Published at 16th of February 2024 2:23 pm

Chapter 2.15 Independent Accomodation

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“The gods and their cults are responsible for more wars than the Imperium. They kill people and ruin habitable zones, causing the mass migrant crisis. Whenever a dungeon moves or expands its borders, settlements are destroyed, and communities are displaced. Kingdoms and city-states have gone to war over who will take the unwanted. Many have used refugees to destabilize rival nations before embarking on brutal territorial campaigns. The gods and their domains give the evil the tools for their dastardly plans, and the cults lie waiting for an opportunity to profit.” - Alfred Moraine, Former Leader of the Cult Buster Brigade.

The City of Ygg appeared the same but felt different. The Market Ring didn't just have students, delvers in well-made equipment, and affluently dressed shoppers. People in ragged clothing with bandages and crutches walked the area, too.

Nox heard some of them speaking as he passed. The inflections and colloquium gave them away as outsiders.

"Refugees," he mumbled, noting the missing limbs, burn marks, and reasonably fresh scars.

Terrastalia's rampage and the myconids had ravaged the north and especially the western coast. The Imperium had somehow escaped the damage. The roving dungeon's path would've eventually led it into the empire's territory, but reports claimed that Terrastalia had abruptly changed its path towards the sea before disappearing altogether during the last new moon. Kris's sources had failed to gather intelligence on its whereabouts. Most were relieved, but the professor wasn't. She refused to believe any delvers could've destroyed the dungeon or titan without leaving behind a trace. Something diabolical might have occurred, and not knowing about it terrified her.

"Stop that child!" A guard yelled, drawing Nox's attention. She waved. "You. He's coming toward you! Stop him."

By the time Nox realized the guard was calling to him, her target had already reached him. The boy appeared no older than ten. Instead of stopping the child, Nox stepped out of the way. The boy didn't spare him a glance. He dove under an ambling cart, slid along the wet ground, rose on the other side, and continued sprinting. A couple of heartbeats later, two guards appeared out of the morning crowd and ran after him.

"You could've stopped him, Mage Nox," the female guard said through shallow breaths. Nox recognized the woman. She was one of the captains who assisted with the arrests at the Smythe mansion. "A mage of your caliber—"

"I'm sorry," Nox said. The number of eyes on him urged him to interrupt the woman. "The kid came out of nowhere and caught me by surprise." He feigned a yawn. "I'm not sure I've woken up."

One of the pursuing guards backtracked to where Nox and the woman stood. "We lost him, Captain. I'm sorry."

"I hear you're about to open a shop, Mage Nox. Given how things are in the city, you want us on your side. Trust me when I say that."

"I don't mean to sound disingenuous, Captain. My vessel returned from the Edelweiss barony late last night. I'm worn from the relief efforts and journey. It will be a while before I'm alert enough to be any good to myself, let alone you."

"I suggest you get some caffeine in you, then. Half the villagers and townies between here and Edelweiss' land are either now in the city or on their way here. Thefts and assaults have doubled in the past couple of weeks, and things will only get worse."

"I'll keep that in mind. You have my sincere apologies. Why don't you stop by my shop later—"

"I'm guessing you haven't seen it then." The guard captain snorted. "Shop might not be the appropriate term for it."

"Either way. I'd like to apologize with a few flasks of my healing brews. I'm sure you and your men would appreciate them."

"Why are you standing around?" The captain asked the hovering guard. "Return to your blighted duties. Find the Hogg-touched thieves and drag them to the workhouses." Once he left, the woman returned her attention to Nox. She spoke with her volume lowered. "I'd rather get my hands on the ointments and creams you're supposedly selling. I hear they do wonders for the complexion."

"The benefits aren't just skin deep. My stocks are low, but I'll save a couple for you."

"Thank you, Mage Nox." She paused. "I mean, Sir Nox. Apologies for my shortness. The city has grown more dangerous during your absence." The guard captain smiled weakly. "I'll gladly take a few bottles off your hands when I come by the boutique, though. We need to discuss your business' surveillance needs, too."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

When the guard captain finally walked away, Nox quickly studied the scattering urchins. They had all hovered, standing behind corners or just out of reach, eavesdropping. He had no doubt they were affiliated with the thief and found their presence and proximity to the captain bold.

During the previous semester, Nox had seen no urchins or beggars in the Market Ring or Noble Quarter. The guards monitored and controlled passage through the gates between them. The increased population had likely drawn the policing forces to the city's outer sections, and they had lost control over the traffic. Nox imagined the city's more affluent residents weren't pleased about the state of things. Meanwhile, the guards probably had to tread carefully to avoid losing favor with the commoners. Riots hurt everyone regardless of class or financial status.

