Once the formalities are taken care off Krystina helps me to get back home. I'm quite grateful as even with my makeshift crutch every step is pure torture otherwise.

Sour Cream is already waiting for us, or probably rather me. I can't be quite sure though, as she knows Krystina as well. She certainly doesn't mind getting petted by her. Apparently she doesn't intend to head back out tonight though.

I can't fault her for that. I certainly have had enough excitement tonight to last me many years. It probably is the same for her.

Kyristina leans against the door frame as I clumsily change out of my clothes and into a nightshirt.

“Can I help you with anything else?”

I'm about to decline when something comes to mind.

“Could you get me a bucket of fresh water from the creek before you go? So I can make a cold compress for my ankle?”

She nods and grabs the bucket in question.

“Be right back.”

As she disappears into the night I frown at my clothes. They are full of grass stains. Well, it could be worse. Not by much though. Those stains are notoriously hard to get out of fabric. That is a worry for another day though. Tomorrow, probably.

What am I going to do tomorrow anyway? I'm not sure standing around behind the counter in the shop will be good for my ankle. Should I sit down instead? Or should I open only for the morning hours as the adventurers head out?

Worse, I'm not sure that ankle will be better any time soon. It might take a little longer to heal for all I know. I don't like that thought. Especially as it means that I won't be able to gather any ingredients by myself at all, even after this Pixie mess is taken care of.

I sigh in resignation. I'll have to post more quests to get those ingredients. I should prepare a list for Agnieszka as well. So I can get some things from the city. Not everything can be harvested locally after all. Both will drain my available funds. And while I have some coin in the chest under the counter I still don't particularly like the idea of spending it with both hands, left and right like that.

Before my thoughts can run wild any more than they already do Krystina returns. Instead of just dropping the bucket off with me she grabs a clean cloth to make that cold compress I mentioned. It immediately eases the pain, at least a little. Time will do the rest. Hopefully.

She sits with me another moment as I finally slip into bed.

“How do you feel? Think you can work tomorrow? Or should I let people know that you are taking a day off?”

I shrug before my head can hit the pillow.

“I'm not quite sure. I'll try to open the shop at least for an hour or two in the morning. That should be enough for most adventurers, right?”

She nods and gets up.

Before she can leave though another thought strikes me.

“Could you drop by with another jug of sour cream in the morning?”

I run my hand through the fur of my feline bed warmer as she curls up at my side.

“I think my little hero deserves her treat.”

The cat acknowledges that with a barely audible meow, not even opening an eye. Only the way her ears move lets me know that she is not actually asleep yet.

Krystina nods and grabs the empty jug from the workbench.

“Alright. See you in the morning then. Night!”

“Night!”

I barely manage to keep my eyes open until the door closes. Then the recent excitement takes its toll and I drift off into a fitful sleep.

At least I don't remember any of the dreams, when I wake up much too early for my liking the next morning. Thank the gods and goddesses for small mercies.

Despite being awake I'm confined to my bed for the time being though, as Sour Cream shows no intent to move any time soon. That only changes when I knock sounds from the door and Krystina's voice calls out to us.

“Morning!”

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Now Sour Cream can't get up fast enough, almost as if lightning had tickled her. Silly cat!

I swing my feet out of bed as well, remembering at the last second not to put any weight on my injured foot. In the end I only sit up before calling out in return.

“Good morning to you as well! Come on in, but be careful so you don't stumble over the cat.”

The young woman laughs as she pushes the door open.

“Well, it seems as if at least one of you two is as good as new and ready to start the day.”

I let out a dry chuckle.

“If only a bowl of sour cream were all it took to soothe my aches.”

The cat doesn't let my words distract her though, as she brushes up against Krystina's legs until a bowl with her favorite treat is set down in front of her. Well, the adorable fur ball certainly has her priorities straight.

The young woman in turn stops me as I'm about to get dressed.

“Come on, I'll help you to the bath house. A nice bath should help reawaken your spirits. And we can try to get some of those stains out of your clothes. Do you have a change of clothes you can wear if we wash those?”

I frown as I'm actually a little short on clothes.

“Help me with the chest please. I think one of grandma's overalls should fit me well enough.”

We grab a change of clothes and the ones that need cleaning. Then we make our way to the bath and it turns out that Krystina is right. A nice bath certainly helps my body to forget some of the hardships that were imposed upon it yesterday.

Agnieszka joins us as well before long and so do some of the other women from the nearby farms as well as Nawoja from the smithy. Together we manage to take care of the worst of the stains in my worn clothes as well. Now they only will take some time to dry.

I'm not proven wrong about grandma's overall either. It fits me just fine with one exception. The legs are a little short. For today, and maybe a few more days, it will do though. It is summer after all. Early summer but summer nonetheless. And I don't plan on going out anyway.

Krystina has to leave earlier than any of the others though. Thus it is Agnieszka who helps me return home in the end.

“Have you thought about things you want me to get from the market in Barter Town, Valeria?”

I almost miss a step at the sudden question and only the older woman's support keeps me from stumbling.

“I could give you a list. I can right?”

She nods patiently, as she waits for me to match her pace again.

“Sure, dear. I'd appreciate it very much in fact, but tell me anyway.”

Well, if she insists. It certainly will help pass the time as we slowly make our way back from the bath house.

“I have been thinking about brewing some stronger potions. Both healing and mana potions. Wish I already had one of the former, but never mind. I could use some dried Mountain Flower for the healing potions. I already gathered some Blister Caps which can be used for healing potions but none of the recipes I know mix up mushrooms and flowers and I don't feel like finding out why right now.”

The older woman laughs briefly at the last bit, then I continue.

“I'll need more things for the mana potions since I didn't manage to actually harvest any Night Candles yesterday. If you could get some Dwarven Stone oil and some ectoplasm I could supplement these with enchanting dust from the mana mill. Together they will make for a really prickly, disgusting potion, but it will be pretty potent as well.”

Agnieszka shakes her head in disbelief.

“Stone oil and ectoplasm. Well, now I know why spell caster always make a face when drinking those potions.”

She mimics the face in question as well for good measure.

I snort.

“Yeah it probably goes down like glue.”

As we reach my house she helps me open the shop and I carefully cut a page from my notebook, upon which I write down the list of ingredients I need. Then, almost as an after thought, I add some cork and wax to the list. I need to properly stopper those potions after all.

Agnieszka looks the list, including the estimated prices, over and nods.

“Anything else?”

I'm already about to say no, when inspiration strikes me.

“Oh yes! Some coffee! Whole beans! Unroasted!”

I add that item to the bottom of the list and dig the coins needed to cover the purchase out of the strong chest.

Agnieszka accepts the money and I note the expenses down in the ledger with a long suffering sigh.

The older woman laughs before she leaves.

“Don't worry, dear. I'll try to get you a good deal on everything. Expect to get some change in return.”