Three days later, Alden set out alone to meet Samuel. Now just over five, he was starting to enjoy more freedom, largely due to his parents' growing responsibilities. The burgeoning activities in the barony kept them preoccupied, giving Alden more time to explore on his own.
Alden walked to the secluded farmhouse they had chosen earlier. The air was crisp, filled with the scent of freshly tilled soil and the faint sweetness of wildflowers. As he approached, he saw Samuel standing by the door.
Samuel grinned, looking both excited and nervous. "Alden, you're finally here!" he called out, his voice warm and welcoming.
Alden smiled and waved as he approached. "Yep, Samuel," he said. "Did you get everything ready?"
Samuel nodded, his eyes shining with excitement. "Yep, I did it! It wasn't easy, but I got everything you wanted." He gestured for Alden to come in.
Stepping into the farmhouse, Alden looked around. It was one large room with a high ceiling and a wide-open layout, giving it an unexpectedly grand feel despite its worn state. The air inside was cool and carried a faint mustiness from disuse. In one corner, a large dusty window was open, allowing shafts of sunlight to pour in, making the floating dust visible.
The farmhouse's bare wooden walls were old and worn, with the paint chipped away to reveal the rough wood beneath. A stack of firewood was piled haphazardly in another corner, the logs varying in size and quality.
Using a few sturdy planks from the woodpile, Samuel had made a makeshift table. It was simple but functional, held together with a few nails. The items Alden requested were lined up on the table.
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Several bottles of plant-based oils stood in a row, each labelled with the type of plant they were extracted from. Beside them were small sacks filled with wood ashes from hardwood trees, their fine, pale powder ready for use. A collection of essential oils, carefully bottled and sealed, offered a variety of scents.
A few small, heat-resistant alchemy pots sat along the edge of the table. Nearby, several wooden sticks were stacked neatly for stirring and other purposes. A set of alchemical gear, including long-sleeved clothing, goggles, and gloves, hung on a makeshift rack. Measuring cups and spoons, both large and small, were laid out for precise measurements.
The larger, heavier items were placed on the ground. These included a few small alchemy furnaces and several large cauldrons filled with clean water.
Alden approached the table and examined the items with interest. He picked up a small vial of essential oil, uncorked it, and sniffed. The fresh, unfamiliar scent filled his senses, calming and soothing. He put it down with a satisfied nod and turned to Samuel.
"Wow, this is great!" Alden said, smiling. "You did a fantastic job, Samuel."
"What are we going to do with all this?" Samuel asked curiosity in his eyes.
Alden grinned. "Guess what we're making today? Soap!" he said, his voice brimming with excitement.
Samuel scrunched up his nose. "Soap? Never heard of it. What is it?
"Soap is used for washing and cleaning," Alden explained. "In most of the world, people use wood ashes or fragrant oils with water to clean themselves. The rich might use luxurious oils, but soap is even better, with a pleasant scent and more effectiveness. It's made from a mixture of oils and lye, which reacts to form a solid that cleans when mixed with water."
Samuel looked intrigued but sceptical. "So, it's like our oil stuff, but better?"
"Yeah, it's way better than using water with ashes or oil. It makes people cleaner and smell good. It's something entirely new to this land. If we can create it, we could be rich!" Alden said, his excitement evident.
With that, they got started. Alden told Samuel to arrange the small furnaces in a row, ensuring they weren't too close together. Then they carefully placed the cauldrons filled with water on top, ready to be heated. Alden explained that they would use the furnaces to heat both the oils and the lye they would create from wood ashes.
"Hey, we need to wear safety gear first," Alden said, handing Samuel a set of long-sleeved clothing, alchemy goggles, and gloves. "Making soap can be dangerous, especially when dealing with lye. It can burn you if it splashes.”
Samuel nodded and quickly donned the protective gear. He adjusted the goggles and wiggled his fingers in the gloves, feeling like an alchemist from one of the old tales. Alden did the same. The two boys looked at each other and grinned, ready to start.