Book 2 Chapter 21 (Patreon)

By the time Ratra’s Knightly Brews opened its doors, two more first-floor bedrooms had occupants, and Nox had his adept alchemy license. The city granted him a plaque to display in the window. It highlighted his qualifications.

Nox hired Aisha, a young apprentice from the north. She was one of the three more disadvantaged individuals Professor Das recommended. His second hire, Kishan, was from the second list. He was close to advancing to journeyman alchemist. He had spent all four of his semester breaks working for one city alchemist or another, gathering valuable experience as a commercial brewer.

Aisha grew up on a farming estate. They grew vegetables to supply local towns and the city of Ygg. Several eateries in Nobles Quarter also used their goat cheese. They were reasonably well off but not in the same vein as noble houses or merchant families. Nox sensed she had a humble upbringing, which involved helping and working around the farm. No task felt too big for her. She followed instructions closely and executed all tasks with extreme care. Unfortunately, Aisha didn't work as fast as Nox would have liked, but he believed that would improve with time.

Since Aisha had no personal brewing gear and no experience with Artisans’ Arms, Nox had her start on brewing cosmetics and contraceptives. The process was long, with several intricate steps, but it was straightforward and didn't involve many hazardous materials. Given her family situation, Nox expected her to stay in his employ for quite some time and believed she'd prove a worthy investment.

On the other hand, Kishan proved knowledgeable and took to brewing healing brews and mana recovery potions swiftly. He also had some experience with empowering concoctions, making him perfect for the workshop dedicated to delving products. He worked swiftly but used techniques and shortcuts Nox disliked. Breaking old habits would take some effort, but the young man felt like a good fit.

Neither apprentice expressed displeasure with their pay or rooms. Kishan's face betrayed that he had hoped for more, but when he learned that employment involved three meals a day whenever Leanna was on duty, it appeared to satisfy him. Because of his experience, his pay involved five gold more, which seemed to soothe his ego.

Lillin and the apprentices focused on bottling leading up to opening day. She also took them around to Mrs Taylor's shop and had them measured for uniforms. Nox felt a pit form in his stomach when he tallied the books and discovered how much he had spent in preparation for opening. If not for Queen Mercer's generous contract with the renovators, he'd be in an even deeper financial hole.

When Nox and the staff stepped onto the shop floor, they found ugly grey and brown paint splashed on the box windows’ exterior. Argus Stone got to work cleaning it with solvents Nox supplied. Much to their relief, removal didn't take long, and the contractor’s work remained unharmed. Nox reported the vandalism to a passing member of the city guard. Unfortunately, they appeared disinterested in something so minor. He witnessed local urchins milling around and eavesdropping and suspected their involvement in the crime. The problem would have to wait until a later date.

Ratra's Knightly Brews opened its doors at the tenth Bell, the Sixthday before the start of the new semester.  Nox had made a list of responsibilities for all staff and volunteering friends.

[Table in attachments]

When Caitlin suggested distributing samples in university uniform, Alexander jumped at the opportunity to help, too. However, Nox wasn’t sure what kind of impact his squirrels would have on the public. Some would inevitably find them adorable, but Nox worried the rest would consider them a hygiene issue.

The young Woodson man was charming and handsome, but Nox doubted his ability to attract customers using samples. However, most recognized him as the delving department dean’s grand nephew. So, Nox said he could take over sample duty whenever Caitlin and Lillin needed a break.

Lillin and Caitlin were displeased regarding their assignments. The latter found it flattering but also took it as a slight against her reputation as a delver and warrior. Lillin claimed the opposite, proving her recent mimic-meals had made her more human than Nox estimated.

“How about you swap halfway through?” Nox asked the pair. He appreciated their help, but the upcoming day stressed him, and he prioritized placation over seeking forgiveness for the supposed insult.

“Can I wear my wood golem armor after we swap? The war mage and delving departments are more familiar with it than my face.”

“Of course—”

“In that case, I want to do something with my gravity orbs!” Lillin interrupted.

“As long as it brings in customers instead of scaring them away, I don’t care what you do.”

Alexander had suggestions, too. Nox pretended to listen to him at first until the squirrel summoner came up with a gem of an idea. He disappeared with Argus an hour before opening and returned with him wearing full-plate armor. The helmet roughly resembled the store’s new sign.

A pit formed in Nox’s stomach when no one entered Ratra’s Knightly Brews for the first hour. Pedestrians stopped for Caitlin and Lillin’s samples, but none passed through the doors. The girls had distributed invitation envelopes to their friends around campus. Kris and Professor Das accepted a stack each. Meanwhile, Alexander had his squirrels sneak them into the nobility’s dormitories and all cafeterias.

Then, around the noon bell, a large group of women streamed through the front door without Caitlin or Lillin plying them with samples first. Their jewelry and attire betrayed their wealth and status. The sudden appearance confused Nox at first, but then he spotted two familiar faces in the group.

The first was Aria Edelweiss. She made a show of weaving through the crowd and slipping around the shop’s counter to hug Nox. Aria pecked him on the cheeks, too, inspiring mostly tame and one instance of obnoxiously filthy catcalling from her peers.

“Father sent more samples for you,” she whispered in Nox’s ear. “They're stashed in a storeroom near the university docks. Also, you're accompanying me to a ball next Fifthday.”

“Thank you for this. I was worried we opened too early.” That was all Nox had the time to do before he spotted the second familiar face.

