[color=a2d39c][b]~Maria~[/b][/color]

[color=a2d39c]“Ah Paetyr! It’s good to see that you are well!”[/color] Maria called from behind the counter to the old man who stepped into her shop. He was short, and walked with a wizened hunch, plodding along in an almost tortoise-like fashion. A long white beard hung from his face in a gentle contrast from his bald head. 

“Always puts the pep back into the step, your medicine does,” the old man grunted with a weary grin as he approached the shop counter. “My wife and I don’t know what we would do about our bone aches without you, Maria.” He rubbed his arched back in emphasis.

[color=a2d39c]“Why thank you. I only want to do what I can to help,”[/color] Maria replied with a cordial smile. [color=a2d39c]“Now I presume you’re here for the same blend as last week?”[/color]

Paetyr nodded. “The war rages on,” he quipped, chuckling a bit.

Maria smiled again, then tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she knelt down behind the counter. She opened a drawer that contained a loose assortment of common herbs, a row of empty cloth pouches, and a very old book. Maria plucked several leaves and tucked them into one of the small bags without measuring the portions - there was no need to. The only herbs she carried were spearmint, rosemary and thyme. 

Before she rose from behind the counter, she opened the book, flipped to a page near the beginning, and muttered a quick incantation over the pouch. The leaves within sparkled momentarily, then faded back to their normal appearance. She had cast a spell that caused immediate but temporary relief from pain. Temporary was the key word, as it helped retain customers. 

Maria stood up, and handed the pouch to Paetyr, who had already pulled out his coin purse. “Took you a bit longer this time. New stock?” asked the old man as he counted his coins.

[color=a2d39c]“Yes, I just received a shipment from the far north today,”[/color] said Maria without hesitation, knowing that the ships had come in this morning. [color=a2d39c]“I just had to reference the compendium to make sure the portions were correct.”[/color]

“Ah,” replied Paetyr. He handed her the coins in payment for the pouch. “I’d love to know where you find your herbs. They work so well, it’s almost like magic.”

Maria didn’t miss a beat. [color=a2d39c]“You’re not the first to tell me that, though I appreciate the compliment.”[/color]

Paetyr turned to leave, but smiled again, though with a melancholy air. “You keep doing what you’re doing, you hear?” 

[color=a2d39c]“Of course. Have a nice day,”[/color] Maria called out as the man left. When the door behind him closed, she sighed wistfully. She knew that Paetyr’s son had died in the war, eaten alive by a violent torrent of magic. It felt almost cruel to trick an old man the way she did. 

A pitter patter of steps from the upstairs floor signaled that her son had woken up, and moments later, Jason came trudging down the stairs rubbing his eyes and nibbling on a piece of bread. 

[color=a2d39c]“Good morning,”[/color] Maria greeted her son. 

Jason nodded absentmindedly, then headed for the door. 

[color=a2d39c]“Ah wait, where do you think you’re going?”[/color] Maria asked, caught slightly off guard.

Jason pointed at the door, then walked out of the shop. 

[color=a2d39c]“Hey, come back here I--”[/color] 

The door slammed, then was quickly opened by another customer. Maria huffed in frustration before reapplying a cordial smile as she greeted the dwarf who had just walked in.

[color=8882be][b]~Jason~[/b][/color]

As soon as he stepped out of his mother’s shop, Jason surveyed the town square, then headed south. His loose shirt hung lazily around his thin body as his unkempt bed hair drifted over his eyes. He looked rather out of place in the bustle of the town square, where mostly everyone walked with purpose and direction to conduct their business. In contrast, Jason strolled along casual and aloof, almost bumping into people before they noticed him and got out of his way. He continued on without much of a hitch, about to pass The Ugly Mug. 

But then he suddenly found his head buried in a doughy bosom and strawberry blonde hair. It reeked of ale.

[@Ryciera] [@Plecy]