The relentless snowfall that had blanketed Harmony's Refuge showed no signs of abating as the weeks marched on. What had begun as a picturesque winter scene gradually transformed into a formidable challenge for the hamlet's residents. The once-familiar landscape morphed into an ever-changing sculpture of white, with drifts building up against walls, piling high on rooftops, and reshaping the very contours of their home.

As the snow deepened, so too did the villagers' appreciation for their unlikely hero: Pyro. What had started as a playful demonstration of his Inferno Sprint skill quickly became an essential service for the community. In the early days of winter, a single morning run had been sufficient to clear the main pathways. But as the season tightened its grip, Pyro's fiery trails became a thrice-daily occurrence, his paw prints temporarily melting through the fresh powder only to be filled in hours later by the ceaseless snowfall. Dawn would break to the sight of the hellhound racing through the streets, his ghostly flames cutting through the night's accumulation. The hiss of melting snow and the billow of steam became the hamlet's alarm clock, rousing sleepy-eyed residents to a new day of winter's challenges and joys. As the winter deepened and Pyro's trailblazing became a comforting constant, the residents of Harmony's Refuge found themselves increasingly confined to their homes, with each tackling their involuntary confinement differently.

Lena threw herself into planning with renewed vigour. Her small home became a nest of parchment, each filled with meticulous lists and detailed plans. She catalogued their current supplies, projected future needs, and drafted elaborate schemes for spring planting. A large section of the latter plan was circled in bright red ink, bearing an empathic “Deo essential” label. At the Hellhound, Thalen continued his brewing odyssey as he refined and experimented his concoctions. The common room often filled with a medley of aromas – sometimes appetizing, occasionally alarming – as Thalen refined old recipes and ventured into uncharted flavours. His efforts were spurred on by Freya's seemingly insatiable appetite for new tastes, her enthusiastic feedback driving the innkeeper to ever more daring brewing heights.

Meanwhile, young Caelum found solace in the humid warmth of the greenhouse, taking his caretaker responsibilities with utmost seriousness. He devoted himself to tending each transplanted herb and flower, ensuring they flourished in their new home. The newly arrived dwarves spent their days industriously improving their dwellings. All except for Balder, who on a particularly frigid morning, forced his way into Deo’s home without any pre-amble.

"So, you're so flush you can just give away rare alchemical ingredients. For nothing?" Balder's gruff voice filled the room as his eyes darted searchingly from shelf to shelf. His nose twitched, nostrils flaring as if trying to sniff out the location of Deo's alchemical area.

Deo, still processing the abrupt intrusion, started to reply, "Well, it's not quite like th-"

"Show me your setup," Balder interrupted, already moving in the right direction towards Deo's laboratory, guided by some innate sense that seemed to home in on alchemical ingredients.

Eager to impress, despite the unexpected visit, Deo hurried after Balder, leading him to his alchemy workshop. "Here's my kit," he began, gesturing to the neatly arranged tools and ingredients. Pride crept into his voice as he continued, "I've been practicing with basic suspensions and..."

"Rudimentary," Balder interrupted, his tone flat. He picked up a vial, examining it critically, holding it up to the light streaming through the frost-rimed window. "First place to get started is potions, I suppose. What have you made so far?"

Deo, slightly deflated but undeterred, reached for a small vial containing a faintly glowing blue liquid. The soft luminescence pulsed gently, like a calm heartbeat. "Well, I've created plenty of these mana potions. But honestly, I was hoping you might show me how to make that Elixir of Renewal you gifted me, instead."

Balder's bushy eyebrows rose slightly, a flicker of interest crossing his face before settling back into its usual taciturn expression. "Elixirs? You'll need to do better than those simple concoctions first. What level are they? Just basic mana potions?"

Deo felt a twinge of frustration at Balder's dismissive tone. "Well, yes, but how about this?" He turned to another shelf, reaching behind a cluster of dried herbs to pull out his pièce de résistance. The vial he produced glowed with a deep ruby red, its contents seeming to swirl of their own accord. "Superior Health Potion," Deo announced, a note of pride creeping back into his voice.

