It was early morning, with the sun just beginning to rise. A ray of light peeked through the window coverings, landing squarely on the wizard's head and rousing him from sleep.
He realized he desperately needed food and a proper bath; he was sweaty, his clothes dusty and stained. “What a mess I’ve become. I need to take better care of myself,” he thought, slowly walking through the workshop and admiring the transformation he’d accomplished.
Leno grabbed a bucket and some leftover soap, warming it with a flick of his fingers, before washing himself down with a rag.
Feeling refreshed and clean, he recited a few words and moved his hands over his dirty clothes. With a magical flourish, they lifted like leaves in a breeze and instantly became clean and nicely folded.
His stomach growled, reminding him he could no longer ignore his hunger. He dressed and headed down to the tavern.
As he walked, Leno counted the handful of gold coins he had left in his palm, disappointment creeping over him. All his savings from his time working at the store before his journey were nearly gone. He realized he needed to be wise with his expenses; he estimated he could afford the basics for about a month before running dry.
When he entered the tavern, he found Roxanne sweeping the main room. A few patrons were still finishing their meals, one so drowsy he nearly dropped his face into a bowl of oatmeal.
“Good morning, new face!” Roxanne exclaimed energetically, waving one hand in greeting. “I’m guessing you’re not just here to admire my pretty face—would you like some bacon and eggs? Pick a table!”
Leno was so hungry he felt he could eat a rock. The enticing smell coming from the kitchen made his mouth water. He nodded eagerly, quickly sitting at the usual table by the window, which provided light and a bit of privacy without feeling too isolated.
The food arrived in Roxanne’s hands along with a jar of ale. Leno was reading the book but took the time to properly thank her this time.
“That’s much better! I’m starting to like you already,” she chuckled. “I’m quite busy, so call me if you need anything!” With that, she dashed off to tend to her chores.
As Leno devoured his food, he felt his mood lift. Roxanne was an excellent cook.
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After finishing his meal, he bid her goodbye and ventured to the market to buy some groceries. He wandered among the stalls, eyeing the fresh produce and vegetables. In the end, he bought bread, a jar of honey, some dried fruit, cheese, and some boar jerky.
Having spent most of his early years working with merchants and artisans, Leno wasn’t afraid to haggle; indeed, he prided himself on his skill. What might have cost him a gold coin in total ended up costing only seven silvers, and he even got a nice basket to carry it all.
Satisfied with his deals, he felt relieved. He wouldn’t have to worry about food for a while, and now it was time to focus on his work.
By the time he returned to the workshop early in the afternoon, he set the basket near the bed and resumed transcribing the Book of Alchemy. As always, he empowered his efforts with magic, a spell he employed whenever he worked.
Having read the book several times, Leno found that his constant reading of it allowed him to grasp new concepts quickly—a talent he exploited for his arcane studies.
Hours slipped by as he copied page after page at a pace that felt almost unnatural. His hands moved in small, precise motions as if guided by invisible strings.
It was nearly dark when he let out a final sigh, finally dropping his hands. He had finished the transcription of the first book. While he wanted to bask in his accomplishment, something else nagged at him.
Despite completing the transcript, the work felt incomplete due to the book's poor state. Overcome with curiosity, Leno attempted to magically mend and clean the original volume. He hoped this wouldn’t offend Remulus, as he often acted on impulse, seeking forgiveness rather than permission.
The spell was straightforward, one he had used frequently; his few possessions had benefited from its restorative effects more times than he could count.
Yet, restoring a book wasn’t as simple as sewing back a button or polishing a blade. Leno had to carefully weave the magic to truly restore it to its former glory.
As he worked, dirt faded from the pages, and missing sections began to reappear, revealing not only additional information but also scribbled notes from the original owner.
Leno was fascinated by this discovery. The notes seemed chaotic but contained an underlying order.
After going back and forth, cross-checking the book’s contents with the obscure notes, he regrettably found he lacked the alchemical knowledge to make sense of them.
After this fruitless endeavor, he grabbed a slice of cheese and bread, drizzling honey atop it. “Remulus could probably help me, but I want to solve this myself,” he mumbled.
With only a few pages left to complete the transcription and the need to bind it into a book afterward, he decided to take a quick break to rest his mind before the final push.
As he copied the final pages, he completed various methods previously missing or poorly described while also restoring several recipes. This ignited a surge of inspiration, pushing him through the night with fervor until he was done.
Carefully, Leno sewed the pages together and glued the cover, crafted from thin boards of wood and wrapped in black leather, to them. The candles burned low as he finished the labor—the book was now complete.
He sighed, feeling the adrenaline of inspiration wash away as the weight of his hard work settled in like a punch to the face. Exhausted, he fell asleep almost immediately. So tired he didn't even have the energy to dream.
