Book 2 Chapter 31

The sales numbers continued to grow. Nox expected overall business to take a hit following the previous Seventhday’s events. Instead, non-cosmetic sales exploded. He couldn’t tell whether it was his new friends who had spread the word or the sabotage event had earned him some publicity. After all, people didn’t just know that he had brought myconids into the city but also devised the means to defeat the fungal plague.

Hilda reported a marginal dip in earnings on her side of the shop. When Nox checked the ledgers, he optimistically wrote the numbers off as anomalous. Cosmetic sales were still on an overall rise. The city’s nobility used First and Seconday to restock their beauty supplies after a weekend of luncheons and soirees. The numbers weren’t as high as the past couple of weeks, but still nothing to scoff at. In fact, their overall contraceptive sales had increased, and Nox expected a steady, continuous rise as the word spread. His saleswomen reported that older affluent citizens were now purchasing them, and it wasn’t just students.

Both apprentices had improved since their start date. Aisha more significantly than Kishan. The latter’s bad habits slowed his progress. Nox didn’t have many complaints about Kishan. However, getting the alchemist to push past his habits proved challenging. For the time being, Nox took relief in the fact the healing and stamina recovery brews were just as he needed them for pill creation. He suspected Kishan had adapted since it was the only way he’d get to learn the crystallization technique. Unfortunately, the apprentice still hadn’t completely adopted Nox’s approach for the empowering brews.

Meanwhile, Aisha had significantly improved her speed. Nox had given her the freedom to moderately reorganize equipment and daily ingredient storage to make life easier for her. Now, she could set up everything without supervision. After Nox etched the spell scripts into the workstations, she only needed an occasional check-in for the sake of quality and efficiency. Best of all, Aisha proved herself eager to learn and adapt. So, Nox gifted her anatomy, diseases, surgical techniques, and basic medicine tomes.

The shop staff’s progress was slower than Nox would’ve liked. They still hadn’t memorized the necessary explanation for all the products. It took Lillin and Caitlin explaining to Nox that not everyone had his academic prowess to keep him from losing his patience.

Given the shop’s current performance, Nox didn’t see any immediate problems with paying his suppliers, staff, or taxes. However, things wouldn’t necessarily always go so well. Nox primarily worried about the time between semesters. Affluent students often went home to their countryside estates, neighboring cities, the Imperium, or the Southern Continent. As a result, the frequency of social events plummeted, and the local nobles reduced their activities, too. Nox wanted to build a business savings fund to sustain the slow six-to-eight-week period.

Thanks to the staff, Nox had the freedom to focus on research and training. Practicing martial arts and movement under the effects of Haste felt like learning to walk again. Healing brews sped up Nox’s recovery from the bruises, aches, and pains, letting him correct his mistakes without long breaks. Stamina recovery potions kept him pushing for longer.

Caitlin and Alexander often accompanied him to the university’s training grounds, giving Lillin the freedom to train her magic. She and Joey suffered from the same issue. They had gained too much power too quickly, and neither had the appropriate time to master it.

Research and Aria demanded the rest of his time. She didn’t wait until the weekend before returning to his apartment. Instead, she walked back with him after class or training and studied in his workshop while he worked. Nox struggled to tell whether Aria had a genuine interest in spending time with him or she was doing so at her father’s behest. He didn’t mind either way. Nox enjoyed the noblewoman’s company, and Lillin approved of her, too. Aria was great in bed, an excellent conversationalist, and being seen together proved excellent for business.

Since Kris had no classes on Fourthday morning, they met for a mentor-apprentice breakfast and check-in.

“So, what do you think of Joey?” She asked, serving him a cup of tea.

“Good instincts. Hard worker. Rough around the edges.” Nox let his eyes wander around Kris’ apartment. It was tidier than usual. “I can see why you’d take him on as an apprentice. I was surprised when I learned you didn’t bury him in near double the usual course load, though.”

“Joey got what I thought he could handle, and so did you. When we met, you were already well on your way to becoming a journeyman alchemist and an academic. Perhaps I made a few mistakes since you were my first apprentice, but I was confident in your abilities. For all Dean Woodson and I knew, you’d complete one semester and fail to gather the funds for another. So, I got you all the necessary modules to prepare for a career as a journeyman delver. We were prepared to fudge the paperwork, so you completed the prerequisite modules.

