Chapter 15: 15 - Pharmacy
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The sound of the waves ebbing and flowing.
On the shore on that day, you kept smiling.
Clutching to your heart whose pain was never showing,
But your smile, every time, I could feel it waning.
-K.
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Kairo woke up completely covered in his blanket, yet he remained cold.
It was still quite dim, and so he fought against the urge to stay in bed. He looked out the window and saw the gray clouds that hid the sun.
He examined the door and the windows to see if they were open to hopefully explain the chilly sensation he felt, but they were all closed and the air was still.
After a while, he stretched, got up, and did his morning routine in the tiny room with the sink to fully wake himself up. He washed his face, removed the dirt from his eyes, and finally, gargled. Afterwards, he went straight to the dining hall. He began a thought, if Grisia and Aisia were to roam outside of the mansion today and visit the city, he hoped that he could tag along with them. He needed to know this kingdom's city if he were to stay here for his training.
Curiously, he didn't meet anyone on his way to the dining hall.
Today, he didn't have a dream. If ever he did, he couldn't remember it. But it felt like he already walked down these cold, empty hallways on quite a drab day like this in the past.
This experience was familiar, these thoughts were familiar, the way he walked while looking down, observing how he walked, and thinking about all these were familiar. What was it called again? A feeling of déjà vu?
He arrived in front of the dining hall. He could hear voices present inside. When he opened the door, Grisia, Aisia, and some other maids were already eating.
"Join in, Kairo. There's an open seat, help yourself," Grisia spoke.
"Thank you," Kairo replied with a nod. He greeted the maids and they returned the gesture kindly. Of all the maids present, he only personally knew of Alex.
Today, there weren't any meat dishes. Most of them were potatoes, rice, fish, and other vegetables. But since it was Tiraga's cooking, it still was quite tasty and appetizing.
While they were eating, Kairo asked Grisia if he could tag along should they plan to leave the manor today. Incidentally, they did plan to leave for the city after breakfast. Grisia agreed to let him join, while Aisia simply let out a deep sigh.
"What's wrong? Do you not want me to join, Aisia?" Kairo asked her from across the table.
"No, it's not that..." Aisia replied as if she was drained of energy. She didn't answer any further and simply continued eating with a frown on her face.
She wasn't usually like this, Kairo thought, but she only met her for barely a week anyway, so maybe this was her natural behavior.
"Grisia?" Kairo scanned Grisia's face for answers regarding Aisia's sulky demeanor.
Grisia merely replied, "I think you should ask her yourself."
Grisia finished eating and waited for Aisia and Kairo to finish as well. The maids went to the kitchen to wash their own dishes after they finished eating, waiting for their masters and Kairo to finish eating before taking their plates.
Once Kairo and Aisia finished eating, the three of them left the dining hall.
"We'll only be strolling around in the city. If you wish to leave the city, you will have to prepare, Kairo," Grisia told him. Aisia gloomily leaned on the wall.
"Hmm..." Kairo thought about it for a moment. "I don't think I have anything to do outside of the city just yet."
"I see. Then, maybe registering for a merchant's license in the city hall today would be of interest to you?"
"Ah, yes! But I don't know what's needed to apply..."
"I didn't try to become a merchant," Grisia replied. "But if it is as easy as registering to become an adventurer, you merely need to provide proof that you are competent enough to be a merchant. I recommend you bring some muns with you or wares."
Muns, the continent's official currency, uses copper, silver, and gold coins for trading. With five copper muns, one can at least buy a single piece of bread. A silver mun is a hundred copper muns worth, while a gold mun is a hundred silver muns worth, or ten thousand copper muns.
Grisia continued, "Receipts of previous purchases and a recommendation from someone who does business in the city would be helpful too, I would assume."
"Great idea, I'll bring as much silver as I can," Kairo said. "And some of the medicinal herbs I've gathered in my travels. There should be some herbal medicine and fresh, raw medicinal herbs in my stash. I do still have the receipts from when I bought supplies in the marketplace in the city, good thing I saved them."
Grisia nodded. It was a perceptive choice to save the receipts. Kairo continued, "I didn't think I would be staying here for a while, so I'd better show Tiraga some of the spices I've bought, she may be interested. I also befriended a chemist in the apothecary, I'll ask if I can get his recommendation."
"Yes, those should be more than enough to get you a license. If you lack muns, I shall happily provide what is needed," Grisia proposed. Though, he saw Kairo worry about being even more indebted to him, so he assured him, "I think with how you manage yourself, you're ready, and it's a good investment for me to let you start meddling with your own finances now, though there is still a lingering doubt in me that says it's still too early for you, as talented and promising as you may be."
