Ery's initial intention to visit the alchemy facility extended beyond a re fascination with the art. His true objective was to find a rare material potent enough to heal the Azure Cloud clan patriarch's deteriorating condition.
After getting acquainted with Master Zain, the man in charge of the facility, Ery revealed his purpose and discussed the type of ingredients he was seeking.
"I am looking for any Yin-type materials, tier 4 and above."
"You are trying to make a poison?" Master Zain asked, his eyes narrowing with interest.
"No, I am trying to cure one instead."
"Ahh… you are using cold poison to deal with flaming ones… interesting."
Master Zain seed intrigued by Ery's approach and was more than happy to guide him through the facility. The apprentices and staff exchanged surprised glances at seeing their master personally assist a visitor.
As they walked past rows of glass containers filled with glowing herbs, Grand Magus Stoltz leaned in closer and whispered, his voice low but firm.
"I don't think my condition was related to Yang elents. You're not looking for a cure for , are you?"
"No," Ery replied calmly, "But you'll get to see heal soone else…"
With that, the group continued deeper into the facility, the scent of potent reagents thick in the air and the hum of alchemical machinery resonating softly around them.
Ery was awestruck as he stepped further into the alchemy facility. The grand hall was a marvel of ticulous organization and ancient craftsmanship. Rows of glass cabinets stretched endlessly, their polished surfaces reflecting the ethereal glow of enchanted lanterns hanging from the high vaulted ceiling.
The air was cool and faintly scented with a mix of herbs, minerals, and potions, creating an atmosphere both calming and invigorating.
Each cabinet was a treasure trove, filled with exotic materials. But so of the rare ones were stored within special crystal cabinets, each one enchanted with stasis spells to preserve the precious ingredients within. Inside these translucent cases, rare materials shimred under soft magical light—glowing herbs still covered in morning dew, crystalline powders in glass vials, and liquids swirling with ethereal energy.
Ery's eyes glead with barely restrained excitent as he scanned the displays, his fingers brushing lightly against the glass of a cabinet.
It was a paradise for any alchemist, or in Ery's case, Apothecarist—The wealth of knowledge and potential in this place made him montarily forget about the frail Azure Cloud patriarch waiting for his cure.
Master Zain, walking slightly ahead, glanced back and smirked as he noticed Ery's captivated expression.
"You have a keen eye, Master Ery. Most who co here are overwheld, but you seem to know exactly what you're looking at," Zain said, his voice carrying a mix of approval and curiosity.
Ery felt the weight of the complint but quickly refocused, careful not to reveal his identity as a traveler. Still, he couldn't resist selecting a handful of precious materials and ingredients—each chosen with both his current goals and future experints in mind.
When Master Zain noticed Ery's growing pile of selections, he chuckled softly before offering a generous discount.
This only encouraged Ery further, and he lost control, grabbing bundles of materials with an eagerness that drew surprised gazes from everyone around him.
Caught off guard by their stares, Ery froze for a mont before offering an awkward smile. "This is… all for… my people… back in the tribes," he said with a cheeky grin.
After completing his purchases, Ery followed Master Zain through a grand archway leading to the alchemy facility's library.
The library was an architectural marvel. Towering shelves carved from dark mahogany stretched high toward the vaulted ceiling, each filled with countless tos, scrolls, and alchemical logs. Stained-glass windows adorned the upper walls, filtering soft beams of colored light onto the polished stone floor below. Enchanted lanterns floated gently in the air, casting a warm, golden glow over the reading tables scattered throughout the hall.
There were thousands of tos carefully stacked and categorized. So were ancient, their leather bindings cracked and pages yellowed with ti, while others were pristine and bound in enchanted silk. Ery noticed handwritten experintation logs sealed with wax sigils, marking them as private contributions from esteed alchemists. These records were available for visiting alchemists and apprentices alike, a treasure trove of accumulated wisdom spanning centuries.
Even in an alchemist center in a small border city, such a wealth of resources was readily available. Ery couldn't wait to see what the capital city had to offer.
As they moved deeper into the library, Ery noticed smaller chambers branching off from the main hall. Through an open door, he glimpsed a training room where apprentices were diligently preparing potions. Their focus was intense, their faces illuminated by the flickering glow of magical flas dancing beneath cauldrons.
"These are dedicated chambers," Master Zain explained as they passed. "Apprentices can refine their craft here under supervision. Each room is enchanted to contain volatile reactions and protect both the students and the facility itself."
They paused briefly to observe an apprentice struggling to stabilize a bubbling elixir. The boy winced as a crackling spark erupted from his cauldron, but a senior alchemist swiftly intervened, muttering a stabilizing incantation. The cauldron's glow dimd, and disaster was narrowly avoided.
Ery couldn't help but admire the structure and organization of the facility. However, during their discussion, he began to notice significant differences between alchemy in this realm and the apothecary practices of the Magus Realm.
Here, even apprentices possessed the spiritual energy required to directly influence their concoctions—sothing typically reserved for masters in the Magus Realm. These young alchemists could imbue their potions and elixirs with power far beyond what conventional alchemical thods could achieve. Spirit concoctions—potions fused with spiritual energy—were standard practice, even among lower-level students.
However, Ery also noticed a glaring weakness. With their heavy reliance on spiritual concoctions, the apprentices lacked proficiency in conventional apothecary techniques—even the most basic ones widely practiced in the Magus Realm. Proper treatnt of raw materials, ticulous heating techniques, water purification, and other fundantal preparation thods were often overlooked.
One crucial piece of information was the fact that they lacked a structured network system like the one established by the Magus Alliance. This absence significantly slowed the spread of new techniques and knowledge, limiting their overall growth and innovation.
At the sa ti, It took Ery only a mont to realize just how valuable the knowledge of their spirit concoction techniques truly was. Without hesitation, he requested an opportunity to study them.
Master Zain, ever accommodating, retrieved a to. The book was bound in shimring silver threads and adorned with a faintly glowing sigil on its cover. It was titled [Mythral Concoction Art], a renowned alchemical technique revered across the region. "This to covers the foundational level of the Mythral Concoction Art," Master Zain explained as he handed it over. "Unfortunately, only this introductory volu is available here. The advanced and master-level tos are safeguarded at the Alchemist Center in the capital."
Ery carefully flipped through the to's pages, to find that even at the basic level, the knowledge was groundbreaking, offering insights that could refine his spirit-reading abilities.
Although the absence of the higher-level tos was disappointing, Ery understood the restrictions. Knowledge this valuable wasn't freely handed out, especially not to outsiders. Still, he gratefully accepted the to, intending to study it thoroughly and perhaps cross paths with the advanced volus once he reached the capital city.
With their objectives t and their shopping list complete, Ery and Grand Magus Stoltz departed the alchemy facility. The sun hung low on the horizon, casting long golden rays across the polished stone courtyard. Apprentices and alchemists bustled about, tending to their duties as Ery and the elderly magus made their way back to the Azure Cloud estate.
Shortly after their departure, the tranquil atmosphere of the alchemy center was disrupted by the arrival of a figure who commanded imdiate respect.
Master Baldoni, a man with sharp, hawk-like eyes and silver-streaked hair pulled tightly back, strode into the facility. Every apprentice and staff mber in sight bowed deeply as he passed, whispering his na with reverence.
He had co as soon as he heard about the unexpected visit from Prince Floyd, only to discover he had missed the prince's presence entirely. The frustration was evident in the sharp set of his jaw and the narrowed glare he directed at Master Zain.
It was then that he learned about Ery—the 'Beastman Alchemy master'
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