Chapter 25 - Chapter 25 - Threads of Fate

The village was louder than yesterday.Players rushed between stalls, spirits scurried underfoot, and distant shouts echoed from the training grounds. But Riley barely noticed the chaos. His head was full of numbers.Plans.Recipes.Timelines. And Lumi slept curled on his shoulder, softly glowing, warm like a tiny lantern pressed against his neck. He glanced at the misty sun above the village walls. "Alright," he murmured. "Let's get to work." Lumi chirped sleepily. Riley smiled. "We've got this." The Vaultmaster's Hall was nearly empty — which made it feel like stepping into the past.He remembered this place from his first life: Ignored.Underused.Then, months later, absolutely SWARMED when inventory overflowed became a crisis. Not this time. The NPC Vaultmaster — a stiff-looking man with round spectacles — nodded as Riley approached. "Storage rental?" "Yes," Riley said. "Two coins per day. One hundred slots." Riley slid fourteen coins across the counter. "Seven days." The NPC flicked a quill. A shimmering grid appeared in the air beside Riley. SYSTEM:Storage rented: 7 days (100 slots). Lumi perked up as Riley opened his inventory. One by one, items materialised into the glowing storage: • Glowcaps• Prism Petals• Forest Dew• Spirit Dust• Ironbark Chips• Two Windvines• Three Riverflasks• Cracked stones and oddities most players discarded Riley stepped back. It wasn't much yet.But it would become something — something huge. He whispered to Lumi, "This is how empires start. Quietly." Lumi chirped with a proud little rumble. The market stretched across the southern square like a miniature bazaar. Players shouted prices.Items floated in glowing menus.Spirits squeaked, hopped, and argued over dropped fruit. Riley drifted through the chaos with purpose. He stopped at a stall where a girl yelled: "Prism Petals! Four coins! Please someone buy them, my inventory is full!" Riley handed her twelve coins instantly. She blinked. "Wait—really?!" "Yeah," Riley said. "Thanks." She looked at him like he had saved her life. SYSTEM:Prism Petal ×3 purchased (12 coins). His balance dipped to twenty-six. Next, he grabbed Glowcaps, Dew Leaves, Riverflasks — cheap fillers that would become gold later. By the time he finished: Riley's coins → 4 Perfect. He didn't need coins now.He needed foundations. He slipped into an alleyway leading north, Lumi humming approvingly. "That's phase one done," Riley whispered. Steam hissed.Lanterns flickered.Bubbling cauldrons lined the walls like simmering jewels. Riley stepped inside — and instantly heard it. BOOOOOM. Purple smoke engulfed half the hall. A figure stumbled through it coughing violently — hair scorched purple, apron smoldering, spirit trembling on his shoulder. Riley stopped mid-step. The young man blinked through the smoke.His Mossling spirit clung to him like a terrified koala. "O-okay," he rasped. "Note to self… Mossbud and Glowcap do not make Healing Mist. They make… death." He coughed out a purple cloud. "And probably infertility." Riley stared.Then slowly walked over. "You added water after the powder," he said. The guy froze. "I did?" "Yes." "That's… wrong?" "Very." "Oh." The Mossling squeaked accusingly. Riley sighed and grabbed the cauldron lid just as it began to shake. He slammed it down — saving the room from another explosion. The newbie's jaw dropped. "DUDE. You just saved my eyebrows. Again." "Again?" Riley asked. He pointed to his hair — a smoking lavender disaster. "I tried this eight times." Riley bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. The newbie stuck out his hand, soot-covered and hopeful. "I'm Kipp Underwood, by the way. Apprentice potion disaster. Future king of explosions. Or something." Riley froze. …Underwood? His mind clicked. Kipp Underwood.The Kipp Underwood. Creator of Everclear Elixir.The man whose blinding concoctions once saved an entire raid.A late-game alchemy god. And here he was…Failing the beginner tutorial. Riley's throat tightened. "I'm Riley," he said softly. Kipp grinned. "Nice to meet you! If you ever need potions, brews, antidotes, or smoke-based hair dye, I'm your guy." Lumi chirped from Riley's shoulder. Kipp gasped. "THAT'S your spirit?!"He leaned close. "He's adorable! And shiny!" Lumi preened. The Mossling squeaked jealously. Kipp rubbed his hands together nervously."So uh… wanna add each other? For… you know… survival reasons?" Riley didn't hesitate. "Sure." SYSTEM:Friend request accepted — Kipp Underwood added. Kipp practically vibrated."YES! Thank you. I won't blow you up. Probably." He scampered off to try again — tripping over a stool, nearly falling into a cauldron, and saluting Riley on the way down. Riley stared after him for several long seconds. Lumi glowed softly. "…Yeah," Riley whispered."We're changing everything." Just by meeting someone earlier…the world had already shifted. He took a deep breath and set up at an empty workstation. Ingredients laid out—Lumi perched beside the bowl—the cauldron warmed— And Riley began. Crush.Stir.Add water.Stir.Heat.Stir. Lumi hummed, making the liquid settle smoothly — giving Riley a Minor Stability Bonus with each batch. The system chimed as the first potion completed: Crafting successful — PRISM BLOOM TONIC ×1 Riley exhaled softly. One down. Hours later — his hands sore, Lumi asleep in his lap — he'd made six potions. Enough for the whole team and backups. He leaned back against the pillar. This was the kind of slow foundation that made all the difference. This…was how they would win. He stroked Lumi's head gently. Riley packed the potions away and stood up. His muscles ached.His eyes stung.But his heart felt… full. He typed a quick message to the group: > I'm done here.Let's meet tomorrow.Big day ahead. He stepped out of the hall— Just as Kipp jogged up holding a glowing spoon. "RILEY! LOOK! The recipe didn't explode this time! I think I'm… improving!" Riley laughed. "Looks like it." Kipp puffed out his chest. "I'm telling you — one day people are gonna come to me for potions! Then I'll have an alchemy shop. And maybe a lab. And maybe a lab assistant. Or ten—" Riley smiled. "You will, Kipp." Kipp blinked, surprised by how certain Riley sounded. Then he grinned. "Thanks. Really. For… ya know… not laughing at me." "I wouldn't," Riley said. "Cool! Well—" he lifted the glowing spoon— "I think this is safe to lick!" Riley and Lumi both shouted: "NO." Kipp squeaked like a startled mouse and nearly dropped the spoon. And Riley couldn't help laughing. This kid… He'd be unstoppable one day.