The crowd around me buzzed with excitement after Elder Foster departed. The merchant who had just moments ago been ready to reject my Breakthrough Pill now looked at me with something approaching reverence.


    "Mr. Knight," he said, bowing deeply, "I must apologize for doubting you. Please forgive my ignorance."


    I tucked the Best Thin Armor securely into my bag, feeling its lightweight material fold easily against my other possessions. "No need for apologies. You were simply being cautious."


    "Still, I nearly made a terrible mistake." The merchant wrung his hands anxiously. "Had Elder Foster not appeared, I would have rejected a masterpiece of alchemy!"


    People crowded closer, trying to get a better look at me. After Elder Foster''s endorsement, I had be an overnight sensation at the Herbs Convention.


    "Is it true you refined that pill with your bare hands?"


    "Are you really not a member of the Celestial Apothecary Guild?"


    "Would you be willing to sell some of your pills?"


    The questions came from all directions. I felt Eamon''s presence at my side, subtly positioning himself between me and the most aggressive admirers.


    "Give the man some space," Eamon barked, his imposing frame causing the crowd to step back.


    I nodded gratefully to him before addressing the gathering. "I appreciate your interest, but I''m just a simple alchemist. Nothing special."


    This statement only seemed to intrigue them more. A woman pushed to the front of the crowd, her eyes shrewd and calcting.


    "Simple alchemists don''t receive personal invitations from Elder Foster," she remarked. "The Celestial Apothecary Guild has rejected master alchemists with decades of experience. Yet here you are, unaffiliated and earning their highest praise."


    I shrugged, ufortable with the attention. "Lucky timing, perhaps."


    "Or extraordinary talent," someone else called out.


    I caught sight of several people frantically taking notes, likely reporters or representatives from various factions. This public endorsement from Elder Foster would spread throughout Havenwood City by nightfall.


    "If you''ll excuse me," I said firmly, "I have other business to attend to."


    The crowd reluctantly parted as Eamon cleared a path. We moved quickly through the convention hall, with whispers and pointing fingers following in our wake.


    "That was quite the show," Eamon muttered once we were rtively alone. "One moment you''re about to lose the armor, the next you''re being invited to join the most prestigious alchemy organization in the province."


    I applied more of Elder Foster''s salve to my blistered hands. The cooling sensation provided immediate relief. "I never said I would join them."


    "You''d be a fool not to at least consider it," Eamon replied. "The resources alone would be worth it, not to mention the protection such an affiliation provides."


    He wasn''t wrong. The Celestial Apothecary Guild possessed ancient texts, rare ingredients, and cultivation techniques that could elerate my progress significantly. They also had connections throughout the upper echelons of society—including, potentially, to Dashiell ckthorne.


    Brought to you by *.


    "I''ll think about it," I conceded, my mind already calcting the potential advantages. If I could gain ess to the Guild''s resources while maintaining my independence...


    "Besides," Eamon added with a smirk, "I noticed how that Finn character slunk away. Having an Elder publicly humiliate him while praising you must have felt satisfying."


    A small smile crossed my lips. "I won''t deny it had its appeal."


    We had nearly reached the exit when I remembered my other business. I paused, scanning the remaining stalls.


    "What is it?" Eamon asked.


    "Caleb Thorne," I replied. "I still need to find him."


    Eamon''s expression darkened. "Ah yes, the herb debt. After what just happened, are you sure you want to bother with small fry like him?"


    "A debt is a debt," I said simply. "And those herbs aren''t insignificant."


    We changed direction, weaving through the convention hall. After asking a few vendors, we located Caleb''s booth near the eastern section. He was engaged in animated conversation with potential customers, gesturing grandly at his disy of rare herbs.


    I hung back, observing him. Caleb Thorne had a practiced charm about him—the easy smile, the confident stance, the way he leaned in conspiratorially when making his sales pitch. But I knew it was all facade. This was the same man who had borrowed valuable herbs from me months ago with promises of quick repayment, only to disappear when the time came.


    As his customers departed, I approached the booth. Caleb''s eyes widened in recognition, then quickly narrowed.


    "Well, well," he drawled, attempting to maintain hisposure. "Look who it is. The disgraced son-inw of the Sterling family."


    I stopped directly in front of his booth. "Hello, Caleb. It''s been a while."


    He crossed his arms defensively. "What do you want? I''m busy."


    "Three herbs," I replied calmly. "One Silver Moon Root, one Dawn Petal, and one Thousand-Year Ghost Mushroom. You borrowed them seven months ago."


    Caleb''s face flushed. "I don''t know what you''re talking about."


    "You signed an agreement," I continued, pulling a folded paper from my pocket. "Right here. With your family seal."


    He nced nervously around, clearly hoping no one was listening to our conversation. "Keep your voice down, would you? That was... a misunderstanding."


