Chapter 3 — Chapter 3

Sighing, I got up and headed to the butler. I needed several dozen boxes filled with sawdust. As soon as I opened the door, I saw three maids behind it, each carrying stacks of laundry, buckets, and brushes. I almost felt sorry for them, but then I noticed them making gestures to ward off evil...

What can you expect from these poor, foolish hens? I continued on my way. The butler, upon seeing me, snapped to attention and froze, not meeting my gaze.

"Listening, my lady!" he bowed.

"Send servants and an inventory clerk to the summer residence. Have them clean up and make a list of everything that needs to be replaced, added, and include the necessary supplies. If you don't finish in five days, I'll stay another ten!"

"Yes, my lady!" he bowed even lower.

"I need ten sturdy boxes filled with sawdust, now!" Without waiting for a response, I turned and headed back.

"Take them up to the laboratory?" he asked in a trembling voice.

"Yes, the goblins will move to the attic!" I relented. After all, I'm not a monster, am I?

Returning to my room, the maids had already cleaned the bedroom and bathroom, changing the bed linens. How quick they were... I smirked to myself and went upstairs. Entering the laboratory, I ordered the skeletons to move to the attic.

Looking around, I knew I had to start, no more delays. I poured water into a basin and began placing dirty test tubes into it. It was long overdue to tidy up here... Sighing, I started washing, immediately placing the clean ones into the boxes that had been brought. When I filled the fifth box, I struggled to straighten my back, looking around. There was definitely no more empty glass, but the laboratory was still cluttered. Securing the lids on the boxes and applying a magical seal, I dusted the sawdust off my hands.

Deciding to take a break and relax, I went for a walk in the night park...

So, I have four days, and I need to get ready. First, find a secretary, second, a couple of maids... The only question is, where?

Maybe I'll check out a certain tavern; perhaps there's something worthwhile there. Occasionally, unregistered dead show up! While I'm at it, I'll grab a bite to eat; my appetite was starting to return after the hard work...

Quickly crossing the park, I turned onto the road, opened a portal to my destination—and there I was. Stepping out of the passage, I almost stepped into a puddle where someone seemed to be sleeping... Carefully avoiding the resting figure, I lifted my skirt's hem. It was dirty here, yes, but cozy, and people treated me like a regular guest. I entered the courtyard, crossed it, and ducked through the open door.

"Oh, my lady, nice to see you again! The usual?" boomed the burly man standing at the kitchen door.

"Yes, and some juicy meat, you know what I like!" I sat at the nearest free spot on the table. As always, it was crowded, but no one bothered anyone else; they ate, drank, and sometimes fought, but only in the tavern's courtyard, where the owner kept a strict watch!

"Anything else?" he asked, seeing a silver coin instead of my usual payment. It was far more than the cost of a meal at this place.

"A secretary or scribe, and a couple of maids who can do laundry and cook!"

"Dead?" he almost sympathized.

"No, moving out from my mother's!"

"Ah, I see... I'll keep an eye out," he nodded, pocketing the silver coin. "Living or dead?"

"Four days is the deadline..."

"That's plenty!" he waved it off. "People die like flies! Their lives are short."

I started on my late dinner, finally enjoying the taste of the food, completely oblivious to the noise around me. I was used to it. When I finished eating, I was sipping my wine. It was terribly sour, but it suited me fine, and they served it in a clean mug without watering it down. Deciding to look around, I noticed few regular patrons, at least none that I remembered, and nothing promising. Just the dregs of this town. Thieves, bandits, beggars...

"Oh, what's a young lady doing here?" some disheveled scarecrow approached me...

"I'll smear you across the floor, then revive you and do it again," I said, barely glancing at him before turning away. Probably a student or a laborer, squandering his pennies...

"Oh, my lady is a dark mage!" He lingered nearby, and I looked at him again: was he really tired of living?

"You must be deaf..." I began forming a dark ball of magic in my hand.

"No! Please listen! I owe these people a lot of money, and I told them you're my mistress, that I work for you!" the guy babbled. I took a closer look; he wasn't drunk, but he was trembling with fear. I glanced in the direction he nodded, at the four bandit faces that quickly pulled their hoods over their heads, hiding their faces.

"And... you expect me to feel sorry for you?" I was surprised. Why did he think I would save him?

"Well, all ladies are kind!" he whined. I looked him over: though dressed poorly, he was clean, with leather patches sewn onto his jacket's elbows, and his fingers were stained with ink. Could it be that luck was on my side?

"Not me!" I shrugged and turned away, finishing my wine.

I got up and headed for the exit, calculating how long it would take for them to kill him. I should wait in the alley; they'd surely drag him there. Crossing the courtyard, I stopped in the shadow of the fence. Despite the lack of streetlights, I could see perfectly in the dark, though I was an elf, not some shapeshifter. I once realized I could see better at night than during the day...

As I pondered, muffled cries came from the courtyard.