Balder grunted, the sound softer and slightly more approving than before. He took the vial, holding it up to examine its contents more closely. "Hmm, so you do know a little of something. Okay, I can certainly talk to you about the theory." He set the vial down carefully, turning to face Deo fully. "Are you aware of the difference between potions and elixirs?"

Deo shook his head silently, eager to learn from the dwarf's superior knowledge.

Balder stroked his beard, his eyes taking on a distant look as he began to explain. "So, potions are consumed for an immediate, but ephemeral benefit. A common effect is using them to restore a set amount of mana or health, such as the two potions you’ve made so far. They can also boost attributes, but only for a limited duration, say around a minute or a half. They are also unrestricted, meaning you can consume as many as your stomach can handle." He picked up Deo's mana potion, swirling it gently. "And finally, you can get different grades of potions, ranging from Basic to Exemplary tier, depending on the quality of the craftmanship. This mana potion here? Basic. That Superior Health Potion? That’s around halfway to Exemplary.”

Deo nodded, absorbing every word. Balder set down the mana potion and continued, his voice dropping an octave lower, taking on an almost reverent tone. "Now Elixirs. Elixirs are a different class entirely."

The change in Balder's demeanour was palpable. His usual gruffness gave way to a quiet intensity that commanded Deo's full attention. "Elixirs are long-lived and provide a constant benefit for at least a full day. And these benefits are usually extremely powerful. We're talking about fundamentally altering your body's capabilities."

Balder paused, ensuring Deo was following. "However," he raised a gnarled finger for emphasis, "you can only ever have one active Elixir as they are restricted. If you drink a second one whilst the first is still active, the benefit of the first elixir will be lost, and your newest elixir will become active. It's a trade-off, you see. Immense power, but at the cost of versatility. They also do not have tiers of quality – you either craft them, or you fail."

Deo's mind raced with the possibilities. "So, the Elixir of Renewal you gifted me..."

"Ah," Balder's eyes gleamed, "now that's a prime example. Drink that, and for a full day, your body's natural healing processes are accelerated tenfold. Cuts close in minutes, broken bones in hours. But the process of creating such an elixir?" He shook his head, "Let's just say it's not for the unskilled alchemist."

Deo couldn't contain his excitement. "And you think I could learn to make something like that?"

Balder's expression softened ever so slightly. "In time, perhaps. But first," he gestured to Deo's alchemy setup, his gnarled fingers sweeping across the array of vials and instruments, "we need to refine your basics. Your Superior Health Potion shows promise, but there's much to learn before you're ready for elixirs."

The dwarf's eyes narrowed, focusing intently on Deo. "Now, talk me through how you made it. What ingredients did you use? Elderwood Root? Thunderlizard Tongue? Starwood Bark?"

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"Hmm, let me remember," Deo pondered, his brow furrowing in concentration. "Dreaming Lavender... Silverleaf Spice, I think..." Balder nodded along, his beard twitching with each ingredient mentioned. "Leaf from the Moonshade Elm."

At this, Balder took a quick intake of breath, his features hardening like stone. Deo, oblivious to the dwarf's reaction, continued, "Oh, and a Celestia Fruit, of course."

Balder's face transformed, taking on a positively thunderous look. His bushy eyebrows drew together, forming a stormy line across his forehead. "You wasted a Celestia Fruit? To make a Superior Health Potion?" His voice rose with each word, filled with a mixture of disbelief and outrage. "The waste. The utter waste! Bah!"

The dwarf began to pace around the room, his heavy boots echoing off the wooden floor. As he moved, a stream of guttural sounds erupted from him – as he cursed in disapproval. The vials on Deo's shelves clinked softly, as if cowering from Balder's wrath as his words reverberated around the small room.

