I went to sleep for a few hours, only to wake up even before the sun was up.
My feet automatically took me to the drawer where the puppy was being kept and I dipped the cotton in milk to make the puppy drink.
The small puppy whined but ultimately could not resist the taste of milk and started sucking on the cotton. I allowed it to continue until the puppy was full before I pulled the cotton back.
I burped the puppy before putting it back on the makeshift bed in the drawer.
Then, I went back to sleep. But my body was trained for late sleep and early rise. So I was up in a few more hours to feed the puppy.
I did not want to go to sleep a second time so I got back up and started to clean the shop up before the real crowd started to come inside.
The traffic had slowed down compared to the past few days, but it was still well enough to get me by for the time being.
As soon as the rush hour passed, I relaxed.
Since these books were selling well, I decided to take a look at what they contained as well. The book I pulled was the 'Art of Blood.'
It was a book about someone using their blood to perform some art. The more I read it, the more it felt like a fantasy story.
It was well written and simple, but that was all it was—a story that kept me entertained. I finished the book and put it down.
Just at that very second, the doorbell rang and someone entered the shop. I turned to look at who had entered, only to see a somewhat familiar face in front of me.
"Hello, shopkeeper. I am here to meet you again. I know it has only been a few days since we last met, but I feel like I could use your help."
I recognized the person who had entered my shop as the police officer I had helped out before.
"Ah, sure. Please sit down. How is your wound doing? Is it better than before?"
I asked as I asked the older man to sit down.
He quickly took his seat and flexed his muscles. There did not seem to be any awkwardness in his actions.
"As you can see, I am doing extremely well. The drug you gave me worked miracles. I have recovered fully by now."
The man spoke with full confidence as he showed off that he had recovered. I was surprised by this because from what I saw of that wound, it would have taken another two weeks to close up, much less recover.
'Maybe this man is an enigma…or one of those super humans who recover quickly. Let's not ask many questions. Getting involved with law enforcement is not a good idea beyond having their favor.'
I decided that much before I went back to the kitchen. I brewed some tea for myself and my guest and brought it out.
The clock in the store struck 4 and the sound reminded me that I needed to feed the puppy.
"Shopkeeper, I—"
"Wait a minute. I need to do something first. You should make yourself comfortable in the meantime. Feel free to grab any book you want from around here."
I told the older male before I hurried toward my office. I opened the cabinet door and helped the puppy inside drink some milk.
When I came back out, the older male was too absorbed in the book he had been reading. He looked a little startled to see me return and he put the book back on the table.
I checked the title of the book and it was 'Medicine for the Moon.' With a title like that, I could only assume that it was a book of 'female' tastes that I had seen on the rise in the market in my time.
Curiosity got the best of me and I opened the book as well.
[Alpha werewolves usually need to keep-]
That was all I needed to close the book. I did not need to read more to know that I had the right idea all along.
'So the bookstore does pick up books from all over the place. I guess the modern world is not excluded in that…'
Cough
I coughed mainly to get rid of the awkwardness in the air, but I could not help but chuckle as I recalled the huge officer in front of me reading cheesy romance novels from my time.
The image could have been cute…if only the officer did not look like a werewolf because of his build as well.
"So, what are you here for? You can be open with me and tell me all about it."
I told the officer and he looked startled. But then his eyes became firm and he gathered his thoughts.
"Shopkeeper, I knew that you said that the medicine you got for me before was special and you cannot get any more of it, but I really need more of it. My wife has gotten a fever and her skin had turned yellow. I have contacted all doctors in town, but they have given up…and as for the witches…I dare not go to them…"
The officer spoke and he sounded really stressed. I suddenly felt sorry for him.
Had it been modern times, I would have just suggested going to another country and getting a more skilled doctor to look at his wife.
But I had to remind myself that I was in a time period where medicine was not advanced enough to cure people.
Also, the mention of witches told me that not all people were treated equally. It reminded me of the witch hunts I had read about in books.
'I better not tell the officer to seek out a witch for help or a poor woman might be killed off for simply being too knowledgeable.'
But thinking back on what the officer had told me about his wife, something did sound familiar about her condition.
"Hmm, can you tell me more about your wife's condition? Her skin has turned yellow, but what about the white of her eyes? Have they turned yellow as well?"
I asked and the officer paused before he nodded.
"Yes—! How does the shopkeeper know—! Not, that's not important. Do you have something to cure her curse with?"
The officer asked and I wanted to tell him that it was not a curse his wife was under, but just an illness.
But I also refrained from speaking too much because I did not want to be questioned.
"Hmm, give me a minute. I might know a thing or two that can help your wife. I hope I still have ingredients for the tonic."
I went to my kitchen to check on the herb collection I had. There was an extensive collection of rare herbs I had never heard of in the shop, but I chose to go for the ones I knew for sure.
I quickly mixed the herbs to brew the tonic that was usually used for jaundice and headed out.
I did not have proper medicine or faith points to get it, so this substitute would have to do for now.