I nod to Jasmine and Eurid and head back to the storage room to begin organizing for the upcoming week. The rest of the day goes by quickly; I manage to sort through the newest tea shipment, serve a few customers, and make sure all the account books are accurate before the censor comes later this week. The work is meticulous and mind-numbing, but one mistake and the Trade Ministry could rescind our lease.
The last few glowstones dim as I wipe the counters clean and close the store. My master brings a pot and two cups to one of the VIP tables we keep in the corner for privacy. He waves me to join him across the table.
“We need to talk,” is all he said as I lower myself down, and tea is poured into our cups.
Knowing the etiquette, I take a long sip before responding – but before I can say anything, the tea coats my mouth in a woodsy, rich flavor with a trace of sweet potato on the backend. This is some of the good stuff I’ve never been allowed to serve before. I think it's an aged Mana Oolong, but that’s just a wild guess. Mana teas are incredibly rare and can only be handled by court-certified tea masters. Most harvests from portals or quest worlds, like these teas, are closely managed by the Magic Resource Ministry
“Master, what’s the occasion for serving me such a valuable drink?”
His pale blue eyes glimmer as he snorts across from me, “Master, huh? I haven’t heard you call me that in private since you were little. If only I’d known some good tea would make you filial, I could’ve had you obedient years ago.”
After a soft chuckle, he continues, “Boy, what do you want to do after your Sowing Day? We’ve always talked about you taking over the shop, but now that the day’s coming, I just want to know your choice.”
Stolen story; please report.
Not expecting this to be the topic of conversation, I hesitate for a second before composing my answer.
“Honestly, I feel resigned to taking over the shop. I always dreamed of being an adventurer like the dad I hardly know – not because of some familial obligation or to prove I was good enough for the family to accept me, but out of spite, and to succeed without them.”
I sigh, “But that’s not really a choice since I’m not willing to join the army, and I doubt my karma’s good enough to get a special class during the selection process. And it’s not you, Old Man, or the store that I want to get away from – but running a tea house was never a passion of mine, even if you did instill in me a love for tea itself.”
I take a deep breath expecting some kind of rebuke. I might have very well ruined his retirement plans after fifteen years of his mentoring.
He takes a long, drawn-out sip of his tea, reading my face as he smacks his lips appreciatively. It really is the best tea I’ve tasted.
“Good. I was hoping you’d finally have the courage to tell me what you’ve clearly wanted for at least the last ten years. I was thinking you’d end up with a bad class just because you would never speak your mind before it was too late.”
I just stare at him in confusion, waiting for an explanation. He returns the look as if I’m supposed to explain what he just said. Finally, he breaks the silence.
“Cam. You’re a good kid. When you were brought here for your apprenticeship, I divined a fortuitous future for you if I took you in. You’re smart, but the fact that you haven’t figured out I’m not just some tea shop owner really makes me doubt my divination.”
He gives a hearty laugh, “All the old court mages treat me with respect, not because of the tea house, but because of my past as an adventurer. I was an escort for many of them during the last waves of the Devil Incursion on the eastern portals. It was a long time ago, but this shop was my retirement plan – not my whole life.”
I sit there wordless for a second. Everyone knows about the Devil Incursion, but realizing my master actually fought through one is insane. The Old Man’s right–I am an idiot.
