Seneca was in a dilemma.

  The one person she would usually turn to in times like these, Lucius, was no longer around.

  So, naturally, she found herself wanting to see Kito.

  The next day, when Seneca arrived at Kito’s house, she found Kito on the verge of leaving.

  “Oh, Seneca! Just the person I was hoping to see. I was about to come looking for you!”

  Kito’s cheerful smile was like a balm to Seneca’s troubled heart.

  It seemed that Kito had decided to work as an apprentice at a pharmacy located on the outskirts of town.

  The shop was owned by an elderly woman named Yulia. While it wasn’t particurly busy, it was known for producing high-quality potions.

  When Kito realised that her skill was [Alchemy], she immediately began gathering information about apothecaries in town and set her sights on working at Yulia’s shop.

  At first, Yulia had no intention of taking on an apprentice, but she was impressed by Kito’s sharpness and quickly changed her mind.

  Seneca was astonished by how swiftly Kito had acted.

  Though Kito appeared gentle and easygoing, she had this decisiveness about her. She didn’t hesitate when it came to making choices.

  Yulia, despite her age, carried herself with a dignified air, and it was rumoured she might have noble blood. Seneca suspected that it was not just the quality of the work that appealed to Kito, but perhaps Yulia’s grace and elegance as well.

  “So, why did you want me to come to Yulia’s shop?” Seneca asked, curious.

  “I thought you could help me gather the ingredients,” Kito replied.

  Since the age of five, Seneca had been running around the woods, imitating adventurers, learning various skills from her parents, both Silver-ranked adventurers.

  Because of this, she was well-versed in identifying medicinal herbs, and her expertise had earned her good standing with the guild.

  She had earned the nickname "Muddy Seneca" for getting covered in dirt during her foraging, but the ability had been invaluable both in the vilge and at the orphanage.

  Kito, of course, knew all this, which was why she had brought it up to Yulia.

  Seneca’s future was something even Kito could only guess at.

  However, one thing was certain: Seneca would need to leave the orphanage in a year or two. For that, it would be better to have a stable source of income through adventuring.

  Kito had managed to bance both her concern for her best friend and the pragmatic need for an apprenticeship. Yulia recognised this and appreciated it greatly.

  “Yulia said she’ll buy the ingredients at a higher price than the guild. It’s better for the shop, too, since it’s cheaper than buying from the guild or the merchants,” Kito expined.

  “Really?”“Really. I’ve heard you can handle rare materials, and the herbs you bring in are of excellent quality. I think it’ll be a decent source of income.”“Thank you, Kito!”

  With that, Seneca threw her arms around Kito in a tight embrace.

  ...

  Yulia’s pharmacy was located on the outskirts of town.

  As they walked, Seneca confided in Kito, spilling all her thoughts that had been on her mind recently.

  Kito listened intently, occasionally nodding with a “Mm-hmm” or “I see,” giving Seneca the space to express herself.

  As Seneca talked, her thoughts began to become clearer.

  Kito’s habit of repeating or confirming Seneca’s words allowed Seneca to reflect on her own thoughts, which helped her find crity.

  Knowing this, Kito only spoke up when it was absolutely necessary, letting Seneca find her own way.

  “I really need to figure out how to make money first,” Seneca said, as she began to formute her next pn.

  Kito watched her with admiration, feeling a sense of awe at her friend’s unwavering focus and determination.

  The two of them arrived at the apothecary and met with Yulia.

  As Kito had described, Yulia was older in years, yet her silver hair was impeccably groomed, and her posture remained upright and graceful.

  Though her manner of speaking was gentle, her dignified presence caused Seneca to subconsciously straighten her own posture.

  After offering a proper greeting, Seneca listened attentively as Yulia spoke of the herb gathering task.

  “Let’s begin with the basics—gather some medicinal herbs and antidote pnts. This will allow me to assess your ability,” Yulia said with a steady tone.

  Seneca nodded in agreement.

  “Bring me what you gather once a week. Only the amount you collect will be necessary. After a few rounds of that, we’ll move on to the next set of materials.”

