In preparation for the Alchemy Association certification exam, Ian took another attempt to create the dynami pill. This time, with more purpose, knowledge, and intent. He had researched as much as possible on the two main ingredients and carefully studied their internal gylphs.

Sheragon Lily Clade: Monocots Order: Liliales Family: Liliaceae Genus: Liliae Species: L. Sheragon Manifestation: Healing Dew Elements: Hydro, Fos, Strength, Healing

Lincour Mint Clade: Rosids Order: Sapindales Family: Nitrariacaeae Genus: Nitraria Species: N. jupine Manifestation: Flamed Fruits Elements: Pyr, Aero, Strength, Slow

With a strategy in mind, Ian sat on the floor of the unregulated land and stared at two plant specimen in front of him. He shook his shoulders to loosen his arms, and then took a deep breath. With his eyes closed, he envisioned the scent in his mind. Scent wasn’t visible, but the lingering scent formed a pathway. Ian traced the pathway with his hand, gliding down the lincour plant until it stopped at the roots.

He removed the plant from its pot and washed away the residual dirt on the roots with a bottle of spring water until he could smell nothing else but lincour root. He repeated the steps with the sheragon lily leaves. He grinded the leaves and roots separately to retain the purity of the original mana. When the two paste was formed, he mixed them slowly together, allowing the two mana scents to slowly mix together. The two mana scent pushed and pulled against each other, fighting to dominate the other. When the two swirls subdued, Ian slowly added more to the mixture, making sure to retain balance. Eventually, both mixtures combined harmoniously together.

Ian rolled the paste in his hands. If he took too too little, then the scent would disappear. If he took too much, then it would be a waste of precious materials. Once the one-inch pill was evenly formed, he placed it on a tray and placed it on top of different trees. The only thing left was the curing time. While waiting, Ian grafted more plants. He had several successful plants, but he had to store them in his apartment. The green glow could be masked by the naturally green environment, but it was too dangerous to leave so many within the the otherworld realm and attract unwanted attention.

As the evening sun set, Ian packed up the plants into his cargo bag. It was at that moment that he noticed a green glow slowly emerging from one of the trees. Ian stared back at the pill, which had reduced to a small pea size and produced a faint green glow.

Ian smiled and raised his hands to wipe the sweat and tears from his face. It was really possible to create spiritual pills from scratch! He laughed, but held in his excitement as the sound would attract unwanted attention. He calmed himself down and collected his belongings. As exciting as it was, he still needed properly analyze the pill in his apartment and then send it B39.

After a few days, B39 responded.

B39: [Your pill is a bit messy and it looks like you're using apothecary.]

The chemical composition of an apothecary pill was much more complex than alchemy pills. More chemicals usually meant higher chances for side effects and long term damage. Many chemicals also meant lower level of skill. However, if taken within the otherworld realm, the side effects were nullified.

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Ian didn't know whether B39 assumed he was an amateur or if he was a powerful alchemist hiding his true ability. Ian continued reading the message.

B39: [The alchemy exam happens every quarter. I can get you a seat, but failure is not an option. If you fail, you will have to repay the expense. If you succeed, the Orcon will waive the fee and upgrade your membership to VIP status. And the best perk is that you are able to keep your identity hidden.]

Ian wasn’t too sure it was a perk. With all sorts of identification magic, his identity wasn’t completely safe. Either way, his identity wasn’t top priority. To him, it was more important to establish himself outside of his siblings’ connections. Although connections could get him more resources, it was also limiting in how he could act. Most people think it was his ego, but Ian felt more restricted with his connections than freedom.

The ticket to Halland City was $500,000, one-way. It wasn’t simple, but considering there was a 6-months waiting list to get into the city, it was considered a steal. As for a seat to test for the alchemy licensing board, he wondered how many were allowed to be tested.

Maddox: [What is on the test?]

B39: [The standard purification, transmutation, and fusion test.]

Ian didn’t respond. If it was a practical test, then his success and failure depended on luck.

Maddox: [Can I enter Halland City ahead of time?]

B39: [At best, I can get you a 4-weeks Visa. If you pass the test, the board will allow you to stay up to another 14-days to prepare for departure.]

After corresponding with B39, he checked his other messages. On his phone, there were messages wishing him happy birthday. He had almost forgotten it was his 25th birthday.

Ian set down his things and thanked everyone for the wishes. Then, he settled down and analyzed the successful and failed pill. He had seen dynami pill before, but he wasn’t sure of its chemical composition. Most data suggest that dynami depended on the method and combination of spiritual elements, not the physical composition.

Later in the evening, there was a knock at his door.

“Hey! You got a nice place here!” Mitch cried out as he handed to Ian a bottle of whiskey and a wrapped present.

Behind Mitch was a short woman with a short bob hair.

“Oh, Mia, you’re here too, come on in,” Ian said as he took the bottle.

“Thanks,” said Mia in a curt short tone. She entered the apartment, expecting a mess, and she got exactly that. “Good to see you in regular form.”

Ian shoved the pile of books off the sofa. “Have a seat.”

Mitch and Mia took a seat on the sofa while Ian took a seat on the chair by his desk.

“Your parents wanted me to drop off a present for you,” said Mitch as he set it on a box on top of the stacked books.

Ian unwrapped the present. Knowing his parents, it was probably a marble cake. He opened the box, revealing a small round cake with colorful decorations. The poorly written "Happy Birthday Ian" suggested it was his mom who decorated the cake and his was his dad who baked it. He cut it up with a spare spatula and gave Mitch a piece. Mia refrained, she was on some new wave diet.

“Thanks,” said Mitch, quickly finishing off his cake. “How’s job hunting?”

“I’m thinking about becoming an apothecary.”

“Are you serious?” Mitch asked. “Did you find a master?”

“Something along that nature,” said Ian. “I’m going away to learn the trade, so it might be awhile before I can come back. I heard you’re in the Red Scorpion guild now, congratulations.”

“Yeah, and we just got a house too,” said Mitch, shifting his head toward Mia.

“Oh wow, congrats." Ian thought it was about time. Mitch was approaching thirty, and although powerful ranker peak in the 50s, many rankers also knew when they were about to hit a bottleneck.

The two friends traded shots of whisky until there wasn’t a drop left. Mia dragged Mitch out a little after midnight.

“Thanks Mia for taking care of him,” said Ian, somehow still alive after so much alcohol.

“Someone has to,” Mia responded. “Try to take care of yourself.”

Ian waved her goodbye and went back inside. He wobbled back down on the bean bag and his mind lingered inside the item creation space. Some of the plants matured and disintegrated, leaving behind seeds that eventually sprouted. The sprouts retained the original SP of its parent. Although they were still D-rank plants, the future generation may produce C-rank plants.

In the following week, Ian grafted more D-rank plants and traded for other plants at the Cory Row market. Using recipes available online, Ian experimented with creating different types of offensive and defensive pills. Aside from dynami, he successfully made the amyma pill, a common defensive pill used to protect the internal organs. Most of his other attempts ended in failure, but he still had another month before the exam.

He looked at his luggage near the door, still surrounded by the mess of books. He was considering cleaning up before his flight to Halland City, but decided to hold off until after his return. His flight to Halland City was the following day and he needed every minute to study.