[9] Memory's Edge

The Blue Pharmacy's door creaked as I stepped inside. Morning light filtered through dusty windows, illuminating shelves lined with bottles of various shapes and sizes. Behind the counter stood a woman with purple eyes and dog ears, her long brown hair falling past her shoulders.

"Welcome to Blue Pharmacy," she said, her voice carrying a perpetual sleepy tone. "How may we help you today?"

"I need a health potion. Something strong enough to treat multiple injuries and possible head trauma."

『Be careful,』 Minerva warned. 『She's sharper than she looks.』

The woman's ears twitched slightly. "I'm Naaza Erisuis." She reached under the counter and produced a crystalline vial filled with crimson liquid. "This high-grade potion should do the trick. Only 65,000 valis."

I kept my expression neutral. "That's quite a markup from market price."

"Oh?" Naaza's purple eyes fixed on me. "And what would you consider market price?"

"Closer to 45,000 for high-grade. Unless there's something special about this particular batch?"

Her lips curved into the ghost of a smile. "You know your potions. But consider the quality guarantee that comes with buying from Blue Pharmacy. Our reputation-"

"Is excellent," I cut in. "Which is precisely why I came here instead of cheaper alternatives. But reputation alone doesn't justify a 20,000 valis markup."

Naaza set the vial down, all pretense of sleepiness vanishing. "30,000 valis discount for first-time customers."

"Making it 35,000? Still high, but closer to reasonable." I pulled out my coin purse. "Though I only have enough for a low-grade at the moment."

"The low-grade won't help much with head trauma." She drummed her fingers on the counter. "I could offer a payment plan..."

The back door opened, and a man with long dark blue hair entered. His black robes swept the floor as he moved.

"Naaza, are you trying to negotiate payment plans again?" His voice carried gentle reproach.

"Lord Miach." She straightened slightly. "I was simply explaining our pricing structure to this customer."

Miach turned to me, his dark blue eyes kind but piercing. "My apologies. Naaza means well, but she can be... overzealous in her sales tactics."

"No offense taken. I'm Dante Valac, newly joined to Hestia Familia." I inclined my head. "One of my familia members was injured in the dungeon. Multiple wounds, likely concussion."

"Bell?" Miach's expression shifted to concern. "How severe?"

"Bad enough that he could barely walk home. I have limited funds, but-"

Miach held up a hand. "Say no more." He selected a different vial from the shelf, this one containing a deeper red liquid. "Take this."

"Lord Miach," Naaza protested, but fell silent at his gentle look.

I studied the vial. "Your generosity is appreciated, but unexpected. Why?"

"Hestia is a friend," he said simply. "And I know what it's like to run a small familia with limited resources."

『Accept it,』 Minerva advised. 『But find a way to repay the debt later. Outstanding favors can be... complicated.』

I nodded slowly. "Thank you. I'll ensure this kindness is remembered."

"Just help Bell recover. That's thanks enough." Miach smiled. "Though if you're interested in earning some extra valis, we occasionally need help gathering ingredients from the dungeon."

"I'll keep that in mind." I tucked the vial carefully into my robe. "Naaza, despite our haggling, I look forward to doing business with you again. Under more standard circumstances."

Her ears twitched again. "Next time, I'll have to work harder to earn that markup."

I left the shop with the precious potion secure against my chest. The morning had grown warmer, the streets filling with early risers headed to work or the dungeon.

『Well handled,』 Minerva said. 『Though I notice you didn't mention exactly how you knew the market prices for potions.』

'Would you believe lucky guessing?'

『Not for a second.』

I smiled, quickening my pace back toward the church. 'Then let's just say I'm naturally gifted at economics.'

I pushed open the church's heavy wooden doors, the potion secure in my inner pocket. Morning light streamed through stained glass, casting colored shadows across worn floorboards. The basement steps creaked under my feet as I descended.

Bell lay on his bed, face pale against white sheets. Hestia sat beside him, her small hand clutching his. She looked up as I entered, dark circles under her eyes.

"Did you get it?" she whispered.

I pulled out the vial and held it up. The deep red liquid caught the light. "Courtesy of Miach."

Her eyes widened. "Miach gave you this? For free?"

"Not exactly." I handed her the potion. "I'll need to gather 45,000 valis to repay him."

"But that's-"

"The actual price, yes." I watched as she uncorked the vial with trembling fingers. "Naaza tried charging 65,000."

Hestia lifted Bell's head gently, pressing the vial to his lips. "Drink, Bell. Please."

He swallowed reflexively. Color gradually returned to his cheeks, and his breathing grew stronger.

"I'm heading to the dungeon," I said, adjusting my sleeves. "That debt won't pay itself."

Hestia's head snapped up. "Already? But you just got back, and Bell-"

"Will be fine, thanks to that potion." I moved toward the stairs. "I don't like owing people."

"At least wait until he wakes up. He'd want to thank you."

I paused, one foot on the bottom step. "Tell him to thank me by not getting his head bashed in next time."

『You're being harsh,』 Minerva commented as I climbed the stairs.

'Better harsh than indebted.'

『The debt isn't even real. Miach seems reasonable-』

'It's not about that.' I emerged into the morning sun, squinting. 'It's about leverage.'

『Ah. You're worried he'll call in the favor at an inconvenient time.』

'Everyone does, eventually.' I started walking toward Babel Tower, its white stone gleaming against the sky. 'Better to clear the slate now.'

『And this has nothing to do with proving yourself?』

I ignored that particular jab. The streets had filled with adventurers heading to the dungeon, their weapons and armor glinting. A group of elves passed, discussing formation strategies. Two dwarves argued over the best floor for mining.

The tower's shadow fell over me as I approached. Inside, the first floor bustled with activity - parties forming, supplies being checked, information being exchanged. I headed straight for the stairs leading down.