Reaching his shop after leaving the university gates took Nox twenty minutes. The mass of early morning delivery wagons and peddlers setting up stalls had slowed him. The obstacles cost him five minutes, and the conversation with the captain added a few more. Commuting from his new home to the university’s central building would take him half an hour on a good day. Nox planned on giving himself an extra ten minutes to account for unforeseen circumstances.

"Is it me, or does the shopfront look bigger?" Lillin asked. She found him holding two steaming earthen mugs and pastries. Grease had turned the latter's paper wrappings translucent.

"It's the southern-styled windows," Nox said.

Queen Lydia Mercer had prepaid the contractors far more than expected, resulting in a handsome budget. Nox had simple tastes but wanted a homey elegance to the buildings’ exterior. Initially, he wanted large farmhouse windows that let pedestrians catch a glimpse of boiling cauldrons and the display cases. Then, the contractor recommended differently after listening to his needs.

Since Nox wished to protect the business with wards, the shopfront needed maximum surface area for etching runes, especially around the window frames. At the same time, they needed visual appeal. So, he went ahead with the idea of curved box windows. The lattice, while elegant, was perfect for setting runescripts. Meanwhile, the window frames extended a foot and a half out of the wall. The interior provided an adequate surface for seating or a display case. Nox hadn’t decided what to do with the two areas yet. He didn't worry too much about theft between the ironwood, wards, and alchemically treated glass, primarily because of the heavy guard presence in Market Ring. Since the store stood near a reasonably busy junction, perpetrators wouldn’t go unnoticed.

The interior had a polished apothecary aesthetic. A long wooden counter ran the length of the shop. The stained ash added warmth to the room, giving it a homely feel despite the emptiness. The contractors hadn’t yet polished the surfaces, yet Nox couldn’t help but admire the sight.

“It looks so much bigger without the old shelves and other junk,” Lillin commented.

“Except for the window display, I expect everything to stay behind the counter,” Nox replied. “With no shelves or tables crowding the floor, there is plenty of room for clientele to walk around.” He waved at one of the open doorways behind the counter. It led into a room with a pair of large cauldrons. Empty glassware lined the walls. “I’ve devised spellforms to more or less automate the production of healing and mana restoration brews. The cauldrons won’t just be visible from the shopfront but also through the windows. I expect the production transparency and reasonable pricing to draw in more people.”

“Is it wise to make your processes open for every layperson to see?”

“The primary workshop is below us. I’ll need Kris’ help, but wards should be sufficient to ensure none but we can enter.”

“This feels like a lot for one person. You’re going to need more alchemists.”

“Eventually,” Nox said. “Qualified alchemists aren’t within my current budget. We’ll figure out supply once we know the demand.”

“You’re a knight now, Nox.” Lillin chuckled. “Demand will be high.”

Much to Nox’s delight, the contractors had designed the basement workshop precisely to his specifications. They hadn’t taken any creative freedoms like with the shop’s exterior. It had enough room for three separate brewing setups, ensuring Nox would have the freedom to prepare multiple concoctions simultaneously. He planned on dedicating the largest workshop to cosmetics and contraceptives. After all, they were what had made him popular. Nox expected them to fly off the shelves once the shop opened. Peak season would start the weekend before the new semester. People would want to stock up on cosmetics and nourishing ointments to present their best selves once all social events began. He expected his new contraceptives to be in high demand, too.

Meanwhile, the second biggest brewing set would alternate between servicing delvers and fulfilling commissions. It would produce empowering concoctions and recovering brews with the cauldrons on the ground floor. Nox also had eyes for delving potions like Trap Foam, Rock Melter, and the kind. Noxian Brews wasn't known for much besides cosmetics yet. Nox hoped that would change soon. All parts of the business needed patronage for it to succeed.

The smallest of the stations sat in a section attached to an office space and the largest storeroom.

“This is perfect for research and development,” he said. Nox pointed through a large window in the workshop. “I planned on using this place as a growing area for rare herbs and mushrooms, but I suppose the myconid corpses can go here for now.”

“Staffing costs might just bankrupt you.” Lillin sighed. “Please just ensure we have enough money to eat, please.”

“I’m aware of your dietary requirements. I’ll starve before you do, Lillin. I promise you that.” Nox sighed as thoughts of Annabelle reared their head. He wished she was around to see his workspace. The Oakhearts were nothing more than investors now, and he needed to get used to the fact. Footsteps above snapped Nox back to reality. “That must be the builders. They’re probably applying the finishing touches to the staff apartment and our quarters. Should we have a look?”

“Let's,” Lillin stated excitedly, and they raced up the stairs.

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