Breakfast that morning was fast, a couple of wild eggs and toasted bread, for as Master Zoe put it, they had a lot of packing to move before they made their journey. Although most of it was some equipment that had been stored in the kitchen, others included several wild herbs that grew naturally around the area. That was their first lesson to identify several useful things in the area, no matter how small. Anthony took very naturally to this task as Zoe observed, perhaps because of his keen senses and ability to perform repetitive tasks. More importantly it saved her the trouble of bending over and picking them herself, as for as she explained, she was old and it was traditionally the job of the traditional master student dynamic. At the very least, it gave Anthony a sense of formality he was looking for, since now he could refer to Ms. Zoe as Master Zoe instead, which she allowed despite her annoyance of his formal training.

“So, why do you call me Bios, Master Zoe?” He asked leaning down to pick some wild herbs from a grass patch near the road and placed them in a nearby glass jar.

“Well that’s an interesting story.” She chewed on a piece of stringing grass to floss her teeth while she leaned against a tree to guard their luggage. “When I first met your mother she was going by Orsa of Ekes, not uncommon since most children who came from the slums didn’t have last names. She didn’t even have a last name on her entry forms on her school records since most of the higher ups thought she wouldn’t last as long. I told her, you want to make a name for yourself, then why not make a name for yourself, literally. All the nobility have last names, even the middle lower classes because they think it makes them feel some connection to their family heritage. She wanted to forget the slums, but not the people she loved so she took the name of Bios, after her mother’s father.”

“I never even knew my mother had a grandfather.” He separated weed from a useful herb he found. “Mother was very sensitive on the subject of her family.” He placed the herb into the jar and continued his search. “What else did she tell you about him?”

“Supposedly he was a dirt farmer of some sort, invested in land, but lost it once it was granted by some retired nobleman. Still, the nobleman allowed him to work the land, knowing that it was futile effort since most of it was just dirt and no water. Yet, he worked it and ployed, that nobleman made him the head gardener.”

“Most likely to take credit for my grandfather’s work.” He concluded as he finished picking the last herb in sight.

“Have I told you this story before?”

“Let’s say, I’m very familiar with the ways of nobility.” He rose to his feet picking up the jar of gathered herbs. “I think that’s the last herb in this area.”

“Good, I think I see our ride pulling up around the corner.”

Anthony had heard the wheels of carriage turning some time ago, one of the reasons he decided to finish his herb gathering. Sure enough the sounds of horses pulling a large covered wagon across the road, and from his perspective a good look at the driver.

She had long hazelnut hair and a set of blue eyes that reflected the color of the skies as she looked across the horizon for her intended passengers. Her outfit was not paupers, but not high class either, like a farm girl who had just come back from the fields. As she rode along the road she finally spotted her passenger she had been looking for standing by the side of a large tree near the hill.

“Hey, did somebody call a carriage!” She shouted and laughed as she rode along the road.

She spotted a stranger she had never seen before walking over to her side. He was tall, with leader gear and ebon hair, but well worn in by his tattered leather vest and gear. She hadn’t expected her passenger to bring company, especially a young man so close to age as herself. She tried not to make the slightest interest in him, not knowing if he was a friend or a client as she pulled up next to her employer Zoe Gaia.

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“Clio, you made it.” Master Zoe greeted her as she stopped the horses on the road.

“Ms. Gaia, you didn’t tell me you were bringing company.” She looked at the young man noting every feature as if admiring a model in a fine city store.

“Sorry, it was kind of last minute.” Zoe said, rubbing her long silver-red hair. “This Anthony, he’s an old family friend, he came here to learn a bit about what we do around here.”

“Is he another apprentice?” She bashfully exclaimed as if she was beginning to be replaced.

“Well, he calls me Master Zoe, but I consider him a special project.” She laughed. “Besides, I already got four of you, why not another one?”

“I mean it’s not like we couldn’t use the help.” She tried to encourage him.

“I’d be happy to learn your craft as well Miss...”

“Harmonia, Chloe Harmonia...” She had blushing cheeks when forming her next question. “...and you’re Anthony...”

“...Bios.” He answered, much to Zoe’s surprise.

“Welcome aboard Anthony, would you be so kind as to help Ms. Zoe in the back.”

“It would be my pleasure.” He bowed with pleasure.

He walked with Master Zoe, even though she insisted that it was unnecessary given she was fully capable of doing it herself, but it gave her time to have a quick conversation.

“Anthony Bios?” She was curious why he used his mother’s name instead of his father’s.

“As a hunter, I rarely used my last names, since our work took us to the wilds, it seems befitting to use a second alias since we’re moving onto the Low States.” He whispered as he unlocked the back gate of the wagon.

“See, you’re already learning to move like a sickle already.” She smirked as she lifted herself on her good leg up on the wagon.

When Anthony got onboard he tapped the back twice, signaling everyone was safe and ready to ride. There wasn’t much on the cart, but several boxes and barrels, filled with various supplies. On the way to Gravitas region, Master Zoe explained that her profession required various supplies for the practice of medicine. Having a mage like her was one thing, but it was no substitute for traditional tools like knives, gauzes, tinctures, herbs, and various other things needed. She also explained about her three other coworkers back home, each with their own profession that helped contribute to the traveling medical services of an Elemental Healer in the Duchy.

Before they knew it they had arrived at their destination, a quaint little shop at the edge of the city of Gourd with a picture of cross on the front door and sign, for health. A fire and heart indicated that it was the practice of fire mage, and the pedestal and mortar indicated it was also an apothecary as well. She parked the horse into a nearby stable leading it to rest on a patch of hay. While Zoe opened the door leading Anthony into the front door of her little shop encouraging him to enter.

Anthony had seen many apothecaries in his time, some were mostly water mages, who relied heavily on the sale of tonics and potions, and if they were a 3rd circle mage, the occasional frozen or cold beverage was served on a hot summer day. However, a fire mage’s practice seemed warmer by comparison, not so much in the merchandise but in the poor and homely feeling of the shop.

It could have been a cottage of someone’s grandmother, with the kitchen shelves. There were tonics to be sure, but they were held on hand carved shelves, opening lighting and the open windows that pulled wind from the evening breeze. What caught his eye was a table next to an empty one, stocked with small sized bottles with a nozzle and pump for a lid. From its state in the clear glass it looked too thick to be perfume, so he wondered what it could be.

“Liquid...soap?” Anthony read the table with a confused look on his face.

“You like that, it’s one of our latest sellers.” He heard the voice of a man calling from behind the counter.