Boris had an eye for people, specifically their spiritual power and emotional aura. He saw people's aura in the same way people could see the glow of spiritual plants. Everyone had a flickering glow when their emotions changed. It was an ability he had kept to himself, but there were those who were able to deduce it, such as Prince Naru. The prince recruited him to protect the early settlement.
With his ability, Boris formed the core of the mercenary group that protected Halland City in the 90s. After the magician created the array on the platforms and newer mercenaries arrived, he was sidelined by more powerful rankers. They didn’t need rankers to find reliable people, there were already flock of powerful rankers willing to defend the city for the sake of building their own future and fortune.
Boris remained as one of the Holyoke mercenary, but his name didn't have as much pull as it once did a decade ago. Nevertheless, his crew completed many profitable expeditions. When forming a team, he selected only those he could trust to perform the task.
After a week's journey, Boris returned from an expedition. A letter carrier delivered to him a simple message from Alzo. There was an apothecary in the city who had tracking and grafting ability. Boris’s eyebrow raised with interest. Those abilities were common amongst alchemists with plant-related geist, but he had never encountered an apothecary with such ability.
Toward the end of the day, Boris headed inside one of the private lounges. Alzo was already sitting on the sofa with a stranger, covered entirely in a plain dark blue cloak and a mask. There was nothing particularly interesting about the stranger’s aura, faint and lacking vigor like many non-ranker. Despite the lack of SP, the man appeared to be physically strong. On the coffee table were five pots of spiritual plants with grafting tape around them. Boris deduced that they were extra plants from the mallia pill.
“This is quite impressive,” said Boris. He inspected the plants with interest. Although he had no experience with cultivating plants, he was aware of how lucrative the operation was in other S-ranked cities. Halland City had a farm, but they only grew dainlai palms and kiteen agave. “So, you’re Maddox?”
Maddox nodded.
“Yeah, this kid here said he could make me a mallia pill,” Alzo said with excitement. “In just a few days, he grafted the plants. It was unbelievable, I’ve never seen something like this before, so I reached out to you. Aren’t they marvelous!”
Boris nodded at Alzo as though he understood, but he simply wanted Alzo to stop talking. If he didn't interrupt, Alzo would continue talking the rest of the evening. Boris took out a pack of beer, and passed one along to Alzo and Maddox.
"Loosen up a bite," said Boris. He could tell that Maddox was the cautious type, even without the mask. “What’s your reason for joining the crew?”
“For the experience and to hone my craft,” Maddox replied.
It was a typical answer from an artisan. Boris found their temperaments to be similar. “Most artisans prefer to stay in the safe zone for that. You don’t need to explore to grow, just resources and a safe location within the realm.” Boris suddenly remembered that the Alchemist Association exam was coming up. “Is your goal to pass the AA exam?”
Maddox nodded.
Boris guessed right, but he wasn’t aware that Maddox was more interested in information than connections. “Do you have the ability to track spiritual plants?”
Stolen novel; please report.
“Just certain ones. I’ve only managed to find lower level spiritual plants.”
“What’s your range?”
“Around a half mile.”
“That’s pretty average for a tracker.” Despite his words, Boris was impressed. It was never a good idea to underestimate anyone, but a non-ranker with a tracking ability was rare and unusual. He was beginning to question whether Maddox had an ability to mask his SP. “What else can you do?”
“I can also offer my service as an apothecary outside of battle.”
It was the main reason why Boris decided to meet with Maddox. He had enough people on his crew. Some people believed that more people meant safer expedition trips, but for Boris, it was quality teamwork over quantity. He didn’t need Maddox, but any type of connections to alchemists or apothecaries were welcomed. “Who’s your master?”
“Myself.”
Boris looked into Maddox’s hazel eyes. He could usually feel out a lie, but the answer had an odd mix of truths and lies. The stranger wanted to keep his identity a secret. By revealing his master, he would likely reveal his identity as well. It was also possible that Maddox had no master and was naturally gifted with a powerful geist. The more probable guess was that Maddox was an alchemist, hiding his powers.
“What pills can you craft?” Boris asked.
Ian took out a medicine box and opened it up to reveal three different jars filled with pills of various sizes and shades of browns.
“I can make most of the common pills like dynami, panopli, and amyma. I made the cymo potion using the local plants from around here.”
Boris glanced quickly at the pills, but picked up the cymo potion and swirled it along. Most of the pills were common and useful for an expedition into the wasteland, but Boris was more interested in offensive potions. Potions were the most effective against monsters, but they had to be used within a day. Otherwise, it would lose effectiveness. Bringing in an alchemist along to create a potion was a popular strategy as it minimize injuries. Anyone could use potions to supplement their abilities.
“What’s the cure time for your cymo potion?” Boris asked. For an alchemist, curing time was less than ten minutes. For an apothecary, it varied. In emergency situation, it was better to have fast curing time.
“An hour.”
Boris held his reaction tight to his chest, but his eyes slightly widened. He was surprised that such a skilled apothecary wasn’t already a well known figure. He wondered why Maddox wanted to remain hidden. “Before I let you join, can you tell me the reason why you want to risk your life going out to that wasteland?”
Maddox tapped his fingers. Boris recognized that Maddox was thinking seriously about the question. People entered the otherworld realms with different motivations. For some, it was for the thrill of adventures. For others, it was to gain power and fame. For many, it was for the money.
“I’m not sure,” the stranger replied.
Boris laughed, holding the gut of his stomach. “I have seen many people say they are seeking adventure, money, God, and to appease their curiosity.” Boris took a drink. “But, this is the first time I am hearing someone say they are not sure.”
Maddox shrugged.
Boris guessed Maddox was in his mid-twenties. Most kids that age didn't know what to do with their life. “How many times have you been close to death?” Boris asked.
The ones who traveled the furthest distance weren’t always the ones with the most ambition, or the ones who were unafraid of death. The ones who traveled far were the ones who could escape death time and time again.
“Probably two times.. Three, maybe,” There were scenarios that were all preventable simply by not entering the otherworld. But if he did, he wouldn’t have been able to see what worlds were possible beyond his own. The more he learned about the otherworld, the more he felt it was important to understand how it would affect the future of Earth. He knew full well it wasn’t a place for him, but he had never been one to give up.
“But that’s not enough to survive here where death is always lurking around the corner. If you die out there, your family isn’t going to retrieve your body like those other realms. Once you die here, it’s the end. We don’t have those silly disclaimer forms from the ORA. Are you still willing?”
Maddox paused for a moment, and then nodded.