Tarni was still rubbing the back of his neck as he practically sprinted from the alchemist's shop to the Guild Hall. The memory of Jake—no, Call me Jake—grabbing him like he was a toddler about to toddle off a cliff was still fresh enough to raise the hairs on his arms.

He'd changed tactics and had gone in all cocky, spinning the tale of their "brave floral foray" with a no-nonsense attitude, thinking the man would be impressed with their daring daylight heist from the swampy ridge. And for a moment, Tarni thought he was failing right up until Tarni had mentioned the flowers by name.

"The Ghost Orchids," he'd said, casually tossing the name in as if it were just another weed in the bush. Then blinked—and Jake was in front of him.

Correction: Jake was above him.

Tarni hadn't even seen the man move. One second, he was behind the bench, leaning lazily on it like a bloke about to nap. The next, Tarni's boots were barely touching the floor and his shirt collar was pulled tight in a beefy, vice-like grip. Jake's eyes weren't wild—they were focused. Burning. Scary in a way that made Tarni's gut twist.

"What did you say those flowers were called?" Jake had asked, voice low and sharp as a saw. "And how many do you have?"

Tarni had no idea his mouth could run that fast under pressure, but he managed to confirm the name and stammer out the number. thirty. A nice, even number.

Jake had narrowed his eyes. "All of them. I want all of them now."

And that's when Tarni's brain kicked in.

"Well, mate," he'd said, flashing the kind of grin only someone actively praying for survival would attempt, "how about a trade? Four now—for an alchemy lesson. A real one. Not just potion-flipping. I want the good stuff."

Jake hadn't said anything for a moment. Then he slowly lowered Tarni back to the ground, still eyeing him like he was a bug on a microscope slide.

"One third for a lesson," Jake stated, his eyes still boring into Tarni.

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"And if it's worth it," Tarni continued, smoothing out his shirt like he hadn't just been manhandled by a monster in human skin, "I'll bring you the rest over the next couple of days. One trade at a time."

A long silence had followed, only broken when Jake gave a slow, dangerous nod. "Fine. We start as soon as you hand over those ten Ghost Orchids."

Now, as Tarni approached the Guild Hall, he let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. He shook out his arms, trying to release some of the tension still coiled in his shoulders.

Hopefully the others would still be inside, Bell no doubt interrogating the Guild master with her signature no-nonsense authority; he had no idea what the others would be doing.

Tarni pushed open the heavy doors and stepped into the cool shade of the guild's common hall. The usual din of conversation, dice games, and tankards clinking greeted him like a familiar pub tune. He scanned the room, quickly spotting Zane nose-deep in every bit of parchment stuck to the board. Bell was nowhere in sight. Kai and Lily were chatting with a group of younger adventurers near the fireplace. Lily was hovering behind Kai awkwardly, looking for the world like the older sibling protecting her younger brother.

He paused for a moment, taking in the scene. Then he grinned.

Yeah. They had work to do, quests to accept, and who knew what else was waiting just outside the town walls.

But right now? he had a date with alchemy.

And if Jake's lesson didn't kill him… it just might make him dangerous.

"Woah, easy!" came the voice, familiar and far too smug.

Zane blinked and saw Tarni standing there, grinning like a bloody idiot.

"For System's sake, mate," Zane growled, letting out a sharp breath as he resheathed his half-drawn blade "I thought someone was trying to steal my bag."

Tarni shrugged, unbothered. "What? I asked for the flowers twice, and you nodded without even looking at me. Figured you were concentrating."

Then with that cocky smirk of his, he added, "I know how hard it is for your brain to do two things at once."

"Ha ha," Zane deadpanned, swinging a hand toward the side of Tarni's head.

Tarni ducked easily, still grinning. "Anyway, the alchemy shop guy? Bit of a character. I need exactly ten of those flowers we got on that quest. Not nine. Not eleven, just ten"

Zane sighed, already reaching toward the Bag of Holding tied to his hip, fingers brushing the knot.

But Tarni caught his arm before he could go further, his grin fading to something sharper.

Leaning in close, he murmured near Zane's ear, "Not in here, mate. We don't want everyone knowing what kind of bag that is."

Zane nodded once, subtly this time. Tarni released his arm, and they both turned back to the board, pretending they hadn't just drawn the attention of at least three nosy-looking adventurers nearby.

"Alright," Zane muttered under his breath. "After we check the board, we step outside. Quiet spot. Then flowers."

Tarni nodded, more serious now.

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