Matilda stood behind a transparent wall embedded with magical artifacts that allowed her to observe Mr. F without being seen. The wall concealed her presence while granting her a clear view of the laboratory. She watched intently as Mr. F meticulously arranged the reagents for preparing the elixir, pleasantly surprised by his careful handling of the ingredients. The arrangement of reagents by quality and magical potency was a crucial aspect of alchemy, and it was clear that Mr. F understood this well.
As Mr. F worked, Matilda noted his methodical approach. He handled each ingredient with the precision and care of a seasoned alchemist, despite his earlier claims of deteriorated skills. His expertise was evident in how he adjusted for the varying quality of the components, making the best of what he had.
But what happened next shocked Matilda to her core. She watched as Mr. F turned the artificial flame of the cauldron to its maximum level. Different reagents require specific temperatures to filter out impurities or bring them to the melting point. However, only reagents of Tier 5 or 6 would necessitate such intense heat. The recipe he had received would never require such high temperatures.
Matilda pondered if Mr. F was perhaps starting to brew a different elixir. Did he have something else in mind, or had he tricked Emma just to gain access to an alchemist's lab? But then, her jaw dropped. She saw Mr. F take all the ingredients for the Tier 3 elixir, throw them into the cauldron, and cover it with a lid.
For a moment, Matilda stood frozen, unable to comprehend what she had just witnessed. The cauldron began to glow faintly, and she could feel the heat radiating even from behind the magical wall. Such a reckless approach would typically result in a catastrophic failure or, worse, an explosion.
Matilda's first instinct was to intervene, but she hesitated. This could be some form of advanced technique she was unaware of. As much as she was responsible for the lab, she knew better than to act on impulse. Alchemy was a field full of surprises, and the appearance of chaos could sometimes precede a brilliant outcome.
Mr. F, on the other hand, remained calm and focused. He monitored the cauldron as the lid began to bob up and down. With a swift turn, he locked the lid and raised his head, his demeanor exuding the confidence of someone who had mastered his craft. He stood like a rock against the waves, ready to face any challenge.
Matilda felt a surge of curiosity and anticipation. Could this be the dawn of a new era in the art of alchemy? But in the next moment, the cauldron began to glow red. With a loud explosion, the lid shot up to the ceiling, leaving a small crater. Simultaneously, a cloud of black smoke filled the room, covering everything in a layer of soot.
Matilda was stunned, her initial hope replaced with disbelief and frustration. She quickly moved to the door, ready to confront Mr. F about the disaster.
Inside the lab, Mr. F stood calmly amidst the chaos, his face and clothes covered in soot. He wiped the black residue from his face, a thoughtful expression replacing the calm confidence he had before. "Interesting," he muttered to himself.
Matilda burst into the room, her sharp eyes blazing with anger. "What in the world do you think you're doing? Are you trying to destroy my laboratory?" she demanded.
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Mr. F turned to her, his calm demeanor unshaken. "Patience, Matilda. Alchemy is an art, not just a science. Sometimes, failure is the first step to understanding."
"Understanding? You just blew up the cauldron!" she snapped back, struggling to keep her temper in check.
He smiled slightly. "Yes, and now I know exactly what went wrong. Give me another cauldron. This time, I'll get it right."
Matilda stood before the soot-covered man, torn between the urge to laugh and the impulse to cry. The sight of Mr. F, calm and collected despite the chaos around him, only added to her confusion.
Matilda sighed, shaking her head. "You have one more chance, Mr. F. Another explosion like that, and you'll be out of here, no matter what Emma thinks."
Mr. F nodded, his confidence unshaken. "I understand."
As Matilda left the room, leaving Mr. F alone, he waited for half an hour, ensuring he was no longer being observed. With a snap of his fingers, a protective layer spread over his body, revealing his clean and unscathed appearance. The soot fell to the floor, and Mr. F moved swiftly. He created a vacuum, pulling all the dirt and grime into a concentrated mass. If Matilda were to see the room now, she would think it was even cleaner than she had left it. With a flick of his hand, the debris was expelled out the window.
Satisfied with his work, Mr. F nodded. Now, it was time to begin the real test.
He took out the new cauldron, checking the ingredients once more. This time, he was fully prepared. Touching the magic pattern in his inner world, which he had gained through the fusion of both souls, he felt the familiar, yet profoundly altered, energy coursing through him. The magic, in the form of a green mist, wound around his fingers like vines.
Each type of magic can be categorized by its color. While general magic appears whitish and blue, the magic of fire mages burns a fiery red. Mr. F's soul magic, for example, is a deep dark blue, almost black. However, one must not be deceived. Every mage has different properties, so Mr. F's soul magic could also be considered a variation of water magic. For this reason, no conclusions can be drawn about the type of magic practiced by individual mages just because the color of their magical power is recognized.
As he focused on his second inner magic pattern, the green mist of his alchemical magic infused the ingredients. His mind was focused, yet his fingers moved almost of their own accord, guided by the knowledge and instincts he had acquired from the alchemist's soul.
One by one, he added each ingredient to the cauldron, carefully regulating the temperature. When the time was right, he placed the lid on the cauldron and began to cast compression magic. Elixirs can be made in two ways. The most natural method is to create a liquid with the magical properties of the ingredients. This usually has good compatibility and is better absorbed by the body. The second method is to compress the ingredients into a pill. This increases the shelf life and enhances the effectiveness compared to the proportionate amount used.
However, when comparing an elixir and a pill made with the same ingredients and quantities, the elixir would be about 10% more effective. The reason Mr. F chose to compress the ingredients into a pill was simple. By forming a pill, he could ensure the stability and potency of the magical properties, crucial for a demonstration of his alchemical skills. Pills are also easier to transport and store, and their potency can be sustained for longer periods, making them highly valuable.
The pill's effect was to accelerate metabolic regeneration and help close superficial wounds. This type of elixir was designed for combat situations where the user wouldn't have the time to consume a bottle of liquid while engaged in battle. Pills could be discreetly kept in the mouth and activated with a simple bite to release their healing effects.
As the pill took shape, Mr. F could feel the magical energy condensing, the green mist swirling within the cauldron as it solidified into a small pill.