The Alchemy Hall buzzed as Professor Lira’s command sent the students scurrying to the storeroom and shelves.
Thanks to their studies, the students moved with confidence, quickly identifying the four ingredients for the Basic Healing Potion.
Adrian gathered the Bloodroot Sap in a crimson vial, Moonwort Leaf in a waxed packet, Mana Crystal Dust in a sealed jar, and Clotvine Extract in a stoppered bottle.
Within minutes, everyone had returned to their benches, ingredient sets neatly arranged beside their cauldrons.
"You’ve sourced your ingredients. Now, from the Compendium, you should know how to prepare them. Let’s review. How is each ingredient prepared for the Basic Healing Potion?"
Hands shot up, and she called on students one by one. For Mana Crystal Dust and Clotvine Extract, the answers were simple: they required no preparation, as the dust was pre-ground and the extract ready to pour.
But Bloodroot Sap and Moonwort Leaf demanded effort. A student explained the sap’s process:
"Bloodroot Sap must be filtered through a fine muslin cloth soaked in water to remove impurities, then simmered over low heat to thicken its mana potency. Too much heat may risk breaking its clotting agents."
Professor Lira nodded, adding, "The water must be pure, or the sap sours."
For Moonwort Leaf, Adrian spoke, when they struggled to remember:
"The leaves need to be bruised gently with a stone pestle in a ceramic mortar. Then they’re left to soften, making them pliable for infusion."
Professor Lira clapped her hands after seeing the students understood.
"Let’s begin preparation."
To speed things up, Professor Lira chanted softly, her hands glowing as she cast a spell to hasten the steeping and simmering processes.
The sap thickened in moments, and the leaves softened instantly. She paused and addressed the class after her show of magic.
"This spell accelerates preparation, but you won’t learn it without making progress as a Mage. Without it, these steps takes time and we don’t have enough of that for this class. But you’ll still have to master the manual methods by yourself."
The students nodded. They were amazed by her magic but still remained focused.
As the preparations neared completion, Professor Lira demonstrated the potion’s crafting. She poured her prepared ingredients into her cauldron, stirring gently as she applied heat with a spell.
"Unlike pills, potions don’t need delicate heating," she explained. "Watch for a sharp color change; when it shifts from murky red to a clear, ruby hue, it’s ready."
The class gathered around, watching as her potion transformed, the liquid shimmering faintly.
The final product was small ruby-red liquid, barely filling an eight of the cauldron.
’Analysis,’ Adrian commanded silently.
[Item: Basic Healing Potion]
[Description: An elixir that stabilizes minor injuries, slowing blood loss and holding wounds shut with mana. Effective on Ascended.]
The students were filled with excitement, crowding closer as they admired the potion. They couldn’t believe that they would be able to make something one day.
Some who took multiple classes appreciated that they only needed a single class of Alchemy to learn how to make potions, unlike other classes.
Professor Lira retrieved a small glass bottle, pouring the potion inside and sealing it with a cork.
"Always seal potions immediately," she explained. "Impurities can ruin them entirely if you don’t."
She turned to the class afterwards.
"These cauldrons and ingredient sets are yours. Take them to your dorms and craft a potion for our next class. I expect results."
The bell had already gone some moments ago, so the class was meant to be over. After being dismissed by Professor Lira, the students erupted into thanks and packed up their supplies before leaving.
Adrian and Serena walked out together with 5heur cauldrons in hand.
"That was so cool," Serena began saying.
"I agree with you," Adrian said in reply.
"I’m dropping this off at my dorm," she added. "You?"
"Same." He had planned to skip Rune Making, and cultivate instead. But first, he had something for Serena.
Stopping in the courtyard, he reached into his [Inventory], pretending to reach into his pockets, pulling out a small, palm-sized device of polished metal and crystal. He handed it to her.
Serena turned it over, puzzled. "What’s this?"
"It’s a communicator," Adrian explained. "I told you about it when I visited the Borin mansion. It lets you talk to me whenever you want, no matter where we are."
Adrian nodded, explaining its use briefly. Serena’s eyes widened as she listened while clutching the device.
"Thank you, thank you!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. "You’re amazing, Adrian. Expect calls from me, okay?"
He smiled and waved her as she hurried off.
Back at his dorm, Adrian stored his cauldron and ingredients in his [Inventory], noting Karl’s absence.
’He’s never around,’ he thought, grateful for the quiet. Settling on his bed, he began setting up the Formation on the bed, but a faint vibration stopped him.
It was a communicator from his [Inventory], and he noticed it was the remainder of the one he had given his sister. Retrieving it, Adrian answered the call, already guessing why she must have called.
It took her some moments to reply as she was shocked from the sudden sound that came from her end. "H- hey, Adrian! It works!"
"You called to check?" Adrian says with a smile, setting up a poll on the bed.
"Yeah!" she laughed. "It’s amazing!"
"Glad you think so," he said. "I’ve got some work to catch up on, so I’ll talk to you later."
"Bye! Good luck with your work!" she said cheerfully.
Adrian hung up, tossing the communicator into his [Inventory] and checking the time from his panel.
He noted that Alchemy bell had rung around 2:30 PM, meaning that Electives still ran for two hours.
Forge Mastering would end by 4:30 PM then, followed by the Archery Fundamentals class which he planned on attending.
"Tech Core, notify me at 4:20," he instructed, receiving a confirmation ping.
He proceeded to finish up with the array before activating it and sitting cross-legged on the bed, sinking deep into cultivation through the thick mana sphere surrounding him.