Elena rose early, her body still adjusting to the unfamiliar rhythm of this world. The wooden floor beneath her bare feet was cold, but the warmth of her wool blanket clung faintly to her skin. She stretched, blinking the sleep from her eyes, and sat at the edge of the bed in her small room at Lantern Rest Inn.
Through the shuttered window, Glasmint was slowly waking. The soft clang of a blacksmith's hammer echoed in the distance, mingling with the sound of hooves clopping along cobbled streets and the faint melody of birdsong.
Her Adventurer's Tag glinted dully on the bedside table.
She picked it up and ran her fingers along the etched symbol of alchemy. That small badge, barely heavier than a button, was the only proof of her new identity: Elena Virelle, Alchemist Initiate.
She'd survived her first few days. Now she needed to live.
---
When Elena arrived at the alchemist's shop, Liora was already there, sleeves rolled up and goggles tight against her eyes as she poured a thick amber solution into a small mold.
"Morning," Elena greeted.
"You're late," Liora said without looking up, though a smile tugged at her lips. "By three minutes."
"I had to eat."
"Acceptable excuse."
Elena stepped inside, tying her borrowed apron around her waist.
The morning passed in a flurry of motion—chopping dried roots, sorting glass vials, setting up a distillation column that sputtered and hissed with promising vapor. Elena followed instructions and asked questions when she didn't understand. Liora, for her part, explained patiently, though occasionally she threw out technical terms Elena didn't know.
"What's a 'resonant binder' again?"
"It's an agent that helps volatile ingredients stabilize by attuning to their magical frequency. Think of it like... magical glue that adapts."
"Got it."
Liora handed her a thin glass tube filled with glowing pink liquid. "Good. Now bottle five of these and label them as 'Soothing Elixir – Grade D.' These go for six crowns apiece, but we only net three after tax and guild fees."
Elena's hand paused. "Wait—tax?"
"Of course," Liora replied. "The local guild takes fifteen percent of all potion sales. Then there's town commerce tax, and the alchemist registry takes another cut if you use their distribution network."
"So we end up with half?"
"Less than that, depending on your supply chain."
Elena frowned. "That's… a lot like my old world."
Liora's eyes softened as she looked at her. "You've said that before. Your 'other world.' You were a chemist there?"
"I studied chemistry. Never finished my degree." Elena sighed. "But it's helping me now, I guess."
Liora tilted her head. "You'll learn more here than any school could teach you. This world is layered in a way books can't prepare you for."
Something about her tone gave Elena pause.
"You sound like you've seen a lot."
"More than I care to remember."
---
During lunch break, they sat outside the shop, sharing a loaf of spiced bread and thin slices of smoked skyfish. Elena made a note to visit the local market—she was starting to recognize the coins.
A single bronze crown could buy a basic meal or a bundle of herbs. Ten crowns was enough for a week's worth of inn lodging, assuming you weren't too picky. Silver crowns existed too, as did the rare gold royals, which were usually used for bulk trade or guild contracts.
"I earned five crowns today," Elena said. "At this rate, I'll be able to afford my own potion kit soon."
"You could, but don't forget essentials—laundry, gear upkeep, emergency supplies. Adventurer life isn't cheap."
"I'm not planning to fight monsters anytime soon."
Liora smirked. "You say that now."
---
Later that day, Elena took an hour to herself and visited Glasmint's modest library. It was a domed building with spiraling staircases, run by an elderly archivist named Veneris who wore robes covered in ink stains.
"Looking for something specific?" he asked as she browsed the shelves.
"Books on alchemy, history… and, um, politics?"
"Ambitious."
He led her to a series of tomes bound in different materials—some leather, some bark, one that appeared to be dragonhide.
"Start with this," he said, handing her a book titled The Three Pillars of Astraea: Magic, Trade, and Rule.
She sat in a quiet corner and opened it. The pages were in flowing script, but her system translated it as she read:
"Astraea's society is governed by three foundational forces. Magic fuels our civilization, from agriculture to medicine. Trade determines power—cities rise and fall by their wealth. And Rule, whether by kings, councils, or guilds, maintains the balance between the two."
Elena underlined a section in her notebook. "So magic is like tech. Trade is economy. And rule… government."
The system pinged softly:
[Knowledge Unlocked: Civic Systems I] +INT +1
+Insight +2
She blinked. "Wait… stats increase with learning?"
She flipped to the next page with new eagerness.
---
By evening, Elena returned to the inn with tired legs and an overwhelmed brain.
At dinner, she shared a table with two other low-ranked adventurers—Marcel, a young hunter with a nervous stutter, and Kesha, a fast-talking courier with a habit of stealing bread rolls.
"Alchemist, huh?" Kesha said, chewing loudly. "Better than monster slaying. You don't smell like goblin guts."
"Yet," Elena replied.
"How much do beginner potions go for these days?"
"About six crowns per unit," Elena said. "We keep half, roughly."
"Damn. That's good." Kesha looked impressed. "Healing salves?"
"Soothing elixirs. But I want to move on to mid-grade brews soon."
Marcel perked up. "Do you know how to make Fire Beads? I could use some for wolf season."
"Not yet, but I'll add it to my list."
As they ate, Elena asked them about their jobs, their clients, and how they got started. They were happy to share—apparently newcomers asked too few questions.
It occurred to her that every meal, every chat, every hour she spent in this world was teaching her something.
Not just how to survive—but how to live.
---
That night, she reviewed her progress.
System Log – Day 4:
Brewed 3x Soothing Elixirs (Grade D) Earned 5 crowns
Gained beginner knowledge in economics, governance, and trade
Spoke with two adventurers: Marcel (Hunter, Rank F), Kesha (Courier, Rank F)
Bonus: Studied from historical book: The Three Pillars of Astraea New Passive Gained: "Civic Curiosity" – +Small bonus to politics-related INT checks
She grinned. "Alright, Astraea. Let's see what else you've got."
---
[End of Chapter 5]