After a minute of venting that left Deo feeling both impressed and slightly terrified, Balder finally turned back to him, his eyes still blazing with the intensity of a forge fire. "Well, it appears your skill isn't as promising as I first thought." He took a deep breath, his chest expanding like a bellows, visibly trying to calm himself. But his efforts quicky failed.

"Do you have any idea of the potential you squandered?" Balder returning to his original line of inquisition, his voice a mix of exasperation and genuine pain at the thought of wasted ingredients. "A Celestia Fruit, used properly, can make an Elixir of Renewal as you well know! You could have at least made an Exemplary Health Potion, not just a meagre Superior. What a disaster, and to think I’d thought you had made the Superior Health Potion through skill, instead of relying on overqualified ingredients."

Something in Deo snapped. Perhaps it was the accumulated stress of the winter, or the frustration of his situation, or simply being dressed down in his own home. Whatever the cause, Deo felt a surge of defiance rise within him.

"Yes, well I know that now," Deo shot back, his voice rising to match Balder's intensity. "I didn't then. All I have is an Elements and Elixirs guide! I'm new to alchemy." His eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and hurt pride. "Besides," he continued, striding over to a nearby drawer and yanking it open with such force that it nearly came off its hinges, "I have more of the fruits." Within the drawer lay a cluster of pristine Celestia Fruits, their golden skin seeming to glow with an inner light.

"I might not be the best alchemist," Deo said, his voice quieter now but filled with a steely determination, "but I do have skill in growing the ingredients required for it."

Balder stopped abruptly, his tirade cut short by the unexpected sight. His eyes widened, a gleam of avarice and newfound respect battling in their depths as he appraised Deo once more. "Ah. I didn't realize that." The dwarf chewed on his beard thoughtfully, the action seeming to physically pain him as he grudgingly admitted, "Apologies. I may have been too harsh."

The dwarf's gaze kept darting back to the Celestia Fruits, as if magnetized. "I guess making a Superior Health Potion with Celestia Fruit without destroying this house is an achievement in itself," he conceded, stroking his beard. "Not many novices could handle such a potent ingredient without blowing themselves to kingdom come."

Deo felt the tension in the room dissipate slightly, replaced by a cautious mutual respect. Balder cleared his throat, clearly trying to move past his outburst. "Right then. Let's start with improving that mana potion of yours, to at least Superior grade." His voice took on a more professional tone, the voice of a teacher rather than a critic. "First lesson: the proper way to prepare Astral Sage..."

The lessons continued over the next few days, each one a battle where knowledge was extracted tortuously at the expense of expasperated sighs and violent cussing. Deo found himself both frustrated and fascinated by Balder's teaching methods, which seemed to alternate between cryptic utterances and startlingly clear explanations. On the fourth day, Balder arrived in a particularly tetchy mood, his responses even more curt than usual. His beard seemed to bristle with each word, and his eyes held the storm-cloud grey of barely contained irritation. As Deo attempted to explain his latest attempt at improving his mana potion, Balder's critiques grew increasingly harsh.

"No, no, no!" the dwarf barked, his voice sharp enough to make the delicate instruments on the workbench vibrate. "You're stirring it all wrong. Clockwise for the first two ingredients, counterclockwise for the final one! How many times must I repeat myself?”

Deo felt his own frustration soar. The constant criticism, the cryptic instructions, the seemingly impossible standards – it was all becoming too much. Needing a break from the dwarf's endless negativity, Deo retorted.

"That's enough for today," he said, his voice tight with suppressed anger. "I think we both need some time to cool off."

Balder looked as if he might argue, but something in Deo's expression made him think better of it. With a grunt that might have been agreement or merely disapproval, the dwarf gathered his things and stomped out, leaving behind a palpable tension in the air. Deo stood in the sudden silence, feeling drained and discouraged. The excitement he had initially felt about learning alchemy had been slowly eroded by days of constant criticism and seemingly impossible standards. Needing to clear his head and reset, he decided to take a walk around the perimeter of the hamlet.

