Chapter 9

He woke early, as usual, stretching out his stiff limbs before swinging his legs off the bed and standing up. It had been a peaceful night, and even though his body was sore from yesterday's work his stronger body was definitely helping. Having earned both copper and experience he was excited to start his day. Adam walked down the stairs "Morning, herbalist," the innkeeper greeted him as Adam approached the counter. "You're up early again. Breakfast?"

"Yeah, I'll take the usual," Adam replied. "And maybe a bit of extra bread today, if you have it."

The innkeeper gave him a small grunt of acknowledgment and yelled the order into the kitchen. It wasn't long before his meal arrived—scrambled eggs, sausage, and plenty of fresh bread. The innkeeper slid the plate toward him with a nod.

"There you go. Enjoy."

"Thanks," Adam said with a smile, grabbing his fork and digging in. The food was heavenly compared to his few days of eating just roots. Honestly, Adam was worried there for a while but his root bestie kept him fed until he found real people. Adam finished his meal quickly, the comfort of a warm breakfast setting his mood for the day. Adam decided before he opened his stall he was going to go back to the general store and get more jars and check out the traveling supplies he didn't want to be stuck sleeping in a tree eating roots if he could help it. Pulling out a root as he walked and rubbing it a little to get the dirt off Adam whispered "Not that there was anything wrong with roots… 

The general store wasn't far from the inn, nestled at the edge of the village. It was a small, unassuming building with a wooden sign above the door that read Galewood General Goods. The store's wide glass windows were filled with an assortment of items—baskets of dried fruits, bundles of rope, and various tools hung from the walls. Behind the counter was a stout, middle-aged woman sleeves rolled up to his elbows. She looked up as Adam entered and gave him a quick nod.

"Morning," the shopkeeper greeted. "What can I help you with today?"

"I'm looking for some travel supplies," Adam replied, stepping further into the shop. "A tent, traveling bed? If that's a thing maybe a map of nearby towns and villages and do you know what a kettle is? I'll need a fire starter as well."

The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow at Adam's list, clearly impressed with his thoroughness. "A kettle, eh? You must have plans for some serious travel." she leaned back slightly, looking Adam over with a thoughtful expression before nodding. "Yeah, we got all that. Let me show you what we have."

The shopkeeper walked toward a nearby corner where a selection of camping gear was displayed. As he motioned for Adam to follow, she spoke.

"A tent, a bedroll, and a kettle, I've got those right here," the man said, gesturing toward a simple canvas tent, folded neatly beside a rolled-up woolen blanket. "The tent is durable but lightweight, perfect for the road. As for the bedroll, it's not fancy, but it'll keep you warm enough."

Adam shaking his head at the shopkeeper spoke "No I mean a one-person actual bed not a bedroll it must fit into the tent and be made for travel."

The shopkeeper blinked, clearly surprised by Adam's request. She paused for a moment, considering. "Ah, I see what you're asking for now. A portable bed, not a bedroll." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "That's a little less common, but I believe we've got something that might work."

She walked over to another shelf in the corner of the shop, rummaging through a pile of more specialized gear. After a moment, she pulled out a compact, foldable cot. It had a sturdy frame, with a simple canvas cover stretched over it, and it was clearly designed to be lightweight and easy to pack.

"Here," she said, holding it up for Adam to see. "This is a portable travel cot. It folds up easily and fits inside most tents. It's not as soft as a full bed, but it'll keep you off the cold ground, and it's much more comfortable than a bedroll." She demonstrated by folding it out, showing him how it could easily be set up and taken down.

"How much is it?" Adam asked, already mentally calculating whether it would fit in his budget.

The shopkeeper glanced at the cot, then back at Adam. "It's 2 Silver and with the rest of the supplies together I'll do it all for 3 Silver and 55 Copper."

Adam paused, his fingers tapping lightly on the counter as he thought for a moment. He had 181 Copper which was almost 2 Silver he was a bit short. "Uh, I just realized," Adam said, offering a sheepish smile. "I don't quite have enough for everything."

The shopkeeper, seeing his hesitation, raised an eyebrow but then gave a thoughtful look. "I can make a deal with you if you're short. How about this? I'll hold the bed for you for a couple of days, and you can pay me the rest when you've got it. I'm sure you're good for it. Or, if you're pressed for copper, I've got a few other options you could consider" She winked at Adam "that could make up the difference."

"I think I can manage to scrape together the last bit by opening my stall today," Adam said, smiling at the shopkeeper while slowly backing away towards the exit. 

The shopkeeper gave a slight nod, she started chuckling. "Of course. You seem like a man who's got some plans. Just come back when you're ready, no rush. I'll have the cot set aside for you. And if you need anything else, just let me know."

