The two catkins, unprompted, found unused stations and started prepping. “I just need a moment to do a quick inventory," Misty said as she went to work.
“We will have more supplies as we go; just tend to the guests as you see fit. We got this.” She said with a confidence he did not feel… and wasn’t sure how he felt having them working with nothing finalised, but he would be lying if this wasn’t a relief and ease on his mental state.
Nebo left soon afterwards, having things he still needed to help Dad with at his shop. He was concerned about leaving me with a crowd and unresolved things with the new workers.
But I assured him I was fine and thanked him for getting me staff. Not having to make potions, I used this time to wander with Teva among the crowds and mingle. That was a boon and a bane…
As some were repeat customers hoping to talk and sing his praise, which created a chain effect of more doing the same, and he did not shoo them away…
He did not mind, as this was really the first time he mingled more with them beyond just a transaction, and they loved him more for it, increasing sales… and ensuring more work…
Yet to his surprise, he noticed randomly appearing among the talks and sea of new people he listened to was Misty walking among the people taking stock, true to her word, and always seeming to have enough supplies…
When he got a spare moment, he checked in on the alchemy room. Both catkin were working diligently, and he also saw an untended potion being made, shocking him. Before he could handle it and prevent any disaster from happening, Misty's voice from behind stopped him in his tracks.
“I have it, Wolf; I still have a few more seconds before I have to check the mix.” As she walked past him, he noticed it was indeed a slow-brew type, easy to make, just requiring watching…. But guess she knows her timing?
“Boss, Tommy liked us to multitask, so we were used too much more for more hours.“ One of the catkins spoke… Ben? He wasn’t sure he had a smile, and the other catkin was more serious, still focusing on a mix. So yeah, Ben.
“Thank you, Ben,” which got Ben to smile broader.
“Now that's impressive, right, Viper?“ Viper just shrugged, and he wasn’t sure what he meant. As Ben looked at him, one more, full of mirth yet misty, spoke first while making notes on a paper.
“Master Tommy rarely could tell us apart. He just called me overseer and them the workers.”
“He did not bother knowing your names?“
“He bothers with a few names. Think Herbert was one name he held?”
“Gifted fellow never heard where he went.“
“Though that was years ago,“ as she never let her focus stray from the mix she was finishing, yet that sent a chill down his spine as he knew him well…
“He taught me alchemy…” I meant it for myself, but the word flowed freely unprompted, and he could feel the shift in the air as they all watched him, knowing that though Herbert had been missing from their lives for years and never was close… the ripple that led to now was unnerving to them.
Viper spoke, and his words surprised Wolf: “It seems the gods see further than us to allow so many blessings.“ As he reflected a bit, that was true; none of this would have been possible otherwise… He even wondered if anyone would save his mom… Or would he find Teva again after they drifted apart…?
“Um… I know you said you did not want to keep working for money, but was it that bad?” He wanted to believe a cure would’ve been made and could have been bought even if the sickness was never truly stopped….
Selfish, he knew, but he had to know… If things were different, would his mother still be ok? He knew they were having trouble getting a cure; Tommy even gave him notes… He just assumed it was money that was the issue….
"Wolf." His name came from Viper, but he was a bit cold as he focused on his brew. “Don’t underestimate his greed and length. He will go for power…”
“We left our tribes wanting help more, and potions to us were like magic, but for everyone…”
“So what better way to help all than brew endless things for everyone?” He nodded, but Viper wasn’t looking intently focused on his task, so he spoke up.
“I agree. I wanted magic… But that was selfish, so alchemy was a way for me to have some power and give back. That’s why it meant so much to me…”
“Well, later it was just about saving my mother, so I was also selfish, probably like Tommy…” I had to confess that, tired of the endless worship from all, I wanted someone to know I wasn’t perfect…
“No offence, sir,” Viper went on.
“You need to travel more…” He never looked his way as he said those words…
“That is not fair. He’s a good kid…” Ben was defending him.
