The days passed and the time went on;pppp three days later, Marcus believed that he should be pretty close to Morthal and he needed only one or two days to reach the first big city after Solitude.
He would be lying if he were to say that he was not excited.
After some testing and more understanding of his capabilities, he also had some ideas and changes of plans.
At first, he wanted to reach Winterhold quickly. Now, he believed he could spend some time in the cities that he visited and get familiar with people and increase his power while he spent his time.
When he reaches Winterhold College for the first time, he does not want to be a total newbie and have to join classes and be treated like a nobody.
The last three days he read about Calm enough to be able to cast it against wolves and similar level weak creatures with no problem.
This also led him to have some understanding of the Illusion School of Magic on a practical level. Which was pretty great.
Other than some encounters with wolves and some spiders, he did not encounter any intelligent beings, men or mer, at all.
In the end, the world was vast as long as he was not targeted and did not move with a huge group. It would be hard to gather attention.
"I should be focusing on having more septims..."
"I should have forty septims or something."
"For my studies and buying the books, I should have at least five hundred septims..."
"It does make sense to invest in something too."
Marcus only needed septims for living a quality life and also for research materials.
As he thought, he kept on going at slow speed.
"Oh."
"Who are those?"
Marcus looked and noticed, in the five-man group, there were also two people clearly much different from them, as they were wearing great-quality clothes.
Compared to the five-man group, who looked like some sort of guard-type people, they looked like nobles.
As he rode, the guards stopped in front of two nobles and hailed him.
"You."
"Tell us who you are before getting closer."
Marcus did not like how he was spoken to, but he knew this was not about rudeness or anything.
It was just that they are used to it and some sort of a cultural approach.
"I am just a traveler..." Marcus shouted at the man who stopped him from a distance of fifteen meters.
The noble woman said to her husband.
"He is alone, and he does not look threatening..."
The noble husband shook his head, holding the hand of his wife, and said.
"It is those people who don't look dangerous who are the most threatening."
"He is alone in this wilderness without being scared of bandits..."
"It must mean something."
The guard looked at Marcus for one and two moments and then nodded.
"We will pass from the right side, and you pass from the left."
Marcus nodded, and then he let them pass. As he was passing, the nobleman looked at him for a moment and stopped his horse.
There was still caution and distance.
"I am sorry for the behavior. We do not know who in this region could be trusted."
Marcus nodded and smiled.
"I get it."
The man then said.
"My name is Leonifold Clere."
"I am a merchant and a small noble..."
"What do you do, mister?"
Marcus felt weird and could not help but think.
"I mean, why not just pass as you guys said to me?"
He doesn't like to be asked a question, but still he answered. It is not like he is losing something.
"I am Marcus; I am an alchemist."
Leonifold's eyes got serious, and he nodded, while the guards looked into each other. They were not expecting an alchemist to traverse the wilderness all alone.
Leonifold then said.
"I am on my way to Solitude."
"When I reach there, I will send you a paper document; we may work together. I can list how much I will be willing to pay for the potions."
"Would you be okay with that?"
Marcus nodded.
"That would be fine."
"I will be staying at Morthal for at least one month."
"You can send me the paper there; if we can make an arrangement, it would be the best."
Leonifold then landed on the ground from his horse and took some papers from his bag and started writing on it.
After some writing, he gave the paper to Marcus.
"Health Potion – 15 Septims For 30 Potions."
"Fortify Health – 60 Septims For – 30 Potions"
"Regen Stamina"—15 Septims For—30 Potions
"Fortify Stamina" – 60 Septims For – 30 Potions"
"Cure Diseases." - 90 Septims For – 30 Potions"
"Signed By Leonifold Clere."
Leonifold then looked at Marcus for a moment and said.
"I need this small shipment in one month; can you prepare it?"
Marcus thought for a moment and then looked at the prices he is willing to pay and understood that it is not that bad for him.
He knew all the potions on the list, and making thirty each is not that hard. It would take one week of his time to make all these potions.
He would be paid 240 septims for all these potions. For the materials and ingredients, he should be spending about twenty septims.
The net profit would be 220 Septims.
"I can make it."
"I know all the potions."
Leonifold then nodded as he spoke.
"Do you have any samples of Fortify Health and Fortify Stamina on you?"
"Do not take it wrong, please; I need to see the quality of your potions."
Marcus nodded and smiled.
"I understand."
"I do have what you seek," he said like a drug dealer.