Chapter 29:

I got out from the bath and changed into the fresh clothes Seb had left for me. He was right - they were a bit baggy on my relatively smaller frame.

Before leaving the bathroom, I gathered my dirty clothes and wondered what to do with them. On one hand, they were from Belferon, a man I wanted nothing to do with. On the other hand, these were my only clothes. My previous ones had been left in Belferon’s magical backpack, which had likely been hammered and fried by the archdemon’s turret projectiles.

In the end, I decided to keep them. I wasn’t in a position to make decisions based on sentiment. My survival, along with Ren’s, had to be my top priority - even if it meant wearing clothes given to me by a man I despised. I’d have to ask Seb where I could wash and dry them later.

As I exited the bathroom, I ran into Leia. This time, she was dressed more casually in a simple white shirt and black trousers, barefoot.

She noticed me and immediately averted her gaze. “H-Hey, Luca.” She stammered.

“Hey, Mrs. Thornwood.” I greeted her, hoping to ease some of the tension. I wanted her to trust me more as I believed I could learn a lot about magic from her. “Thank you for looking out for me while we’re here.” I added, sounding as grateful as I could, trying to get on her good side.

She smiled sheepishly without making eye contact, trying to say something, but no words came out.

I filled the awkward silence. “Thank you for speaking with Den too. I really appreciate it.”

Her expression immediately turned serious as she nodded. “Yes. Don’t hold it against him. His intentions are good. He’s just…extremely worried when he really doesn’t need to be.”

The way she said the last part made me think they had some history, perhaps something to do with when he helped their party in the past, but I decided not to ask.

Then, without another word, she entered the room next to her, closing the door behind her. From the quick glance I got, I assumed it was their bedroom.

I sighed. Looks like I’ll have to try harder to gain her trust.

Next to the bedroom was the staircase. As I made my way downstairs, I wondered what was on the third floor of the house.

Seb wasn’t in the kitchen, so I assumed he was in the workshop. It was still morning, and we were far from that lunch he had promised.

I knocked on the workshop’s door out of courtesy, but entered without waiting for a reply. The familiar scent of herbs and potions filled the air.

Seb was indeed there, but he wasn’t working as I’d expected. Instead, he was sitting in his chair behind the table, staring at the ceiling, an amber-colored drink in his hand.

“How was the bath?” he suddenly asked, his eyes still glued to the ceiling.

“Refreshing.” I answered shortly. “Thank you, again.”

I instinctively glanced at Ren. She hadn’t been as physically active as I was in the past month, so she wasn’t as dirty, but she hadn’t taken a bath in a really long time either.

Seb seemed to catch my gaze and, as if reading my thoughts, he spoke. “If you’re okay with it, I can ask one of my nurses from the clinic to come and wash her. Though, I have to say, she doesn’t look nearly as filthy as you did half an hour ago. Looking at the two of you, it almost seems like she’s a princess and you’re the thief who stole her away.”

I froze for a moment, worrying he might’ve caught on to the fact that I am a thief. But seeing no reaction from him, I played it off as a joke, hoping that’s how he meant it. I forced a weak laugh. “I’m not sure I can consent on her behalf.”

“Who is she to you?” he asked.

“A friend.” I replied.

Seb nodded, taking another sip of his drink. “Then your consent isn’t needed. I’ll have a nurse come by this afternoon.”

“Thank you.” I said, realizing that Ren was likely clean because in addition to sustaining her, Vorlexia had probably worried about that as well. It sent a shiver down my spine.

Knowing I wouldn’t be able to steal Seb’s ring, and driven by the guilt I was beginning to feel, I attempted to have a genuine conversation with him – hoping Elandor would be proud.

“I don’t suppose that’s apple cider.” I said, pointing at his drink.

He chuckled. “Close. It’s Elderwood Nectar.”

“What’s that?” I asked, feigning curiosity, though I knew it was alcohol.

“In short, it’s alcohol, as you probably guessed.” He replied. “Made from the sap of ancient elderwood trees and infused with a blend of various herbs. It has a rich taste – one that brings warmth, strength, and resilience.”

“Sounds like a great drink.” I said, unsure of how to keep the conversation going. I’d never been a fan of alcohol. It made you tipsy, and getting tipsy was a sure way to get mugged - or worse.

“Want a sip?” he asked, offering the glass toward me, before pulling it back slightly. “You are of legal age, right?”

I nodded. “Yes. I’m eighteen.”

“Good.” He said, handing the glass to me again. “Well?”

I shook my head. The last thing I wanted was to lose control. “I’ll pass. Thank you.”

I couldn’t help but wonder why he was drinking alcohol in the morning.

Seb finished the entirety of his drink in one long sip, then placed the glass on the table with a satisfied sigh, his face scrunching up slightly as the burn if the drink settled in.

“I hope this doesn’t make you think I’m a drunkard.” He suddenly said, seemingly aware of how it looked. “It just helps when I hit a mental block during my experiments.”

“A mental block?” I asked, before gesturing toward the table. “What are you working on, by the way?”

“I’ve been delving into Alchemy, bit by bit.” He answered briefly before offering more detail. “Well, as you know, I’m a healer by education. That means I studied healing magic in its entirety. It also means that, in addition to that, I had to choose a complimentary discipline to focus on while studying at the university. The main choice was between herbology and alchemy.”

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“And you chose herbology, I assume?” I said, thinking of the many books he had on the subject. It seemed like a safe guess.

He nodded. “If we take into account the reputation alchemy had, it seemed like an easy choice back then.”

“Reputation?”

