The next day starts with a cat snuggled up to me and the smell of rain heavy in the air. Back at the academy in Barter Town I would have been tempted to just sleep in on days like this, even if just briefly, as the teacher had very dim views of behavior like that. Right now though there are no teachers breathing down my neck, thus I just lie there for a few more moments, listening to the sound of heavy rain drops hitting the roof, the walls or maybe even just the ground outside the window.

Oh, who am I kidding. Of course bad weather is no excuse for not opening the shop. Not unless I want to go out of business before long. I sure won't be spending my morning sitting out front though, which is too bad, as I've come to like that spot and the morning sun. Well, there is no sun to be had this morning and I can't do anything about it.

What I can do, is to check up on the chalks I made before crawling into bed yesterday evening. Oh, and I can take a moment to pour some more sour cream into my feline bed warmer's bowl.

Sour cream's ears perk up a little as she hears the tell tale sounds of me refilling her bowl. She doesn't get up yet though. Of course. The little lady has to keep up appearances after all.

Once that is taken care off, I check on the chalks, carefully removing them from the casts. One breaks as I get it out, but that isn't too bad. It might be in two pieces, but those are still big enough to write with. I'm quite satisfied.

There is no divine whisper this time either, but I didn't expect it anyway. Now, when I place this customized, complex enchantment on a staff for the first time it might just be worth a few points of karma.

Well, at least I have hopes in that regard. I'll probably find out if I'm right soon enough. Not while it is raining like this though. I can't draw my circles outside if it doesn't let up. A little drizzle might be manageable, if I hurry drawing the circles which I really don't want to do. With a heavy rain like this though, the first lines would be washed away before I'm halfway done. It would just be a waste of valuable resources.

I don't feel like heading to the bathhouse in a downpour like that either. That too would be a waste of time. I'd just return drenched to the bone. Maybe I would even catch a cold, as if my ankle wasn't already bad enough. No thank you. I can do without any further hardships. Instead I take a quick sponge bath with some of the water from the cauldron. That will have to do for today.

Then I get dressed. The second hand overall from grandma is still a little too short. Today I take more notice of the fact though, as it is a little drafty. This is especially true once I open up the windows and the door of the shop. Brrr! Gods and goddesses, it is early summer and not late spring for crying out loud!

Well, nothing I can do about that now either. My own, freshly cleaned overall will take a little longer to dry in weather like that. Maybe I should enchant my shoes or my stockings? I'm pretty sure there is an enchantment to keep your feet warm. I have heard stories about noble ladies, and some lords, who ordered enchantments just like that, back at the academy.

That would be downright frivolously wasteful though. Creating an enchantment like that for myself might just earn me some more karma I would rather do without. Still, the thought is tempting. Maybe later. For winter, when it gets really cold. Yes, that sounds much more reasonable!

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

For now I retreat behind the counter. As I take a peek, I notice that Sour Creams bowl is empty again. The cat herself though is already sleeping on my bed once more, as if she hadn't moved at all. Do cats have skills like us? For some reason it sounds quite plausible. Maybe I'll pray for some insight the next time I visit the temple.

The next few hours are a fight against boredom and sleep, as no one shows up. Apparently even adventurers don't go out in weather like this. At least not if they can help it. My eyes are about to fall shut again more than once.

In the end I decide that I have to busy myself somehow to avoid falling asleep at the counter. First I check on the potions, but there isn't much to be done there. I even dust the shelves.

The used gear is a little more interesting at least, although I don't have to do anything there either.

Should I use some of the used weapons to practice various enchantments? Could I do that? In theory that would greatly improve the resale value. Would beginner adventurers even be able to afford them then though? And it is mostly them who will buy second hand gear. More seasoned adventurers will usually buy new and possibly even custom made gear.

Could I rent out enchanted second hand gear? That would make it more affordable, right? Somehow I doubt though that many adventurers would go for it. There has to be a way though. I only need to figure it out.

My thoughts still circle around the topic of making enchanted gear more affordable as I get the broom to sweep the floor. This is busy work, as there really isn't all that much dust or dirt. As I start sweeping a realization dawns upon me.

The floor in the shop is a pretty nice wooden floor. The seams in between the individual floor boards are hardly noticeable at all.

I put the broom away and move a few steps back to get a better look. Yes, if I were to move the bins with the second hand gear to the side a little I might just have enough room to draw bigger enchantment circles right here under my own roof.

I can't really do that while the shop is open though. I'd risk people walking in and all over the chalk runes making up the circle and even just a little scuff would be enough to ruin all my work.

I could do it in the evening though. Or maybe during my lunch break, if I were to extend it a little. Not only would I have to finish the circles after all, I would have to move the bins beforehand and afterwards as well.

I like the options this idea opens up for me. I don't like the extra work coming with it quite as much. Especially as the bins look like they are heavy. Especially with all the gear in them. Still …

I sigh. It is no use just thinking about it. I'll give it a try after lunch. If it works out I might do it again. If not? Well, then I won't.

First though, lunch!

I put the broom away again and close up the shop. It is still raining though. For a moment I stand there in the frame of the backdoor, looking out. It isn't raining as bad as earlier anymore, but it doesn't look like it will stop completely anytime soon either. Then my stomach grumbles and I sigh. I grab my makeshift crutch and get going.

I move as fast as my walking aid allows, which is not terribly fast at all, but maybe that is for the better, as water is collecting in some spots along the dirt road, turning it into a mud track instead. I don't feel like washing another set of clothes so soon.

As a result I'm pretty wet as I reach the inn. Once again the common room is packed to capacity. Apparently most of the adventurers did in fact stay in, as I assumed earlier. Either due to the weather, or because there is fish on the menu today.

I catch a look at a plate with a decent sized fish on it. There is butter dripping off it and the potatoes at its side are steaming. And anything steaming hot sounds pretty good just about now!