    "A misunderstanding?" I raised an eyebrow. "You promised to return them within three months. It''s been seven."


    Caleb leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Look, I hit some hard times, alright? The herbs... I had to use them for something else. But I''m good for it, I swear. Just give me another month."


    I shook my head. "No more extensions, Caleb. I need those herbs now."


    "Now?" Heughed nervously. "You can''t be serious. Do you have any idea how rare those items are?"


    "I''m well aware," I replied. "That''s why I want them back."


    Caleb''s face hardened. "Listen, Liam. You''re not in a position to make demands. You may have married into the Sterling family, but everyone knows you''re just their whipping boy."


    I smiled thinly. "You might want to update your information."


    "What''s that supposed to mean?"


    Before I could answer, a voice called out from behind me.


    "Mr. Knight! Is that really you?"


    I turned to see a young woman hurrying toward me, her eyes wide with excitement.


    "I saw what happened with Elder Foster," she gushed. "It''s an honor to meet you. Would you possibly consider looking at my family''s alchemy texts? We''ve had trouble deciphering some ancient forms."


    I politely declined her request, but the damage was done. Caleb''s expression had shifted from dismissive to confused.


    "What was that about?" he demanded once the woman left.


    "Nothing important," I replied. "Now, about those herbs..."


    Caleb studied me more carefully now, uncertainty in his eyes. "What happened to your hands?"


    I nced down at my reddened palms, still healing from the salve. "Just a minor issue with pill refinement."


    His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Wait... are you the one everyone''s talking about? The alchemist who impressed Elder Foster?"


    I didn''t confirm or deny it, but my silence was answer enough. Caleb''s demeanor changed instantly.


    "Liam, my friend!" His voice became jovial, though panic lurked beneath the surface. "If I''d known you were rising in the world, I would have paid my debt sooner! Just a minor oversight on my part."


    "The herbs, Caleb," I repeated firmly.


    He licked his lips nervously. "Of course, of course. But you must understand, those particr herbs... I don''t have them on hand."


    "Then what do you have that''s equivalent in value?" I asked.


    Caleb hesitated, then reluctantly reached under his table and produced a small wooden box. "I have these," he said, opening it to reveal three herbs, each carefully preserved. "Not exactly what I owe you, but close in value."


    I examined the contents. They weren''t what he''d borrowed, but they would serve my purposes. "These will do."


    As I reached for the box, Caleb suddenly snapped it shut. "Actually, on second thought..."


    "What now?" I asked, my patience wearing thin.


    A calcting look entered his eyes. "Information has reached me that you''re no longer with the Sterling family. Without their backing, you''re nothing. Why should I repay you anything?"


    I held his gaze steadily. "Because a debt is a debt. And because you don''t want me as an enemy."


    Calebughed, though it sounded forced. "Threats now? You may have impressed an old man with a pill trick, but you''re still the same pathetic Liam Knight." He raised his voice deliberately. "The same man who spent three years being humiliated daily by the Sterling family!"


    Several nearby vendors turned to look. I remained calm, refusing to be baited.


    "Last chance, Caleb," I said quietly. "The herbs."


    "Or what?" he challenged, growing bolder as he sensed an audience. "Will you cry to Elder Foster? Go crawling back to the Sterling family?" His voice dropped to a cruel whisper. "Oh wait, I heard your wife was sleeping with someone else. No wonder they kicked you out."


    My expression didn''t change, but something in my eyes must have shifted because Caleb took an involuntary step back.


    "The herbs," I repeated, extending my hand.


    For a moment, I thought he might refuse again. Then, with visible reluctance, he handed over the box.


    "Take them," he muttered. "They''re not worth the trouble."


    I secured the box in my bag next to the armor. "A pleasure doing business with you, Caleb."


    As I turned to leave, Caleb called after me, his voice rising with anger and humiliation.


    "You think you''re something special now? Just because some old fool praised your pill?" His face was flushed with anger. "You''re still nothing! A nobody who got lucky once!"


    I ignored him, continuing toward the exit with Eamon at my side.


    "Wait!" Caleb shouted, desperation creeping into his voice. "You can''t just walk away! Do you know who I am? Who my connections are?"


    I kept walking. Behind me, I could hear Caleb''s frantic voice calling out to someone.


    "There he is! That''s the one I told you about! Teach him a lesson, would you? Show him what happens to people who disrespect the Thorne family!"


    I turned around to see three men approaching—Grandmasters, based on their auras. Caleb stood behind them, a vindictive smile on his face.


    "You''re about to regret this, Liam Knight," he called out.


    But as the three Grandmasters drew closer, their expressions changed from stern to surprised. The lead Grandmaster stopped abruptly, staring at me with widened eyes.


    "Mr. Knight," he said, his voice filled with unexpected respect. "How did you end up here?"