As Deo stepped outside, the crisp winter air hit his face, a sharp contrast to the stuffy, herb-scented atmosphere of his workshop. The snow crunched satisfyingly under his boots as he began his stroll, each step helping to dissipate some of his frustration. The winter landscape of Harmony's Refuge stretched out before him, a sea of white broken only by the occasional glimpse of buildings or the stark silhouettes of bare trees. As he walked through the hamlet, Deo spotted a familiar figure in the distance. Caelum, his young halfling apprentice, was diligently clearing snow from around some of the hardier plants that remained exposed during the winter months. Deo felt a smile tugging at his lips, the first one in days, as he watched the dedicated young boy at work.

"Caelum!" Deo called out, waving to his student. "Wanna join me for a walk?"

The halfling looked up, his face breaking into a wide grin as he spotted his mentor. Brushing snow from his clothes, Caelum trotted over to join Deo. Together, they continued the stroll around the hamlet's perimeter, their footsteps crunching in unison through the fresh snow.

For a while, they walked in companionable silence, but Caelum, could sense the tension in Deo's stride. "Is everything alright, Master Deo?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern. "You seem... troubled."

Deo sighed, his breath forming a small cloud in the cold air. "It's these alchemy lessons with Balder," he admitted, the words tumbling out in a rush. "I thought I was making progress, but every day feels like I'm taking two steps forward and three steps back. Balder's knowledge is vast, but his teaching methods..." He trailed off, shaking his head.

Caelum was quiet for a moment, considering Deo's words. When he spoke, his voice was gentle and thoughtful. "Master Deo, why do you need to learn alchemy anyway? Wouldn’t you rather spend the time growing? You could leave the potion brewing to Grumpy Gramps for now." Deo's brow arched at the mention of the nickname, prompting Caelum to quickly add, "—ah, sorry, that's what Uncle Tal calls him. I meant Balder." The young halfling's face flushed as he realised he had let the unflattering nickname slip.

A chuckle escaped Deo's lips, the tension in his posture easing slightly. "Grumpy Gramps, huh? I can see why Thalen would call him that." But as Deo considered Caelum's question, the humour faded from his expression. "Ugh," he sighed, his voice laden with reluctance. "I suppose I could set aside the study for now. It's just... hard to walk away from knowledge that might prove useful later. But, yes, I could always come back to it when time allows." The admission seemed to lift a weight from Deo's shoulders, even as a part of him rebelled against the idea of giving up. He looked out over the snow-covered landscape of Harmony's Refuge, his eyes tracing the contours of the land he'd come to love.

"You're right, Caelum," he said softly. "Perhaps I have been stretching myself too thin. There's so much to do here - yet I know so little! Maybe alchemy can wait until things are more settled."

Caelum nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "And who knows? Maybe by then, Grumpy Gramps will have cheered up a bit."

Deo laughed, a genuine, hearty sound that echoed across the snowy field. "I wouldn't count on it, but stranger things have happened."

They continued to walk around the perimeter of the territory with Deo pulling his fur-lined cloak tighter as a particularly biting gust of wind cut through them. The cold was fierce, seeping through all their layers to nip at his skin. Deo’s eyes were drawn to the snow-covered thicket that surrounded the hamlet. Deo's eyes were drawn to the snow-covered thicket that surrounded Harmony's Refuge. The usually ferocious-looking barrier had been transformed by winter's touch into a seemingly harmless white wall of banked-up snow. Yet, appearances were deceiving; thorns poked through in multiple places, glimmering menacingly in the stark winter light. It was a poignant reminder that even in the depths of winter, the hamlet's defences remained vigilant.

Rounding a corner near one of the defensive openings, the serene atmosphere of Deo's peaceful stroll was abruptly shattered. Without warning, something hard and cold struck Deo square in the chest. The force of the impact made him stagger, his breath catching as he struggled to regain his balance. The shock of the blow left him reeling, his mind scrambling to make sense of what had just happened.