“Enough,“ Misty said sternly, also focusing on her task of writing more notes.
“The master has a right to his views. Unless he asked for our opinion, leave it at that.” He felt like things were going backward, and he did not know why.
He liked them and wanted to be close, but maybe he was trying to push too much too soon, and everyone was assuming, with their view, he left them to their task to visit his sister and Teva…
Nina was happy to have him close, a nice change from the gloom he felt before. “You doing ok? Need a break?" He wanted to make sure he did not push her too much. He knew she could be aloof and want freedom.
She just beamed at him happily and gave him a hug. “As long as you need me, brother, I’m happy.” He wanted to return the kindness.
“I’ll always need you, I promise…”
“What about me?“ A voice spoke near him, making Nina stiffen, and he grimaced, knowing this would upset Nina. It was Teva, and maybe she had just been playful and wanting love, but now wasn't the time… but he could not deny her just to humour Nina…
He pushed away from Nina even as she glared, knowing he was leaving her for another. Even if only a little, she felt abandoned, and he hated it… But he did not want to abandon Teva…
“You know I love you too.” As she smiled mischievously at him, he even noticed a bit of possessiveness from her staring at Nina. “Please don’t fight,“ he whispered in her ear.
He tried to rein in the tit for tat, and she got pissy with him, ignored him with a tail flick, and walked away to handle stock and customers… It seems the good changes from the extra staff are short-lived…
The day went on with things staying in control, thanks to his extra staff and Teva relenting later. "Sorry for being petty," she said with remorse, wanting his love and attention once more. which made him happy. He did love her but hated having to choose. Amidst the crowd, a voice was booming, surprising him and drawing attention.
“Move just because I’m short; it doesn’t make you blind.“
“I’m here to see my grandson, not deal with you idiots. Talk to my secretary.“
“Go away, shoo! I will blast you with wind! Don’t tempt me!” The few people still around shopped quickly and were departing or making space for the little tornado that was in the form of the angry gnome, which was his uncle…
“Uncle, please, they’re just shopping. Be nice.” I tried calming him, not sure what upset him. As soon as he saw me, though, the anger on his uncle’s face vanished in an instant and was replaced with love and concern.
“Wolf, my poor boy, who did this to you?”
“Just say the word, and I will find them and put them in their place…” Teva was giggling, trying to hold back genuine laughter; even Nina seemed to have mirth, but everyone else? Just fear since he was the mayor and did just make a threat…
“I’m fine; Uncle Nebo got me help.“
“Things were a little rough because of word of mouth, but we worked it out.”
“Who?” he asked, face full of desire to hurt… I wanted to say nobody important to nip it in the bud, but Teva spoke first.
“He does guard duty. Been shouting, Our amazing low prices…” Though she remained vague to spare Arlin, she literally pointed his uncle to him regardless, so she might as well have named him…
“YEA! He works at the front gate, and it was a lot of work…” Even Nina chimes in… Do either of them care? This will hurt, Arlin…. He only wanted to help. His uncle saw his face and assumed too much.
“Relax, my boy; I’ll take care of it.“
“I never get to see you, and the last thing I want is my gift to stress you or be a burden… I promise I’ll make this right.”
“I got help now, Uncle. I’m fine.“ I tried intervening, but he was already leaving…
“Nonsense, my boy, leave it to your uncle.“
“Move! I already told you I’m busy…”
“Don’t make me angry! I’m not in the mood!"
“I’m busy, shoo, shoo!” his uncle said as he randomly pushed what few were bold enough to assume his kind words to me would extend to them… They then turned in distress to him as if he would make it better….
“Uh… half off a potion of your choice, as an apology…” he tried appeasing those that endured this misfortune… That got a round of cheers and a sea of voices, one more praising his name and the love of the people…
“You handled that well.“ He jerked, surprised to see Misty near him. He could not help but laugh a little bitterly.
