The echoes of the final battle faded, replaced by the rhythmic rush of the waterfall, and then, a welcome sound: applause. Robert approached them, his face beaming with pride. He enveloped each of them in a heartfelt hug. "I''m so proud of you both," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "You worked together, overcame impossible odds, and you''ve both grown tremendously." Anya, glancing at her notifications, felt a surge of accomplishment. Two more levels gained, and a significant boost to her sword skill. Elara, too, had made progress, her wind magic skill had increased, though a new personal level eluded her, she was close. The victory was truly sweet, a testament to their hard work and courage.
Having conquered the run, the two girls scanned the System Shop''s offerings in the final chamber. Though brimming with options, none of the items truly captivated them. They opted to hold onto their hard-earned tokens for now. As they set off for home, they solidified a plan: grind out several more runs to reach level 20, then embark on a search for the perfect team to continue their journey. Back in town, a note awaited them at Robert''s, a summons from the Millers for an evening meeting to discuss "the girls." Anya headed home to talk with her family while Robert and Elara slipped inside for an early dinner, a brief respite before heading to see what the Millers had decided.
The evening air was pleasant as they strolled back to the Millers'', a hopeful spring in their step. Robert gave a cheerful rap on the door, and it swung open to reveal Evelyn, her usual bright smile firmly in place. "Welcome, welcome! Come in!" she chirped, ushering them inside. The whole family was gathered in the living room, but the atmosphere was more relaxed than their last visit. After a round of friendly greetings, everyone settled into the comfy armchairs and sofas. Thomas, a twinkle in his eye, addressed them. "We appreciate you coming back so quickly. We''ve had a good long think, and, well... your proposal is certainly... unexpected." Robert chuckled, leaning forward. "I know it''s not every day someone asks to train your youngest to be an enchanter," he said, giving a reassuring nod. "But I promise, little Willow has a real gift for it. She could be amazing!" Elara chimed in, "Just imagine the beautiful things she''ll be able to create! And," she added with a playful grin, "think of the discount on enchanted gear for the family!"
"So, with your blessing, we''re agreed that Clara and Evelyn will come and work for you. In turn, my sister has a daughter who just turned fifteen, and she will replace the two girls at my bakery," Thomas stated. A smile spread across Robert''s face. "It sounds like this will work out wonderfully then. Thank you for your trust." He turned to the two girls, Clara and Evelyn, "Do either of you have any questions?" Clara spoke up first, "We haven''t actually discussed our specific duties, working hours, or pay." Robert nodded understandingly. "Of course. I''ve done some research on those matters to ensure everything is fair. As you know I am an enchanter by trade. Clara, you''ll be managing the front of the shop. You''ll take orders, handle sales, and be the friendly face our customers see. Evelyn, you''ll work with me in the back. I''ll teach you how to make enchanted goods, as well as our standard offerings. Over time you will be able to create your own unique enchanted items."
He paused, gathering his thoughts. "As for hours, most shops around here seem to open two hours after sunrise and close seven hours later. It''s a bit odd, but that''s the norm for non-food establishments. Now, regarding pay, that was a bit trickier to nail down. Most apprentices without a profession earn around eight coppers a day, with a potential bonus based on sales. However, I found that to be quite low." Thomas interjected, "That''s accurate. Typically, when we hire individuals of their age and experience, half their pay is used to offset the cost of their training. So, it would normally be sixteen coppers a day, but since you''re teaching them a trade, you''re entitled to deduct the funds used to compensate for your time." Robert shook his head, a hint of disapproval in his voice. "I can''t say I agree with that. While their daily expenses may be minimal since they''re living with you, they''ll no longer be contributing to the family income. They need to compensate you for that, and have money for their future. Eight coppers should cover their upkeep – food, clothes, housing – but that leaves them nothing to save."Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Robert sat in thoughtful silence for a moment before speaking again. "Here''s what I propose: eight coppers a day for living expenses, eight coppers a day for savings, and four coppers a day for personal spending. That''s twenty coppers a day in total. In addition, they''ll each receive 2.5% of the shop''s daily profit." Thomas''s eyes widened in surprise. "That''s exceedingly generous, they still have much to learn." Robert chuckled. "And learn they will, but now they have a real incentive to excel."
