The night sky stretched outside the window, stars scattered across black canvas, the moon a bright crescent providing just enough light to see by even without lamps.
I stood in my room, looking at the materials spread across the table.
Dried and fresh herbs, carefully organized by type.
Mineral compounds extracted from the mine. Glass bottles waiting to be filled. The mortar and pestle I'd purchased from an apothecary, along with measuring tools, stirring rods, and a small heating apparatus that ran on mana crystals.
That's everything I need.
Behind me, Scarlet sat on the bed, one hand patting Tessa's back while Tessa clutched a handful of coins and made pitiful sniffing sounds.
"My money..." Tessa's voice was mournful. "All my beautiful money... gone..."
"Stop whining," I said without turning around. "It's an investment for our greater project."
