He sat still in the dojo and with full concentration, observed the third batch of the minor healing potion brew. He made blatant mistakes on the first and second ones, cutting his current resources down to about half as the extraction process of the rediage herb was more annoying than he could have ever expected.

A scratching knock echoed from the door behind him. Aleister groaned and made noises of annoyance as he opened it. "What."

Water dripped down all over Malozar's soaked body. He looked up into Aleister's eyes and, with a hoarse croak, said, "Please. I don't want to die."

Aleister pushed Malozar aside and took a step outside. Grey and black clouds darkened the sky as rain poured down with the force from the heavens above.

Ah, damn. He had been so focused on brewing potions he forgot to keep track of the time and no longer knew what time of day it was. "Fine." Aleister grabbed onto Malozar's arm and pulled him up. "Go take a seat in the office again, I'll get that antidote for you."

Malozar nodded, and as he limped over, he said, "I'm sorry."

"Sorry for not being able to find the antidote by yourself or sorry for wanting to live?"

"I..." Malozar's voice trailed off as he looked unsure of the answer himself.

Aleister grabbed a vial of crystal water and waved it in front of him. "Think about it and tell me soon, or else you won't be getting this."

"The antidote!" the half-elf said through heavy panting as she walked up the dojo steps. She ran towards Aleister. "Give it to me!"

She was so clearly exhausted that Aleister didn't even bother to dodge and instead just pushed her down without a second thought.

"Go sit in the office."

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"Give me the antidote."

"I'll only give it to you once everyone else shows up."

"What if they don't?"

"They will."

The half-elf brought her leg up to stomp on the ground, but let it slowly fall back down and instead walked into the office with Malozar.

Aleister quickly shifted his attention back to the minor health potion he was brewing and let out a sigh of relief. It's still fine.

----------------------------------------

More time passed by until he heard another pair of footsteps at the dojo's entrance.

"If you want the antidote, go to the office."

Aleister caught a glimpse of Stronvun still scratching his arms as he walked past him.

Soon after, he heard another pair of footsteps and repeated the same thing.

The half-human grumbled as he dragged himself into the office. Aleister had no doubt that the inaudible noises were insults aimed at him.

"We're all here now," the half-elf said, standing in the door's frame. "Give us the antidote."

"Close the door, you're disrupting my brewing process."

"I don't give a damn about whatever you're doing."

"Since I'm brewing the antidote, you better care."

The half-elf growled and after taking a step back, closed the door.

Another pair of footsteps scraped against the dojo's entrance.

"Perfect, Luo Yun, come over here, I need your help."

"Did you identify me by the sound of my footsteps or are did they all come back to the dojo?"

"The way you walk is forceful and commands presence, making it heavy and purposeful," Aleister said as he looked up. Or something like that.

"Impressive," Luo Yun said as he walked next to Aleister, shaking his umbrella dry. "What do you want?"

"Nothing yet."

"Then why did you have me walk next to you?"

"Don't worry about and just follow my lead."

"I do not like the sound of this."

Aleister stood up and focused his eyes on the door. He dropped a set of vials containing crystal water onto the ground and in a loud and exaggerated voice of frustration said, "Damn it!"

The office door opened and four of them poured out, letting them witness the broken glass and and liquid spilled all over the ground.

"What happened?" the half-human asked.

"Don't tell me..." the man's voice quivered as clutched onto the frame, barely able to stand up anymore.

"There's no way, right?" Malozar asked.

Aleister sighed and shook his head. "I'm afraid so." He held onto a vial in his hand. "I'm afraid the only vial of antidote left is the one in my hand."

"What about what you were brewing, wasn't that the antidote?"

"That's what I just spilled. Unfortunately, the contents were still too hot, and so one glass cracked in my hand and caused me to drop the entire set."