I felt a trace of a threat behind her words then, but I would like to maintain professionalism. "Ah, I don't get a choice where the doors appear, they just do. Sorry about that. Anyway I don't just do food and drink. Recently I started selling deathroot, warrior corpses and cleanrot armour. The corpses are for a warrior jar friend of mine."
"Is that so? Then perhaps I may be so bold as to ask for 2 of the capes adorning the cleanrot armour sets, I fear I am running low on materials for more temporary bodies."
"Of course no worries. So payment is taken in runes, services or goods." I go to the back and rip off 2 capes, folding them neatly and taking them back to her.
"Fascinating, then perhaps you may find this to be of note." A parchment appears before me 'Ranni's dark moon' even glancing at it seems to give me a headache.
"Oh yeah, that definitely covers the tab by a lot. Since it's more valuable than the material I just gave you, do you want anything else?"
"Hm, perhaps I may be interested in having a deathroot for mine studies and maybe some more material if I suppose." I gave a smile and got what she asked for.
"Perfect, everything's there for you. Hope the magic tower stuff goes well." I wave her off as she slowly dissipates with her newly bought items.
"Magic tower stuff? What did I even say, that was a nonsense sentence. I probably should've learnt some more about her. All I know is she's blue, magic and according to Melina obsessed with marriage and moons."
I tried once again to read the parchment, but it was simply beyond what I'm capable of learning. What even is the second face of the full moon? If I'm to even grasp an iota of this, I need to dump everything into intelligence. Thinking about it, magic is extremely prominent everywhere, there's more magic than incantations I imagine. So maybe I'll just learn that for the time being, I'll practice what I can until I get a staff.
[Reading lv6]
Until my next customer arrived, I practiced my throwing knives and the bestial incantations. I may as well become competent at them, just in case I never get a staff.
The bell rings, "We got you a staff!" The familiar voices of the students rang out to me.
I came hurrying into the main bar, I swept the staff off of the counter before hoisting it in the air. "Today, all members of the academy eat and drink for free!"
From that moment onwards, the bar flooded with them all. Oddly quiet for such a large group, but it allowed for some of the stragglers to tell me some more of what they know about sorcery. I had Jorhaya man the bar whilst I practiced a few sorceries.
"Why does no one go up to someone normally, then cast a comet into their throat as like an assassination thing?" I say as me and a few students were casting random spells in the practice room.
"It was done before, it's why we all wear giant stone helmets now. It blocks assassination attempts, not so much anymore but it just became tradition and uniform… Hey you're getting quite good at this already."
[Glintstone Sorcery lv6]
"So I notice, I'm not doing too bad am I?" I ask to no one in particular, I settle it for now and go back to the bar. No doubt they'll be wanting some food by now.
As I'm cooking up batch sets of lobster and mutton, I notice Kalé coming in. "Oh hey Kalé, it's a bit busy at the moment I'll be with you in a moment." I use the opportunity to level the observe as well with so many targets.
[Cooking lv9]
[Observe lv6]
I finish up their meals and dish them out, sending all of them to their necessary tables. I get back behind the counter, take a breath and say, "What can I get you Kalé?"
"Just the boar stew again" He takes a look around, "Raya Lucaria students eh? Looks like they took a shining to this place. I'll be paying in runes today, I'm traveling through the dectus lift soon so I need to be stocked up in case your door isn't nearby." Apparently he was granted access to use the Jarberg door.
The party raged on, Kalé left with a thank you and a quiet leave. And as soon as midnight hit, I was happily charging people for their drinks. Since they were students, most didn't have the runes to pay, so they gave me a random spell or further knowledge on the world. So now I at least know what deathroot is, no idea why Gurranq was eating it though.
Speaking of which, he opened the door, noticed the people within and we simply traded at the door. He would've killed the mood so it was probably for the best,
The day ended and I was left with a now expanded place to clean.
