Is it wrong to fleece adventurers at the item shop?

We take our time drinking the coffee, even if that sounds easier than one might expect due to the beverage's invigorating effect. Eventually we leave for the inn together though. Elzbieta to hand in her quest papers and I to get something to eat.

Today's meal is a sweet porridge. It is prepared with plenty of milk, raisins and some honey and melted butter on top. It isn't exactly something I would expect to be served as lunch, but I won't complain. It is sweet and thus good. The wine served with it is pretty sweet as well. And, although I take care not to drink too much or too fast, I can feel its effect.

Once I'm done eating I post the mana mill quest right away again, only for Elzbieta to snatch it right up, before Krystina can even pin it to the board. She looks at us, grins and shrugs.

“What? It isn't like there is anyone else around right now to take care of it and feel kind of fired up after drinking that coffee beverage you made.”

Well, she does look a little giddy. Almost as if she has trouble standing still. In that regard she isn't entirely unlike me, as I still feel pretty energized as well. I just nod and we end up heading back to the shop together. I certainly don't mind the company. It beats being home alone.

Elzbieta gets the mill, once we reach the shop, without any further prompting. She decides to sit out back this time around though, as this side of the house gets more sun in the afternoon.

Before long I can hear her singing mingling with the sound of the mill once more. I in turn slap my cheeks to focus on the next task I have set for myself. I'm not in a hurry this time around as I'm not brewing anything. Not right away again anyway.

No, next I want to work on some special potion bottles. Potion bottles that will keep their contents cold and fresh as well as refreshing, to be exact. Given Elzbieta's reaction, coffee might just get really popular once I start brewing in earnest. With summer ahead of us, as well as the heatwaves that it is sure to contain, I dare say that iced coffee might end up even more popular though.

For this project I'll repurpose an icebox enchantment we learned at the academy. I stop dead in my tracks at that thought. For that matter, I probably could use an icebox myself. Or something similar to an icebox anyway. A container that isn't quite freezing cold maybe?

What if I were to enchant the shelves in the shop like that? Hmm, no, the enchantment I know doesn't really work with open shelves. It has to be a closed container of some sort. My potions would probably keep considerably longer if I were to figure something out though.

I shake my head to break that train of thought. Right now I need to focus on the self cooling potion bottles. Everything else can come later. Except for the ice box. I'll ask Olgierd about getting a box I can enchant when he drops by. He should drop by sometime today after all, to have a look at the mill. I just have no idea when exactly.

Well, I guess I'll just have to wait and see. And since I don't have anywhere else to be it isn't an issue anyway. In the meantime I can get started with the potion bottle enchantment.

This one isn't too hard. There are only some minor changes to be made to the icebox enchantment, as that one isn't terribly optimized either. I just have to replace the runes for the container in question and, almost as an afterthought, I modify the desired temperature as well.

I don't want the contents of the potion bottles to actually freeze solid after all. I want the coffee that is supposed to go into them to only almost freeze. Otherwise people wouldn't be able to have a refreshing, energizing drink after all. No, a solid block of coffee flavored ice is not what I'm aiming for here.

Before long I'm done with my preparations. All that is left to do now is the creation of the prototype.

I grab one of the magically cleaned potion bottles the youngsters brought in and check it once more, just in case. It is, obviously, still in perfect condition thanks to their efforts. Next I grab some of the cork Agnieszka brought from Barter Town. I measure the bottle's opening against it and cut off a piece that is just a little too large. After some careful trimming it is just the right size though.

Next I melt some wax in a small cauldron that I hang inside the larger, water filled cauldron. That way I won't run the risk of heating it too much or actually burning it.

This time I do use the lens on my staff to light the fire. It isn't exactly faster than lighting it conventionally, but it certainly is more convenient, almost effortless. I'm not sure if it can be used as a weapon, but it certainly is a neat trick.

And then, as the fire is burning, I decide to actually experiment with coffee instead of just plain water. I get the pan I used to roast the first batch of coffee beans and roast some more. Actually it is only a few beans this time around as I only intend to make enough coffee to fill a single potion bottle.

As the smell of the roasting beans spreads Elzbieta speaks up from just outside the door.

“You are making more of that coffee?”

Of course she would notice. I snort in amusement.

“I am. This is for an experiment with a new potion bottle though and not for drinking. Not right away anyway.”

“Oh.”

She sounds a little disappointed, but she will just have to live with it.

The roasted beans are quickly ground up and put in a clean cup together with hot water and crushed sugar.

Then I set out to enchant the potion bottle. I set it down at the center of the enchanting table and start drawing the circle of runes I have devised around it. I have to hurry since the coffee will be done within a few moments. That isn't an issue though, as the enchantment is simple enough.

As I finish the glimmering runes are drawn into the potion bottle. Success! Well, most likely anyway. It is not a critical fumble at least. I'll still have to see if it works as intended though.

I put the enchanted potion bottle into a bottle stand and get a funnel to pour the coffee without spilling anything. I try not to pour too much of the coffee grindings into the bottle as I do so and I'm mostly, but not completely, successful.

Next the cork goes in and I seal the bottle with wax. That triggers the enchantment. I can feel it as I touch the bottle as it does. For a moment or two the bottle gets hot, as it draws the heat from within and dumps it outside. Then, the bottle grows progressively colder, up to the point where water starts to condense on the outside.

“Cold coffee? Are you sure?”

Elzbieta stands behind me with the mill. How can the pregnant woman be so sneaky? Skills. It has to be skills.

Never mind. I make some room for her to put the mill down.

“Done?”

She nods and rolls her shoulders.

“It was a little more tricky this time around. With the effects of this beverage I had a little trouble keeping the rhythm steady. It was hard to resist the temptation to just speed up.”

I laugh. I'm familiar with the effect. I felt pretty much the same way the first time I got to try this brew. I check the drawer with the enchanting dust. Despite the issue she mentioned the quality seems fine. After dumping the glittering dust into the container with the rest I stamp her papers.

We hug and then she is off to get her reward from Krystina.

She hasn't been gone long when a knock at the door draws my attention. It is Olgierd from the smithy. He takes a careful sniff as he enters.

“My! It seems you have been brewing something exciting. I haven't seen that girl, Elzbieta, this energetic in a while either. Not even when she had one of your grandma's stamina potions.”

I grin and nod happily.

“Coffee. Still experimenting with it. Sadly I don't have any left for you to try. Sorry.”

He waves me off.

“Never mind. I'm here to see about that mill of yours.”

He points at the aperture in question.

“Can I?”

I make room for him to get to work and he does so right away. He has a good look at everything and takes some measurements with a wooden ruler as well, marking them down on the very same piece of well worn wood. He hums and nods along with every measurement he takes. Before long he is done.

“Good, good. I think this is one still made by Nawoja's father back then. Its nice to see it is still working. Anyway, I should be able to make one this size for sure. I'll inquire about smaller millstones but I can't make any promises. If I get them, I'll use them. If not, this is what you'll get. Either way it should be one silver and six bronze Crowns. Payment upon delivery. Alright? ”

“Alright!”

We shake hands, sealing the deal.

Before he can go, I stop him though.

“There is another thing that came to my mind today. Could you make an ice box for me as well?”

His brows furrow for a moment. Then he points at a nearby bucket.

“Wooden box with long, fixed handles to carry it around more easily? About the same size as the bucket? With a lid?”

I nod eagerly as he talks.

“Just about. Actually, If you could make it just like that bucket, except with a lid that fits tight, it would be fine.”

His face brightens and he nods.

“Sure! I can do that. Something like that should be another silver Crown. That alright with you as well?”

I nod and we shake hands once more. Then he is off for good.