Is it wrong to fleece adventurers at the item shop?

After the duo leaves it becomes quiet at the shop once more. I decided to get grandma's book to pass the time until noon. I read up on some of her recipes and the areas where the best ingredients can be found. There is even more useful knowledge hidden in there though. Among other things where to get items like potion bottles and ingredients that can not be gathered in the wilds.

Apparently she used to get those things from a merchant in Barter Town and Agnieszka was the one to get them on her regular trips to the city. It really isn't much of a surprise though. I'll have to talk with her about the arrangement she had with grandma.

I have another idea as well though, at least regarding potion bottles. They usually are pretty sturdy little things, either made of thick glass or in some cases brass or copper. You don't want them to break accidentally while delving deep into a dungeon in the Twilight forest after all.

I can't help but think that the bottles themselves should still be good to use after the potions they contain are drunk. Maybe I could offer a little reward, maybe a single bronze crown, for any intact bottle returned? That should be enough of an incentive, right?

Then I'll just have to wash them properly before reusing them. Add a fresh cork just in case and I should be golden.

I nod to myself and close grandma's big book of accumulated wisdom. That is what I'll do. I'll start spreading the word tomorrow. Maybe I should put up a sign as well? Yes. I'll get one painted.

My little feline house guest is still napping on the bed as I return the book to the chest.

I get a few coins from the strong chest and close up the shop but leave the window by the bed open to make sure she can get out if she should want to. Then I'm off to the inn to have lunch.

Lunch turns out to be potato wedges with molten cheese and gravy all over them today. That is quite a bit more hearty than what I'm used to, but it certainly is tasty. It takes considerable effort to withstand the temptation to order a second helping.

Instead I head over to talk with Krystina once she returns from her lunch break.

She greets me with a smile and little wave.

“Hello again! I take it the quest you posted yesterday turned out as you wanted it?”

I return the smile and nod.

“It certainly did. I think we can do that again every once in a while. There is something else on my mind today though. Actually it is several things. First I wanted to inquire about getting some sour cream, since it seems I acquired a little house guest. I'm not sure if I should talk with you or rather your parents though.”

Her face brightens up considerably at these news.

“Oh, so the little cutie decided to move back to your place? Good, good! And technically that would be an inquiry best directed at my parents, but I can drop a little bottle off at your place every other day for a bronze crown if you want. That's not all though, right? What is the other thing?”

I nod and we shake hands, sealing that little deal.

“Good. That is one thing taken care of. The other one would be about the herb garden behind the house. It needs to be cleaned up a little. Could that job be put up on the quest board? Do we have a druid or something like that operating from here?”

She ponders my request for a moment before she answers.

“That should be possible. I'm not quite sure about the details though. This is an unusual request after all. I'll have to look up some things in the guild's handbook first. Could you drop by again a little later? I'll try to draft up something for you.”

I breath a little sigh of relief and nod.

“I wanted to head over to the temple anyway. Would it be alright if I drop by again afterwards?”

We shake hands once more and with a cheerful little wave I'm off.

Clear Brook's temple is just across the village square. It is a surprisingly large structure for such a small village. Most villages, even larger ones, usually only have a wayside shrine where traveling priests and priestesses can perform their rites. Not here though. Apparently Clear Brook is wealthy enough to afford itself a proper temple. The close proximity of the Twilight forest and its dungeons as well as the presence of numerous adventurers might be the reason.

Whatever. I'm just glad that I can visit a real temple instead of just praying at a little shrine somewhere at the wayside. It just isn't the same. That much becomes obvious as I enter. The presence of the divine is almost tangible here.

I take of my sandals and wash my feet at the small basin in the entrance hall before moving on to the actual temple hall. Just as I stop to drop some coins in the offering bowl a hand is placed on mine.

My eyes widen in surprise, as I look up at the priestess suddenly standing at my side. I hadn't noticed her approach at all. She is a middle aged woman, maybe the age of my mother. Her skin is dark, tanned from many hours spent in the sun. Her blonde hair on the other hand is hiding any gray hair that might be present.

She just smiles and guides my hands away from the offering bowl.

“It is always nice to see a new face and the gods and goddesses appreciate the gesture, but if you really want to contribute beyond the regular tithe, there is something else you could do for us.”

With these words she guides me inside.

The actual hall of worship is built around a big circular basin, or rather pool. The walls are painted to present the sky both during day and night time. On one side there is the sun. On the other the moon. In between, among many other stars, I can make out the much brighter morning and evening stars. Numerous candles, placed around the edge of the pool, provide surprisingly bright light.

It takes me a moment to realize that the candles aren't flickering. They are enchanted, much like the one I use in my lantern at home! That much on its own shouldn't be a surprise, but there are a lot of these candles. A real lot!

The priestess smiles, as she sees understanding dawn upon my face.

“We would really appreciate it, if you could enchant one of our candles every once in a while.”

I can only nod in return. How could I turn her down? After all I come here to ask for a divine favor. Denying her such a small thing in return wouldn't be fair. Finally, after wetting my lips, I find words again.

“I would like to ask for a divine boon, if its not too much of a bother.”

“No, no bother at all. Come.”

She guides me towards the pool at the center of the room and I start to take off my clothes, depositing them at the edge, just beyond the water. The smell of salt hits me as I slip into the barely knee deep water.

The priestess steps into the water as well. Unlike me she hasn't taken off her clothes though. She lowers herself into the pool until she is kneeling at the edge.

I in turn lie down, only to drift on my back in the extremely salty water.

The priestess grabs my shoulders and places my head in her lap. Without wasting any time she starts singing the praises of the gods and goddesses.

I barely hear any of it though as the world blurs around me. One moment my head is resting in the lap of the priestess. The next I'm drifting in the pool alone. Alone except for the figure standing over me.

The figure is my mirror image, except it is radiating a kind and warm calm that is hard to describe in any more detail. It makes my heart feel light though and my worries seem to melt away. Apparently I have caught the attention of the Sun Mother. Of course. It is still pretty close to noon after all.

“Welcome Valeria. It has been a while. You would like to ask a boon of us?”

Before I can answer, the divine presence that has taken my shape in this little dreamscape continues though.

“In our opinion you should take both a gift like Iron Will and one like Silver Tongue or a skill to some similar effect. All the best merchants need both an unshakable will and a means to influence others after all. Right now your accumulated points in the Magician Arcana allow you to acquire the Silver Tongue gift while your points in the Wheel of Fortune Arcana would allow you to acquire the Persuasion skill. To acquire a gift like Iron Will you will need to earn points in the Hermit Arcana.”

Gifts are almost always better than skills. Of course unlike a skill you can't pick when to use a gift and when not to. There is another downside as well. Gifts are much more expensive than skills.

Still, my heart almost misses a beat as I'm offered one of the rare gifts. I swallow hard before I answer.

“Would you please bestow the Silver Tongue gift upon me?”

The divine avatar nods and bends down and kisses me on the forehead.

Then my eyes snap open and I'm back in the temple with the priestess.

[The Sun Mother grants your wish! You acquired the Silver Tongue gift in exchange for 5 points of the Magician Arcana! This gift is always active and makes you a little more persuasive. You can spend more points of the Magician Arcana to upgrade this gift.]

The priestess smiles down at me.

“Judging by the look on your face something good happened.”