The Aether God: Chapter 6 - The Elixir Alliance
Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter, therefore, ye soft pipes, play on;
Not to the sensual ear, but, more endeared, pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone.
Great Valley East District: Gilded Gardens
“So like.. what are we doing here? Have you been hiding shards?” Reed asked while he and the two other boys were walking beside Cerulean. He had led them to the portion of the Scholar District which contained all of the guild halls. It was often referred to as the Gilded Gardens. Guildsmen were renowned for their senses of humor, exuberant demeanors, and boisterous energy. They were generally tradesmen who had united in their shared passion for intellectual pursuits, and to make a living. Despite individually being scholars of their respective trades, they derived immense pleasure from collaborating and exchanging ideas within their groups. Their vibrant camaraderie set them apart from some reclusive tradesmen, and the secretive tradesmen of the Legendary Sects. Three large stone streets winded through the Gilded Gardens: Alchemy Avenue, Runeology Road, and Ethology Expressway. They were walking along the foremost.
“Nope! We’re starting our careers today, ladies! Do any of you know much about the Alchemy Guilds and elixirs here in the valley, rank-wise?” asked Cerulean.
“I’m pretty sure that all of the alchemical guildsmen are novices and apprentices, sometimes led by a venerable or maybe a master. The Legendary Sects have most of the masters. Elder Roshi’s one of probably three or four out of thirty or so master alchemists that don’t align with a Legendary Sect. That’s why R4 potions are so exorbitantly expensive and sought after, usually going for tens of thousands of shards. The only lord alchemist in the entire valley is Sectmaster Starfall. His R5 elixirs are only sold individually at auctions and go for millions, or even tens of millions of shards. They only get bought by the other Legendary Sects haha. I heard that there was another Lord Alchemist some years ago, but he suddenly died. Everybody loved him too. I heard he even started taking in disciples. Nobody really talks about him though or knows how he died though, it’s really weird.” responded Cedar.
“Crap! I thought they were more common than that!”
Cerulean now realized that even answering the few test questions relating to R4 elixirs would be practically telling Elder Roshi he was an alchemical genius. If the elder took any action it could disrupt Ceruleans upcoming plans. “They must have also killed the other Lord… Does nobody really suspect them, are they ignorant, or are they just too afraid to make some sort of claim…?” Cerulean pondered for a moment, but began to speak.
“Which of the Alchemy Guilds is the most destitute would you say?”
…………………
Great Valley East District: Gilded Gardens, Elixir Alliance Guild Hall
“*Sigh* Eliiiizaaaa why is everything so haaard?” A woman could be seen at the large desk in the guildmaster’s office. She was dramatically pouting, spinning around in her chair. Her name was Nora Meadow - the guildmaster of the Elixir Alliance. She was around the age of thirty, and was well known as one of the most beautiful individuals in the entire valley - primarily for her curvy figure. She had extremely fair skin, and radiant eyes. Her irises were a very light green, which looked very strange against white - but it was the kind of strange that was mysterious, instilling in one a desire to continue observing. Her bangs fell like silk over her forehead, and the rest of her hair flowed over her shoulders. Her personality was often described as “very human.” She didn’t maintain such an aloof air because of her status. She was glad that she was unlike her sister, who became an elder of the Meadow Sect. Though Nora was born in the same Legendary Sect, her disposition led her to start a guild rather than maintain the institutions of her sect. As such, she was forbidden from their libraries, and from sharing anything she had prior learned in them. In the ensuing fallout and controversy, she was also exiled. She sat in her chair a self-made woman that enjoyed the guild life, though hers had fallen upon hard times.
“Your emotions are likely due to the financial difficulties of the guild, guildmaster Meadow.” The lady speaking was her secretary, Edith Frost.
Nora continued spinning around in her chair mindlessly “Why are R4 elixirs so complicated thoooough? I can’t figure out any formulations or make one… It’s so meanie poopy!” She jokingly slammed her fist on the table twice and drew an excessively pouty face. She was acting overly dramatic, in large part because she enjoyed watching Edith’s stone-cold reactions to her childish behavior. She even called Edith ‘Eliza’ when they were alone to elicit a reaction.
“Perhaps you should consider directing your efforts back to discerning R3 formulations, guildmaster. It is well known that ascending to the master rank by one’s own merit is quite… difficult.” Edith spoke in a monotonous tone.
