Arcane Innovator

With many villagers unable to work due to the Red Fever affecting our village, the harvest this year was very meager. This means that many families will starve in the winter. We were a few of the lucky ones who didn't lose anyone, and we aren't dependent on the land to provide our food.

And so, we traveled to the annual autumn market, where we could purchase what we needed to survive the coming winter. Followed by the heavy gazes of those who couldn't afford to go.

Rolf and I pushed the cart, our father walking alongside us, lost in his thoughts. The road was winding and treacherous, but we pressed on, the weight of our burden driving us forward. Finally, we arrived at the city gates shortly after midday and joined the line of weary travelers.

As we entered the city, I was struck by how different it looked from what I remembered. The once bustling streets were now deserted, and the air was heavy with uncertainty. The market stalls were fewer in number, and their wares were of poor quality. It was a far cry from last year's vibrant market.

My father shopped with a heavy heart, acutely aware of those less fortunate. Mothers begged shopkeepers for scraps of food to feed their starving children, and we saw many such scenes of suffering and despair in the city.

I quietly followed behind and watched it all without showing any emotions. I believe I've grown numb to other people's suffering. I guess this place does this to you. But what is the point of worrying about things you have no control over when there is nothing you can do to change them? You can only think of yourself and your family.

Speaking of things I can do for myself, I excused myself after we finished shopping, telling my father I wanted to look around the city, and made my way to Isadora's shop to finally tell her about my wish to be her apprentice, a moment I have been both looking forward to and dreading for the past several years.

***

Isadora's piercing gaze looked through me as she contemplated my request. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety as I awaited her response.

Her words hung in the air like a thick fog, and for a moment, I was unsure if I had heard her correctly.

"You want to become my apprentice, Darian?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of disbelief.

I nodded, my heart racing with anticipation. It had taken me months to work up the courage to ask Isadora. Now that I had it, I was determined not to let this opportunity slip away.

"Didn't you tell me your father was a blacksmith? Weren't you supposed to inherit your father's trade?"

"Well, my oldest brother Rolf is set to inherit the smithy, and I want to follow my own path. And since you told me I have a talent, I want to try to be an herbalist," I explained, hoping my response would appease her.

Isadora's eyes flickered with understanding, and she nodded thoughtfully. "Well, you certainly have talent. But I wish you had told me that sooner. Your timing couldn't be more awful. I've already taken an apprentice in the spring and can't support another."

I felt a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I guess this is just my bad luck. This was not the response I wanted. Had I waited too long? Was my chance at becoming an herbalist's apprentice lost?

"Oh, I didn't know that. But I wanted to wait until I'm old enough so that you take my request seriously and not as a child's telling," I said, trying to keep nervousness from creeping into my voice.

Isadora regarded me for a moment and said, "Hmm, you had reasonable intentions. I wish the circumstances were different," she said with a sigh.

My heart was pounding so loudly that I could barely hear her words as I was trying to figure out a way to convince her.

"Isn't there any way I could become your apprentice? I will work hard. You won't regret it," I implored her, hoping she would say yes.

Isadora grew silent as she contemplated my request. It was only a short moment, but It felt like an eternity to me.

Then she finally responded. "Well, I suppose there is a way. I wouldn't do it for anyone else, especially someone not from the city. But if it is you, I might make an exception." Isadora's words were measured and cautious, and I hung on to every one of them.

"It's only because I see tremendous potential in you, and it would be a pity not to nurture it," she added, her voice softening slightly.

My heart leaped with joy. Could it be true? Was she really intending to take me on as her apprentice?

"But it will be a harsh path for you," Isadora then continued, and my short-lived joy was tempered by a growing sense of trepidation.

"You see, I'm a small business and can't afford to support another apprentice. So you wouldn't be paid a wage for your work, and you would have to pay the full price for your training. Also, I don't have another spare room, so you must find accommodation elsewhere. Would you want to do it even under these conditions?"

