The next day, Ryan woke up to a familiar feeling—which was good, familiar was always nice unless it was the feeling of a hangover.

"Veron's clangers, it feels like there's a blacksmith in there," Ryan said groggily while clutching his head.

He felt like he was constantly leaving the ale and returning to it every other day, which necessarily wasn't a bad thing—or was it? Ryan honestly couldn't care much about it. His clothes were discarded on the floor, and his dignity and self-esteem probably somewhere there too.

He let out a soft sigh as he stared around his small room. The place looked terrible; the beddings were worse off than they should've been. His entire room was a mess of empty vials, haphazardly placed items, and worn clothes strewn across the floor.

He lived like a pig. Many ladies would make an argument that he lived like the average single man, but he doubted this was the way most single men lived—or maybe women really had an effect on men. He couldn't really tell, and he honestly didn't care. He had to get his life in order before he would consider going into any relationships.

A mental image of the Fairy—Freya—popped up in his mind unbidden, the image making Ryan blush a little. He still couldn't remember what had happened that night because he'd had much to drink. However, what he did know was that she'd dropped him off at the room. His entire mood lifted at the memory and dropped like a hot potato when he realized the harsh truth: Statics and Adventurers rarely mixed.

It was more of a logical arrangement than an agenda really; adventurers loved to move from location to location, and most statics had professions that required a stable environment for them to grow. Meaning that one of the pair would have to sacrifice for the other, and most people—adventurers and statics alike—didn't want to take such a risk.

Ryan shook his head to clear the random thought. He'd have to put himself first; he hadn't met anyone who put him first, so if he didn't, who would?

Deciding that today was the day he'd start making changes to his life, he got off the bed slowly, careful not to aggravate his headache. Then he began picking up the clothes strewn around, making sure to arrange them into two piles of clean and dirty. He gathered the empty vials, arranging them in one corner of the room.

It wasn't much, but his room looked a lot better than it had ten minutes ago. He ran a hand through his disheveled hair.

One move at a time and I'll make a difference at the end.

What a load of rubbish—he had no idea what he'd just said, but it felt cool, so maybe it might mean something to him at some point.

With the little bit of cleaning up done, it was time to get ready for the shop. It didn't take him long to prepare. Soon he was downstairs, having breakfast of fresh bread and old stew. It wasn't grand, but it was certainly better than what he'd been eating months ago.

Ryan's mouth sank into the bread with ease, the flavor assaulted his senses. The texture amazing, the feeling exquisite. He definitely had to start getting more money; if just this simple meal felt and tasted so good, what would the other dishes taste like?

Ryan really didn't care about how often he passed by the bakery on the way to his shop; the smell of fresh pastries was enough to make him smile. He remembered the times he and Leo saved up enough to get a couple of pastries, the man always giving them extras for free. Sometimes it was the little things that counted the most. That small act of kindness by the baker had been etched into his memories.

He didn't think it really mattered now anyway; he'd grown up and now had life to face head on. His entire being shivered at the thought.

Waving at the vendors he vaguely knew, he continued on the path that led to his shop. The outline of his little shop coming into view. Ryan couldn't help but smile at the small shop—it was his. Come rain or shine, that shop there belonged to him.

He wasn't going to let anyone tell him anything else, well, except the Traders Guild. He'd have to pay back the loan if he was interested in moving forward with his business. It was never nice to have something like that hanging over his head. Who would like to be a puppet to anyone? The first thing he had to do was to clear his outstanding guild tax and finally be free.

As Ryan approached his shop, he remembered that he'd promised a customer T-Stones—something he'd have to get from the iron bender himself. He could almost imagine the awkwardness; he wanted to curse himself, but what good merchant ever turned down a good opportunity to make profit?

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If there was anyone who did, he doubted such a person would make a good merchant. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he turned back and started to head to the center of town.

The walk was one that Ryan dreaded for two reasons. The first being that he'd basically told Gerhalt—the iron bender himself—where to stuff his terrible offer, and here he was heading to his shop. The second being that the eastern gate was far from the center of the town, and it would've been faster and easier if Ryan had just gone straight there from the tavern.

Ryan almost face-palmed, but what had happened had happened, so it was time to make his move. Besides, how was he supposed to grow if he wasn't ready to inconvenience himself to satisfy his customers? At least he hoped the adventurer would become one. It'd be a shame if he didn't show up after Ryan procured the T-stones.

The heat coming from the outside of the forge was enough to let Ryan know that he was already at the Blacksmith's. Heading into the adjacent shop, he was unsurprised to see the attendant. The gnome's face turned sour as soon as he spotted Ryan.

