*Ding* *Ding*
The bell above the door chimed as I entered the alchemist's store. It was far cleaner and sterile looking than Stein's shop. Even so, the smell of herbs hit my nostrils as soon as I entered the storefront.
Behind the counter, reading a thick-looking book, was a young, teenage girl. She seemed to be too engrossed in her book as she didn't see or hear me enter the store. But as there weren't any potions or any other products on show, the only thing to do was to disturb the young lady.
As I arrived at the counter, the girl still hadn't noticed me, so I cleared my throat, making her jump.
"Ah! Sorry, I didn't hear you come in." Her voice was slightly squeaky as she spoke.
"That's ok. It must have been a gripping book." I said with a soft smile, glancing at the book that she had closed and placed on the counter. It didn't have a title, so I couldn't tell what it was about.
"Not really, it's something that my teacher gave me to study, and we don't get many customers, so it seemed like the perfect time to read through it." She replied with a look on her face that matched any school kid who was given homework to do.
"Ah, I see. Well, maybe you can take a quick break to help me?" I asked with a slight smile on my face.
"I'll be glad to." She said as if I just offered to take her on holiday.
"Great, well, I'm actually an alchemist in training myself and was wondering if you have any old cauldrons, alembics and spare vials, though it doesn't matter if you don't," I said, listing off basic items that I needed and thought that it would be cheaper to get here than custom ordering them.
"Oh, well, I'm not sure, to be honest. I can go ask my teacher if you'd like?" She asked. A little surprised by my request. But I simply nodded, and she quickly got up from her seat and went to the back door.
I waited on the shop floor for a few minutes; however, they were no sign of anyone coming back. I was starting to get a little impatient, but then, I felt a little tickle on the back of my neck. Turning around, towards the backroom, I saw a thin thread of ghostly white mana that reached all the way from the backroom to where I stood.
Even though I wasn't trained in using magic, I could tell that this was a sensing thread, a type of magic reconnaissance spell. From what I heard, you can sense your surroundings and even how strong someone is by the magic radiation coming from their body.
I didn't know if I was being tested, or whether they were just being noisy. Either way, I wasn't going to take it lying down. Gathering my mana into my hand using it similarly to the way I would create a flame, I reached out towards the thread and snatched it out of the air. The ghost white started to be dyed in the colour of my mana, which was purple. But it didn't even make it a foot away before the thread dissipated.
Then, not even a few minutes later, footsteps could be heard coming from the backroom. A second later a woman with long back brown hair, which was starting to grey in sections, appeared. She wore an apron that had stains on it and glasses that sat on her nose.
"So, you weren't lying about being an alchemist. And your senses are quite outstanding." The woman said as she entered the shop proper. Behind her came the young girl from earlier who seemed a little more sheepish than before.
"I've been told that before," I said in a friendly tone. Though, I was still on guard and a little irritated at being probed.
"Who was the alchemist you studied under?" The woman asked. I could tell that she was probing me further.
"A man named Stein, and I wouldn't really say that I studied under him, more like he got me to do all the minor jobs while he talked aloud," I spoke. However, there was more to it than that. But not by much.
However, the alchemist in front of me burst out laughing. "Yeah, that sounds like him." I was surprised to hear that she knew about Steins.
"That fussy old man actually taught someone? You must have quite the talent." She began to look me up and down as if she was sizing me up and it was uncomfortable, to say the least.
"Yes, well, it was an experience," I replied, if just to fill the silence, if anything.
"Well, anyway, I'm Jenna. I trained together with Stein under the same teacher." I didn't expect to meet someone who had a connection to an NPC that I thought was an isolated character.
"I'm Cain," I said a quick introduction myself.
"I heard that you need some basic equipment, I take it that you want to start your own research?" Jenna asked. And I simply nodded.
"In that case, I do have some old things that I meant to throw away for a while. If you're fine with that, you're welcome to have it." She said as she leaned against the counter.
"Sure, how much do you want for it?" I hoped that it wouldn't break the bank as I was hurting for money at the moment.
"Nothing, just take them. I wouldn't feel right changing money for something so old." She waved her hand at me as if to push the idea away.
"But, if you want any tonics, potions, ingredients, or maybe you want something more special?" She asked, sounding really suspicious.
"What do you mean special?" I asked, my curiosity took hold but narrowed my eyes in scepticism.
"I have spell manuals for sale. Of course, for any old customer, I wouldn't even mention them. However, I have no need to hide them away from someone who is on the same path, right?" the smile on her face slightly irked me, but I didn't want to miss out on this opportunity.
