Kalle had been spending the day with Oscar. After failing his [Quest] he knew he should be feeling disappointed, especially in the wake of Harold’s resounding success. But he did not let it bother him too much, he had still made some solid progress and finally felt like he was catching on to what he had been missing in terms of rituals. The missing piece of his Class.

It was all about timing, the rest was negotiable. Just like with Spells, the closer you were to the original intent of the Spell the less it needed extra power to adjust. With magically powered rituals you needed a trio of catalysts that synergized and produced the rituals effect. Like his bangle of disguise that was charged by moon energy. Its creation was clearly magical, not necessarily involving a ritual, but if that was the tool they used to enchant it then they would have needed three sources of power, one for light, one for shadow and one for the moon. The three together changed the nature of a normal bangle into one of advanced illusory magic.

Of course, more components were required for a proper ritual. But the power of three he had learned of from Livia, and the fact that the timing was what mattered to get it right was the lesson from the [Quest]. Like the moon, when it waxed and waned you needed to conduct the ritual as its power peaked if that magic was what was meant for the main component of the enchantment, while the two others served a supporting role and provided the specific effect by varying their balance.

Rituals still came in different forms, and he had a lot more to figure out, but finally taking this first step was a great relief. He could not say he regretted his choice of [Quest], despite the failure to fulfil the hidden objective.

Oscar had been helping him with some standard sparring to provide a much needed hiatus from all the theorising. Although they fought in a spot in the woods where Oscar could get a proper ambush off, it was not really fair anymore if they just fought as normal with no advantages for the Classless party, meaning both Oscar and Hyde. Although it had been some weeks now since they saw the fellow, there was no need for worry since Roldy could sense him alive and well, if not much else.

They were walking back to the orchard, both sweaty to the point of looking soaked. Oscar was feeling weird to Kalle’s senses, and it became evident why when he worked up the nerve to finally speak up. “Can I tell you something, I have been keeping an unnecessary secret,” He was avoiding looking at Kalle.

“Yes sure, what’s it about?” Hm, does he need me for some revenge he is planning on Roldy for last week’s sunrise-waking by a crowing cock 3 inches from his sleeping face? Yeah, probably that.

“It is just about myself, so I was not sure when to bring it up really, but I guess it is important so I should have probably done it sooner,”

Unfortunately he did not get further before they were both distracted by some shouting from the orchard. Livia was supposed to be negotiating with Elin today, but judging by the outraged shouting things were not going well.

But as they approached Elin was actually the one trying to talk Livia down from her outrage, while two surprising faces stood on the receiving end of the tirade.

“You really think you can treat people however, and then still get the deal you want just by paying a little extra, do I look that desperate to you? Hah.” She was glaring at Albert, who stood to the side avoiding looking back.

Elin stood between, making calming gestures but it did not help when Bunke went on speaking. “Lady I know Albert was being off-putting, even downright rude, I am not here to defend his actions, he will say sorry as many times as needed,”

“Say sorry, what good will a sorry do for us? I accept it, that’s fine, whatever. Doesn’t mean I’m willing to partner up and provide the one resource I can’t replenish around here, to the one person who can’t act right to people being nothing but decent.” This final proclamation was what made Elin pull her to the side for a few choice words.

“Livia you may not be desperate but everybody saw the kind of things you still need at the auction, don’t run this scheme too far, it’s their starting bid, just take advantage and maybe this will solve our problems, Bunke is not a poor man I can tell you that one for free.”

Kalle and Oscar walked up and Livia seemed cheered by their presence but was too focused on the matter at hand to do more than greet them.

Back to business. Bunke tried again when they got done talking. “This drink will be for the town of Salcret, it is not often we have had even mundane mead, so despite your lacking a way to source more, this will be a special batch if we can make it right. It will be a boon to us all, and of course I will pay handsomely, it is a chance for my apprentice to level after all.”

The old man was not so bad. It was mostly Albert benefiting that Livia objected to. “Okay, there’s no way you are getting all our remaining honey, I still need it in case of emergency.” She was visibly thinking, going so far as rubbing her chin. “75% of what remains for the right price, and 75% of the produce goes to us. You are paying us for the levels, and the remaining drink you can auction off or put up a party with for all I care, but this was never going up for sale. I am providing an opportunity to make something special, no more than that.”

Not every magic ingredient was so special, you could find uncommon magic herbs and fruits even in Doc Forrest if you looked for a season. But this was rare Cloven craft, from bees who had been bred to do a single job for millenia.

They had to find more once they moved closer to Cloven lands, just had to.

In the end the negotiations went on for quite a while, Bunke was no pushover. But it was a once in a decade opportunity that Livia was sitting on, and once in a lifetime outside the capital’s markets.

They had secured a solid bit of the funding they would need, the expedition was looking up and Elin was proving useful already.

She still had a decision to make, but it was easier now to see the benefits of someone with a Class like Elin’s in her corner. Livia knew the power a proper treasurer wielded within an organisation, which is what Elin essentially stood to become, which meant that she would need to properly secure the girl’s loyalty, although how to go about it would require talking things through with the fellows.

She was thinking Elin might be worth blowing the next [Rare Quest] for. They would just need to look at some options first. If nothing unexpected happened they were leaving for Dormata in a month's time, the final members would need to be decided soon.