Ryan would've laughed at the expression if he didn't find the look on the gnome's face quite disturbing. He wouldn't necessarily blame the attendant though; the last time Ryan was here, he'd probably left the gnome with a very, very unhappy boss, and Gerhalt seemed like the type to pass his aggression on an innocent gnome.

Not like Ryan really cared for the attendant—he definitely didn't like him, and at the same time, he didn't really hate him. Ryan was just nonchalant about the situation.

"Good morning, Mr. Lionheart. How can I help you?" the gnome said with a neutral expression on his face.

Ryan almost laughed at the change in expression, but he honestly didn't want to piss him off again, so he kept it in.

"I have business to do with Gerhalt," Ryan said.

"Okay, have a seat and I'll get back to you in a minute," the gnome said, pointing towards the seat that Ryan occupied the last time he was here.

With nothing to do but wait, Ryan had a seat and watched the attendant go into the back room to inform Gerhalt that he was here. Ryan tapped on the ring around his finger in the meantime, looking at artifacts he might never be able to purchase sitting pretty in show glasses. His ambition growing with every second he spent in the shop. How could it not, when he was surrounded by individual items that could buy everything he had and still have coin left?

"Mr. Gerhalt will see you now," the gnome said, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Thank you," Ryan said as he walked towards the backroom.

As usual, he rapped on the door thrice and heard a muffled 'come in,' and so he did. Gerhalt was seated behind his desk, a smirk gracing his expression.

"I knew you'd come back, Lionheart. Please have a seat," Gerhalt said with a smug expression as he pointed at an empty chair.

Ryan took a seat, content in the knowledge that he'd probably wipe the smirk off the greedy man's face. He wasn't going to rush it, no. He was going to play the game as it came.

"Oh really?" Ryan asked.

"Of course, my outsourcing rates are better than any other blacksmith in Denair," Gerhalt said with confidence oozing out of each word.

"That might be, but that isn't what I'm here for," Ryan said, watching with glee as the man's smirk faltered.

"Well then, Mr. Lionheart, what are you here for?" Gerhalt asked, a little put off his game.

"I'm just here to purchase some T-stones, money upfront of course," Ryan said.

"Only that? Are you sure you don't want to renegotiate our earlier deal?"

"Like I said, I will not be continuing that part of our deal."

"Look, I like you, kid, so I'll make you a generous offer. A one-time tax fee of one gold a week for every five T-Stones you take," Gerhalt said with a predatory smile.

"I'll have to decline. I'll be buying five T-stones if you don't mind."

"Listen here, kid, if you don't take this offer right now, you'll never get another one like it again," Gerhalt said, leaning close to Ryan's face.

Ryan certainly hoped that he wouldn't get any offer like that again. The only reason he accepted the first time was because he was desperate and inexperienced with these kinds of things. Now he'd never fall for anything like that again.

Never again will I be someone's mule.

"I still decline, respectfully of course."

"Wrong choice, kid. You'll come to regret turning this one-of-a-kind offer."

If it was a one-of-a-kind offer, why weren't merchants begging him for it? Why did he want Ryan on board so badly? It seemed off, and Ryan wasn't about to go into anything he had no idea about.

"It is what it is. Can I get the T-stones now?" Ryan asked.

"Sure, go out front," Gerhalt spat. "And one more thing, kid—don't come back to my office if you aren't interested in better deals. Vincent will get you anything you need to purchase out front."

Better deals, my foot. Even the devil gives better terms.

Ryan closed the door behind him as he left Gerhalt's office, the man's behavior suspicious. He definitely didn't want to be caught up in the web the man had spun, and he hoped he'd evaded it at this point.

Coming out of the backroom into the display area, Ryan saw the attendant at the counter waiting with a bored expression. He almost burst into laughter, and this time it wasn't because of the gnome's face—it was because of his demeanor. Nonchalant with a hint of hate seeping out, such a weird way to express oneself. Ryan honestly didn't even know how to fix their fragile 'relationship' of sorts and highly doubted that they'd have many interactions for it to matter.

Vincent seemed to spot him and straightened up, causing Ryan to snap back into reality. He walked up to the gnome.

"I want to purchase four T-stones," Ryan said.

"That'll cost you fourteen gold," the gnome said with a bored tone.

Fourteen gold!

Ryan wanted to pull out his hair. The amount for the T-stones was outrageous, but he'd be selling it for profit. It was just a matter of how long it'd take to clear and restock on the stones.

"I'll take them," Ryan said, hiding his inner thoughts from his face.

"Will that be all, Sir?" the gnome said, making sure to drag out the last word.

"That'll be all," Ryan said, refusing to stoop down to the gnome's level of pettiness.