Chapter 26 - Chapter 26 - The First Contract

The Crafting Hall felt different once the others left. Quieter.Warmer.Almost peaceful, despite the lingering scorch marks from someone's failed experiments. Steam drifted lazily from simmering cauldrons.The lanterns hanging from the rafters cast gentle golden arcs across stone floors. It was the kind of quiet Riley had rarely known in his first life. Now?It felt like a second chance wrapped in warm light. Lumi sat curled on his shoulder, breathing softly.Pip — the tiny Mossling spirit — peeked out from behind a pillar, watching Lumi with wide, round eyes. And Kipp Underwood crouched beside a low alchemy table, staring at the glowing spoon in his hand like it was a sacred relic. "Okay…" Kipp muttered, narrowing his eyes. "Okay… if I stir counterclockwise, then clockwise, THEN tap the spoon three times, MAYBE it won't explode." Riley raised an eyebrow."Kipp." He tapped the recipe window. "Water first." Kipp let out a defeated groan. "Right. Water. Always water. Gods, why is water always first? Why is crafting so… so logical?" He slammed the spoon down dramatically. Pip squeaked and scrambled onto his head like a terrified hat. Riley laughed."You're improving." Kipp's head snapped up like a puppy hearing a treat bag. "Really?" "Well… you didn't explode for the last five minutes." Kipp gasped. "That's PROGRESS." Kipp scooped water carefully.Slowly.Painstakingly. He poured it into the cauldron with the reverence of a priest offering tribute— —and immediately dropped the ladle in after it. It made a sad metal clunk. Kipp groaned."Pip, buddy, we're never gonna graduate Alchemy Kindergarten." Pip squeaked in disapproval. Riley walked over, fished the ladle out, and handed it back. "It's fine. Here—try again." Kipp inhaled as though preparing for battle. "Okay. No panic. No fear. We are brave. We are stable. We are NOT EXPLOSIVE." He poured the powder into the water. The mixture hissed—swirled—and then— A tiny poof of smoke rose like an embarrassed sigh. Kipp froze. "I think… I think that was… gentle?" "It didn't explode," Riley said. "That's gentle." Kipp punched the air in triumph."Yes! I made a non-violent potion attempt! We're basically experts now!" Riley rolled his eyes but smiled. "Okay," Kipp said, "let's try heating it." He leaned close. Too close. Riley lunged. "Kipp—!" BOOMF. A tiny golden eruption erupted from the cauldron, blasting Kipp backward into a shelf stacked with herbs. He landed in a heap, arms splayed, eyes spinning. Pip flew through the air like a mossy torpedo and landed face-first on a bag of flour. Riley tried very hard not to laugh. "Are you alive?" Kipp gave a groggy thumbs-up from the floor. "I saw… the gods of herbs… They were disappointed." A player walking by snickered. "Dude, Underwood, maybe crafting isn't for you." Kipp's shoulders tightened. Riley turned sharply. "He'll be better than you one day." The guy blinked, scoffed, and walked off. Kipp stared at Riley. "You… said that like you meant it." "I meant it," Riley replied, voice steady. "You're smart. You just need practice." Kipp swallowed hard. His eyes went shiny for a moment. "No one's ever defended my crafting before." "Get used to it," Riley said. Lumi chirped approvingly.Pip squeaked a tiny battle cry. Something loosening quietly inside Kipp. Riley set up fresh ingredients. "Let's make the Prism Bloom Tonic again," Riley said. "Together." Kipp froze."Together?" "Yes." He nodded so fast Pip nearly fell off. "Okay! Yes! Let's craft. Let's bond via hot liquids!" "…Don't phrase it like that." Kipp cleared his throat. "Right. Yes. Not like that." They worked side by side. Riley handled the water and heating curve. Kipp handled the mixing and ingredient layering. Lumi hopped up to the rim of the cauldron and pressed his glowing paw against the edge. Pip scrambled up beside him, mimicking Lumi's posture almost perfectly. Lumi hummed.Pip hummed (badly). Spirit Cooperation Bonus applied — Minor stability increased. The liquid glowed a soft white.Then shifted to gold. Kipp held his breath. The light intensified. And then— SYSTEM:Success — PRISM BLOOM TONIC crafted. Kipp let out a sound halfway between a sob and a victory scream. "I DID IT!I MADE A POTION!A REAL POTION!IT DIDN'T EVEN TRY TO KILL ME!" Pip squeaked triumphantly. Lumi chirped proudly. Riley grinned. "You did good." Kipp's eyes shimmered. "You helped. You really helped." A notification flashed for both of them. Alchemy Level