(Author: Hello. For those wondering about Spirit Guardians, simply put, they are spirit beasts that are tamed and bound to your soul and call you master. They will be mentioned in the next chapter when the martial school arc starts and in the following two chapters....the hero might get one as required by the martial school he wants to attend. Just what it is will be revealed than. The first chapters have finally revealed the path of the hero. Hope you enjoy this chapter.)

Chapter 6: Alchemy and Departure

When Duren told his parents, they were not pleased but at least their son chose to be an alchemist. They immediately summoned Gustav and had him teach Duren alchemy. Duren began to wonder just who was Gustav as alchemists were rare and could be serving in more powerful nations.

"Alchemy is not an easy path young master," Gustav began as they sat down in the herbal gardens. "Alchemy requires a man's qi to extract the essence of the materials he chooses. An alchemist must than put those essences in a special cauldron specifically made to withstand qi. Your divine tattoos might help you in battle, but only your natural qi can be used in alchemy."

"Why is that Gustav?" Duren asked. "Doesn't the divine tattoos give me the abilities to use wind, thunder, and destruction type qi?"

"Alchemy deals with the essence and not the physical," Gustav sighed. "Think about it young master. When you observe your dantian, why is it only of ice? It is because ice is part of your soul. You were born with it and continue to become stronger with it. The divine tattoos on your back are merely catalysts that transform the essence of the qi into wind, thunder, and destruction type qi. In the future, the destruction type qi will actually merge with your ice qi as it is one of the ancient five qi and none know their limits. For now, we deal with what you can use and have you learn it before you leave in two months for the trials of the martial school your father selected. Worry not, there will be alchemists there who will help you grow as an alchemist. Now, let's begin."

Gustav took out a an ancient looking cauldron with dragons encircling the cauldron made of jade and put it on a wooden table. The pauldron was a foot high and almost two feet wide in diameter. Gustav also took out various herbs, claws, and horns from spirit beasts. Duren swallowed in anticipation. Gustav motioned for Duren to stand behind the cauldron.

"Now as you can't use ice qi in your left hand, it will not matter with alchemy. One hand is used to extract the essence while the other uses qi to enforce the cauldron and keep the essence and qi contained within. I have seen young master enforce his arm with qi so it should not be a problem," Gustav smiled. "Now close your eyes and pour your Yin qi into the herbs.  Use your qi to surround the herbs and pull at the herb with your qi."

Duren's eyes closed as he poured his qi around the herbs on the table. Some of the wood beneath the leaves froze and cracked as the qi concentrated around the herbs. Duren opened his eyes with surprise as he felt something inside the berbs and stared at Gustav.

"That's very good young master," Gustav praised. "All living things part of a living body contain essence. Now focus that qi essence into the cauldron. Use the qi in your left hand to harden the cauldron and make the contents swirl in a circular motion. Than proceed with the claws and horns. What you are making consists of snow lotus petals,  hundred year spring grass, armored panther claws, and horns of a rhino boar. The potion you are making is  weak paralysis potion that alchemists use to protect themselves. This one is more potent as it also prevents the victim from using mana or qi. The drawback is that more powerful people won't be affected and you need to be within five feet of the target. Once you put all the essence into the pauldron, it will change color from white to jade. The more green it is, the better the effect depending on the materials used."

Duren nodded fascinated about his discovery. As Malverok, he often paralyzed his victims with lightning and forced the comrades of the victim watch as he ate them alive. He was an animal than. A true predator kills as he eats. That was the law of the world to spirit beasts. The strong devour the weak and the weak obey and endure until they become strong.

As Duren extracted the qi essence from the claws and horns, he found it took a lot more qi than when he extracted essence from the herbs. He realized it was because the herbs were alive while horns and claws no longer received qi from the main body they were attached too. The more qi essence in the material, the easier to extract.

Duren spent the last month learning about alchemy from Gustav. When he asked about rankings from Gustav, he was denied and said that he would have to learn another way. Unless Duren was recognized for his skill by several accomplished alchemists, apprentice alchemists were not considered a part of their small society. Duren had an advantage as a son of the Count of Kaid and got achemist recipes from the Treasury, saving himself from some of the effort to make his own recipes for a time.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Duren also trained in his sword techniques on the last month before his departure. With his experience at using qi with his body as Malverok, he reached the first stage of all his qi techniques requiring his new elements. Duren also trained into the second stage of the Frost Chaser style and create small pillars of ice to surround himself when he pierced the ground with Blightfang. The Twin Dragon Fang style still seemed impossible but he managed to succeed the first stage of the Imperial Executioner style, which allowed him to use his qi to intimidate his opponents.

"I am ready to leave father," Duren said.

"Don't go!" the twins cried as they hugged their brother. He had finally connected to them on a personal level and now he was leaving.

"Train your qi well Drax. You be good to mother and learn how to control mana better Dylana," Duren said. A part of him accepted them as teaching them about qi made him forget the pain he suffered during the last few months.

The twins nodded while trying to stop the tears going down their eyes. They sniffled loudly as their mother hugged them and led them away.

"The martial school you are attending is the most prestigious in the Kingdom of Morane," the Count began. "Naturally the martial schools and magic academies are better here in Kaid but those upstarts have denied your application upon hearing about the incident. Worry not son. They will pay three times their former tax until you accept a formal apology from them. Study well in Morane son. My authority is not absolute so try not to lose your temper or go overboard. Your mother also told me that no girl is allowed to marry you unless she says so. Between you and me, I don't care who you date unless it is marriage. However, the more beautiful and powerful the girl and her family, the better."

"Yes father," Duren bowed. The Count appeared amused at Duren's maturity at age nine and dismissed it as childhood ignorance. "As you are now nine, Gustav and I will present you with an interspacial ring. Gustav?"

"Yes my lord," Gustav bowed and smiled at Duren. "Dimensional storage bags are different than interspacial rings. Whatever enters the bag does not age and you cannot enter it. There is also the hassle of trying to remember what you put into the bag in the first place. Interspacial rings are used by alchemists to grow their herbs. The interspacial ring we are giving you contains herbal gardens and a vast library of various books and equipment you will need in the future. There are also one dozen rank 1 golems, the weakest of golems. The good news is that they don't require your control to operate. The bad news is that they can only do one programmed activity until they are destroyed. The ten golems have been given their instructions. The cauldron you used while learning from me is yours. Even the poorest of cauldrons are worth tens of thousands of gold. Use them well young master."

"Thank you father. Thank you Gustav," Duren bowed to each of them. Their kindness allowed Duren to become more human and not see humans as meat to be eaten or trash to be destroyed. Well, a few of humanity.

As Duren followed a knight to a caravan in town, the butler and the Count watched him leave silently.

"Did you investigate what I asked?" the Count said silently.

"Yes my lord," Gustav answered. "The Divine Ritual changed some of the humanity in the young master. That is why the young master roared like a spirit beast. Alchemy usually takes enormous qi to extract qi essence from herbs alone but he did not struggle as much as a beginner would. The young master may be average in terms of martial arts requiring qi, but as an alchemist, his future is peerless. My only worry is if he becomes more of a beast and loses some of the humanity he gained."

"He and the twins did grow closer as a result," The Count nodded in agreement. "Are our spies in the martial school?"

"Yes my lord," Gustav said. "As you requested, they will not interfere in any way and will report what they see back to us. If any wrong the young master, we can have them killed once they and their affiliates enter Kaid.

"Duren," the Count thought as he walked back to his throne room. "Study well and bring honor to House Maltos."