Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Study of Potions

"Y-yes, Master!" Hughes felt the gaze of Wizard Matt upon him and for a moment, he didn’t dare lift his head.

"The entire Shadow Ring Academy does indeed emit a certain energy radiation," Wizard Matt explained patiently. "But this includes you, me, all the wizards and apprentices, as well as some experimental devices and subjects. All of them emit energy radiation, which can harm ordinary people’s bodies. However, now that you’re a first-level apprentice, you no longer need to worry about this."

"The higher a wizard’s rank, the stronger the energy radiation, to the extent that it can even alter the surrounding environment. That’s why you won’t see any ordinary people within our academy."

Hughes listened, and finally understood why the academy sent out the second- and third-level apprentices: it was to prevent energy radiation pollution.

"Half a year—no matter how poor the talent, one can reach first-level apprentice in half a year." At this moment, everything became clear to Hughes.

"Alright, Hughes, you’re now a first-level apprentice. You may choose from my knowledge," Wizard Matt said, as he retrieved three items from a hidden compartment in his desk.

A still-beating, dark red heart; a rolled-up scroll; and a pure white fruit, resembling something that had grown from a plant.

"Before you are three items, each representing the advanced field I excel at. This heart stands for Biomodification; the scroll is Rune Studies; and this fruit represents Alchemy. Now, make your choice," Wizard Matt instructed.

"I choose Alchemy, Master!" Hughes replied. He had chosen Wizard Matt as his mentor precisely to study alchemy, as the resources needed for his cultivation would depend on these potions.

"Very well," Wizard Matt said, unsurprised by Hughes’s choice—he had anticipated it from the beginning.

"Here," Wizard Matt handed the white fruit to Hughes and put away the other two items.

"Um, this…" Hughes stared at the fruit in his hand, unsure what to do.

"Eat it, right away," Wizard Matt told him, fixing his gaze on Hughes.

Following his master’s command, Hughes opened his mouth and tossed the fruit in.

"Bitter!" The moment he bit into the fruit, a wave of bitterness flooded his mouth.

Hughes found the taste indescribably foul and felt an urge to spit it out.

"Endure it, Hughes. This is advanced knowledge, and it’s nothing you can’t handle. If you spit it out, you’ll lose the qualification to study alchemy!"

Clenching his teeth, Hughes forced himself to swallow the fruit.

It took some time before Hughes recovered from the ordeal.

"Well? Are you alright?" Wizard Matt’s voice echoed in his ears.

"I’m fine, just… that taste was something else," Hughes replied, still a little shaken by the experience.

"It’s the same for everyone. My own mentor gave me such a fruit back in the day—it’s tradition, I suppose!"

"What kind of tradition is that?" Hughes couldn’t help but complain inwardly.

"That’s enough. The knowledge of alchemy is now yours. Review it well when you return," Wizard Matt said.

Hughes closed his eyes, feeling the newly acquired knowledge—‘Advanced Knowledge: Alchemy’—surfacing in his mind.

"Thank you, Master," Hughes said, delighted.

"Mm."

Wizard Matt then assigned Hughes his tasks for the day.

As Hughes sorted herbs, his thoughts wandered to his future. Now that he possessed alchemy knowledge, he could use his chip to refine potions. He had to become a second-level apprentice as soon as possible, for only then could he begin learning spells—only then would he have some means to protect himself, and the academy’s biannual missions would be less perilous.

Lost in thought, Hughes continued with his work. The tasks Wizard Matt assigned weren’t difficult; by noon, Hughes had finished them all.

After reporting to Wizard Matt, Hughes made his way to the library.

He had the chip record all free books on alchemy available on the first floor of the library.

The academy’s library was vast and divided into many levels. The first floor’s books were free, but those on the upper floors were written in Arlenian; to access those, one had to pay with magic stones.

After closing the last alchemy book, Hughes stretched and prepared to visit the trading hall.

The trading hall wasn’t far from the library, and Hughes arrived within minutes.

It was quiet—perhaps because most in the academy were newcomers, busy with their studies and with little time for trading.

Looking around at several large buildings in the trading area, Hughes spotted a sign with the word ‘Alchemy’ and went inside.

"What do you need?" The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man in black robes, sat with his eyes closed and only asked when he heard someone enter.

"I’d like a set of tools for potion-making. Do you have any?" Hughes asked, glancing around the shop.

"Potion-making tools? So you want to make potions, too? Not to discourage you, but I’ve seen a lot of people come in here for that lately. They think a few free lessons in alchemy are enough to start brewing. In this entire academy, only Wizard Matt and his two students have managed it—though I hear one has already graduated," the man rambled, as much to himself as to Hughes.

"So go back and save your magic stones. If you think you can brew potions after just a few classes, think again—even if you’re a first-level apprentice. If you’re truly interested, go find Wizard Matt yourself, though I can’t say he’ll take you. His standards are high. But you made first-level apprentice so quickly after arriving at the academy—you’ve got talent! Maybe you’ll succeed," the shopkeeper continued.

"I just want to buy something. Is it necessary to lecture me?" Hughes thought, almost exasperated.

"Uh, excuse me. My mentor is Matt Joy," Hughes interrupted.

"Oh, your teacher is Matt? You must be his new student," the shopkeeper said, finally opening his eyes to look at Hughes.

"Yes."

"I’m Lindsay. I suppose you could say I know your mentor. Your talent is impressive, no wonder Matt chose you. Starting potion-making now is perfectly reasonable," the shopkeeper said as he rose to his feet.

"Come, I have several sets of potion-making instruments. Pick one," he said, laying out several glass apparatuses on the table. "These are all new, though some were discarded by third-level apprentices. They’re complete and work just fine."

Hughes examined the sets carefully, letting his chip scan for the one with the least damage.

"I’ll take this one," Hughes said, selecting an older-looking set.

"This one? That’ll be two magic stones."

"Alright, I’ll take it."

"Very well, I’ll wrap it up for you," the shopkeeper said efficiently.

"Do you have any basic potion recipes?"

"Potion recipes? Of course. I have a blood-staunching potion, and a stamina potion—which do you want?"

"I’ll take both!" Hughes replied. These were basic potions, and he planned to practice with them.

"And one set of ingredients for each, please."

The shopkeeper fetched two wooden boxes and two weathered pieces of parchment from the shelves.

"Each recipe is one magic stone, and each set of ingredients is one magic stone. A set of ingredients is enough for ten attempts. If you manage to brew them, you can sell them to me—I’ll give you a good price."

"I will."

Hughes opened the boxes, checked the ingredients and recipes—filled with notes and steps, though all looked quite old.

He paid the shopkeeper six magic stones, completing the transaction.

Watching his magic stones dwindle, Hughes realized his thirty-some stones might not last.

He’d only bought a few things, and already spent so much; potion-making would require a hefty investment up front.

"It looks like I’ll have to work hard at potion-making, or things could get troublesome in the future!"