I had guessed that the potions wouldn't be cheap, but damn, a properly concocted health potion cost 2 silver! I wanted to complain in my heart, but it just wasn't worth it. I decided to check and see what the health potion with the brightest colour was for comparison and was stunned.
Perfect Recovery Potion: Recovers health back to 100% and removes all status conditions. Cost - 2LG.
Two Large Freaking Gold coins! That is my entire reward for catching the damn cat, even with the system doubling the reward money! Feeling poorer than ever, I walked over to the female clerk. I have nothing against the dude, but the pretty girl always wins.
"Excuse me, but what is on the second floor?" I was afraid to ask, but I couldn't help it. I knew it would be expensive, but curiosity wouldn't leave me alone.
She smiled and answered as if she had been asked the same question many times. "The second floor of the Alchemist Guild is for large clients and those looking for artifacts and items with Ethereal Effects. There is a non-refundable flat fee of 1 Large Gold coin to enter the floor."
My interest peaked at first, but then my jaw dropped after hearing the price of admission. Knowing my naivety, I would pay, expecting it to be collateral or some security deposit. I wouldn't know how to act if I lost 1LG for being stupid.
It seemed that it was the usual reaction she got from newcomers as she giggled but didn't say anything about my behaviour. Composing myself, I got an idea. Retrieving a scroll from my inventory and a coin, I placed them both on the counter and made my request. "If I have a favour from the city lord, can I visit the second floor? I can leave the Large Gold coin here as insurance. I won't do anything, I just want to see what the powerful would be shopping for."
She donned a pensive expression and then took both items. "I will ask the manager for you. Hold on for now, I will be back." "Thank you. I'll just grab some potions in the meantime."
She headed to the second floor to ask, and I approached the male clerk.
"What can I do for you, sir?" "I would like a few potions." "Of course, which ones?" "2 Low-Grade Antidotes, 5 Faulty Health Potions, one regular Health Potion, 1 Scent Removal potion, 1 Night Vision Potion."
"Your total for the ten potions is two small gold coins and one silver." I thought about it for a minute and checked on another potion. "I'm just going to check on a potion." "Please take your time."
With the 10, my basics are all set, but something life-saving would be good, too. There was a more vibrant version of the berserk potion, and I wanted to see its effects.
True Berserk Potion: Increases all stats by 50% for 10 minutes without side effects. It can only be consumed once per 24 hours. Cost - 8sg.
After thinking about it, I decided to get one. It was expensive but could save me from dying in a pinch. Back at the counter, I asked the man to add the potion. My new total was 1 Large Gold and 1 silver. They decided to wave the silver due to my large purchase, which was a nice touch.
I placed two stacks on the counter: 9 small gold coins and one of 10 silver. The man took the money and walked back into the storage room. And just like that, I was broke again. I at least had a high chance of survival now and would get my Large Gold back, but it wasn't a good feeling. Without the protection of money, the luxuriousness of the place was suffocating.
While the man was in the back, the girl appeared from the top of the stairs. She wasn't alone this time, though. There was an old man with an ornate staff walking beside her. The male clerk came out with the first batch of my potions and left to get the second as the others approached me.
"This is the manager, he agreed to your request on two conditions. Your deposit was unnecessary." She passed me the coin, and I instantly felt the oppressive atmosphere of the building recede once it was back with me.
She was shorter than the older man by a head, and he was at least 2 feet shorter than me. He had dark hair, but it was speckled with gray hair. He had a cleanly shaved face and wore a pitch-black robe. His staff looked to be entirely gold, with several dozen gemstones embedded and the largest one adorning the top of the staff.
"There shouldn't be any problem with that; I didn't expect unrestricted access."
The old man smiled at this point. "I just wanted to look at your god-given weapon, and then as you browse, I must stay by your side as a precaution. I assure you that you may be immortal, but dying is never pleasant."
The older guys' words were kind, but the meaning was clear. The Alchemy Guild was not something you wanted to mess with. "That is fine with me. I summoned my sword and handed it over to the man I assumed to be the manager."
I wasn't afraid he would steal it. The man had a literal staff of gold; what would he want with a rusty sword? His eyes went wide as soon as he held it in his hand. He turned to the side, gave it a few swings, and then did something which made the sword glow.
The glow faded after a few seconds, and he returned it to me. "Thank you for that; the god's artifacts are truly wondrous. We can depart whenever you are ready." "I will just get my potions, then we can head up."
The female attendant had returned to her desk, and the man was grabbing the last three potions for me. Now that I had a few seconds, I checked my sword; It felt slightly different.
{{E*@!&#%#& - (Unique) A sword fallen into disrepair, its name is forgotten by most. Provides +100% strength, +75% Dexterity and +50% Constitution when equipped. The Favored blade of a formidable knight.}}
The changes in the blade dumbfounded me. Before, I just assumed It was Excalibur, but I didn't have any proof; but now? IT HAS THE SAME AMOUNT OF LETTERS! Most of the rust on the blade had disappeared. It was nowhere near good condition, but now it was recognizable as a sword and not a block of rust.
I had started to breathe heavily when the male antecedent returned with the last of my potions. "This is the last of the 11, sir. Thank you for your patronage."
I recovered from the shock, placed them in my inventory and headed towards the stairs.