“If I handled things well, there would never be anyone upset…”
“Nonsense, Wolf, there will never be a day someone is not upset about something, be it petty or serious.“
“It is how you handle them that shapes your character, and we are proud to serve yours.“
“Just as the people are proud to support your business.“ That did make him feel better, and he wanted to thank her, but she was already leaving, taking inventory, and doing stock… It seems she cares more for a job done than for small talk.
“You still have me, dear,“ Teva whispers from his back. She must have witnessed the fallout and waited to speak.
“Thank you, I probably would have lost it long ago otherwise.“ The rest of the day was uneventful. Despite the increase in business, cleanup was much easier with the extra staff. Everything was done early, leaving free time.
Leena left with Nina for the day, knowing he had other affairs to deal with, and though he wanted to walk Teva home, she also knew he had to handle the details of business, so she promised to see him tomorrow.
Misty waited with Ben and Viper as she handed him notes for the day detailing spending costs and stock used and made suggestions for what selling prices should be and buying prices within a 10% variation… It was impressive.
She also handed him another paper detailing suggested pay, and he wasn’t sure what the going rate was, where it seemed a little low. Even paying everyone double their asking price, including his sister and lover, he would still be making a profit, a small one, but it would work…
As it was now, he was making a decent profit by paying everyone and doing really nothing… Misty saw the turmoil in his face and smiled. “Master Tommy paid us four times that amount,“ he gasped at that.
“I can’t afford that!” He felt ashamed and admitted that he would have to raise prices just to do it…
“True," Misty replied with a calm he did not feel. In fact, they all seemed indifferent, which surprised him… She noticed the confusion, and her face was full of mirth. “Wolf, dear,“
“Very few beastkin care for wealth.“
“We believe the gods gave us life and magic freely and wish to do the same."
“Yet we’re not so foolish to think the world exists without it.”
“It would require too much trust others don’t share.“
“So we balance taking and giving it why we left…”
“Too much taking vs. giving “
“You,” she stares more deeply at me to emphasise those words. "Are not, Master Tommy.”
“We sought to be closer with our kind yet not be bound to tribal life.“
“So we sought other places to live.”
“So imagine our pleasant surprise when a new alchemist who saves lives and barely charges for his time…”
“Showed up, and word spread. He needed help…”
“You were as much a gift to us as you see us to you.” He was happy to hear the misunderstanding did not go too deep and they still were happy with him. Well, looking at the paper, it really was a major boon.
“Thanks, I’ll see you guys tomorrow. Stay safe.“ That got a laugh from Viper.
“Don’t think much can go wrong here. This place is safe.” True, he thought it was more a friendly then true warnning goodbye but did not say that…
with everyone gone, the shop clean, now his house just felt empty and lonely. He wanted to do something, and it was too late… Well, it's too late to try to see his family or Teva, but not too late to maybe work… He got his old journal Herbert gave him for notes, fondly reviewing everything he had done.
Reviewing its content, he saw he really has come far and even invented new things, petty things, but new things all the same…
He thought about the smells of the herbs… Maybe he could invent scented things like oils and soaps? He knew they already existed in cities, as his dad got them as gifts for family before and even imported some into his shop from trades, but maybe he could create a magic form that was cheaper and easier to mass-produce or even just new scents only possible from his magic!
He still had a copy of Herbert's notebook from when he was learning alchemy, which he liked to keep as a second reference, and indeed there was a subsection detailing his need for money and how he did this very thing with magic help! He must have glossed over it in the past, so focused on finding a cure…
This wasn’t a project he really could do overnight. Well, some of the oils he could, and he could use his gift to mass produce them. He wondered if his mahic could work on soaps too… It was something he looked into later. since his balance magic let him make thing from magic as long as he knew how it was made.
Though he had no way to know the time, he felt the passage of said time and felt it best to sleep and worry about it more tomorrow.
