Waking up to the sound of gentle knocking on the door, Kyle was confused, as he wasn't expecting anyone this early in the morning.

"Who is it?" he asked, walking to the door and opening it, still groggy.

"Good morning, sir. Windy’s waking-up service. That will be 5 bronze."

"I’m sorry? What service?"

"Windy’s waking-up service. I, Windy, come and wake you up early for 5 bronze so you don’t miss work, sir."

"Well then, thank you, Miss Windy. I don’t have bronze, but here is one copper for today’s and tomorrow’s service. Do you know what time it is right now?"

The kid's eyes went wide, and she smiled. "Really? You want the service again? Thank you, sir. It’s 7."

"Well, of course. I need to be early for work and I get woken up by a cutie," he said, while ruffling her hair.

Eyes wide in disbelief, Windy blushed a bit, straightened her hair, and ran away.

Going downstairs to have breakfast, Kyle saw the aftermath of last night still remaining. Some people were still asleep on tables, others on the ground; it looked like the remains of a frat party. Despite the scene, he couldn't help but smile as he settled in near the counter and ordered breakfast. Soon after, Gretta came in with a plate of fluffy buttered pancakes, bacon, and eggs, setting it in front of him and said:

"Did you get Windy’s waking-up service?"

"Yeah, I did. I would've slept in if not for her. She saved me."

"Haha, I see. So that's why she sprinted away. Most of the time, people just shoo her off or don't even wake up to answer. What an earnest, cute little girl. I knew you were a sweet guy. She lost her father a few years ago, and since she's too small to find a job, she just helps out with anything she can to support her mother and grandmother. Don't be too harsh on her if she messes up."

"Sorry to hear that, and don’t worry, I won’t."

Kyle finished his breakfast while talking about the village and other things with Gretta. He also asked about the guild building and the library; she told him the way to get to the guild but explained that they are not that big of a village to have a library. However, she pointed him to the general goods store and told him he should check it for basic books and goods until he visits a big city.

He also told her about his new job at Zyl’s "Potions and Runes"; she congratulated him and pointed him to the shop's location too. After finishing his breakfast, he walked around the village, locating all the shops' locations she told him about, finding them rather easily, until finally stopping in front of "Potions and Runes," excited about the new day of work ahead of him in a magical shop. He knocked on the door.

"Come in, it's open," Zyl's voice rang out.

Pushing the door and stepping inside, a small bell chimed, announcing his arrival.

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Glancing around, Kyle was enchanted by the setup of the shop. It resembled something straight out of a Harry Potter book, with shelves upon shelves adorned with colored bottles, some containing insects, others filled with flowers. Racks brimmed with drawers, large and small, while glass displays showcased scrolls of various sizes. Towards the back of the shop, a ladder beckoned, likely leading to another level filled with intriguing items. Adjacent to the ladder, a small curtain rustled, emitting a faint rummaging sound. Moments later, Zyl emerged from behind it.

"Welcome, customer. Hey, it's you, Kyle! Good morning, ready to start your first day?"

"Yes, sir, at your order."

"Haha, I like the enthusiasm. Okay, then first of all, let me show you around the shop and explain things as we go."

Showing him all the racks and displays, he told him that he had to clean them every day when he came in the morning alongside sweeping the shop, then they entered the hidden part behind the curtains.

"Here is the back room. That door over there is a no-go; if you need to know, it leads to my house, so don’t go exploring on your own, or we will have trouble," he said with a smirk on his face.

"Next is the brewing room. Here is where I process herbs, brew all the potions, write my runes and scrolls, and make pills and salves."

Looking around, Kyle saw multiple tables full of drawers, similar to before, but on top of the tables were some weird-looking chests that had way too many compartments and displays; they almost looked like a toolbox.

In the middle of the room, on a furnace, sat a cauldron engraved with many intricate shapes and designs, but it wasn’t that big of a cauldron. Kyle thought that it would be a giant black one where you dump ingredients and stir with both hands, but to his surprise, nothing of that sort could be seen anywhere around. Next to that, on top of a small table to the side, sat two metal-looking incense urns with intricately designed shapes, similar to the cauldron, one was of silver color and the other looked to be brass.

To Kyle's surprise, everything was neatly arranged and stored clean and proper, unlike all the stories he read about alchemists and magic store owners where everything is a mess. Seeing the amazed Kyle taking everything in and glancing at every corner of the room, he spoke:

"Don’t worry, Kyle. I will be teaching you what everything in this room is and how to use it. You just need to work and study hard since I won’t be repeating myself."

"Yes, I’ll try my best."

"Good, then help me bring all those crates there outside; a carriage will be coming soon to pick them up for a delivery to the capital."

Going toward the crate, Kyle bent down, hugged it, and went to pick it up, but the crate did not move an inch. Squeezing all the strength he had in his muscles, he tried again, this time he was able to lift it, sadly only three or four inches from the ground. Exhausted, he sat on the ground, catching his breath. Observing the scene before him, Zyl's brow furrowed in concern. He retreated into the shop momentarily, returning with an item in hand. When back, Kyle looked at him.

"What did you put in these crates? They weigh a ton; I can’t even lift it a few inches from the ground."

"Kyle, can you hold this for me for a second?"

Looking at his hand, Zyl had a small weight, similar to old merchants' scales instead of the new electronic scales he had seen a couple of times before when visiting his grandparents in the countryside.

But why was Zyl handing it to him? Obliging nonetheless, he opened his palm to receive the item. The moment it left Zyl's hand and landed in Kyle's, he was caught off guard. Unable to support its weight, his hand instantly dropped to the ground, pulling him down with it.

Kyle's face met the ground in an abrupt collision, the scene unfolding with a comical flair reminiscent of a cartoon. Only Kyle’s screams served as a stark reminder that this was all too real. After watching the effect the item had, Zyl took it from Kyle's hand. Now free, he held his hand in pain.

"What was that for, man? I feel as if my hand was popped out of its socket; damn, it hurts like hell."

"Don’t worry, the pain will subside in a couple of seconds. But Kyle, can you tell me how high is your strength stat?"

The moment he heard the question, Kyle looked at Zyl's face and saw a serious expression on his face. A tinge of fear hit him, and his heart started beating faster.

"Why would he ask me that question?"