46 Path of Crafting
The gnawing feeling on his stomach didn't last long as he found the sights around him were worth it. Soon, they arrived at a much towering building where there were also lots of flying boats entering and exiting. They landed on one of the balconies and when they got off the boat-bird, Ery followed Master Grom and was greeted by another acolyte wearing a slightly different uniform that had an emblem of a triangular container on the chest.
"Welco back, Master Grom," the acolyte said, slightly bowing. Just like Master Grom, the acolyte faintly slled of herbs and earth.
Master Grom nodded in response and said, "Cedric, this is the new recruit. His na is... just ask him his na and give him the standard orientation into the institute"—the dwarf then turned to face Ery and added—"Boy, you don't need to be the best student or anything, just make sure not to embarrass okay? And... and... rember what I told you earlier, understood?"
Ery chuckled in his mind seeing how the dwarf had turned slightly red again. He kept his face innocent and said, "Yes, Master Grom."
The dwarf cleared his throat again. "Good, good. Oh yes, I almost forgot."
Master Grom grabbed Ery's wrist, placed his palm on top of Ery and both symbols glowed for a mont. He said, "Okay, check your palm now."
[You are hereby invited into the apothecary institute]
[Accept?]
Of course Ery would accept the offer, he needed this!
[You are now an Apothecary Apprentice rank 1]
"Now, that is settled, until next year then."
Ery was over the moon now that he had completed one of the objectives to pass the first year's requirents, to be accepted in any institution. All that he needed to accomplish was to increase his spirit power by using the potions he had received.
Cedric sighed after the dwarf had left. He comnted, "Master Grom thinks he's so slick and could whisper without anyone hearing them. I presu he had asked you to do sothing for him about a certain woman, had he?"
"How did you know, senior?" Ery asked, stupefied.
"It's no secret the master has a huge fondness towards beautiful won. And since you're a first year acolyte, I also presu she's your advisor. That'd make sense the most. Anyway, we shouldn't burn any more daylight. Let us start now, shall we?"
Ery took out a bottle from his pouch hanging on his waist and Cedric nodded.
"Ahh, green essence potion, the reward for collecting four-leaf moon clovers."
Ery couldn't help but think how smart Cedric was as he popped open the container.
"Could that not wait though? I an, it's best we get the orientation done first."
Ery shook his head.
"I'm still a first rank acolyte, senior. It's better I get this one done first before doing anything else," Ery said before chugging down the bitter green liquid up to the last drop. He thought the potion didn't have an effect on his body after he had placed the empty bottle back in the pouch when his guts suddenly ward and sent a wonderful electrifying sensation throughout all parts of his body, including the tips of his toes and fingers.
He then checked his status and read the following:
[Spirit power has increased by two points]
[You have succeeded in reaching second rank acolyte]
[Battle power has increased by one point]
[Ery Ambrose]
[Battle power 16]
[Spirit power 30]
[Rank 2 Acolyte]
[Rank 1 Apprentice - Apothecary]
[Congratulations! You have passed all the requirents for first year acolytes in the academy]
[All first year acolytes who have passed will gather first thing tomorrow morning]
Just by drinking one bottle, Ery felt revitalized for the day and the dark circles underneath his eyes had disappeared. The breakthrough to second rank had also increased his battle power since when a person crosses a certain limit of spirit power so does the physical attributes.
Ery twiddled the remaining bottles in his pouch. Even though he was determined to share it with Mags, he beca tempted to drink all of them at once thinking if he drank the eight, would he break through to third rank?
Ery imagined it with a smile and forgot for a mont where he was when he realized Cedric was still waiting for him.
"I see, reaching your second rank on your last day. You are probably the most untalented acolyte I've ever seen. Looks like you're finished though? Let's go, it's already noon at the mont."
Ery didn't mind Cedric's remark and said, "Yes, thank you for waiting."
"Don't worry, I'm on my fourth year here and I have more ti to spend. It's actually your ti that's limited." Cedric then invited Ery to walk through the Institute of Apothecary. The senior proceeded to explain that even though it was the people on the frontline that won the war, without the support of the path of crafting, no troops would simply dare to just go to the battlefield.
"The path of crafting is the art, the creation and the core of everything. There are dozens of institutions in the path of crafting, but apothecary is one of the three major crafting institutions" Cedric said.
"How long till be able to create sothing like this green essence potion?" Ery asked.
"Well, it all depends on the potion's strength. Tell , how many points did you receive?"
"Two points, from twenty-eight to thirty."
"That's low. I guess master Grom gave you the low-level one" Cedric said as they walked into one of those moving stairs. "That potion isn't hard to make, but its issue is the main ingredient."
"What about a potion that can increase bloodline power?" Ery asked, rembering last night's event.
"That one is much harder to make. On top of its rare ingredients, it needs to be brewed for months and requires special tools to make."
Finally, they arrived in a large hall like a palace library that was filled with imposing shelves and rich book collections. After Cedric spoke to the receptionist, the receptionist summoned several items and he passed them to Ery. "These are the starting equipnt for a rank 1 apprentice."
Ery received a set of clothes that is slightly different from the acolyte outfit he was wearing. This uniform had the sa emblem Cedric had but with the number one underneath the emblem. Ery also received two scrolls and when he opened it:
[Universal flora knowledge rank 1]
[Analyze flora rank 1]
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