Pina sat at Theo’s counter, feeding a happy Tirr some of her “runner’s rations,” as she called them. She’d begun while Theo explained what happened to him - after he’d made her pick up the potion bottles she’d knocked down with her entrance.

“So, Pina. How did you know Tirr is a zilant? We had a whole debate over it,” Theo said, glancing toward his back room where Nils had joined the other two.

Pina glanced over at him, scratching under Tirr’s chin. She looked just as euphoric as him. “Hm? Oh, I had a massive dragon phase when I was little. I had this book that talked about all the types of dragons- it was a thing.”

“It doesn’t look like that’s changed much,” Theo said, grinning.

“Guess not.” Pina glanced up through Theo’s roof slats. “Oh shit. How long have I been here? I have deliveries to get done.”

Theo held up a finger. “Could I compose a list quickly? I’m in desperate need of groceries.”

Already halfway across the room, Pina stopped in place. “Um, sure.” She hopped from foot to foot. “Just- hurry?”

Theo scribbled down a list, cross-referencing his larder to know what he needed while Pina hovered over him.

Finishing with a flourish of his quill, he turned. “Don-”

Pina snatched the list from him, sprinting out. “Thanks!”

He’d at least paid her for this one. They still had the whole teaching her magic thing to do, but he felt bad taking up so much of her time. And life had happened - there wasn’t as much time for that lately.

“Nice day!” Tirr called out to him from the corner of the room - at least it wasn’t in his ear this time.

“Yes, yes. I’m coming, Tirr. And it’s Theo,” he said, chuckling as he walked back into his shop room. Maybe he could train Tirr to be a guard-dragon or something.

As he came through the door, Theo spotted Tirr chewing on a Washing Token. ...Maybe not a guard-dragon, then.

Theo sighed, but the tattered piece of wood was beyond recovery. At least it only cost him five or so minutes. And… he was done making the things. He stared at the basket full of them on his counter. He’d made those, alongside other simple, quick enchantments like Firestarter Stones.

And he was done. While he worked, he’d been slowly formulating Telsa’s dagger setup in his head. The lifting enchantment for Adam too. Something Primordial and Infusion-based so he didn’t have to use stardust to power it.

He fell into his work, allowing the day to pass by around him. Deskan left, eventually. She muttered a goodbye to him, which was about as close as he thought he’d get to her being kind.

Nils and Telsa stayed, for a bit. They had their own tasks for the day. A small time after they left, the bell rang.

“Welcome to Runes and Brews! H- Oh, hello, Galeen. It’s good to see you!” Theo said, smiling at the fulvitre healer.

“Good afternoon, Theo. Pina stopped by and informed me that you had been attacked. I have been meaning to check on Adam and you, but my clinic, it is busy,” Galeen said, walking forward, the wave motifs in their body shifting with every step.

Theo waved a hand. “It’s no problem. I’ve been following your instructions to the best of my ability. It’s been… a bit hard. My ribs still bother me.” He placed a hand over one of the spots that hurt the worst.

“Allow me to inspect you,” Galeen said, extending a hand toward him. They stopped for a moment to stare at Tirr sleeping on the counter, but didn’t comment.

“Um, okay- if you want to I mean- oh!” Theo exclaimed as Galeen slipped a cold, glassy hand under his shirt.

They whispered something and Theo felt a pulse of mana travel through his chest.

Despite the smooth glassy face with only a mouth, Theo could tell Galeen was glaring at him.

“You have not been careful, Theo. Your ribs, they need rest. Alas, time has passed. I may perform further healing potion injections, if you provide me your strongest brew,” Galeen said, glancing around his shop. They walked up to the various bottles, muttering. Picking one up, setting it down, onto the next.

“I wouldn’t want to waste your time- I still need to work on the wand for you, Galeen. I have another design for moving people in bed that you might be interested in as well, though,” Theo rambled, suddenly embarrassed as he realized he’d forgotten to work on Galeen’s promised wand.

