Corvus Thane's Arc

Chapter 3 of 5

Corvus opened the shop doors at dawn and waited. His shelves held bottles of healing salves and fever reducers. The purified water gleamed in glass containers. Fresh herbs hung from the bioluminescent rack, casting blue light across the room. But no customers came. By noon, only three people had walked past his window. The Hidden Realm's market district bustled two streets over, but this side street stayed quiet. He watched a woman pause at his door, glance inside, then continue walking. His stomach tightened. A thriving apothecary needed foot traffic. He grabbed his cloak and locked the door behind him. He needed to understand this world better if his shop would survive. He walked toward the center of town and found a square filled with vendors and shoppers. A statue stood in the middle, catching the afternoon light. Corvus moved closer. The figure held a crystal suspended on a chain, colors swirling inside like trapped galaxies. A plaque at the base read "Master Healer Elara Voss - Her Focus Guides Us Still." People touched the statue as they passed, whispering prayers for health. A young woman placed flowers at its base. This healer had built something that mattered, something that lasted beyond her lifetime. Corvus studied the crystal focus in her stone hands. If someone like Elara had succeeded here, then this world valued healers. His apothecary could work. He just needed to reach the people who needed him. He turned back toward his shop with a new plan forming. Tomorrow he would bring samples to the market square. The Hidden Realm wanted healers. He would show them what he could do. Beyond the square, he spotted dark curtains swaying in the breeze. A pavilion stood open to the street, glowing lanterns casting shadows across its interior. People sat on cushions inside, talking and laughing. Several held cups of tea. An older man showed his neighbors a wrapped bandage on his arm. Corvus stepped closer and watched through the fabric entrance. This was where people came to rest and share their ailments. Where they talked about remedies and treatments. Where healers could meet those who needed help. His chest tightened with understanding. He didn't need his shop to be on the busy street. He needed to be where sick people already gathered. Tomorrow he would bring his best healing salves here. He would offer free samples and advice. Word would spread if his potions worked. The Hidden Realm had built places for healers to connect with their community. Now he knew where to find them. He walked back to his shop as the sun set. His side street looked different now. Not empty, just quiet. A place where people could find calm when they needed healing. But they had to know he existed first. He unlocked his door and went inside. From his storage cabinet, he pulled out glass panels and metal frames. He worked through the evening, bending the metal and fitting the pieces together. His magic flowed through his hands, making the glass glow with soft blue and green light. The sign took shape, colors swirling inside like living water. He carried it outside and mounted it above his door. The bioluminescent display lit up the street, casting patterns on the stones. People would see this from the main road now. They would follow the light to his door. He stepped back and watched the colors shift and pulse. Tomorrow he would visit the pavilion with his samples. Tonight, his shop finally looked like a place worth finding.