"I am very grateful, Grisia. A thousand gratitude," Kairo smiled, bowing with his hand on his chest to show his sincerity.
Grisia nodded. "We'll wait by the main door."
"Certainly."
Kairo temporarily separated from the two. He went to his room and gathered the things he might need for his registration.
He will not be using the wooden container his father made. It's too bulky and he doesn't need it anymore since he bought a medium-sized bag and some new pouches the last time he was in the marketplace. Those were much more comfortable.
He hesitated on bringing the pouch that contained the coins from his village, his "savings" pouch. He didn't have the time to clean up the burnt wood, dirt, and blood on the coins. It's not like it's uncommon or illegal to use such dirty coins, but a lingering opposition to using it was still present inside his chest. Eventually, he decided to bring it alongside his own money, which was in a separate pouch, just in case. It was a hefty amount on its own, even compared to his savings pouch, but somehow, his savings pouch still felt heavier to him.
Once he was packed and ready, he headed out to meet the two at the main door.
When he opened the large double door, a cold wind blew past him and he saw white, soft circles slowly dancing down in the air everywhere.
"Snow...!" Kairo said excitedly and quietly at the same time. There still were only a few, small, white patches on the grass, meaning snow had just begun to fall.
"Let us move forth," Grisia declared.
They started their march on the grassy field, the occasional tree wasn't giving them much shade compared to the gray clouds that blocked the sun.
"Maybe I should've worn an extra layer of clothing," Kairo thought to himself as he felt the chill on his arms and observed the two.
Grisia was wearing the same gray, tattered cloak over his winter clothes. His winter clothing was a dirty green, linen cotton tunic with strings at the chest, then a thicker, cream-colored undershirt, and finally, a dark scarf around his neck. He still wore the same brown leather gloves that Kairo had seen him wear.
Aisia wore her hooded cloak, the one she had when they first met in the city. She was also wearing a scarf underneath her cloak, but she didn't put her hood over her head. She wore a cream, long-sleeved polo with ruffles and a dark brown corset. She wore tight trousers that were the same brown color as her corset—quite a different attire from her usual simplistic clothing.
"What's the matter, Aisia? You've been down in the dumps ever since I saw you today," Kairo asked Aisia out of concern, but Aisia only replied with soft, slow punches on his arm while looking dejected.
"What is that, by the way?" he pointed at Aisia's corset. "Doesn't that hurt? I saw my mother wear that sometimes, it looked painful to wear."
"Oh, the corset? This isn't an actual corset. It only looks like one, but it doesn't fully function as one," she started to talk, looking less gloomy. Kairo wanted to continue to cheer her up somehow, so he kept talking about her clothes.
"Not fully functioning? What do you mean?"
"Well, as you said, they looked painful to wear, and real corsets do. But this doesn't, it's not fully tightly fastened."
"Why do real corsets fasten to the point that they hurt?"
"To change the look of the shape of the body. But I never really cared too much about fashion or prettying up and all that. I feel like there's more to life as a girl than just being a doll," Aisia said. Grisia didn't butt in their conversation even if he could hear it. He simply led the way in front, with the two chattering behind him. "My corsets aren't painful to wear. I asked Grisia to buy me this kind of corset. They're only tight enough that it makes me feel much faster and more agile while still being comfortable."
"That looks cool! But my attire is 'cool' in a different way," Kairo said as he rubbed his hand all over his upper arms, trying to warm himself up. He blew a hot breath at his hands, then rubbed them together.
"Good timing," Grisia said. "We'll check out winter wear for you at a clothing store while we're in the city, Kairo."
"Uhh..." Kairo felt his pouch, and from the weight and sound of it, he wasn't sure he'd be able to buy any winter clothes with what he brought.
Grisia saw this and said, "It's fine. I'll purchase them for you. You are under my care now, do not carry all the burden by yourself. You're still a kid. Let me pay for your needs until you're able to sustain yourself. It is completely fine to rely on an adult."
"Many thanks, Grisia," he replied with a grateful smile.
The three entered the city.
They walked on the cobblestone pavement of the residential area as they headed to the marketplace. Grisia and company were greeted by the city folk once again. Much like last time, Grisia simply dismissed them by greeting or waving back at them. Kairo predicted that this was the time Aisia would be snickering at Grisia's awkward reactions, but she was still looking down.
They continued their venture until they reached the familiar marble fountain at the marketplace. It was a boisterous area, not unlike the dining hall when the maids were all together.