“But nobody wants to buy them anymore, wahhh!” Nora said jokingly.
“This may be attributed to the fact that you have not discerned any new formulations in two years. The guild has earned a reputation of being stagnant, and our elixirs are seen as such. Furthermore, the seven have produced many new R3 and R4 elixirs, while our members are still only novices and apprentices. Perhaps resigning yourself to those of the third rank will prevent a dissolution of the guild.” Edith said coldly while adjusting her glasses.
“I’m not listening to all that!” Nora shouted. “I’m leaving… HRMPH!” She said, adorably.
Nora quickly left the room, slamming the door behind her, as Edith’s outfit fluttered in the ensuing flow of air. Nora smiled and drew a cute laugh before heading towards the entrance hall.
“I’m telling you, Guildmaster Meadow is not giving any lectures today! The four of you can come back next week. Lectures are on Monday and Tuesday. In the late afternoon. Don’t forget to bring the lecture fee.”
“I told you, I’m here to do business with her, not listen to a lecture!”
“Hah! As I just said, lectures are on Monday and Tuesday. Our tent is in the Trade District, and is open every day. If you want to purchase our elixirs, please kindly bring your business there. Thank you friends!”
“I’m not talking about buying elixirs, I’m talking about literal business! Like organizational! Are you stupid?!”
As Nora walked down the staircase gracefully, she exuded an air that was far more mature than she had just moments ago. “May I ask what you four are here for?” She spoke up.
The clerk at the reception desk turned his head, and as if relieved, began to speak. “These youngsters are just trying to waste yo-”
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“We would like to sell you some R4 formulations!” shouted Cerulean.
Both Nora and the clerk looked at eachother, and suppressed their smirks. Nora smiled politely and began speaking,“I understa-”
“Yes! I am only twelve years old! Yes it sounds like a joke! No it’s not a joke! Wow! Please take us into your office and we can negotiate! Otherwise, I’ll go and sell them to the Philosopher’s Stoners!” Cerulean interjected.
Nora’s right cheek curled contemptuously. A woman who treated her viciously during their childhood was their guildmaster, and they were far more successful in regards to both membership and formulations. They sold many of the same exact elixirs, yet received far more customers. The woman had also recently become a Master Alchemist. Nora entirely forgot that they were even talking about business, and latched on to it as an opportunity contrarian to the other guild.
“Whichever of you is boss, come with me.” Nora suddenly turned and begrudgingly walked back up the stairs. The boys looked at eachother in a confused manner, while Cerulean shrugged and left them there, trailing behind Nora. They gazed at Nora walking up the stairs and each of them blushed. Soon though, their eyes met with the clerk who was staring down at them with an extremely disappointed expression. “Sorry” they whimpered, ashamed and looking downward...
............
Cerulean walked into the office, and his eyes met with Edith’s. She was standing regally with a notebook in her hand. She was the perfect embodiment of a secretary. The office was grand, yet one felt very comfortable inside it. A chair was seated facing Nora's desk, so Cerulean made his way towards it.
Nora closed the door behind them, walked past Cerulean, and sat down at her desk. She made eye contact with Edith, and they shared a number of unspoken words. Edith even twisted her head for a moment as they conversed silently. While Nora was young at heart, she was an esteemed guildmaster. She directed over a hundred tradesmen, and they depended on her to make a living. She no longer lived purely for her own whims, and as such had developed a mind for business and Alchemy. She felt that her intellect may at times have been disregarded because of her beauty, but she was extremely knowledgeable, and at times serious. This was one of those times.
“Because I have invited you here, I trust that we both will take each other seriously. I am giving you the benefit of the doubt, and realize that out of respect I shouldn’t need to in the first place. I hope you will forgive me for my earlier display of disbelief.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Cerulean was astonished. In his millenia of memories, it was exceedingly rare that a mere thirty-year-old exuded such magnanimity and gracefulness.
“This is going to go extremely well.”
“Before I share anything, I request that we make a pact, in that you will not reveal any details of our upcoming conversation with those not in this room. If we conclude this conversation doing business with one another, we must fully and explicitly define what can and can’t be shared, as well as how. This pact will expire once the Interscholastic Duels begin.” Cerulean held out his hand.