Yet another addition to the growing list of jobs for him.

“It is no matter, Theo. Time holds less meaning to the fulvitre. We have much of it. Now, your counter will suit my purposes. Disrobe, please,” Galeen instructed, gesturing to his clothes.

Theo flushed, staring at his door. “Now? Really? Um, let me just… lock the door first.” He got up, rushing to the door and flipping the ‘closed’ sign. Despite his reservations about… disrobing in front of someone, he wasn’t going to turn down an offer for his ribs to be better. He frowned at his windows. “Don’t have any curtains… It’s probably fine.”

“I require the full space. Theo, if you could remove your… lizard, we can begin,” Galeen said, staring at Tirr.

“It’s um, a zilant. He’s new to me too,” Theo said, picking up the dragon.

Tirr opened an eye, making an annoyed noise, until Theo laid him in a sunbeam. He turned a pleased yellow before slowly shifting to lavender once more.

“I am aware of its species. The non-feathered variants were a nuisance in my homeland,” Galeen stated. “Now, time may hold less meaning but it does pass so quickly.” They gestured to the table.

Theo shuffled his feet over, unbuttoning his shirt. “You’re sure I’m okay? What about the potion toxins?”

“Your body will have cleared most by now. I may provide spot-treatment safely. I do not have Faastran with me, so I will require your help in attaching the potion once I am properly situated,” Galeen said, helping Theo up onto the counter and handing him the potion bottles they’d selected.

“Shouldn’t we um- is there some kind of preparation I should do?” Theo asked, feeling his heart rate spike.

“I suggest you not look if your stomach cannot handle it. Otherwise, I am busy and must begin. I will inspect Adam after your treatment is complete,” Galeen said, placing their hands over Theo’s chest.

His torso went numb at Galeen’s touch, his sense of pain disabled while they did their work. That, however, did not mean his sense of touch was inhibited. There was a distinctly nausea-inducing wriggling inside him as the healer’s fingers extended into his body, finding his ribs.

After an agonizing, uncountable amount of time, Galeen spoke. “Now, Theo. Please reach and slot the healing potions into my hands. Take care to not look below if possible.”

Theo swallowed, his hands trembling as he reached up. He felt movement in his chest, but tried to ignore it. His fingers found the slot in Galeen’s hand that they told him about, and he fit the bottle into it. Once he did the same on the other side, he let his arms fall to his sides.

“Very good. I will now perform spot-injections. Please do not be alarmed by any sensations,” Galeen said, not reassuring him in the slightest. For all of their skill, bedside manner clearly wasn’t part of it.

Theo nodded imperceptibly, trying to keep a smile on his face. His stomach, however, felt ready to heave.

Glass fingers moved through him. He could feel them moving his ribs into the right places. They were such small movements, he was at least reassured he hadn’t accidentally re-broke one or something.

The sensation of his bones fully knitting back together wasn’t one he enjoyed, though.

Every second crawled by slower than the last. Theo desperately wanted to squirm or something. But fear held him stock-still. If he moved, Galeen might… poke something. He didn’t know what, but he felt it was a valid concern with those infinitely-thin glass fingers extending into him.

However long it actually took, it was too long. Just as Theo opened his mouth to say something, Galeen spoke.

“It is done. I have repaired your ribs to the best of my ability. You may still be tender where there is tissue bruising. And, you must begin taking these potion supplements. I have used up much of your body’s resources in my work,” Galeen said, reaching into their bag and pulling out a bottle.

No. Anything but that. Theo stared in horror as he identified the bottle in Galeen’s hands. A ration potion.

“Is there a problem, Theo?” Galeen asked, tilting their head.

“Um- no just, ration potions are probably some of the most vile-tasting potions in existence,” Theo said, sweating as he stared at the bottle.

