"Alchemists never worry about money; Alchemists are not interested in money." — Albert
The flames licked the bottom of the crucible, and the water inside had long since reached a rolling boil. Arya stood before it, stirring the liquid with a branch about the thickness of three fingers. She had been at this for six hours. The branch in her hand was the same one she had picked up four hours earlier when she went to fetch water, ensuring the pot didn't boil dry.
Was brewing medicine fun? Certainly. But tedious as well. Repeating the same motion endlessly had worn down even her boundless initial energy. According to the Alchemy Handbook, a proper potion required at least eight hours of brewing, meaning Arya's batch of Magic Potion would only be complete at sunrise.
Still, compared to the dull boredom of lying in bed with nothing to do, a bit of tedium seemed trivial.
She gritted her teeth and, as she stirred, took out the Basic Herbalism book she had just received. She had skimmed it once before, at the start of brewing, but now she wanted to refresh her knowledge. Even outdoors, she hung her magical lantern on a branch to read.
Surprisingly, despite being called "Basic," the book was thorough. It covered every stage of working with herbs: identification, gathering techniques, preparation, drying, grinding, storage, and usage. It even included precautions and E-grade herb illustrations, helping her identify materials accurately. Compared to Albert's personal notes, this book was far more detailed.
Of course, notes could never replace a standard textbook. Arya didn't begrudge Albert; after all, it would be shameful to criticize someone whose guidance had already benefited her.
Ding-a-ling-a-ling—
The mechanical alarm clock on the windowsill rang sharply, jolting Arya awake.
"Eight hours!" she exclaimed, setting down the stirring branch and silencing the alarm. She had traded for the clock at the exchange using twenty units of basic materials. Timing mattered when brewing Magic Potions, and she had even used her Gathering Art three times on nearby trees to make the process easier. Collecting ingredients in this way was low-risk; wolves couldn't reach her in the trees.
The Abandoned Forest had no flying magical beasts either. Arya found this odd, but assumed it was due to the novice protection period. Perhaps even the Karim World's Will hadn't expected someone like her to awaken a flying Talent so early.
Psh—Psh—
Arya scooped water from a bucket with a wooden bowl, extinguishing the flames beneath the crucible. Peering inside, she saw the potion had reduced by half, even after topping it up once. The medicinal aroma wasn't as strong as she had imagined.
"Is it done?" she wondered.
Unsure, Arya flew to a nearby tree, gathered more wood, returned, and poured herself a small taste once the potion cooled. Watching her Magic Power rise, she felt conflicted—was it a success or a disappointment?
Albert's notes described an Apprentice-level Magic Potion as restoring five points per second for ten seconds, totaling fifty points. Arya's potion, however, restored only one point per second for ten seconds. Not perfect—but usable. Considering she had limited tools and knowledge, producing anything that worked was already an achievement. Compared to Albert, who had made a flawless Apprentice-level potion on his first day, she might not be a genius—but she could at least consider herself promising.
With the potion complete, Arya turned to storing it. A 550ml bottle was too cumbersome and unworthy of alchemical standards. She needed something small, portable, and convenient.
Then she spotted test tubes.
Perfect. Small, easy to carry, and corked—ideal for medicine. She didn't hesitate, buying a box of ten for just one basic stone unit. Some items at the exchange were cheap because they seemed useless to most, but for her, they were treasures.
Arya poured the potion into the test tubes, filled each to the brim, and corked them.
"One dose per tube," she said, uncertain. But practicality won—if in doubt, ask for appraisal.
She placed the tubes on the small screen, which displayed their stats:
Crude Magic Potion (E-)
Effect: Restores 1 point of Magic Power per second for 10 seconds.
Description: A crudely made potion with a strong metallic taste. Its origin is unclear, and dosage is large. It is recommended to refine both the potion and the consumer.
Despite the crude taste and low potency, Arya felt a surge of satisfaction. For a first successful batch, it was far better than failure.
The process had taught her patience, precision, and the importance of preparation. Each step—boiling, stirring, measuring, cooling—was a lesson in alchemy. Even the small successes mattered.
Alchemists weren't just scientists—they were craftsmen. And Arya was beginning to understand the balance between skill and persistence.
The night stretched on, silent except for the crackle of the fire. Wolves howled in the distance, but Arya was safely perched above them. With each test tube of potion, she was one step closer to mastering her craft.
Tomorrow, she would refine her method, improve potency, and perhaps even sell her creations at the exchange. But tonight, she simply admired her work: a tiny row of glowing test tubes, a small but tangible proof of her progress.
Alchemy, she realized, was more than just magic—it was discipline, patience, and creativity combined. And even as a novice, even with E-level talent, she had already taken her first confident step.
The stars blinked above the Abandoned Forest, silent witnesses to her quiet triumph. Arya smiled, thinking of all the possibilities that awaited her in the Tower, and in that moment, she felt truly alive.