The rest of the day passes entirely too slow. Or at least it seems that way for some reason. I can't even bring myself to enjoy lunch. The reason for that might be that I don't like cabbage, steamed or prepared otherwise. Not even if it comes with bacon. Sorry. I think it is the smell. I just can't stand it.

I'm even tempted to just sit down out front and take a little nap. I decide against it though and dedicate my time waiting for customers to the further study of grandma's notes instead, although sleep threatens to overwhelm me more than once. I make a round around the shop then, straighten out the potions on the shelves and wipe away some dust.

The day has one more bright spot though. Or rather, it ends on a brighter note. Shortly before closing time Tamara and Odolan return with a surprising bounty of potion bottles.

Tamara, especially, immediately puts a smile on my face with her cheerful greeting.

“Valeria! We are back and we have something for you!”

With these words she motions her companion forward, who in turn, sets a small wooden crate with numerous potion bottles tightly packed inside it, down on the counter.

I whistle appreciatively. These two really went all out. At a glance the bottles all seem to be in good condition. Even better, they are all sparkly clean! I almost can't believe that they are from the village's trash pit. I pull a few of them free of their confines to look them over more closely.

“I can't believe that you found so many and all in pretty much perfect condition. And you even cleaned them all prim and proper! Wonderful!”

They both blush a little at the praise. It is Tamara who speaks up first.

“As it turns out the two of us know some cantrips that are incredibly useful for this kind of endeavor.”

She points over her shoulder at her companion.

“Odolan happens to know the Mending cantrip which can fix at least small cracks and a little chipping in these bottles, while I know the Cleanse cantrip which was really helpful as well.”

I nod along as she tells me how they did it. It is actually quite reassuring to know they used a little magic to make their lives easier in this case. The combination of these two basic spells is downright perfect for a task like this.

I don't even bother to check the rest of the potion bottles. I just count them instead.

“Twenty four potion bottles in perfect condition. That will be twenty four bronze Crowns or two silver Crowns if you don't mind.”

Tamara looks over her shoulder at Odolan, who in turn just nods.

“Two silver Crowns will be fine. Thank you.”

I note the purchase down in the ledger and grab the coins from the strongbox.

“Here you are. Say, do you need the crate back? Or can I keep it?”

This time it is the human warrior who answers.

“Keep it, please. It is another little thing from the pit I fixed with a little magic.”

I nod and quickly speak up once more before the duo can actually leave, as something from the study of grandma's notes comes to my mind.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Ah! Another moment of your time please! Say Tamara, you wouldn't happen to know someone who can get me some Stone Oil?”

The young dwarven woman laughs and shakes her head.

“Sorry, no. Can't help you with that. I'm from a proud line of millers and bakers. Maybe you can find some on the markets in the city though.”

I nod.

“I'll try. And thanks again for getting me those bottles!”

I close the shop as the two leave in the direction of the inn. Afterwards I grab the crate with the bottles and move it to the backroom, just in time to catch a glance of Sour Cream stretching. Well, apparently at least one of us got enough sleep today.

“Oh my! Look who is up. Do you want some more sour cream before you head out?”

“Meow!”

Well, somehow that very much sounds like a yes.

I put the crate away and grab the jug with the promised treat, as well as a fresh bowl. By the time I have it filled, the little cutie is already rubbing up against my legs and I have to be careful not to trip over her.

“Here you go. I'll be heading out tonight as well. I'll be looking for Night Candles. The flowers with the long deep blue blossoms. The ones that glow at night.”

The latter is an important detail as it is the one thing that reliable sets them apart from Troll Candles which are deadly poisonous but otherwise look the same.

Sour Cream tilts her head slightly, as I tell her about my plans, but resumes licking her bowl clean shortly.

In the meantime I get ready for my nocturnal excursion. Once again I gird myself by strapping on my sheathed dagger. I grab the basket I took yesterday as well. I don't bring my notebook this time though, as I know the general direction and I won't be able to read anything in the dark anyway.

Hmm, could these flowers be used to make an ink that glows in the dark? The elves of the forest supposedly have something like that. Ink that shines in star or moon light but is invisible when the sun shines. Maybe I should do some experiments. Well, once I have some mana potions on the shelves anyway.

As I open the backdoor, Sour Cream slips out in between my legs. I wave as she disappears into the thicket along the creek once again.

“Good luck with your hunt!”

I in turn head upstream once again. This time I keep out of the groves and thickets though. Night Candles don't grow there after all. They prefer the edges of forests.

I happen to come across my neighbor Agnieszka before I get far. I greet her with a cheerful wave, which she returns.

She grins.

“Heading out at night?”

“I am. I'm looking for some Night Candles for mana potions. Its best to collect them at night. I don't want to mix them up with any Troll Candles after all. By the way, can I place an order with you when you happen to go to Barter Town the next time?”

She nods as she listens to my explanation and nods again as I inquire about placing an order with her.

“Sure. The day after tomorrow. I'll even try my best to get you good deals on anything you want, but I'll need the money up front.”

That sounds reasonable enough. I'm obviously not the first one to approach her with a request like that. Grandma probably did as well.

“Sounds good. I'll write a list to make sure I don't forget anything, but don't let me keep you now. Lets talk about it more some time tomorrow. Maybe after lunch?”

“Tomorrow after lunch it is then.”

She pulls me into a heartfelt hug, which I return, then we are both on our way again. She heads back home while I'm going out.

I'm not in a hurry though as I have to wait for the sun to go down completely anyway. That will be another half hour by my estimation. Enough time to reach the first spot grandma suggests in her notes.

As I reach it I'm a little disappointed though. I can see some of the flowers glowing in an unearthly, almost ghostly soft blue light, but by far not enough. I decide not to bother with those. If I leave them now there is a good chance that there will be more later in a few weeks or at worst in autumn. Instead I head towards the next destination on my list.

I almost walk into the next stand of flowers as I round a big old oak at the edge of the next grove. I don't even try to fight the smile spreading across my face as I take the sight in. There are more than enough Night candles growing here. Just as well. I don't want to harvest any one spot completely after all.

I set my basket down and get the sickle so I can harvest what I need. I grab the first few Night Candles below the blossoms and stop dead in my tracks as movement from only a few paces away catches my attention.

My eyes grow wide and as I try to take a step back I stumble and land on my ass. Still I scramble backwards to get a little more distance in between me and the ferocious and fearsome creature that has appeared at the edge of the grove. At least I don't scream like a little girl. I'm pretty certain of that.