***
Arlin awoke early today. He knew it was going to be a good day, a boring one, but a good day. Guard duty had been super easy money, and he found that as much as he tried to complain about hating to stand around, it was an odd change he did not know he needed in his life.
No hunting, no begging, no forced cleaning! Just being free, watching the people pass…
As he dressed in his best clothes he could for the day, hoping to catch a few eyes since he wasn’t catching Leena’s. He shifted past the door as a darlness mist. He was doing it more for fun than need but loved the feeling of being a shadow and still human.
A smell of smoke he knew well, from his mother’s pipe. She had been doing it a lot less lately, but it seemed it was a habit she was never really going to let go of… She was in her room reviewing some papers near the window and enjoying the outside daylight with it closed… That explains why the smoke went to the hall…
Even now, as he watched her, it was odd seeing her with white hair and red eyes… A side effect of that herb she never let go. She still liked to wear loose robes too, though she tended to hide anything revealing with her shadow magic, defeating the point of revealing clothes, not that he wanted her showing anything off…
He did occasionally wonder what she looked like before but never cared enough to ask.
“You could crack a window, you know…” She looked up, a smile upon her face, which also was full of indifference…
“True, but it’s cold outside, and I enjoy the light’s warmth near the seal.” He doubted that was why; he knew for a fact she could cloak herself in darkness for warmth. She was just being lazy and covering since she had the same darkness power as him, and he had done it before…
“Whatever, I’ve got to go.“
“Be well, child,“ as she went back to reviewing her papers. He shifted to shadows down the stairs toward the back, searching for the kitchen. It was going to be a long day, and he hated waiting for lunch without snacks. He browsed the counter, and there wasn’t anything he could just really grab and go with, and he was getting desperate…
“I told you yesterday I would keep making your food. You never listen…” His sister's voice came from nowhere and scared him, but as he calmed himself, he played it cool, just staring into the cupboard as if he barely noticed…
“Whatever, I looked, there was nothing…” As a loud thump was set in front of him, a small pouch, which he knew had water and food mixed into the pouch, was presented… He refused to admit they did indeed have this talk not once but twice already within the last two days…
“I’ve got to go,“ he tried to play off casually as he took the items and started to leave.
“You’re welcome,” he grimaced a bit. She wasn't wrong. He did owe her at least a thank you…
“Thank you, sis,“ but did not look back as he wanted to start his day. The trip there was a nice, simple affair. He always enjoyed seeing all the new people, though oddly, they never seemed to notice him…
He was sure it was the lingering effect of his past actions, with him using his darkness blessing, making him fade a bit, even in plain sight. Before, he always thought it was an amazing gift to be able to hide, but now that he was trying to catch the ladies' eyes? It was just a burden…
Even now, there were times he tried to pose or look cool, and they casually walked by with indifference, and it had to be the dark magic; there was no way, given how he was dressed, they would not look at least twice… three times when he gave his smile…
Whatever he thought, he still had Leena; she’d never ignore him… She did not fawn over him but never ignored him. It was still being formed and made, but there was a small house being made for meetings and detaining people. The second never really happened, but they needed it just in case…
As he approached his post for the day, relieving the overnight watch, he never stopped getting a smile on his face, at thier shock of him seeming just to “appear,” before them. Even though he would casually walk up to them…
He was settling in for the boring day that was to be passing into another lull, with the random faces passing by, some tourists wanting to see the place grow, and others for trade, but never any unfriendly faces. He knew they existed from his time in the city, but out here it seemed those types avoided this place like a plague, which was a nice change.
He waited for a bit more warmth to encourage the mood of the guests coming and going before he started giving his speech about his friend Wolf's amazing shop. Even to those leaving, he gave the same speech, encouraging them to remember it whenever they came back to help spread the word even further as they went.