Nora and Edith were taken aback for a moment, but had few worries regarding the conditions: Even if he was joking, Nora would easily be able to maintain them for a little under a year. Having already decided to take him relatively seriously, she grasped his hand and spoke. “I, Nora Meadow, agree to your conditions, and swear my soul to this pact.” Although nothing physically happened, a pact was known by every being with a soul to be extremely serious. It was said in many legends that any cultivator, human or not, who swore their sole upon and failed to meet the conditions of a pact would suffer some sort of ‘disastrous event.’ However, few dared to break one, so the event referred to in legends wasn’t exactly documented. Oftentimes, people would attribute a sudden death, or dying to a beast as the fallout from breaking a pact. Many cripples attributed their losses to the same, though it wasn’t something that could easily be confirmed.
Cerulean made an identical pact with Edith, as Nora told her to, and he afterward began to speak.
“My name is Cerulean. I was raised by a sect in the South Haven, though I don’t know anything about my biological parents. That matters little though… I would like for you to play along with me for a few moments. Before we talk about specific business, I would like for you to imagine me as an all-knowing alchemist from the heavens that is willing to do business with you. Pretend that I know every alchemical formulation in the universe, every ingredient and elixir. Furthermore, I can teach you how to easily craft any of said elixirs in a few moments.”
Cerulean was, of course, only planning to reveal information of a certain degree. Most of his knowledge was regarding formulations that couldn’t even be manifested on this plane. He presumed it was unlikely that the plane even contained any ingredients above the first liquid stage of Ethereal Density.
Nora however, began restraining herself from sighing. It was getting hard to understand what was going on. She felt perhaps the heavens were playing a joke on her, as she was just speaking with Edith about a similar topic. She looked at Edith for a moment, and back at Cerulean.
“What is the highest ranking elixir?” she asked.
“R7. You could call them spirit elixirs.”
Nora’s eyes immediately opened. Having been born in a legendary sect, she was aware that there were two ranks above that of a Lord: Saint, and Spirit. However, this was quite esoteric knowledge, and extremely well hidden from the public. Her sect threatened to murder her if she revealed their existence.
“What is the formulation of a Spirit Elixir?” she asked.
“Which kind?”
Hearing Cerulean’s reply, she almost started shaking. She was torn between being excited and inexplicably worried. Cerulean seemingly wanted to do business, but was surely a complicated figure.
“Physique Hardening.”
“Attribute and Variant?”
“Terrestrial and A”
Cerulean was aware of the situation’s tension and decided to poke a little fun at Nora.
“Just terrestrial?”
Nora embarrassingly broke out into an anxious laughter. It was absurd, and the tension in the room was rapidly building. Multi-attribute elixirs were mentioned in some ancient texts from ruins outside the valley, and the Starfall sect had even brewed one. However, this information was also extremely well-guarded, and the elixir he brewed was only of the first rank! Even Edith was starting to sweat.
“Terrestrial-Infernal, and A”
“The A Variant of the R7 Terrestrial-Infernal Physique Hardening Elixirs uses a Stoned Amalgam of R4 Infernal Coagulated Mist and R5 Terrestrial Grass Extract that has been liquidated with Infernal Ether as its medium. It consists of a 7:3:2:1:1 Ratio of R3 Infernal Soot, R4 Infernal Grass, R3 Terrestrial Beast Blood, R6 Terrestrial Grass, and R5 Welkinean Auroral Breezeleaf.”
Contrary to what Cerulean expected from his words, Nora remained perfectly calm. Rather, after a few moments of tilting her head, she looked over to Edith and spoke.
“Edith, please go and get the books from Matilda and bring them here. Furthermore, tell everybody that we will be having an emergency meeting in the mess hall in six hours.”
Edith understood immediately, nodded and quickly left the room. Cerulean was quite amused. The situation was panning out far better than he had expected. Nora looked at him, confused, but resolved.
“How can the Elixir Alliance help you?”
…………………
After a couple of hours or so, Cerulean walked down the staircase. The three boys were sitting and looking bored. However, their demeanors quickly shifted as soon as they heard the creaking of stairs. They stood up and ran to meet Cerulean at the bottom of the staircase.
“Was it good?” Triton waggled his eyebrows as he chuckled.
Cerulean laughed, “It was great! Jokes aside, now we just have to wait a few days. In the meantime, I have some martial and absorption techniques for you three to go start practicing while I tend to more business. But, if you accept them, you’ll also have to accept many missions I have for the three of you.”
The boys agreed.
“First though… Do you guys know which of the Ethology Guilds is the most destitute?”
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