By the time I finish grinding up the mushrooms it is almost, but not quite, morning. How do I know? Sour Cream's meowed protest as she comes in through the window and finds me working instead of sleeping, and thus providing her with a comfy spot, are a pretty decent hint.

I take a step back to peek behind the partitioning wall to look over at her as she circles the spot where I should be sleeping, her tail swishing about in agitation.

“That bad, huh?”

“Meow!”

Well, there is no arguing with that. I put the lid on the bowl after dumping the last of the ground up mushrooms into it. It almost slips my numb fingers. It isn't just my fingers that are numb either. My arms ache as well. Grinding up stuff in a mortar for hours is no fun. I couldn't help it though. Those mushrooms needed to be processed before they could go bad.

With a sigh I leave the workbench behind. I wipe my hands on a rag and head over to the bed. I'm not quite sure if slipping in, under the covers is a good idea. Sure, an hour or maybe two of sleep sound tempting right about now, but I might just accidentally sleep in if I do. Maybe it would be better if I just kept going?

In the end Sour Cream's pleading look does me in. Yep, it is definitely that and not my aching arms and hands. I don't even bother with a nightshirt. I just slip of my sweaty things and slip under the sheets. They already need washing anyway.

The cat in turn doesn't need a second invitation. Almost right away she curls up all happy purrs once more.

My own eyes grow heavy pretty soon as well and I don't even fight it. If I want to get in some actually restful sleep it is for the better that way.

I have no clue how long I actually got to sleep by the time the village's roosters wake me again, but it can't possibly have been nearly enough. With a long suffering sigh I extract myself from the sheets, once again doing my best not to disturb my feline house guest. I'm getting surprisingly good at that. She barely even stirs this time around.

I'm still groggy as I stumble about to collect my clothes for the day as well as my washing supplies. Considering the roosters already are waking up the rest of the village, I might already be a little late but I hurry to get to the bathhouse anyway. After last night I really need to clean up a little.

Once I'm done I actually feel better again. At least a little. No amount of warm or cold water can substitute actual sleep after all. Still I return to my home with a little more spring to my steps. Even better, I'm not even late for opening the shop.

My first visitors this morning is the trio with the pregnant ranger. They buy a mixed assortment of potions again. Some mana potions and plenty stamina potions but some healing potions as well today. It seems they have plans.

Well, I certainly don't mind.

Like the first time I met them it is the female paladin of the Earth Mother who is in charge of finances. She doesn't even comment on the slight change to the prices. Instead she just motions her male companion forward who has a number of empty bottles with him. He looks a little uneasy.

“You, uh … can we already return the empty bottles?”

I nod, check to make sure none of them are cracked and mentally detract six bronze Crowns from their purchases total. Juggling these numbers is getting easier as well!

“Sure. I'll only get the sign tomorrow, but I'm already open for any returns of intact and at least moderately clean bottles you have. I don't need the stoppers though since I need to replace them anyway. If you want you can keep those. They might make for decent kindling, with the wax and all, in case you need to light a fire.”

It is the archer or, possibly ranger who perks up at those words.

“Oh my! I never thought about it like that!”

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

She takes one of the cork stoppers and turns it around in her hands before flashing me a dazzling smile.

“If we warm them and spread the wax around a bit they should stay dry no matter what. Thanks for the idea!”

At least she doesn't try to haggle me down this time around. Is she always this easily distracted though? Well, whatever, not my problem. I turn to the paladin and let her know the total of their purchase instead.

“Two mana potions, fifteen bronze crowns each. Four stamina potions, twelve bronze crowns each. And two lesser healing potions, sixteen bronze crowns each. You return six potions bottles for six bronze crowns. This will be one hundred and eight bronze crowns or eight silver crowns and eight bronze crowns in total.”

The eyes of the paladin get a faraway look for a moment as I talk. She might just be adding up those numbers in her head as well to double check the total. In the end she simply nods though and counts the coins onto the counter.

I bow my head slightly.

“Thank you for your patronage! Please be careful out there and come again!”

The trio nods and the archer and the warrior head out, his arm around her waist once again. The paladin apparently isn't in a hurry though.

“Do you have any plans to sell some more potent potions? Healing and mana potions especially?”

The question puts a smile on my face. It even makes me forget how tired I am and how much my arms ache for a moment.

“As a matter of fact! I'm currently in the process of gathering the ingredients!”

I can't quite suppress a yawn at this point.

“Sorry. I spent most of last night processing some of them. Had to do it before any could go bad.”

She nods.

“I see. I'm looking forward to seeing the results.”

With these words she bows her head and heads out to join her companions.

I in turn note the sale down in the ledger and count the coins from the counter into the strong box below it. Very nice! I need more sales like these! I hope these three keep making enough to afford more big purchases like this one! I glance over at the shelves. I'll need to get serious about restocking soon though! It isn't just stronger potions which I need to make. I need to make sure I don't run out of the ones already on sale as well.

Once I'm done taking care of my financial responsibilities I grab the returned potion bottles and deposit them on the workbench in the backroom. They look clean enough but I wash them later anyway, just to be sure. Not right now though. After my lunch break maybe? Yes, that sounds good.

In the meantime I study grandma's book some more. Especially regarding plants that can be used for mana potions. I'm pretty sure the paladin buys those for herself and if she inquires about stronger potions she probably means stronger mana potions more than anything else. My brows furrow a little as I keep reading, searching for hints where I might find some appropriate ingredients.

Somehow I had doubts that I would be able to acquire any ectoplasm or vampire dust on my own. No, I wouldn't face any vampires or ghosts any time soon if I could help it. No thank you.

Dwarven stone oil was not something I could produce on my own either. I know that you need to boil some kind of stone to extract it, but that is already all I know. The exact procedure is a well kept dwarven secret. I can purchase some though. I'll inquire with Agnieszka the next time she heads to Barter Town.

Pearls are not something I can easily acquire here either. Although I could ask around. Some river clams supposedly produce pearls as well after all.

I groan as I read the next entry. Twig Wight hearts are something I could use as well. I can't acquire those on my own either though and Odolan and Tamara already cleaned out the most recent incursion of these. It might be a while before more pop up. Damn it!

It is almost time for lunch when I stumble across an entry in grandma's book that gives me fresh hope. Night candles are a kind of flower which fits my requirement and even better, they can be found around here!

I make a note in my own notebook before putting away grandma's book once more. I grumble as I close the shop for my lunch break.

“One ingredient. One isn't enough to make a proper potion. Of course I can use enchanting dust as a second but that still is barely enough for potions like the ones already on the shelves. I'll need to spend some coin to either order other ingredients from the city or to have them gathered by adventurers.”

I sigh.

“No way around it. I guess.”