Leno woke up late, well past the evening. He had never liked sleeping, seeing it as a waste of time; instead, he wished he could use that time for something more productive.

  After scratching his back, he stretched his body. Sleeping on a bedroll could only do so much for his rest, and buying a proper bed was becoming increasingly necessary.

  On the floor, the book awaited him patiently. A mix of nerves and excitement bubbled within Leno as he considered delivering this first book. He hoped he could secure some payment in advance.

  He rummaged through his sack for breakfast, grateful that he still had some food left. It should last him a few more days before anything started to spoil.

  As was his routine, he prepared his spells, took a bath, and cleaned his clothes. Eager to get moving, he left the workshop and headed to Remulus’s store.

  As he walked, he lamented his urgency for coin. He loved exploring and researching, but he wished he could spare more time with the Book of Alchemy. Although he felt confident with the basic methods taught in it, he knew that with additional time, he could learn much more by deciphering the notes in its pages.

  When Leno arrived, the tinkling of wind chimes announced his entrance.

  “Either your master found the next King of Wizards, or you think too highly of your skills, young one,” said Remulus, who floated in the air, dusting off high shelves.

  Leno appreciated the gnome's small stature; despite not having pointy ears or a disproportionately large nose, it was clear he was no human.

  “I’ve brought one of the books—it's the Book of Alchemy. I hope it’s enough to excuse my bad manners,” Leno said, swirling his fingers to levitate the book so Remulus could easily reach it. A hint of sadness crossed his face as he offered it.

  Remulus noticed the wizard's expression and allowed a small smile to escape. He examined the copy, turning its pages with a wave of his hand. Upon reaching a particular page, he raised an eyebrow and glanced over at Leno.

  “I guess that not all is lost,” he said as he floated down to his usual spot. “You’re eager for payment, yes? But I asked for three books, not one.”

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  Leno felt a lump in his throat as he tried to maintain his composure. “Pardon my rudeness. I would be lying if I said coin wasn’t part of the reason for my early return, but my real aim isn’t just greed. I simply couldn’t wait to prove my worth to you,” he admitted, his voice trembling slightly.

  Remulus regarded Leno with a glimmer of amusement. He paused to light his pipe, which was crafted of bone and darkwood, with a brass tip.

  Then, he laughed. “I may be old, but my eyes can still see the schemes of a cub. Your words can’t hide your thirst for learning—there’s no need to sweeten what you say to get something from me.”

  Blushing, Leno looked away momentarily. He took a deep breath before responding, “It was foolish of me to try to twist things in my favor.” He bowed sincerely.

  “It’s true that losing the chance to learn pains me. Life's opportunities were few and far between, and I value knowledge more than coin.”

  “Regardless, I do this out of necessity, even if it means letting go of growth.” His sincerity held Remulus’s gaze, and he smiled.

  “Here’s what I am willing to offer you for this work,” Remulus said, snapping his fingers. Various tools began to float into a small wooden chest.

  “These are the most basic tools for practicing Alchemy. I’m giving them to you as payment, along with the original book you copied. I don’t need it anymore, and you’ll find it most useful.”

  Then his expression turned serious. “But know this: if you still seek gold, I’ll give it to you, but only after you complete what I asked for in its entirety. Should you choose that, the tools will not be part of the deal.”

  Leno was left speechless. An unbelievable opportunity lay before him. Despite his desperate need for money, he couldn’t bring himself to turn down such a generous offer.

  “You have my heartfelt thanks, Master Remulus. I will take these to the workshop and put them to good use. I won’t forget this favor.”

  Remulus clapped his hands twice. “Use these tools well, and you’ll never lack food on your plate. Alchemy can be a profitable endeavor if done right.”

  “If that’s all, my dear youngling, go; don’t waste any more daylight with embellished words. Get to it!”

  Just like that, Leno found himself the owner of equipment to begin investigating Alchemy.

  “The god of fortune indeed smiles upon me,” he thought as he made his way back to the workshop, but a realization struck him: “The notes! Remulus doesn’t know what I found in the book!” Unsure of what to make of this revelation, he considered that the moment to ask had come and gone.

  Once he arrived and set the chest down in his workspace, he sat on the floor to study everything he had brought back: beakers, bottles, tubes, even a tiny cauldron. It seemed he had enough to put all the knowledge he got so far to use. But what should he do about the book?

  “I don’t want to look foolish by crawling back to ask for help. And what if those notes are just nonsense?” Leno decided to investigate them on his own; with enough time, he was confident he could figure them out.