[Cleaning lv14]
For the first time so far, I'm really noticing the skill level effect. It fees like just one wipe and the surface is sanitised, not the coolest effect but quite neat to notice.
[Time skip]
[Cooking lv14]
[Butchery lv8]
[Knife handling lv15]
[Cleaning lv17]
[Mead making lv6]
[Observe lv12]
[Knife throwing lv11]
[Glintstone sorcery lv9]
[Bartending lv7]
[Bestial incantations lv5]
[Warhammer technique lv3]
Vigor: 20
Strength: 24
Dexterity: 26
Mind: 18
Endurance: 22
Intelligence: 28
Faith: 25
Arcane: 17
A few weeks go by and the mead is ready and brewed. Customers show up as per usual, my regulars make their faces known to me and to eachother. Which leads to odd combinations of people. Kalé, Alexander and Melina sit at my bar chatting happily to eachother. By now my stock has increased to a comfortable level, thanks to Alexander, my stock of corpses is concerningly high and the other drink as per usual. Melina usually pays with a free level and Kalé will give me local information depending as to where he is.
As usual they clear out, tipsy on mead, so I begin the usual closing routine. Set out some deathroot for Gurranq and clean everything.
Just as I started that I heard the bell ring once more, usually no one comes back in until morning for breakfast. I leave the kitchen and look upon the new entrant, long blond hair and a white silken outfit, he strides in with a smile on his face.
[Charm resistance lv2]
DAMN, glancing at him gave me and leveled that skill…this might be bad. "Hi welcome to Oliverick's bar, what can I get for you today?"
He quietly took a seat at the bar, "Fascinating, how did you appear at my Haligtree? I'm glad I noticed this before I cocooned myself. Never mind, I am Miquella, the nascent. What do you have to offer?"
"Ah yes Miquella! Your sister Melina is in here a fair bit, she never spoke much of you. Anyway, we have drink, food, corpses armour, some magic scrolls and miscellaneous stuff." I remember on one of her rants Melina mentioned how Melania and Miquella "fucked off" to do some alternate erdtree stuff.
"It has been an age since I partook in anything of the sort, that was always Radahn's specialty. Do you have any fruit based drinks?" He leaned forwards on the counter, head resting on one set of arms.
[Charm resistance lv3]
By the end of this I'll be able to sing with the sirens, "What kind of fruit, I have most available."
"Hm, surprise me Oliverick." His eyes traced me as I went back into the kitchen, watching me through the glass divider.
I decided to get pineapple, he seems like a pineapple kind of guy. I washed my hands and started squeezing and straining out the juices, I poured a little bit of milk in just to thicken it up a bit and poured the finished product.
[Juicing lv1]
I didn't know that would even be a skill, what would that even be if it was levelled up? Ignoring that I placed the pineapple juice glass in front of him. He looked it over and took a sip from it.
Whilst he did that I put a door sticker on the haligtree. He looked at me curiously, realising I had no control over where it appears. "A delectable drink, I would like to visit again sometime if that is agreeable with you?"
[Charm resistance lv4]
"Sure of course, you're a paying customer after all." I wanted to subtly mention payment, just in case he forgot.
"Naturally" He then reached up and plucked a braid of his golden hair out, presenting me with it. "This braid of mine shall shield you from holy sources somewhat, take it as a gesture of good faith." I'd rather take it as the tab payment but I kind of want him gone, he's a bit too weird.
Picking it up, it wrapped itself around my wrist and settled comfortably. "Uh thank you, have a nice day."
"You as well, a fair warning. Next time my sister may wish to come with me." And with that he left. I might need to hide the cleanrot stuff for when she comes then, otherwise it might get a bit awkward.
[Miquella's braid -
Negates some holy damage received.
Bound]
With the observe levelling up I can get a bit more information out of stuff now, not that much, but still some. What concerns me a little but is how easily he bound an item to me. I understand it's a beneficial item but I think it's reasonable to be concerned.