“I am told if you plug your nose it helps,” Galeen offered. “You must take it, however. Or you may become weak. Two days - three times per day is all I ask.” They held up three fingers.

“I-I suppose,” Theo said, taking the bottles as Galeen handed them. He didn’t even like making the things. They smelled. “Allow me to at least pay you for the-”

“You said you have another project that I may be interested in? That will suffice. Consider it in addition to my care for Adam. Now, take your potion and I must see to him,” Galeen said, already walking through the door into Theo’s house.

“Um, thank you, Galeen,” Theo said, realizing he hadn’t yet.

They nodded, and stepped through the door. “You are welcome, Theo. I have heard of your business. You do good for us all.”

He watched them walk away, his mood brightening for a moment before turning back to the blackish-brown mixture he held. It soured once more. Uncorking it, he plugged his nose, and swallowed. Only his years of experience with potion testing kept it from coming back up. Every last drop went down as fast as he could swallow. He wanted the experience to be over with.

Retching once, Theo covered his mouth, and breathed in a few times. Glorious, painless breaths. His ribs didn’t ache with every movement. He brought his arms over his head, testing how it felt. It was a little sore, but the pain wasn’t so deep. It just felt like the day after some especially vigorous exercise.

The freedom of movement almost made him forget about the disgusting liquid he’d just drank. Water. He needed water.

In the kitchen, he gulped down an entire glass of the sweet nectar in seconds. Swishing, he swallowed the last of it. It helped. The flavor wasn’t gone per se, but it was more like a bad memory now.

He glanced into his room, and Galeen had their fingers extended into Adam now. Theo felt himself turning green, so he rushed back into his shop.

Tirr looked up at him from his spot on the floor. “Nice day?” He asked, turning teal.

“Nothing to worry about, Tirr. Just recovering from a traumatic event,” Theo said, wiping sweat from his brow. “Let’s get this shop open again, shall we?”

As he opened the shop, he saw a woman walking by with a basket full of products. That reminder hit him, and a seed of worry erupted in his stomach.

“I forgot about the Terrents!” Theo rubbed a hand down his face.

But, I don’t even know where to find them. And, I can’t imagine I could visit wherever this Pelles Relicor lives without more thugs attacking me…

His mind spun, trying to think of solutions. The only one… wasn’t very promising. But that solution did say they’d be stopping by.

Theo waited. And waited some more. His day trailed on, an endless cycle of customers passing in and out while he jumped between his three projects: The Adam-flipper, as he was lovingly calling it now, Telsa’s dagger, and Galeen’s breathing wand. He hadn’t come up with fancy names for the other two yet.

Galeen had left hours ago, after he explained his plans to them. Pina had stopped by to drop off his groceries, but she couldn’t stay long. Her boss had her on double-shifts now - all thanks to him. He knew it, even if she didn’t say it. Now, it was just him and Tirr - and Adam.

Theo kept hearing some kind of bird call echo through his shop. Eventually, a small bird landed on his roof slats, chirping the same song.

Tirr blurred from atop a shelf, zipping through the air. He latched onto the roof slats and, much to Theo’s horror, snapped the fleeing bird out of the air with his viciously-sharp teeth.

“Tirr! No! I’ll buy you meat, you can’t just kill harmless animals!” Theo said, running over to the dragon who lay on his floor, already tearing into the bird. It was… too late. He’d have to clean the floor too.

“That does it, Tirr. No scritches for… a day!” Theo threatened.

Tirr turned a shade of pale red, glancing up at Theo.

“I-I suppose it’s in your nature. Just um, can you do it outside next time, Tirr? Where I can’t see it? I’m going to have to clean that,” Theo said, frowning.

Tirr gulped, swallowing the rest of the bird. He shifted to a content, pale yellow.

Theo threw up his hands, walking out of the room. When he came back in with a mop and bucket, the door opened.