Well, it is certainly harsh. No sound-minded person without rich parents to support him would ever agree to something like this. Luckily, I wasn't like most people and made a fortune selling herbs. I had the foresight to keep most of my savings intact, so I can certainly afford this.

Besides, it's not about the money. The main reason for doing this lies elsewhere, and this accomplishes two very significant objectives. Firstly, I become a resident of the city, which elevates my status from that of a simple villager. Second, I become an herbalist's apprentice, which increases my status even more.

Not only am I able to reside inside the city and not have to pay an entrance fee every time I come here, but, you see, in a status-based society, your social standing is everything. I could have as much money as I wanted, but without proper standing and connections, I wouldn't be able to accomplish anything at all.

So I wore a big smile on my face and nodded happily. "How much money will be required for my training?"

"Hmm, let's see, it will need to cover all the herbs and other ingredients during your training, along with my time spent teaching you..." Isadora thought out loud.

"It will cost you five marks of silver per year of training," she finally said after a while.

Wow, that's a lot of money; no wonder my father said we couldn't afford an apprenticeship in the city.

"Well, you know how much I made selling herbs to you, so I can certainly afford it. Would I be allowed to continue to sell the herbs I collect even after becoming your apprentice?"

"Normally it is part of apprentice work, and you wouldn't be paid extra for it. However, since I won't be paying you a wage if you collect them on your own during your free time, I will make an exception and give you a proper price for them."

Wow, you know, this is even better. Screw up a wage; with this, I will make much more money. But I didn't let it show on my face and just nodded, trying to look humble.

"Last thing, since you don't have a recommendation, you will need to undergo an apprenticeship test to see if you have the potential for the job; usually it contains identifying herbs and a short written exam, but given your unique circumstances, I will think of something else for you. Wait a moment; I will be right back." Isadora spoke mysteriously and disappeared into the back of the shop.

I couldn't help but feel growing excitement. This apprenticeship was a turning point in my life, and I couldn't afford to mess it up. I wasn't much interested in herbs at first, but it wasn't until I started selling them that I realized their true potential.

I spent years learning the properties and uses of every plant and herb that grew in the forest surrounding my village. And now, here I was, about to embark on a journey that would take my knowledge and abilities to a whole new level.

As I waited for Isadora to return, I couldn't help but think about the sacrifices I had made to get here. It wasn't easy to leave behind the comfort and familiarity of my village and venture into the unknown. But I knew this was my chance.

Isadora was taking her sweet time, and I wondered what kind of special test she had in mind for me. She returned after a while, carrying a piece of paper. I looked at it, and it was an exquisite illustration of a flower I had never seen before.

"This is called Moonlight Aster, and it is a rare flower that grows in shallow water in the woods around your village. It blooms only once a year on the night of the spring equinox, which is also when you must harvest it."

"Your task will be to find it, dry it, and bring it back to me. It is a very delicate flower, so any mistake during the drying process would ruin it."

"It shouldn't be very difficult to find if you look carefully and follow the instructions, but processing it is tricky. If you accomplish this, I will happily take you on as my apprentice." She finished her explanation and looked at me with the same mysterious smile.

What the hell? What is this crap? How come everyone else gets a nice and easy written exam and I must travel deep into the Forest full of bloodthirsty monsters in the middle of the night in search of a stupid flower? How is this fair? I was quietly seething with outrage and injustice, but of course, I didn't let it show on my face.

I smiled weakly and asked, "Isn't this too hard for an apprenticeship test?"

She looked at me and simply said, "It is hard, but I believe you have the right set of skills to accomplish it, and besides, I want to see the strength of your conviction to be an herbalist."

Ha! Strength of my conviction, my ass, you just figured that I didn't have any other option, and you can ask for whatever you want and I can't say no. Well... you're right, but still! I then reluctantly agreed.

"You can keep the illustration. Good luck to you, and I hope to see you soon," She said as we parted ways, smiling at me.

A sigh escaped my lips as I said my farewells and exited the shop. As I walked out of the door, the only thing I could feel was a growing sense of trepidation for the task she had set out for me.