Seeing the girls'' confused expressions, Robert retrieved a Rod of Healing from somewhere. "This," he explained, "is a Rod of Healing. As a Tier 2 healing item, it typically sells for around twenty silver. However, this particular rod provides bonus healing and has 50% more charges, so it should fetch around thirty-five silver. While I don''t expect us to sell dozens of these daily in our town, I anticipate traders will buy them in bulk when they pass through. For every one of these rods you sell, you each will receive eighty-eight coppers. And these are some of the least expensive items in my shop. If the business thrives, you could potentially earn a few silver a day just from bonuses. Do you understand now?"
Clara''s jaw dropped. "But... won''t that severely impact your profits?" A warm chuckle escaped Robert. "You two will be the heart of this shop, the driving force behind its success. Shouldn''t you be rewarded fairly for the value you bring?" Thomas chimed in, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. "It''s unusual, to say the least. Most shopkeepers cling to every last coin they can." Robert''s smile faded, replaced by a look of slight dismay. "That''s a shortsighted way to run a business, if you ask me. People should be paid what they''re worth, in proportion to their contribution." A thrill of hope pulsed through both girls. They could actually build a good life working for Robert.
Thomas clasped Robert''s hand, his voice thick with gratitude. "Thank you, Robert. Thank you for treating my girls with such respect." They settled on a start date three days hence, allowing time for Thomas''s niece to arrive and for Robert to put the finishing touches on the shop. After a few more minutes of ironing out the details, Robert and Elara took their leave.
The next 48 hours were a flurry of productive enchanting as Robert stocked his shop. He completed a dozen sets of light fixtures before moving onto a more domestic innovation: a hot water heater. He fashioned a compact stone box with a spout emerging gracefully from the top edge. A cleverly placed enchantment would, when activated, generate a steady stream of hot water. Opting for simplicity over complexity, he fixed the temperature at a versatile 140 degrees Fahrenheit, assuming users could easily temper it with cold water. The device would revolutionize household tasks, from bathing to cleaning. Powered by an embedded crystal, the heater was activated by a simple touch of a rune. It would continue to produce water until its mana was depleted or the rune was touched again. The common, inexpensive crystal he''d used could generate approximately 100 gallons of water before needing a recharge, accomplished by placing a fresh crystal on the charging rune. Robert foresaw a steady income from selling these recharging crystals, too.
Driven by his desire to maximize profit, Robert crafted five more water heaters before turning his attention to the recharging crystals. He meticulously engraved each crystal with the necessary charging runes, ensuring each could fully replenish a single device. After completing a dozen, he called it a night and headed home. He''d promised Elara and Anya one last dungeon run before the shop''s grand opening consumed his time. True to his word, he took them on the third day, and they successfully completed another full circuit, earning both girls another level. This would be Elara''s final level for the foreseeable future, which was ideal. It gave Anya a chance to close the gap before Elara reached level 20. Robert''s calculations indicated Anya should hit level 18 by then, and just four more runs would propel her to level 20 and guild membership.
The next morning found all five of them buzzing with anticipation inside the shop. Robert meticulously reviewed the inventory with Clara, ensuring she understood every item. Satisfied, he led a wide-eyed Willow upstairs to the workshop, explaining the intricacies of its operation. Once he saw Willow was starting to feel overwhelmed, he wisely led her back down to the storefront. Elara and Anya, eager to witness the shop''s debut, decided to stay for a while before departing for their training. At precisely nine o''clock, with a mix of nerves and excitement, Robert flung open the door, officially embarking on his first day as a shop owner.