Chapter 11 - A Young Man

News of Cedric's potions and the heroic deeds of the adventurers spread through Vialcross like wildfire. The Fated Liquid quickly became the talk of the town, with Cedric's potions gaining a reputation for being both potent and innovative.

Cedric's shop was soon flooded with requests, each more urgent than the last.

One morning, Cedric stood behind his counter, scribbling notes in a well-worn notebook filled with simpler, tried-and-true potion recipes.

He glanced up at the growing line of customers, a mix of excitement and exasperation playing across his face.

"I need a potion for my back pain!" shouted Old Man Harris from the front of the line, shaking his cane for emphasis.

"And something to help my son with his exams!" Mrs. Petunia called out, her voice nearly drowned out by the chatter of the bustling shop.

Cedric chuckled, raising his hands to calm the crowd. "Alright, alright! One at a time, please! I promise I'll get to everyone, but I'm only one potioneer, not a potion factory!"

The crowd laughed good-naturedly and Cedric got to work, pulling ingredients from the shelves. Then started to mixing herbs and powders, poured liquids, and chanted incantations, all while keeping a running commentary that kept his customers entertained.

"Let's see... a potion for back pain," he muttered, sprinkling a dash of powdered willow bark into a bubbling cauldron. "Careful with this one, Mr. Harris. Too much and you'll be doing cartwheels down the street!"

The old man chuckled, "Well, a little more excitement wouldn't hurt!"

"And for your son," Cedric continued, turning to Mrs. Petunia. "A focus elixir to help with exams. Just a drop before studying, and he'll be top of his peers in no time. But be warned—too much, and he might start answering questions before they're even asked!"

Mrs. Petunia laughed, shaking her head. "He could use a bit of that, honestly!"

As the day wore on, Cedric found himself moving faster and faster, yet the line never seemed to shorten.

He glanced at the legendary potion book, sitting temptingly on his workbench. Its pages promising incredible, if somewhat risky, results.

"Not today, old friend," he murmured to the book. "Last thing I need is a potion that makes people dance uncontrollably or start speaking in riddles. Not with this many orders!"

He wiped his brow, mixing another batch of a popular energy tonic.

"It's like running while being chased by a dragon breathing flame on my ass. Who knew being a famous potioneer would be so... exhausting?"

At that moment, a customer named Fergus burst into the shop, his eyes wide with panic. "Cedric! I need a potion to stop my chickens from laying explosive eggs!"

Cedric blinked, stifling a laugh. "Explosive eggs, Fergus? What on earth have you been feeding them?"

Fergus wrung his hands, clearly distressed. "It was supposed to be a growth tonic! I must've mixed up the ingredients."

Cedric sighed, shaking his head with a grin. "Alright, alright. I'll whip up something to fix that. But no more experimenting without supervision, okay?"

As Cedric handed out potions and listened to his customers' tales, he couldn't help but feel a sense of fulfillment despite the chaos.

By the end of the day, Cedric collapsed into his chair, exhausted but content. "Who knew fame could be this tiring? I might need to brew a potion just to keep up with all the potion-making."

He glanced at the legendary recipe book one more time, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

"Maybe one day, when things calm down a bit. But for now, I think I'll stick to the basics. Wouldn't want any funny things happening to the entire town."

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The next day, Cedric just finishing a batch of healing salves when he heard the bell above his door jingle.

Looking up, he saw a young man standing in the doorway. His clothes crumpled and dirty, and his face streaked with dust. He looked as though he had traveled a great distance.

Cedric raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"Well, you certainly look like you've had quite the journey. Come in, come in. What can I do for you?" Cedric said.

The young man stepped inside, wiping his brow and glancing around the shop with wide-eyed wonder. "

Thank you, sir. My name is Tom, and I've come from the village of Stonebrook. It's a few months journey from here."

Cedric nodded, motioning for Tom to take a seat. "Stonebrook, eh? That's quite the trek. What brings you all this way?"

Tom sat down, looking a bit nervous but determined. "Actually, sir, I've heard tales of your potioneering skills since I've arrived at this town. Since I was a small child I always wanted to become a potioneer. So uhh... I want to become your apprentice."

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