I was new to the town, but since it had already rained four of the five days there, I figured I'd better get used to the rain. But I couldn't do that if my glasses kept getting clouded with raindrops.
Downtown had a little magic shop, spells, potions, and whatnot. I figured I could check see if the had something water repellent for my glasses.
The shop didn't have windows, and seemed small, smooshed between a bar and a clothing store, so I wasn't prepared for what was inside. The only indication the store sold magic was the painted door.
I opened that door, and a little bell rang. The store was chaotic, with scents competing, mixing. My eyes didn't know what to focus on, everything was so cluttered. And then some little creature ran past me, and the shopkeep came chasing after, then she noticed me.
She stopped. "Oh. Didn't notice you there. What do you need?"
"I can wait until you've dealt with that creature," I said. I didn't have anything else that day.
"No, it'll be fine. Worst case Mobgeor knocks down some things that need to be reorganized anyway. What did you come in here for?"
"My glasses, when it rains the water on my glasses it's hard to see out of them. I was thinking you might have a water repellent."
"I'll see if I can find it, meanwhile feel free to look around yourself." she disappeared through the wall.
I started looking at the things on the wall. Only around half of anything was labeled, and the labels weren't always helpful. One said "buraer" and then some characters in another language, one I didn't recognize.
And when I picked it up, to see what the label said on the back, and saw a glow coming from behind. So I dug through the various vials and boxes, and I saw the source of the glow. Dragon's fire, stored in a jar. An old jam jar, to be specific. The faded label was still there.
The way the fire was moving, the color, all of it proved it to be genuine dragon's fire, not one of the fakes sold as novelties occasionally.
If you want to know how I knew with such certainty, that's my job. I deal with magic contraband, finding it and confiscating it.
"Excuse me, I have something to ask you about," I shouted. I wasn't on duty, so I had more leniency in getting information.
It took the shopkeep a while to come, but when she did she was covered in some feathers.
"What was it you had questions about?" she asked.
"This." I hold up the jar, making sure I've got it held steady with both my hands. "Where'd it come from?"
"Sorry, I don't know. I just inherited this shop from my uncle, and it might not surprise you to learn the man had no sense of organization. Why? What is it?"
"Dragon's fire. Genuine dragon's fire."
"That's dragon fire? He kept dragon fire just on a shelf? I'm not dealing with that. Y'know what? I'm not dealing with any of this anymore. Keep the dragon's fire, and take the shop as well." She pulled a paper out of her apron, and looked ready to throw it at me, but set it down cautiously instead. She then left a wide berth when leaving the store. Smart. That's what I'd advise anyone on what to do with dragon's fire. Calmly leave the area.
But I couldn't do that. If I just leave, someone else might stumble upon the building. I found a box to put the jar in. I would have also liked to move it to a proper vial, but I didn't see any of the necessary equipment.
And that's how I ended up with the shop.
It took me over two years to open, you know. I had to search through for other contraband. Of which there was plenty. Nothing quite as extreme as dragon's fire stored in a jam jar, but still plenty dangerous. But it's nice, to have a second job I'm in control of. That's why I open it only once a week, helps it feel like a break from my normal job.
It isn't a break, of course. The store remains chaotic, as much as I tried to organize it.
But it's something different.