As the tour comes to an end, Alma leads you into a relatively calm town square. It's quiet here; the only people in this cozy space are drinking tea and not paying much attention to you. Alma ignores them as well and leads you to a glass storefront full of plants and glass vials. A sign painted on the outside of the window reads:

THE GARDEN OF TRISMEGISTUS
⊱ alchemy and potion shop ⊰

The inside of the shop, much like the window, is full of plants and bubbling vials and chemical apparatus. The whole room smells of petrichor and cinnamon. Opposite the door is a counter, and behind the counter is an Athenai with black hair and tan skin, coughing as he emerges from a cloud of smoke. He swears in an antiquated language before turning to you. "Oh good. You brought help."

Alma walks over. "Hermes, are you alright - "

"God, no. That's the third batch of Helix shards ruined today. I swear, I must be losing my touch. That or I need sleep. It's one of those two things." He squints at you. "Although... hmm. Hey, you. If you don't mind a bit of work, can you get me three boxes of Lucinda singulus extract from the market two blocks away? If you can do that, I'll teach you a little bit of alchemy."