. Like many other it prefers warm and moist environs. It can be used as an alchemical ingredient. Know properties: [Health], [Rage] Still good to use for another 36 hours.]

I nod to myself with a relieved sigh. That is just about what I expected. And like most mushrooms it doesn't keep very long without further processing. That is another reason why many alchemists prefer herbs to mushrooms.

Quickly I harvest most of the other mushrooms as well, leaving only the ones still too small and the ones already rotting. I still make time to inspect every single one before putting it into the basket. The result of each appraisal is pretty similar to the first one. Only the duration of how long they will still be good is always a little different.

Once I'm done here I wipe the sickle on a piece of cloth and pick the basket back up. It is already much heavier as the mushrooms I picked aren't exactly small. By themselves these would already be a good haul, but I really want to find some more to really make this trip worthwhile. Thus I continue onward.

Finally I reach a spot grandma described in her book. The creek widens here and the water's flow slows down a little. A number of stepping stones allow anyone daring enough to cross the small stream without getting their feet wet. Well, as long as you don't fall in anyway.

Numerous ferns grow along the banks on both sides, except where a well trodden path leads to the stepping stones. According to grandma's notes I should be able to find some more useful mushrooms around here. Not directly at the creek or under the ferns, as they grow too dense, but along the treeline a little further back.

Here I'm finally able to properly see the sun once more as well. It isn't about to set just yet, but it won't be long until it does either. I better get ready to turn back after looking around a little, thus I do just that.

Before I find any more mushrooms though I find a nice flat rock that provides a nice vantage point. Even better, it is situated just right to catch the light of the evening sun.

I decide to take this chance to have a little break and eat the meat pie I brought. That way I'll have a little more room in the basket as well just in case I actually find some more mushrooms. And carrying it back home after bringing it for this trip really wouldn't make any sense at all. I nod to myself as I set my load down besides me on the big, flat stone. Right, that would not make any sense at all.

I take a deep breath as I unwrap the tasty treat. It would be better fresh and warm, but it will still be good anyway. I close my eyes to savor the first bite. As I open them again I look around a little and almost choke as I realize that I'm not the first to find this spot.

It takes me a moment to swallow and get my breathing back under control, but when I finally manage it I laugh as I get a better look at the trees surrounding this particular spot.

Their bark has been carved in many spots. Some of these carvings are old and barely recognizable. Others are much more recent. They all are love declarations though. Most are pretty simple. A few are downright poetic though. I certainly get the impression that this spot must be pretty popular.

I finish my snack and shake my head. Well, I probably shouldn't hog this spot to myself. And it is getting a little late anyway. Just as I'm about to head home I spot some more mushrooms though.

I hurry over and take a closer look. At a first glance these seem to Pixie Stools. Those are notorious for matching other much less pleasant mushrooms though. I cut one and inspect it with my appraisal skill.

[False Pixie Stool, Quality: Common, A pretty common mushroom. Like many other it prefers warm and moist environs. It is pretty close in looks to the regular Pixie Stool and can be used as an alchemical ingredient. Unlike the regular Pixie Stool it is only useful if you intend to brew deadly poisons. Know properties: [Poison], [Paralysis] Still good to use for another 48 hours.]

I quickly drop it and wipe my hands at a nearby fern. I hurry over to the creek and wash the blade of the sickle as well before wiping it on some moss. This is a nasty one. Ah well, you can't be lucky all the time. Maybe some other day.