"I said no fights! Take it outside the courtyard, quickly!" the innkeeper's voice rang out. Footsteps sounded again, and they dragged the whimpering guy past me.

"Take me as a slave! I'll work it off!" he sobbed.

"Who would want someone like you..." one of the thugs said. The group turned into one of the dead-end alleys, and screams and the sound of blows came from there.

I walked slowly, waiting for the guy's death, though a strange pity gnawed at me. Maybe I should get at least one living servant? What did he say, he wants to be a slave?

"Ahem! Gentlemen, may I have a moment of your precious time!" I coughed, and for emphasis, I manifested a whip in my hand.

"So, he is your servant after all?" one of them separated from the group kicking the howling guy. I looked closer: a werewolf, a wolf type, they're usually reasonable and know when not to be rude. I hoped...

"A slave?" I clarified into the darkness.

"Yes, my lady, an eternal slave!" The guy got up on all fours and scurried quickly towards me.

"And I won't let anyone damage my property..." The boy had already crawled to my feet.

"He owes us..."

"Sorry, I can't help with that! The law prohibits slaves from gambling, borrowing money... and from participating or lending money to others..." I spoke, twirling my whip to show I was ready to use it at any moment, "I can report this to the Department of Legislators, maybe they'll find it interesting?"

"He doesn't have a brand!" one of the men growled, moving closer. The boy was already cowering at my feet, the smell of blood coming from him. I hate the smell of fresh blood; it makes me slightly nauseous and stirs up an inexplicable aggression...

"Right here!" I activated my ring, slamming it hard against the boy's forehead. He gasped and passed out.

"You're not playing fair..."

"I agree!" Rummaging in my pocket, I found my last gold coin and tossed it to the men. "Enough to settle this peacefully?"

"Absolutely!" The coin was snatched mid-air, and the men, circling around me, vanished into the night.

"Lady?" the innkeeper's voice came from behind me.

"No need for a secretary anymore, just maids, laundresses, maybe a cook..." I thoughtfully coiled up my whip, tucking it into subspace, "Take him, and when he wakes up, send him to my mother's castle tomorrow, but make sure he shows the mark."

"Well, he's still alive!" The innkeeper grabbed the boy by the scruff of his neck and examined the slave.

"I just decided to spice up my life with a slave!" I shrugged, feeling awkward as if caught stealing candy...

"Slaves are a hassle! If they get sick, you treat them, if they're hungry, you feed them, clothe them... It's all expenses!" the goblin sympathized with me.

"If they get sick, they die, and continue working!" I smirked.

"Well, that's true too!" He hoisted the boy onto his shoulder and headed back to the tavern.

Feeling suddenly cheerful, I headed home, still having a good part of the night left. I'll gather everything I can: raw materials, solutions, and powders. There's no rush here either; everything is valuable and expensive, and some things are hard to get!

Dawn found me sitting wearily on a now-empty chair in the laboratory. I looked around the half-empty space with longing. The sixty years spent here now seemed like just one day. Yes, I learned a lot, know a lot, but leaving this place is hard; I grew up here...

The laboratory was almost empty; unfortunately, ten boxes weren't enough. I need a couple more for the small stuff, and without the sawdust. After washing my hands, I looked myself over: my skirt was hopelessly ruined, and my apron, found in the farthest corner, should probably stay there. I went down to the bedroom and checked the money box. My mother had gone all out; all five thousand gold coins were stacked neatly. Wow, before the due date, she's so eager to get rid of me. I need to go to the market street to buy some things, and I have to do it now since all the shops are open in the morning and afternoon.

I should have some tea and make a list of what I need while I have breakfast. I'll still have time for a bath, and I need to change anyway. Peeking into the corridor leading out of the tower, I saw a maid rushing by.

"Darling, bring me breakfast and clean clothes!"

"Good morning, Lady! Your clothes are already in the wardrobe, and I'll bring your breakfast right away!" She curtsied.

Not taking her word for it, I went to the bedroom and opened the closet. I stared in surprise at the perfectly folded stacks of underwear, dresses, and shoes... in the chests, though, and only three outfits hung on the hangers. It seemed like a hint that I only had that much time left... And there were more items in the chests than I needed; it seemed my mother was so happy about my departure that she gave me all my dowry.

After bathing and putting on a clean dress, I sat down to breakfast, making my shopping list. Actually, I had already outlined it while packing up the lab, also figuring out what ingredients I was missing, and I need a sturdier apron. And I have a dream... to collect a set of scalpels and anatomical knives. Unfortunately, the set I want is extremely expensive, and I've only been able to buy one item from each category, just six types of knives out of forty-five...

Yes, and it's time to replace my throwing knives and stars; they were made of regular iron alloy and have worn out over time.

Rolling up the scroll, I tucked it into my pocket, and a stack of gold coins fell into my purse. Pulling my hat onto my head, I left the tower. I'll stop by a couple of weapon shops, some antique stores, and a leather workshop.