After asking to see what spells she had, she pulled out several spell manuals from under the counter, so I didn't know whether she actually kept them on a shelf or somewhere else.
On the counter, she placed spell manuals for spells that I already have, like mana manipulation, flame control and water control. However, I spotted some that I didn't have, like air control and earth control. It was a little bit of a letdown if I was being honest. I was hoping for something a little more impressive. Even though that control spell gives you a high degree of freedom over the element. But when you don't have experience as a mage, it can be very hard to use and that was what I was struggling with.
"Are they not to your liking?" Jenna asked, seemingly noticing my furrowed brow.
"That's not it. I was hoping for something to help me with my spellcasting. I know how to use them for alchemy, but that's about it." I answered. Although I didn't expect much, I was just voicing my frustrations. After all, I made the decision to be a mage in this life, but I've only solved most problems with brute strength.
"Hah, that idiot Stein." She sighed as she pushed up her glasses. "He has always had a one-track mind." She added with a slightly sour look on her face. I could only guess what kind of relationship they had in the past.
"Sue, do you still have that book I wrote for you, the other month?" Jenna turned to talk to the girl who sat passively listening to the conversation. Though, at the mention of her name, she jumped slightly. I couldn't help but think that she was naturally a nervous character.
"Oh, yes, I do." She said, as she struggled to catch up with suddenly been added to the conversation.
She reached under the counter and began to rifle for a moment until she pulled out a small leather-bound journal-like book. "Here," she said as she passed it to Jenna.
"Not me, him," Jenna replied with a nod of her head in my direction and an exasperated look on her face.
"I wrote this for that silly girl. Most of it is about alchemy and the history of our path. But towards the end is a section on the research of magic and how to implement it. Though, it is only the basics of the basics. You'll be hard-pressed to find an arcanist who would share their secrets, even to their student." Jenna explained.
I will admit that I was surprised by how kind she was. Her outward appearance and her first impression were a little curt, to say the least.
Taking the book that was offered to me, I couldn't help but feel a little in debt to these two. They didn't need to help, or even entertain my request. But they did, and so far, for free.
"Thank you for this, this will help me immensely. But I don't feel comfortable with accepting all this help for nothing. So, how much for those?" I said, pointing at the two control spells I didn't have.
Jenna laughed slightly at my question. "35 coppers each." I wasn't surprised by the price, I already knew that Steins was ripping me off, but this price seemed a little more reasonable.
"Sounds reasonable." I said, as I pulled out a silver and placed it on the counter. "Take the rest as a service fee." I smiled with a slight jokey grin.
Jenna laughed and slid the silver across the table towards her and pushed the two manuals towards me. "I like you kid, I'm sure we'll get on just fine." She said as she placed the coin and the other manuals into a pouch on her belt.
"So, about those tools, they are a bit old, but you can still get a little more use from them," Jenna explained. She seemed to be a little uncomfortable about that. But I just chalked it up to her business standard, not wanting to give me lower standard of goods, even if she was just giving it away.
"It's ok, I only need something to practise with. Then, I'll replace them." I replied as I placed the two manuals into my inventory.
"Follow me and I'll take you to the storeroom. I'm sure that's where I left that old equipment." Jenna said as she turned around and trailed off.
I followed behind her and entered the back room, which was actually just a corridor. There was a backdoor at the end of the right side of the hall. On the left, however, I could see a room with an open door with dim candlelight emanating out. But before I could see any details, Jenna stood in front of it just before we reached it, and I could peek inside.
As she opened the other door, I could instantly smell dried herbs and see creates and hempen sacks spread across the floor. But before I could decipher what else was in this room, Jenna walked in and with purpose, walked over to a stack of boxes.
"Ok, if I remember correctly, they should be here…." She said to herself as she rummaged through and around the boxes. "Ah, here they are." From a small wooden box, sat above several others, she pulled out a mini brass cauldron and a glass alembic, that its glass had been discoloured from constant use.
"It's a little shabby, but it's a good start." She said as she handed them over to me and I gratefully took them. "If you need any supplies, or if you have any to sell, don't hesitate to come back." She said with her hands on her hips, with a smile on her face that seemed to say that I'll be coming back again soon. And she was right.
Saying my goodbyes to her and her young apprentice, I left the alchemist and headed for the general goods shops. I'll need some supplies for my new home, that way, I could focus on honing my skills without worrying if I had ingredients for that day's dinner.