Laya and Alice stood outside the store. Alice was rubbing her forehead while moaning "Owwie," and Laya was beside her, startled. Laya looked at the grandma holding a staff and noticed the old woman's shaking fingers.

The grandma opened her dry-looking lips, then closed them again after gripping her staff tightly and softening it along with her anger.

"Get inside, you numbskull, it's cold outside," said the old lady, mumbling something about "last" beneath her breath. The grandma continued her words now in an audible tone, saying, "And bring your little friend in too."

Alice and Laya both looked at each other; Laya wore a nervous face, and Alice gave a smile. Alice said, "Grandma Intra is a grumpy old woman, but she's nice when it comes to me."

Laya wanted to ask, ‘You call that nice?’ but she knows when to not voice an opinion, as she just gave a worried smile and decided to go inside.

[Quest: "Alice's Curiosity" Completed!]

[Rewards from the quest shall be given shortly!]

[Your affinity with ‘Alice’ has increased!]

[Your relationship with ‘Alice Braumer’ has remained ‘Friendly’]

[You received enough [Experience Points] to level up!]

[You are now Lv. 2!]

Laya was delighted about the notifications that popped up and softly smiled. ‘It didn't say it would give me experience points, but it gave me enough to level up, and I just noticed that there wasn't an indicator that's telling me how many more I need before I can level up again. This game likes to be ambiguous, huh? Well not that I'm complaining though’.

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Laya was too preoccupied by her thoughts and hadn't realized she was blocking the way in until Alice tapped her out of her own world.

Alice said, "Are you alright? You seem distracted? Does the mess bother you?" she concernedly asked.

Laya, seeing the face of the concerned Alice, replied, "Oh, I'm sorry, and no, I'm not. I was just out of it for a second."

"Is that so? Then-" Alice shortly replied that she wanted to say something else but was cut off.

Then, from another room, the elderly lady yells, "Alice, bring the ingredients here right now!"

Alice replied with a shout of defiance, "Wait for a bit, grandma; I'm having a conversation here!"

Both their stubbornness and selfishness clashed as they communicated by shouting.Despite this, Alice caved at the end of the short argument."Alright! Alright! I'm coming! Sorry about this Laya, but you could take an agility boost potion over there, just beside the unlabelled ones at the far back, oh, and watch your step and try no to trip because that old woman barely cleans this store and I'm always preoccupied by cleaning her tools. Take it as a thank you for sticking with me for this long."She said, and she gave a last comment in a very low voice, "Just don't tell the old woman about it, alright?"

Laya replied with a nod, and after that, Alice went towards the old woman, leaving Laya alone in the room where dusty potions lined up on shelves in quite a messy manner.

The room was big, though it felt claustrophobic as towering shelves lined up in rows and the floor had varying amounts of alien trash scattered.

Laya followed the directions of Alice about where the potion lay, but though she was careful in her steps, she missed one and suddenly slipped and was forced to hold one of the shelves, making it shake. The hair on her skin stood up, and sweat poured down her whole body as the potions rattled en masse. Laya closed her eyes then, fearing the worst.

Bonk! Something hits her forehead. It clearly fell from above her. She was sure that she had messed up. But nothing happened after that. And it was silent once more.

Laya opened her eyes and sighed in relief. She then noticed a black ring. She reached for it to inspect it. Then, as she was holding it between her fingers, a notification popped up.

—

(This item has not yet been identified)

Item Name: ???

Item Type: Ring

Rarity: ???

Description: ???

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