Somewhere in between his speeches, he heard yelling in the distance, stalling his words, “Where is the idiot that made my grandson’s life worse? I know that person around here; he told me!” As he watched, he saw an angry gnome looking around and even questioning those leaving near the gate…
He wasn’t sure who was dumb enough to piss off the gnome and upset his grandson. Who messes with a little kid? Yet, as he really listened to the voice and paid attention to the gnome, as they tended to be a little rare, he knew this one.
The mayor?! But… his grandson is Wolf… Concern filled him. Did someone hurt the kid because he wasn’t guarding his place? An icy chill went down his spine. He thought this place was safe. Were there really evil people here that he ignored?
He wanted to help the mayor; he really did, but he wasn’t in the mood to hunt random people unless he had to, and the mayor was ruining the good vibes he was sending, so he tried to assure the people that Wolf Shop was still safe with great prices.
“Turn the frown upside down when you see the new alchemy shop's prices!”
“I buy them all the time so cheap anyone can afford it!”
“Don’t pas–”
“YOU!” The anger of the voice as well as the short distance startles him. He looked to see the mayor very much watching him, and he did not understand…
A burst of wind, and the distance was closed in an instant. The crowd went from fearing the mayor's wrath to now being very much interested in how this would play out, pissing him off… Only now do people notice him…
The anger was odd to see on the usually friendly gnome – well, odd to see directed at him. He never antagonised him or tried to hurt anyone… Yet still, he was looking at him, ready to burst. The gnome held back ever so slightly, asking,
“WHY… DID… YOU…" The mayor breathed in slowly before trying again, “Why did you push all those people onto my grandson… Are you mad?”
“Or just got a vendetta I did not know about?“
“Uh… he, my friend, and I helped?” I looked confused about which people he was talking about. I never sent any thugs, just customers…. He looked at me in a daze, knowing what I said was genuine.
“You really don’t know, do you…?” I shook my head, unsure where this was going, and his anger faded and was replaced with pity, making me very uncomfortable. What led to this? As I watched him deflate more and more, it was as if I broke him…
“I’m… sorry?“ I tried to fix whatever. I did not know what led to this, but I saw someone not even half my size go from looking to fight to breaking as if he lost everything…
That bothered me a lot, especially when now of all times the crowd’s stare turns to a glare as if I struck the mayor unprovoked, even though he started this with me…. And he was just yelling at those idiots too!
“My grandson's shop is new, supplies are low, and he is understaffed… “ The mayor spoke, bringing my focus to him once more: “The last thing he needed was the whole town buying all his limited stock…”
That now made sense and made him feel stupid. He never ran any business and just assumed everything would work out. He remembered seeing a lot of items in the shop. Was there really that much buying? He reflected on the little bit he remembered of him from his friend, and now, as he really thought about it, Wolf wasn't excited about the extra people…. Crap.
“Uh… what can I do to fix this?“ The mayor huffed a laugh but shook his head.
“Nothing “
“Now that I know it was not malice but good intent, I… regret my running to stop you with a fight vs talking…”
“My grandson did try to warn me it was done with love, not hate….” That made him feel worse that the kid knew he meant well and tried to defend him even as he made his life worse…
“Want me to guard the shop? I can make sure things stay calm…”
“No…”
“He’s an adult and already solved it.“ That shocked Arlin that he already overcame an issue he never even knew he was helping cause as the mayor got his gusto back and started shouting at the crowd…
“This isn’t a sideshow; go on!”
“And if you feel bad, shop at my grandson's shop!”
