An Owl's Rise

"Now enough about what you need to do to reach the awakened rank. Before that there are plenty of other things you need to worry about." Melisandre said, seeing the contemplative look on Evelyn's face.

Though as Evelyn heard this, she tilted her head to the side, wondering what Melisandre was talking about.

She figured that getting up to the next rank would be the most important for her since it would give her a huge boost in power and status.

"Melisandre what else could be more important than getting me to the next rank? Is that not the goal that all beasts have?"

Evelyn knew that she had an instinctual drive to get stronger along with her own desires, and when she was still starting out in this world it had driven her to seek out other beasts to consume their cores.

In fact, this very drive is what got her owl brother caught in the humans' trap to begin with when he was tempted by the magically enriched plants hidden inside.

"Yes, it is, but it is better to take things one step at a time. If you try to rush yourself, you can stifle your potential at best and kill yourself at worst. Before you even attempt to move up to the awakened rank you will need to practice and get a feel for your affinities. Normally this would not be so difficult for an average fiend beast, but you have not only exploded in your growth and barely had any time to get used to your powers but are also a rare talent to have three types of magics at your rank. I imagine it will take you sometime to reach an acceptable point of understanding." Melisandre said, pointing out Evelyn's need to really understand what magic is.

"Also, whatever items you may need could take quite a while to procure and could be quite costly. Therefore, in the meantime it would be best to save up a sizable fund of credits while also practicing your magic. And to that end I have gotten everything set up for you to open your own stall on the ground floor of the alchemy hall." Melisandre said with a proud expression.

Thanking her for her help and insight Evelyn promised that she would do her best to sell the items she had made in order to make Melisandre proud.

"Incidentally, how much should I be selling these items for, and what of the things I can make are in the highest demand?"

Pondering Evelyn's question, Melisandre thought about it for a good five minutes before shaking her head.

"Sorry I am not really sure about the intricacies of the lowest floor. It is the most volatile in both quality of products and purveyors. I am certain though that healing potions and magical recovery pills will always be hot ticket items. Though an acceptable price for what you have made is hard to tell."

Unfortunately, Melisandre was stumped in this regard, but soon perked up as she had a good idea.

"Ah I am sure that Katrina will know. She is aways doing market research and such to make sure that her own prices in her store will net her the highest profit she can."

With this epiphany Melisandre called her other attendant who Evelyn had rarely interacted with down to the kitchen.

When she arrived, she seemed as cold as always. In stark contrast to the warmer and bubbly personality of Anneli.

"You called for me Lady Melisandre?"

"Yes, I need a bit of information for my disciple." Melisandre said as she motioned towards Evelyn. "She has recently finished her basic alchemy training with exceptional results I might add and is ready to begin selling her creations. However, I am not sure exactly what current market prices her goods should go for and was hoping that you could give us some insight?"

Melisandre then produced one of the healing potions that Evelyn had made and handed it over to Katrina who began looking it over intently.

After looking at it for a few minutes Katrina turned her large head towards Evelyn and bowed.

"I would like to apologize to you Evelyn. It appears that my harsh judgment of you was unfounded. I believed that there was simply no way that you could hold up to the expectations Lady Melisandre had for you and that you would be a waste of time. However, there is no denying that this potion, while only a basic one is of almost peak quality. Something even I still struggle to make. You truly are a rare talent."

'What the hell just happened.'

Evelyn to this point just thought that Katrina was just a reserved individual, not that she actually had something against her.

However, apparently, she had been harboring a grudge this entire time unbeknownst to her which was why she acted do cold.

"See Katrina, I told you that she would make a worthy disciple." Melisandre said while holding her head up high and looking pleased with herself.

"You were right Lady Melisandre. I never should have doubted your wisdom." Katrina said while giving an even deeper bow.

When she raised her head Evelyn could tell immediately that the harsh and icy aura that she normally gave off had subsided significantly.

Of course, she still did not seem that happy go lucky type like Anneli, but there was a noticeable difference in her demeanor.

"Now back to the matter at hand. I believe that Evelyn will have trouble selling a potion of this quality on the first floor of the hall." Katrina said as she placed the bottle back in front of Melisandre.

But her response simply baffled both Evelyn and Melisandre who could not understand Katrina's reasoning.

'I am certain I saw other potions of way lesser quality for sale for only a bit more than a dozen credits or so. Surely, I could just raise the price of mine to like thirty or forty and that would be fine.' Evelyn thought while wondering what the problem could have been.

"Katrina, would you mind explaining your reasoning? Evelyn's creations are all quite potent and as you said near the peak. Certainly, they could be sold at a high price on the first floor of the hall?"

"It is true that what she had produced is of an exceptional quality, but that is where the problem comes from. This is a potion of a higher quality than what could normally be bought on the first level of the alchemy hall. It is more in line with something from a higher end store on the second floor like my own. She is simply that much more talented, just as you were able to discern Lady Melisandre." Katrina explained.

Frowning, Melisandre now understood exactly what Katrina was getting at, though Evelyn herself still looked confused.

"Why is it a problem for my creations to be of a higher quality? Doesn't that just mean that I can sell them for a bit more than others with lesser quality and those who want he best will buy from me?"

Shaking her head, Katrina said, "No. that is not what would happen. You would undoubtably have to sell your creations at a lower price at first to garner attention, and it would be pretty much unfeasible for you to ever sell them at the same price they are going for on the second floor since no other owls around your level would be able to afford them consistently. But in doing so you would be selling a quality product normally unobtainable on the first floor of the hall for less than on the second. It would not take long for it to start hurting the business of the owls around my level of skill, and naturally they would do whatever they could to put a stop to you to preserve their own sales."

Having it spelled out for her like this Evelyn now fully grasped the situation.

At first she would likely make a good profit, but once higher ranked owls caught onto her they would buy her cheaper potions instead of the ones from the second floor and hurt the business of her seniors.

Naturally the other owls that were leagues above her in rank would not take kindly to this and do whatever they could to shut her down.

"But couldn't Melisandre do something to prevent this? She is the master of the hall." Evelyn said looking towards her master hopefully.

"Sorry Evelyn, that would not be a very practical solution. Sure no one would mess with you, but your success would not be your own and plenty of owls would try to get close to you just to reach me. But along with those that wanted to get close to you, there would be others that wanted to harass you either because they do not like me or are envious. I already mentioned that revealing your relationship to me to everyone would simply cause more problems than benefits at this point."

Sighing, Evelyn drooped her head and ground her beak in frustration.

It seemed like there was nothing she could do, and all her hard work would be for nothing.

She would not be able to sell in of her creations and would lose out on a valuable source of credits that she would need in the future.

Luckily, she was quickly saved from her despair as Melisandre chimed in with a solution.

"Katrina, would you be willing to sell what Evelyn has made this time in your own store. If you do this, I will be more than happy to give you another personal lesson."