It took Albert and Bunke a week to get the first phase of brewing done. It was not just a matter of dropping the honey in the vat and adding water and yeast until it boiled, no. It was a lengthy process, although they had plenty of Skills to make it all less time consuming. Skills like [Vat of Gestation] and [Nutritional Yeast] which made sure their concoction was as powerful as that of the masters of old, or so they liked to believe.

When the brew finally stopped bubbling on its own it was time for Albert to do his part. They transferred the mixture and the Skill [Neutralized Sediments] gave them the clean mead to store and let finish. Bunke’s level 40 Domain Skill was what let the brew finish overnight, six months of aging done within an evening into morning. The cooldown was long, but for select projects it was a Spiritsend.

Albert was exhausted by the time they were finished, if it had been contaminated or they let the energies leak out somehow, it would be their heads. The price they paid simply did not allow failure, but for a level it was worth it, even if two more would remain for his capstone.

When they woke the next morning it was time to see the result, but Albert already knew it was going to be damned good. The [System] informed him of as much as he finished dreaming of giant bees.

[Level 18 Hometown Brewer]

[Level 19 Hometown Brewer]

[Enchanted item created: Cloven Honeybee Mead]

His anticipation was through the roof.

They tapped a keg, and if the honey had released somewhat of an aura before then the drink that had resulted from their efforts was a seductive vixen of the senses. It took over their thoughts and planted images of deep forest glades where binges of debauchery were indulged in and all the world’s sorrows and responsibilities forgotten for an evening.

They were already regretting their suddenly abject poverty that was going to force them into having to share.

Livia had talked it all through with the lads, vicariously with Sten through Harold, but they had agreed an [Accountant] was worth it in the end, both for the possible connection to a future [Enchanter] and because her brother had a Class that could prove useful in gathering future ingredients, but also because her Class seemed that much stronger than what Livia had been envisioning originally.

Still, it hurt her capitalist heart. “So, we are agreed then on 25 silver a week and a one per cent share of weekly earnings while you remain on staff,” Livia blanched even saying the words. “With an option to defer each payment twice if a temporary opportunity may be lost due to the absence of funds the bonus results in, and all of it subject to renewal from both sides on arrival in Dormata, where we will discuss our mutual future, or lack thereof, when everyone has had time to get their bearings.” Elin nodded along happily.

“That sounds perfect,” She said.

It damn well better. Elin had insisted on her own wording for parts until Livia got it all exactly right.

Apparently they took verbal agreements just as seriously as written ones here in Doc Forrest, which was fine, but it had come as a bit of a surprise that Elin was being so insistent on the precise wording while also claiming it was not important enough to bother writing down in a contract.

Her younger brother Alfred was also onboard for the duration of the trip, although he would be relying on his Class to earn a weekly wage through sales, as opposed to becoming an employee directly. According to Elin he was leaning towards joining the [Guild] with her on arrival in Dormata if things turned out okay.

With that we have our 7th and 8th members. Livia was once more leading Elin out through the door. They met in the mornings before Elin was due at the market so only Liam and Ella were around at the house.

As they stepped out into the yard for the second week in a row they were interrupted by two voices making a childish harmony up between them as they were running through the apple trees right where the road to the orchard began.

The two were alternating between playing tag and just dancing to the melody they were making up, the laughter as they chased each other was infectious and the two women walked up to a smiling pair of orchard owners.

“That’s the good stuff alright, even Bunke is laughing himself silly, and he’s no spring chicken.”

The other libertine was of course his apprentice Albert. Apparently the brewing had been a resounding success.

The pair kept the game up as they came closer in a confusingly circumspect approach while they all watched.

As they finally came to the top they both needed to lie down and catch their breath for a minute. A minute that was extended when they both started trying to make snow angels in the gravel of the yard.

When the hilarity had faded Livia decided to check what was up. “Hey you two, how are you both doing, the mead turned out alright I take it?”

Albert spoke up as if they were old friends. “Oh Livia, it’s lovely, you have to try some, although I seem to have misplaced it,” He was looking around with a confused look, while his master was giggling like a drunken ten year old, so hard that tears were streaming down his bearded face.

It was hard to be mad at a happy drunken idiot, not impossible, but certainly hard. “I’m glad Albert, I hope we get to make a lot more once we get set up outside Dormata,” She was really just speaking out of turn, about stuff that had been tangentially on her mind all day, but her Skill [Pitch Perfect] made the words take on a magic of their own by the time they reached Albert’s ears.

“Oh, oh Livia yes, yes I have to come and help, we have to get more. I’m going to become the greatest brewer, I gained two levels Livia, just one more and I can help everyone, it’s going to be amaze… balls,” No way did he just think of that term on the spot.

Livia was actually astonished at the change in attitude she was seeing, it seemed even Albert had the desire to travel and learn the secrets of brewing, hidden somewhere deep down. Even if it was made on magic honey the mead was still an alcohol, so she took the words as an unvarnished truth and was struck with a bit of inspiration.

Some words actually are worth writing down in a contract. 9th. Potentially.