『You're going alone?』 Minerva asked.

'Faster that way.' The stone steps echoed under my boots. 'No need to split the profits.'

『Or share the risk.』

'I can handle the upper floors.' I reached the dungeon entrance. 'Unless you know something I don't?'

『Just the usual gaps in my data. Though your confidence seems... familiar.』

'Good familiar or bad familiar?'

『If I knew that, they wouldn't be gaps.』

I drew my sword, the steel catching what little light remained. The first monster spawned almost immediately - a goblin, its red eyes gleaming as it charged.

My blade caught it mid-leap, splitting it cleanly. The creature burst into ash, leaving behind a small crystal.

『Efficient,』 Minerva noted. 『But that was just a goblin.』

'Then let's find something more challenging.' I moved deeper into the dungeon, gathering crystals as I went. More goblins appeared, then kobolds. Each fell to my sword, their movements almost laughably predictable.

『You're getting cocky,』 Minerva warned after my twentieth kill. 『Remember what happened to Bell.』

'Bell's a kid.' I sidestepped a kobold's clumsy swing, removing its head in one smooth motion. 'I'm-'

『What? What are you, exactly?』

I frowned, collecting another crystal. 'Skilled.'

『And how did you get those skills?』

'I...' The answer slipped away like smoke. 'Does it matter?'

I slung my bag of crystals over my shoulder, eyeing the stairs leading down to the second floor. After an hour of methodically clearing out goblins and kobolds, my movements had settled into an efficient rhythm. The crystals clinked together as I walked.

'Time for a change of scenery,' I thought, descending the worn stone steps. 'But first - Minerva, walk me through my magic capabilities.'

『Trying to avoid another memory discussion?』

'Just being practical. Can't rely solely on the sword forever.'

『Fair enough.』 She paused. 『Let's start with Dismantle. It's the most straightforward of your techniques - a precision cutting spell that creates invisible slashes of mana.』

I stopped at the bottom of the stairs, leaning against the cool stone wall. 'Invisible slashes? That sounds useful.'

『It is. But it draws directly from your mind reserves. Use it too much and you'll give yourself one hell of a headache.』

'How do I activate it?'

『Point at your target and channel mana into a focused edge. The intent matters more than the gesture, but the pointing helps with aim.』

I raised my hand, targeting a spot on the opposite wall. Nothing happened.

『You're overthinking it,』 Minerva said. 『Don't try to force the mana. Let it flow naturally, like extending your arm.』

'That makes no sense.'

『Welcome to magic.』

I tried again, this time imagining the mana as an extension of myself. A sharp crack echoed through the corridor as a thin line appeared in the stone wall.

'Huh.'

『Not bad for a first attempt. Though you used about twice as much mana as needed.』

The sound of skittering claws interrupted our discussion. Three kobolds rounded the corner, their dog-like faces twisting into snarls.

I pointed at the leftmost kobold. The invisible slash caught it across the chest, turning it to ash instantly. The remaining two charged.

My sword took care of the second, but the third slipped past my guard. Its claws raked across my arm before a hasty Dismantle reduced it to dust.

『What did I say about mana conservation?』 Minerva's tone carried a hint of smugness. 『Two Dismantles in rapid succession, plus whatever you wasted on that wall. How's your head feeling?』

'Fine,' I lied, ignoring the dull throb behind my eyes. Blood trickled down my arm from the kobold's scratch.

I pulled out a minor healing potion - purchased earlier from a less prestigious shop than Blue Pharmacy. 'It's just a scratch.'

『The scratch isn't what concerns me. You're burning through mana like a drunk merchant through gold.』

'I need to practice somehow.' The potion's bitter taste lingered as the wound closed. 'Better to learn my limits here than against something actually dangerous.'

『There's practice, and there's recklessness.』

More monsters spawned at the end of the corridor. I counted five goblins this time, clustered together.

Perfect.

I raised my hand, channeling mana more carefully than before. The Dismantle carved through three goblins in one clean line.

The remaining two scattered. I caught one with my sword while the other retreated around a corner.

『Showing off won't make the headache any smaller.』

'But it will make me better at control.' I collected the crystals, adding them to my bag. 'You said intent matters more than gesture, right? So theoretically, I could Dismantle without pointing?'

『Theoretically, yes. But-』

The goblin reappeared, charging back with surprising speed. I released a Dismantle without raising my hand.

The slash went wide, carving a jagged groove in the ceiling. Chunks of stone rained down as I dispatched the goblin with my sword.

『-but your aim will suffer,』 Minerva finished dryly. 『And now the dungeon's architectural integrity has suffered too.』

'Worth testing.' The throbbing in my head intensified. 'Though maybe not right now.'

『Finally, a sensible decision. Should we head back up?』

'Not yet.' I pressed deeper into the second floor, sword ready. 'I still need more crystals for Miach's debt. Just... no more magic practice for now.'

『Until the next time you get an "interesting" idea?』

'You know me so well.'

The dungeon stretched ahead, its passages twisting into darkness. Somewhere in that maze, more monsters waited. More opportunities to test my limits, to push boundaries.

To remember.

Or maybe to forget. The thought slipped in before I could catch it, sharp as any Dismantle.

『Your head's not the only thing that hurts, is it?』 Minerva's voice softened.

'Let's focus on the monsters.' I adjusted my grip on the sword. 'One problem at a time.'

『As you wish.』 A pause. 『Though sometimes the monsters we're fighting aren't the ones we can see.』

'That's surprisingly poetic for an AI construct.'

『And that's surprisingly deflective for someone so direct.』

I didn't answer. There were more shadows ahead, more red eyes gleaming in the darkness. More chances to prove... something.

I just wished I knew what.