As Adam set up his stall once again in the familiar clearing near the village square The wooden table, cloth, and baskets were becoming a familiar setup to the villagers, and the jars of salves, teas, and powders lined the surface neatly. He arranged his products carefully, making sure to display his new offerings—a few jars of the cold relief tea, some sweetened powders for those who needed a little more flavor, and his healing salves, which had sold well yesterday. It wasn't long before the first few villagers began to wander up, curious as always. Adam greeted them warmly, offering explanations for each of his products, and selling a few things here and there. But then, something unexpected happened. As he was finishing up with a small family who had just bought a jar of healing balm, he noticed people starting to gather behind them. At first, it was just a couple of people, but then more began to trickle in, drawn by the sight of his setup. The crowd was growing steadily, and before long, there was a sizable line forming at his stall. 

Adam smiled at the young woman who approached, noticing the playful glint in her eyes. "Anything I can help with today?" she asked, her voice light but tinged with a touch of humor. "Maybe something for... you know, the monthly attacks?" she asked, making air quotes with her fingers.

Adam laughed, his expression friendly and a bit teasing. "Actually, I do have something for that," he replied, his voice lowering a little in a conspiratorial manner. "I've got a special blend that should help."

He quickly reached for a small jar labeled with a simple tag: Monthly Relief Tea. As he opened it, he revealed a fine powder made from a blend of herbs, including Moonvine and Sweetleaf. He scooped out a small amount into a paper packet, tying it up neatly.

"This here is a mix of Moonvine and Sweetleaf," Adam explained, his tone light but serious as he spoke about the herbs. "Moonvine is known to help with cramps and other things that happen once a month. Only drink a cup when cramps start back up." The woman nodded, a grateful smile spreading across her face as she reached into her coin pouch. "I'll take it, then. Sounds like it's exactly what I've been looking for how much?" Adam thought well since its not life-threatening it will be 15 copper a jar and ill give 1 copper back if you bring the jar back." The young girl laughed and spoke "Its not life-threatening he says" Muttering under he breathe he barely heard her as she paid and leaves. "Must never have been a woman" 

As other people heard the discussion i soon had a riot of woman and girls pushing their way forward to buy more some Adam had to turn away until he could grind more before the day was even over he ran out of the herb having to tell everyone he wasn't going to open tomorrow to pick more herbs all day he would be back the next day. Adam packed up his stall, counting the coins in his pouch with a satisfied grin. It had been a busy but successful day. The word was spreading, and he was starting to build a steady customer base. Tomorrow, he would pick herbs and relax compared to this woman are scary he was going to hide in the woods tomorrow with some roots.

As he rests in bed he checks out the notifications he ignored all day. 

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Crafting Attempt Complete: Monthly Relief Tea (Basic)

Ingredients Used:

MoonvineSweetleaf

Crafting Result:

Item Created: Monthly Relief Tea

Effect: When brewed, this tea helps alleviate cramps, reduce bloating, and balance hormones during menstruation. It can also reduce mood swings and ease discomfort associated with the menstrual cycle. The Sweetleaf adds a mild sweetness to the tea, making it more pleasant to drink.

Duration: Relief lasts up to 6 hours.

Quality: Low

Stability: Moderate (Expires in 3 days)

Crafting Experience Gained: +10 XP x35

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Crafting rewarded 735 XP

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Alchemy level 3

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

First Aid Level 2

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Skill Learned: Negotiation Level 1: The ability to find mutually beneficial agreements, knowing when to push for a better deal or when to accept terms. Negotiation enables you to navigate complex transactions

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

LEVEL UP 

Remember Herbs are used to heal but also to kill when needed, continue to grow.

[SYSTEM MESSAGE]

Milestone Reached: Vitality 25

Trait Gained: Slowed Aging

Congratulations! You have reached Vitality 25 and gained the trait Slowed Aging. This trait significantly reduces the effects of aging on your body, enhancing your longevity and vitality.

Slowed Aging:

Reduces the effects of aging.

Physical signs of aging (wrinkles, graying hair, etc.) will appear at half the normal rate.

You experience a slower rate of decline in physical health as you grow older.

This trait will help you maintain your strength and health as you progress on your journey. Use your Vitality wisely to further enhance your path toward greater endurance and longevity!

Slower aging was exciting how long will he get to live this time? Hes going to make the most of this life. Adam made alot of progress the level up and seeing his stats were always nice sticking with his habit he dumped the 2 stat points into dexterity and checked out his full profile.

Name: Adam

Class: Herbalist (Level 4) 400/2000

Subclass:

Race: Human

Patron: Airmed

Titles: Master of a Legendary Class, Giant Slayer, Overkill

Traits: Slowed Aging

Current Status:

HP: 250/250 (3.3/min)

MP: 190/190 (3.6/min)

Stamina: 140/140 (4.7/min)

Abilities:

Herb Identification (Passive) – You can identify and analyze any plant or herb nearby.

Alchemy (Active) level 3 – Craft a basic salve from herbs.

Skills:

Inspect (Active) Level 1Taunt (Active) Level 1

Small Blades (Passive) Level 1

First Aid (Passive) Level 2

Negotiation (Passive) Level 1

Attributes:

Strength: 8

Intelligence: 17

Dexterity: 14

Wisdom: 19

Vitality: 25

Attribute points: 0

As Adam was falling asleep he remembered he forgot to pick up his supplies from the creepy and helpful store owner. He went to bed.