Up → Level 2 Riley blinked. "I… didn't know crafting had its own leveling system." Kipp's face lit up. "Oh yeah! Every non-combat skill does! Alchemy, Smithing, Weaving, Cooking, Inscription — they all have levels. Higher levels unlock rarer recipes and higher success rates." Riley frowned thoughtfully. "Huh. That's… actually really good." "It's AMAZING," Kipp said.He lowered his voice."And also terrifying. Because I'm going to have to learn math. And chemistry. And heat curves. And I have the attention span of a caffeinated squirrel." Pip squeaked in agreement. Riley tried not to laugh."You'll be fine." Kipp sat down on the floor, legs stretched out, Pip curling into his lap. Riley sat beside him. "You really like alchemy, huh?" Riley asked. Kipp exhaled softly. "Yeah. I always have. I played tons of crafting games growing up.But… in real life I'm kinda…"He picked at a thread on his glove."Clumsy. Forgetful. I mess things up a lot." He looked down. "People get annoyed. Or frustrated. Or give up on me. So I end up on my own." Riley's chest tightened slightly. He thought of his first life.The loneliness.The isolation.The mistakes that cost him everything. This time…he wouldn't let others fall into that. "You're not alone now," Riley said quietly. Kipp blinked at him. A genuine, warm smile formed. "Thanks… Riley." As Kipp turned back to the mixture, adjusting tiny runes on the cauldron's base, Riley watched him. And something stirred in his memory. Images flashing like loose pages: A world-famous alchemist known as Kipp the Cauldron King Potions that sold for literal fortunes Raids saved by his brews Guild wars decided by his concoctions A legend in the crafting community And none of that existed yet. Kipp Underwood — late-game titan — was currently: Purple Soot-covered Barely alive And hugging a Mossling like a teddy bear Riley smiled. "Yeah… you're going to change everything." "What?" Kipp asked. "Nothing." Riley leaned against the table. "Kipp, can I ask you something?" Kipp sat up straighter."Anything. Unless it involves lighting myself on fire voluntarily." "It doesn't." "Great. Ask away." Riley took a breath. "Do you… want to officially team up? Long term." Kipp blinked. "Te… team up? As in… like… be partners?" "Yes." Kipp swallowed loudly. "O-okay… but… I'm not really a combat guy." "That's fine," Riley said. "I think your future might be in crafting." Kipp's cheeks pinkened. Riley continued: "I focus on gathering ingredients, finding rare recipes, handling the dangerous stuff." Kipp nodded slowly. "And you focus on making potions. High-tier alchemy. We split the profits." Kipp's mouth fell open. "You… want to go into business with ME?" "Yes." Pip squeaked "YES!" like a tiny cheerleader. Kipp clutched Pip dramatically."This is the happiest day of my life. Pip, we're businessmen." Riley coughed."There's more. I want it official." He opened the Nexus Contract Interface. A glowing blue window appeared between them. Kipp gasped so loud Pip jumped. "OHHHHH MY GOD.A CONTRACT?!Like a real contract?An in-game, legal, official, system-enforced CONTRACT!?" Riley nodded. Kipp grabbed his face with both hands. "WE'RE STARTING A COMPANY," he whispered. Riley drafted the terms: ALCHEMY PARTNERSHIP CONTRACT Riley Grant & Kipp Underwood Profit Split: 50/50All potions crafted from shared recipes. Responsibility Split: Riley gathers ingredients & finds rare recipes. Kipp crafts all potions. Recipe Rights:Shared ownership.Neither may leak or resell. Optional Participation:Kipp may join combat for fun or materials but is not obligated. Penalty for Breaking Contract:-1000 coins48-hour trade lockReputation −15 Duration:Ends when both reach Alchemy Lv 15. Riley slid it toward him. Kipp stared at it.Then at Riley.Then back at it. "Riley…" he whispered, voice small."You're serious." "Yeah." "You actually want me… as your partner." "I do." Kipp's eyes filled with tears. "Can… can I accept it now?" "Go ahead." Kipp slammed the CONFIRM button with such force Pip squeaked in alarm. Contract Signed — Binding.Penalty terms active. Lumi chirped brightly.Pip danced in Kipp's lap. Kipp sniffled loudly. "I promise… I'll work hard. I'll get better. I'll make potions that blow people's minds.Metaphorically.Not… literally.Usually." Riley laughed. "I know you will." Kipp grinned through his tears. Pip hugged his cheek. Lumi hopped into Riley's arms. And for the first time since the reset— Riley felt like he wasn't walking this future alone.