Chapter 53 - 52: The Mage of the Scriptorium
The morning sun crept in through the tall windows of Nexus Mart, bathing the shelves in soft, golden light. Kael stretched his back with a grunt, wiping sweat from his brow. The shop smelled faintly of polished wood and fresh parchment, a scent that somehow made everything feel new.
"Alright," he muttered, placing the last box of bottled drinks onto the bottom shelf. "That should be everything."
He stood and took a slow, proud look around.
Each item was in its place. Food packets, grain sacks, canned goods, a small section for tools and supplies, and even a shelf of Kael’s own homemade health tonics—disguised Earth supplements infused with some minor local herbs to avoid suspicion.
The result wasn’t quite a modern supermarket, but it felt like one. A small, compact version that had been stitched together with dwarven craftsmanship and Kael’s 21st-century memory.
Behind him, Seris was sweeping the last traces of sawdust into a bucket.
"This shop is really big. Are you sure the two of us can manage it? Also, I have never seen such a shop, even when I was a noble."
Kael stretched his back and let out a satisfied sigh. "We’ll manage. And this? This is just the beginning. I plan to build something even bigger one day."
"Bigger? Gods, your dreams are so... strange. And huge."
"I’ve never known how to dream small."
They’d spent all morning stocking, cleaning, and adjusting shelves.