It was Annabelle. She wore a white coat with House Oakheart’s crest emblazoned across the back. Gold thread and emeralds accented the tree and shield. The noblewoman smiled when their eyes met, but her face betrayed a hint of sorrow and disappointment.

Annabelle turned away when Nox tried approaching her. She encouraged her friends to try the cosmetics and sang praises of the contraceptive. Then Nox spotted Wilson. The time mage hovered near Annabelle, wearing a Woodson University coat instead of the general Oakheart garb. Nox nodded at the man but got no response.

The two noblewomen talked up the shop’s products, but it appeared unnecessary. Their friends seemed to be familiar with the cosmetics, and almost everyone ordered the full range of products, and more than half picked up a bottle of the contraceptive. Nox helped the overwhelmed sales area and was also pleased to see delving products leaving the shelves.

The crowd of pretty women in the store did just as Nox had hoped. Passing pedestrians peeked in, and the floor got so crowded Argus had to limit entrants. Caitlin and Lillin encouraged people to form a line, offering them samples, and more people queued up behind them.

Aria and the group of noblewomen departed after finishing their purchases, but Annabelle and Wilson stuck around. She spoke to customers while they waited and directed Jenny towards empty hands, ensuring everyone had at least a drink, if not a snack, too. Time blurred as things got busier. Delver sales got too busy, and Nox had to assist Allen. Nox had no choice but to pull Hilda off samples and have her assist Emily with cosmetics. The time to swap roles came, but things got so busy that floor staff stayed in their positions. Nox failed to check whether Lillin and Caitlin had swapped their sample trays.

Even though it made the space behind the counter crowded, he had both alchemy apprentices join him in explaining products to customers. It was a vital service for students and delvers interested in empowering brews, antidotes, disinfectants, and similar products. The client-facing staff needed more experience before Nox could trust them with the responsibility.

The crowd inside the store crested and ebbed throughout the day. The semester was due to begin on the coming Firstday. All returning students and staff were out celebrating their return, indulging in reunion meals and shopping trips, or panic-purchasing whatever they forgot to bring from home. Things finally started dying down after the fifth after-noon bell. Nox wanted to tally everything they had earned during the past day, but his eyes kept drifting to Annabelle. The new Oakheart heir hadn’t yet left the store or taken a break. She stood now, speaking to Jenny and Leanna, and shared a drink with them.

When Nox approached, the Tanner women excused themselves, leaving the former paramours alone. “Thank you for everything,” he told Annabelle, taking a seat. Instead of making a second display, the contractor had made the box window on the cosmetics side a seating area with padding and velvet cloth. After spending all day on his feet and talking to people, Nox had never been more thankful for a cushion on his bottom. Brewing and providing healthcare all day felt less physically and mentally draining. “I was afraid this day would turn out a disaster until you showed up. I don’t know how to—”

“We might not be together anymore, but I’m an investor, Nox,” Annabelle said. She left a cushion worth of space between them when sitting down. “Your profits directly affect my earnings. How much did we bring in?”

“I haven’t tallied the numbers yet, but we’ve gone through about a third of all cosmetics I brewed in preparation for opening day. We made considerably fewer contraceptives and sold half our stock. Sales on delving supplies—”

“I don’t think you should call it that. War mages, aether warriors, and artisanal practitioners are likely to purchase them, too.”

“Fair enough,” Nox said. “Perhaps calling them, such resulted in only selling approximately fifteen percent of our stocks.”

“Given the displayed pricing, that’s still decent,” Annabelle replied. “Noxian Brews made its name with cosmetics last semester. So, they’re obviously going to sell better. The market intersects with contraceptives pretty well, but not with your other creations. You’re yet to set yourself apart from others or make an impact outside of your current niche.”

“I suppose you’re correct. Would you like me to send you a sales report once I’ve gone over the sales and—”

“I’m fine, thank you. The banking guild will take care of such chores.” Annabelle looked away from Nox’s eyes, diverting his attention to the porters going about their cleaning duties. “So. Aria Edelweiss. I didn’t expect you to move on so quickly.”

“Moving on would be the wrong phrasing. I’m in business with her father.”

“So, is this relationship for the sake of profit and power, or are you using her as a distraction?”

“For profit and power?” Nox struggled not to laugh or chuckle. Doing so could be perceived as cruel and mean. Even though he was hurt by the relationship ending, he didn’t want to hurt Annabelle. Yet his following words felt necessary. “Isn’t that hypocritical? Our relationship ended in pursuit of just that.”

“That’s not fair, Nox. I—”

“This isn’t productive, Annabelle,” Nox stated, cutting her off. During the voyage back to the city, his mind drifted to a dark place. Leaving it proved challenging, and Nox refused to regress. “Perhaps it will be best for both of us if we limit our interactions to professional exchanges. You need to do whatever is essential for your ambitions and happiness. I’ll do the same.”

When Annabelle met Nox’s eyes again, he noticed tears welling up. Then Wilson cleared his throat, and her gaze drifted past Nox to her bodyguard. She nodded and rose from her seat. Annabelle wiped her eyes and smiled. “I should go. Good job with the opening, Nox. I’m glad it went so well.”

“I’ll see you around campus,” he replied.

“If you plan on spending time with Aria Edelweiss, I’m afraid that’s not the only place you’ll be seeing me.” Then Annabelle walked out of Ratra’s Knightly Brews and disappeared into the evening.