“He worked hard to make it work; the least you can do is support it!” He was dumbstruck at the shift… Not only was the mayor doing what he yelled at him for, but he was doing it in front of him with indifference…
When the mayor looked back and saw his face, he smirked before speaking. “Don’t give me that look. You open this gate, and there's no closing it. Ride the wave till things calm down…”
“It’s why I was so mad, Wolf, the only one that suffers from this…”
“And profits… “ I added, annoyed that he made his friend a victim when he would make money from this…
“For his hard work…” the mayor retorted with a dangerous glint he knew not to challenge, so he looked away… “And you should know, of all people, how far he goes to give back and be selfless…”
He did know… He literally helped the kid get that herb. It's just he did not like being the bad guy for helping…. When he looked again, the mayor was gone, surprising him…
He thought he felt a bit of wind blow but was lost in his thoughts. The only proof anyone was there was the faces of the few still standing around watching the distance where he assumed the mayor went. Fast little bugger…
The day that he was looking forward to enjoying now was slow and miserable. Every time someone passed, it was no longer fun wayching the passing of new people but a weight knowing each one was another person that could be visiting his friend's shop and making his life worse…
He tried to play it off as no big deal and enjoy his lunch as the day went on, but even that food tasted sour in his mouth, and he hated that his sitter efforts were now even wasted; nothing good was coming from today, he thought. He wanted to visit Wolf to let him know he was sorry when an odd sight rode by in a carriage…
It was a face he had not seen in years nor thought about, but the cold indifference and smugness in the eyes was something he would not forget even from a window of a passing carriage and only briefly from a glance… He watched as, even in the distance, it seemed to stop near the inn. It was hard to see, but he watched them go inside. Frustrated, he was on guard duty; he could not go see if it was true and had to impatiently wait to be relieved.
Time passed ever so slowly, reminding him of a past he had long forgotten, of the time in the streets begging for hope and a debt he never had to repay thanks to others… Yet it seems that person wasn't happy with the power he had, and true to his word, he came here to expand it…
Did the mayor know? A frightening thought: did he approve and invite him? The relief finally came all too late when he was finally able to wander and scout the inn; he saw nothing… Well, he saw a lot of people drinking, but not the person he knew was there. At least at one point he was there. Tommy had come back, and he wanted something…
He was about to run to the guildhall, fearing he would go there, but thinking about it, his mother had already handled him in the past… So that would not be his target. No, he had eyes somewhere new, but where?
Then it hit him, and he wanted to laugh at how slow he was.
Wolf's new shop.
Tommy wanted to expand, and that was the perfect target. The kid did not even know what was coming, so he rushed to get there. The shop did have business, but it seemed he got lucky and found a lull in the crowd as he pushed his way around.
He saw Nina at the counter with Teva walking around helping restock… But where was Wolf? He saw him talking to a wolfkin, which reminded him of his sister, just older-looking. He kept trying to get Wolf attention, but others were doing the same….
“Hey, kid, got a moment?“ I tried to get him to notice over the crowd, and he did, even as three others pushed past, asking their own questions… I tried once more, and the wolf girl surprised him by interrupting him and speaking for Wolf.
“Wolf is busy overseeing things. How may I be of help…?” He was shocked he had more employees so soon but also that he was treated as a random customer, not a friend….
“It’s personal. I need to talk to the kid… Uh… wolf…”
“He knows me.”
“Sir Wolf knows many people. I still wish to assist you to free up his time.” Annoyed he wasn’t given a chance to speak, he just turned to mist and pushed past her, surprising all in the area, even Wolf, who was helping another.
“Arlin? What is wrong that it can’t wait?” The kid showed concern but also annoyance. I was being pushy.
He saw Wolf waving down the wolf-kin lady, who was not happy I ignored her. “It’s fine; he's a friend who helped me… Just give us a minute, sorry,“ he said, the latter to the guest who was annoyed and now assisted by the wolf kin.
As Wolf walked closer to the middle to give them some space, he finally breathed in deep and out slowly, “Ok, Arlin, I’m listening. Please don’t tell me it’s more customers though…”
“What? No…” He felt they were getting off-topic...
“Sorry about that, but this is big, and you need to listen.“
“Bad news is coming.“
“And I know they're coming for you.“ That got a frown from Wolf, but he was listening as I calmed myself, about to tell him of the evil that came to town when a voice he knew well spoke instead…
“Master Wolf, I presume?“ He did not turn. He knew who it was, and he was too late. Tommy was here…
