Ch. 10 - Compensation

She poured the liquid from the silver spoon onto a strip of test paper. "Do you know what went wrong in there?"

Robb examined the pool of liquid closely. With the help of [Herb Identification], he could see minute impurities drifting within.

"It's the thornvine," he said after a moment's thought. "When I was stripping the outer bark, some fibers got mixed in."

"Good." Lady Elena finally allowed herself a satisfied smile.

"Being able to detect a flaw at that level shows you genuinely have talent in this area."

She returned to her seat behind the counter and retrieved a contract from a drawer. "Here are the job duties and compensation for the assistant position."

Robb took the sheet of parchment and began reading carefully.

Arrive an hour early each morning to prepare the shop; organize ingredients, clean equipment; assist with basic potion brewing...

"The pay is..." His eyes stopped on the last line, disbelief flickering across his face.

"That's right. Two Mana Crystal Fragments per day, plus free use of the shop's brewing equipment."

Lady Elena nodded.

"And of course, if you manage to produce potions that meet quality standards, there'll be a bonus on top."

The compensation was remarkably generous. Most apprentice side jobs paid one Mana Crystal Fragment per day at best.

"Now that we've covered compensation, let's discuss your schedule." Lady Elena continued. "You'll work here for three hours each morning. The rest of your time is yours."

She paused.

"But let me be clear about one thing, every formula you learn here stays confidential. The consequences of breaking that agreement..."

The old woman's gaze turned icy.

"...I trust you'd rather not find out."

Robb nodded. In this Magus Civilization, the consequences of breaking a contract were often worse than death itself.

"Then it's settled." Lady Elena produced a quill pen. "You start tomorrow. Remember, arrive early..."

"Wait." Arnor, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up. "You're hiring him just like that? Don't you need a more thorough evaluation?"

"Evaluation?" Lady Elena smiled faintly. "I've lived long enough to have a decent eye for people."

Her gaze swept over Robb. "Good talent, and a hard worker at that..."

"Furthermore," she continued, "anyone who can study Introduction to Potioneering to this degree of depth in such a short time clearly has exceptional aptitude for the craft."

She glanced at Arnor. "Not everyone can absorb that book so thoroughly, isn't that right?"

Arnor shrugged. "True enough. I spent half a year on it and got nowhere."

"So..." Lady Elena pushed the contract and quill toward Robb.

"This is a mutually beneficial arrangement. You need a place to practice, and I need a talented assistant."

She took out a small bottle from beneath the counter. Inside was a pale blue liquid. "Before you sign, drink this."

Robb accepted the bottle but didn't move immediately. He studied the potion cautiously while quietly engaging his [Herb Identification] ability.

The pale blue liquid exhibited a distinctive fluidity under the faint light, with its edges glowing slightly.

These characteristics closely matched the truth serum described in Introduction to Potioneering.

And judging by the liquid's clarity and flow, it appeared to be a multi-refined finished product, unlikely to contain any dangerous additives.

"Is this a truth serum?" Robb asked, feigning ignorance.

"Correct. It reveals whether a person harbors malicious intent." Lady Elena nodded. "In the Black Mist Order, this is a basic precaution."

After confirming once more that it was indeed a truth serum, Robb drank it down in one gulp.

This level of verification was entirely standard in the Black Mist Forest.

"Very good." Lady Elena nodded approvingly. "I like cautious people. In a place like this, the reckless don't last long."

Her expression grew serious.

"One more thing, this shop occasionally receives clients of... special standing. Whatever you see, whatever you hear, you keep it to yourself."

Robb nodded solemnly. This kind of upfront warning actually put him more at ease, an employer who laid out the rules in advance was far easier to deal with than one who kept secrets.

Early the next morning, with the sky still dim, Robb was already standing at the herb shop's door.

Morning mist drifted slowly through the streets. Occasionally, luminous insects could be seen dancing through the haze.

These were "lantern moths," unique to the Black Mist Forest. They were drawn to mana fluctuations and frequently appeared near herb shops.

He had Arnor's reminder from the previous night to thank for arriving so early.

"That old woman absolutely despises tardiness," Arnor had said while helping him sort through materials for his second body-tempering session.

"Last month, another Initiate applied for the job. He was five or six seconds late, and those two animated vines by the door whipped him right out of the shop."

So to be safe, Robb had shown up a full half hour early.

After his meditation session the night before, he'd spent time reviewing the sections on ingredient storage and equipment maintenance in Introduction to Potioneering.

If he was going to start with the most basic organizational work, he intended to do it flawlessly.

This was one of the few useful lessons he'd carried from life in the noble estate, if you want someone's approval, you have to demonstrate genuine commitment.

Just then, a drawn-out bell toll echoed from the distance.

It marked the transition between night and day in the Black Mist Forest. The chime was said to contain some kind of arcane power, capable of dispersing the malignant energy that accumulated overnight.

As the final peal faded into the morning mist, the shop door swung open without a sound.

"Come in." Lady Elena's voice drifted from inside. "You're more punctual than I expected."

The moment he pushed through the door, an array of peculiar scents washed over him.

Since becoming a [Potion Apprentice], Robb found his ability to distinguish these smells had improved dramatically.

The sweet-sour one would be evening primrose nectar, a primary ingredient for Calming Draughts. The spicy, slightly fishy scent was probably serpent-fang grass root, capable of neutralizing most toxins. And there were other smells he couldn't quite place, simultaneously familiar and foreign.

The shop's interior seemed slightly different from the day before.

The ingredients on the shelves had been rearranged. Some rare materials previously tagged "sold" were gone, replaced by unfamiliar new stock.

"Seen enough?" Lady Elena's voice suddenly sounded right beside him. "Sorting these things is far more interesting than just staring at them."

She pointed to a heap of miscellaneous items in the corner. "Start by organizing those. Sort them by medicinal properties, and make sure they don't interact with each other."

Robb moved closer and found the pile contained an assortment of jars and bottles filled with different ingredients.

Some had already begun reacting with one another, emitting faint fluorescent glows in the dim light.

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