There weren't any couples or kids hanging around today, but there were some elderly folks in thick clothing who sat on the fountain, feeding the birds that landed at their feet with small grains and seeds.
Kairo went on his separate way from the two. He headed to the apothecary he told Grisia about and the two headed for who knows where. Grisia said they'd be going around the city and that they'd meet back up again at this fountain. Aisia's sighing returned, but this time, she looked less worried as she waved Kairo goodbye.
Later, Kairo approached a small building. A crude leaf drawing was etched on its hanging wooden signboard above the entrance. He opened the door and soft chimes played a brief charming tune.
"Welcome!" a thin, middle-aged man greeted with his back turned, checking on the jars of powder and vials of liquid on a tall wooden shelf behind the counter.
The man had white hair that was balding on the top of his head, wore round spectacles on his big nose, and a leather vest over a clean shirt. The room was quite lit and smelled peculiar, but not bad.
The man turned around to see the quiet visitor and smiled when he saw a familiar child's face. "If it isn't my wonder boy! Here to get my recommendation for registration?"
"Oh, y-yes! How'd you know?" Kairo asked.
"Oh, if I had a silver mun for every time a new face sells me such fine ingredients then comes back to my shop with a hopeful face... well, I wouldn't be rich. But if did get rich, I'd be hiring an artist to remake that sign outside! Hah-HA!" he had a quirky laugh as if he was showing something off triumphantly.
"You made that sign you have outside, sir?"
"Why, yes! It's... how'd you say... uhh, a spark of creativity! Yes! Though I do admit that I can't compete against real artists with their realistic paintings, that's why I'm a pharmacist! Hah-HA!" he joked with joyous glee.
Kairo put his fingers on his chin and rested his elbow on his wrist. He closed his eyes and contemplated for a short moment.
"Hmm..." he opened his eyes and said, "I think it has a certain charm. It feels... homely. And it sets you apart from the other shops' signboards which only have writings on them. It feels more friendly and welcoming to those who can't read or write."
"Ho, ho! I'm grateful for your appreciation, young wonder boy! I didn't think of it that deeply when I first was making it, but what you said makes sense! I feel much better about it now. Isn't that crazy? You made someone who sells consumables to make people feel better, feel better! Hah-HA! For that, here's your reward!" he opened a drawer at the counter.
He took out a small rectangular wooden container. He opened it and there was a thick stack of light brown parchment with writings on it. He took one piece of parchment and handed it to Kairo.
Kairo took it and curiously looked at its contents. It was a firm parchment, a card of sorts. In the middle, there was writing.
It stated, "To whom it may concern, I give my recommendation to the individual who presents this," afterwards, it had the address of the apothecary shop.
"What is this at the bottom right?" Kairo asked, showing the card to the man and pointing at the writing of a name with another squiggly writing on top of it.
"Oh, well, that is yours truly, of course! Parme Dicis, at your service! And that is my signature on top of it. Signatures are sort of like a seal, but I think seals are redundant. Seals are used in consideration for illiterate people. But I'm not illiterate, nor are the authorities responsible for giving you your license, so it's fine. It feels such a waste to use seals anyway. So, I just made a stack of copies with my signature on them whenever I had free time. And because I didn't use seals, I could store a pile of these cards into this quirky little box that I had Fredrick custom-made for me."
"Fredrick? Fredrick from Grisia's mansion?"
"Ah, yes. I believe you are acquainted with him?"
"Yes, I've met him in my stay there. I'm continuing my stay there for... reasons."
"Oh, I suppose I mustn't pry any further," he smiled.
"But that does make sense," Kairo said, steering back the conversation. "That's convenient for me then, to have this neat card as proof," Kairo grinned. "So, that's your name..." Kairo mumbled.
"Well, I doubt you have any maladies that you need medicine for, otherwise you would've asked me about it sooner. Hah-HA!"
"Certainly. Thank you for the recommendation, Mr. Parme! This also confirms that I needed one, I wasn't too sure at first..." Kairo said, walking towards the door.
"Anytime, wonder boy! I'll be looking forward to any interesting specimens you may collect for me in the future. Oh, and when you sell me enough medicinal plants, I'll be sure to reward you. So, visit with something on your hand whenever you can!" Parme shouted as Kairo waved his farewell.
The store chimes sounded their little tune again as Kairo went outside.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
None_demonai
None_demonai Shorter chapters start tomorrow at Chapter 11 due to daily chapter uploads! I'm not sure if long chapters are better, but if I get comments wishing for longer daily chapters, I'll try my best.
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