“Introduction to Shields and Barriers was perhaps one course too much for you,” Kris continued. “But you survived the semester and managed a lot more. Unfortunately, Joey doesn’t have the same privileges. He’s literate and has a sharp mind but doesn’t have adequate experience as a mage or academic. So, he is only enrolled in the minimum four modules. However, I have him auditing two more. Joey is a practical learner, so it helps that they’re fairly hands-on.”

“It might be a while before he’s ready to go diving,” Nox replied. “He might be a liability, and I’d rather not get anyone in the party killed. We’re pretty crowded already—”

“Has Michelle not spoken to you?” Kris asked, raising an eyebrow.

“No.” Nox frowned. “Why? She’s been pretty distant as of late. I don’t know why.”

“Perhaps she hasn’t made a decision yet.” Kris sighed. “She might not be long for your party. Either way, the university is planning an expedition in a year or so. I plan to take you and Joey along as my apprentices. I’m pretty sure the Woodson siblings will join us, too. Whatever party you have when the time comes will be an asset. I’d very much like it if the four of you learn to work together.”

“We’ll reassess next semester,” Nox said, thinking more about the Beaufort siblings instead of Joey. He didn’t want to push Michelle for answers and drive them away. She and Ernest were valuable companions, not just for their medical or combat prowess, respectively. He valued their friendship and companionship. After a lifetime of abuse and isolation, Nox struggled to trust people, and when he did, losing them always concerned him. “We only plan on targeting journeyman and adept rifts outside of Professor Wolfhammer’s class. Joey can’t—”

“You’re all at least journeymen,” Kris said, interrupting Nox. “If you challenge a journeyman rift, you’re taking Joey with you. I have confidence in your ability to succeed and show him the ropes. Joey needs to unlock Djinn Fire’s secrets. It's too powerful and versatile a tool for us to ignore. This is as important to our cause as your crystallized essence. Don’t let me down.”

“Fine.” Nox sighed. “He’s a good kid. I can tell Joey has had a hard life, and he can become a potent delver. He deserves a chance, but I don’t want him or anyone on my team getting killed.”

“I can respect that, Nox, but we don’t have a lot of time. Joey needs to be ready in eighteen to twenty-four months. Think of everything you’ve achieved in the past six. I’m sure if given the chance, he can catch up to you.” Kris paused for a moment. She stared at the table between them as she stirred her tea. “I know Wolfhammer has Joey paired with you and Alexander. Try to bring him into your friend group and pair him with Caitlin Woodson. I suspect they’ll make an excellent team.”

“Fine. Can you tell me anything about what’s going on with Michelle? I really don’t want to lose her or Ernest.”

Kris sighed. “Believe me, I don’t want you to lose the Beauforts either. Ernest is a seasoned fighter, and the integrated beast organs and limbs make him a terrifying vanguard. Michelle is a genius. Her alchemy and advances in healing magic might change the world. We need them for the war. But—It’s not my place to tell you what’s going on with her. If she hasn’t brought the matter to the party, it's probably a positive. But I’d just ask her.”

The meeting moved on to Nox’s personal development. He wanted Kris’ input on a planet dedicated to Otis or summoning. She had no advice for him. It was a much too personal decision, and given Crystallize Essence’s uniqueness, the professor didn’t know where to begin. Despite the redundancy of using Animation and Manipulation simultaneously—the spellscripts often conflicted with one another—Kris suggested Nox consider the latter for a future planet, too.

When Nox told Kris about his spirit walks and Bi Xi, she changed her mind. Spirits weren’t a part of her expertise. However, tortoise spirits were generally ancient and often a wellspring of power. The name told her that it originated in the distant lands to the east across the Yellowrock Wastes and the endless dunes. Kris theorized Bi Xi had traveled a long distance to end up near Ygg, having experienced a variety of challenges. Contracting such an ally could mean a lot in the war against the gods.

“Don’t limit yourself to Lillin,” Kris told Nox. “I know this Bi Xi is wary of humans, but Pudge helped you contract Otis. I’m sure his charm will help with the tortoise, too. See if he’ll assist you.”

After his afternoon lecture, Nox returned to the store. He ensured all products were sufficiently stocked and started his apprentices on projects that didn’t need much input. Then, Nox focused all of his attention on preparing for the supervised delve.