“Sorry! I’ll be with you in just one moment. I need to clean up this- Maraz,” Theo said, finally inclining his head to see the man standing in his doorway. He set the mop and bucket down. His heart began to thump faster and faster.

“Theo. Good evening,” Maraz said, glancing at the spot of blood on the floor. His eyebrow arched - then he glanced over at Tirr, scratching behind his horn. “Ah.”

“I um- I’ve been expecting you,” Theo said. Drat, he’d messed it up! And he’d been running through his entire conversation with Maraz in his head while he waited for the man to show up too.

Maraz looked up from staring down a fully-red Tirr. Various predatory sounds echoed through the room. “Have you now?”

Theo sighed, and looked down at his new pet. “It’s okay, Tirr.” The sounds quieted down, surprising even him. “Well, you didn’t show up yesterday. So it was more that I was hoping you would today.”

Both of Maraz’s brows rose at that statement. “You were hoping for me? Clearly I’ve done my job terribly wrong.”

“It’s- um, the Terrent family,” Theo said, fussing with his vest buttons.

Maraz laughed. “You’re still on about them? I wouldn’t be so worried. Pelles Relicor is in hot water with the Guild and his family for you spilling their little secret. He wouldn’t dare mistreat his servants right now. We do have laws, you know.”

Theo ignored the hypocrisy in that statement, lest he provoke the man who was in an unusually calm mood. “So, they’re okay?”

“Likely living by the bare minimums of Romuen’s laws now, but otherwise unharmed. His occupation of that forest was not legal, thus his servants have not committed any crimes to be punished for,” Maraz said, walking over to Theo’s shelves and picking through the displays.

Why did everyone have to pick through his stuff? Theo shook his head. “Not that I’m um, disappointed in you sharing, but you’re normally not so forward with information like this. What’s the catch?”

“Perceptive now, aren’t we? I hope this information served as-” Maraz paused, closing his eyes for a second. It looked like it hurt him to say it. “Good will toward you.”

His finger traced over the newly marked signs on each product, but his gaze seemed focused in the distance. “I’ve heard that your prices have gone up. Good. Keep putting them up or I’ll put you down.” The words were there, but the conviction? Not so much.

Maraz rubbed his temples. “I’m still getting copious letters of complaint even now. But, Relicor takes priority for me at the moment.” He eyed Theo. “Guild’s orders. I need you to… help me.” It really sounded like it killed the man to say that.

A grin spread across Theo’s face. “Me? Help you?”

Maraz’s glare shut down his glee. “I simply need you to show me how to get into the forest. The Relicor family has been… resistant. They’re - hard to touch.”

“And then you’ll leave me alone? Or help Adam?” Theo asked. He couldn’t tell what benefit was in it for him.

“I could leave you be - for a time, but I can’t offer Adam’s recovery. There’s only so much I can push off. Your price changes helped, but not enough. They are… disruptive to the Guild’s purposes. I’m not sure you understand the implications of this forest, but it requires all of my attention, for now,” Maraz said, setting down an enchanted stone.

Having Maraz out of his hair for a bit would help, but it really wasn’t enough. He was a salesman at heart. His business sense may not be the best, but even Theo could smell a bad deal. “Get the Terrents away from the Relicor family - I’ll help them find a house or something after that, but get them out, and you have yourself a deal.”

Maraz frowned. “Theo, I can’t just-”

“It’s the only deal I’ll accept outside of you helping Adam,” Theo said, meeting the man’s eyes. He really hoped this worked.

The man grit his teeth, clenching a fist. “It… will be a headache, but I believe I could leverage it with the Guild’s support. Counter offer. I’ll free the Terrents from their indenture if you convince them to give me all the information I need and you show me how to access this forest.”

Theo smiled, walking up to Maraz. If he couldn’t undo what happened to Adam, at the very least he could help out the Terrent family. They may have offered the forest idea to him, but it was still his fault for accepting. He held out his hand to Maraz.

“It’s a deal.”