  “Understood! I just bring them here, right?” Seneca asked eagerly.

  “Yes, I or Kito should be here, so just bring them to us.”

  After finalising the details of the herb-gathering arrangement, Yulia kindly offered tea and sweets, and Seneca happily accepted the invitation.

  ...

  The sweets Yulia had prepared were scones. They had a slight hint of oats mixed in, giving them an incredibly fragrant and toasted fvour. Seneca felt a wave of happiness as she tasted them.

  The tea was equally delightful. A herbal blend, crafted with care by Yulia herself, filled the air with the fresh scents of nature.

  Seneca found herself thinking that Yulia was a ‘strong person.’

  Not in terms of physical strength, of course, but rather in the quiet strength of character, knowledge, and grace. These qualities, when combined, gave her an undeniable air of dignity.

  Moreover, Yulia’s responses to Kito were measured and thoughtful, making Seneca admire her even more.

  Seneca now understood why Kito had chosen this apothecary.

  She felt a desire to share her own troubles with Yulia.

  Her sense of determination, she realised, was a gift from her mother.

  “Yulia, you must have met many people over the years, haven’t you? I want to become an adventurer, but my skill is [Sewing]...”

  “I’ve heard about your situation from Kito,” Yulia said with a knowing smile. “Indeed, I’ve encountered many people in my time. There have been those whose dreams seemed mismatched with their skills, yet they succeeded, while others, with dreams that seemed well-aligned, found failure.”

  Seneca and Kito both listened intently, their faces serious.

  “Skills are an enigma,” Yulia continued. “They can confound us, leading us to be swayed by them. But I believe that they also leave room for possibility. There’s always room for change, for growth.”

  “Room for possibility?” Kito echoed, her brow furrowed in thought.

  “Indeed. Take Kito, for example. She gained the [Alchemy] skill and pursued becoming an apothecary. That was a clear and direct path. However, [Alchemy] isn’t limited to making medicine.”

  “Huh? Isn’t [Alchemy] just for making potions?” Seneca asked, struggling to follow.

  “No, it can be used to create anything. Take this herbal tea, for example. If Kito used her [Alchemy] skill to blend herbs, she could even run a tea shop if she wanted.”

  “I see...” Seneca said, now beginning to understand.

  “For now, I think Kito should focus on learning the work of an apothecary. But when she’s older, she should consider other paths. It’s possible one of them might suit her even more. And whatever work she ends up in, the experience will always come in handy.”

  “I… understand,” Kito replied, her mind already working through the implications.

  “Seneca,” Yulia said, her tone softening slightly. “As I mentioned before, I’ve met all kinds of people—those who’ve succeeded and those who haven’t. It’s a harsh world, but if you want to achieve your dreams, you have to do it yourself.”

  Seneca felt a pang of sadness, her shoulders drooping slightly.

  Kito, seeing this, also seemed to shrink a little in empathy.

  “But there is one thing I know for sure,” Yulia continued.

  Both Seneca and Kito looked up, their eyes on Yulia, drawn to the refined expression on her face.

  “Not a single person who succeeded without facing their skills head-on. You need to understand what your skill can truly do. By doing so, the path best suited to you will gradually reveal itself.”

  “Can I still become a strong adventurer?” Seneca asked eagerly, her eyes shining with hope.

  Yulia smiled, wrinkles forming at the corners of her eyes, her expression one of warmth.

  “That, I cannot say for certain. But I’ll support you, and I hope you can achieve that goal.”

  Seneca and Kito both found themselves mesmerised by her smile.

  “And Kito, you feel the same, don’t you?” Yulia teased gently.

  “Uh, yeah! Seneca, I’m rooting for you too!” Kito said, her voice filled with sincerity.

  Hearing this, Seneca felt an overwhelming surge of happiness, leaping with joy.

  Though Kito had only met Yulia a few times, she was now certain that choosing her as a mentor had been the right decision.

  Seneca’s ability to read people was more reliable than her own, and Kito had no doubt that she was in good hands.

  With one worry lifted from her mind, Kito breathed a quiet sigh of relief.