“Yes.” He said. “Herbology has always been considered a pure art. You focus on the natural properties of nature itself and their direct uses. Alchemy, on the other hand, involves transforming those natural ingredients into something more potent - often through magical or chemical processes. It’s these transformations that earned alchemists a bad name. One of the most coveted skills they had was the ability to transform base metals into gold. Many alchemists claimed they had mastered the technique, and while the technique itself was real, less than one percent of those who made that claim actually knew how to do it.”

He continued. “Most managed to transform metals into gold, but the transformation was only temporary. The gold would revert back to its original metal after a short period of time - a short period that gave the charlatans enough time to collect their payment and disappear.”

I thought about the scenario. It sounded fishy. How could anyone fall for such a ruse? If someone could create gold from simple metals, why would they offer this service to anyone and ask to be paid? Money wouldn’t be an issue for someone with that power.

“How did people not realize they were being tricked?” I asked, sharing my thoughts. “Why would someone who can create gold ask for gold for their services?”

“I never said they got paid in gold. They asked for rare ingredients and magical items.” Seb corrected me. “Your line of thought is correct, though. People could’ve easily seen through the ruse if they weren’t blinded by desperation and greed.”

I nodded, knowing the truth of his words. “So, now you’re studying alchemy? Why?”

“In its true form, alchemy holds a great potential for good. It can be misused, as we’ve just discussed, but it can also be a powerful tool for healing. I believe that by combining my knowledge of healing magic and herbology with the principles of alchemy, I can create remedies and elixirs that will help people.” He said with determination in his voice. “That, and I love keeping my mind busy by learning new things.”

“I see.” I said. “Are you working on anything specific?”

“I’m attempting to combine the healing properties of several herbs with the transformative power of alchemy to create a universal antidote. It should be able to neutralize any poison or toxin. But it’s proving more difficult than I anticipated...”

I raised and eyebrow, intrigued. “Why is it so challenging?”

He looked at me with a serious expression. “If I were to do this with herbology alone, I would use a combination of moonflower petals, which are excellent for general healing, yarrow root for its anti-inflammatory properties, and goldenrod for detoxifying. The problem is that this mixture can only handle specific toxins and isn’t strong enough to be a universal antidote. I’m trying to enhance these natural ingredients using alchemical principles to create something far more powerful, but so far, I haven’t found the right balance.”

I listened carefully, etching every detail into my mind, eager to gain new insights despite being a complete amateur on the subject.

He gestured to the array of ingredients on the table. “For the alchemical process, I’m using the moonflower petals and yarrow root, but I’m also adding distilled essence of nightshade, which is highly toxic on its own. However, when neutralized, it can amplify the detoxifying properties of the other herbs. I’m also incorporating powdered dragon scale, which has strong magical properties that help bind the ingredients together and enhance their effectiveness.”

“Dragons exist?” I found myself asking. Somehow, out of everything he said, this was what caught my attention the most.

He rolled his eyes at my question, and I realized I should’ve kept it to myself, but my curiosity gotten the better of me.

“They don’t. Not anymore, at least.” He replied. “But there are creatures like wyverns, considered descendants of dragons. They’re smaller, less powerful, and lack the legendary fire-breathing abilities, but they still possess many dragon-like qualities. Their scales are highly valued in alchemy for their magical properties.”

“Wyverns...” I echoed, trying to picture the creatures.

“Yes.” Seb continued. “They’re formidable creatures in their own right - able to fly, agile, and naturally resistant to many forms of magic, which makes their scales so valuable.”

“So, you combine their powdered scales, the distilled essence of nightshade, yarrow root, and moonflower petals, and then what?” I asked, trying to show that despite my earlier, more childish question, I was still following his explanation closely.

Seb seemed to appreciate that and continued. “The challenge is mixing them all together correctly. Alchemy involves not just combining the ingredients, but transforming them at a fundamental level. This requires precise measurements, controlled heat, or lack of it, and sometimes even the correct runes to stabilize the mixture. Right now, I’m struggling to find the right balance. If the proportions are off, the potion can become unstable or lose its potency. The essence of nightshade, for example, must be carefully neutralized using a solution of purified water and silver dust. Too much, and it becomes inert; too little and it’s still toxic.”

“And that’s what you’re struggling with? Finding the right balance?”

“Indeed.”

“Was it ever done before?” I asked. “A universal antidote, I mean.”

He shook his head. “Many alchemists, far more skilled than I am, have attempted it in the past, but they all failed.”

“And you believe you can do it?” I asked, hoping I didn’t sound disrespectful, though the thought crossed my mind. He said he was only delving into alchemy, yet he was trying to accomplish something that had never been done before. It seemed impractical - and quite honestly a waste of time.

“Of course.” He said, a proud smile spreading across his face. “None of those who tried were as knowledgeable in healing and herbology as I am.”

Wanting to use my time in Lind as efficiently as possible, especially since I hadn’t been able to steal Seb’s ring, I spoke up. “I’d be glad to help.”

“Really?” he sounded surprised. “Why the sudden interest?”

“Just trying to catch up on things I have no clue about.” I replied. He already knew I was ignorant on these subjects, so there was no point in lying.

“Well, I can always appreciate a young mind trying to learn.” He said, though he quickly declined my offer. “But I don’t think you’ll be much help to me.”

“Maybe not now.” I said, glancing at the bookcase, particularly where Elbloom’s compendium rested. “But I’m a fast learner.”

He followed my gaze and seemed to understand. “Elbloom is a good place to start.” He said. “Talk to me again when you finish that book.”

I knew it was just another decline. He didn’t think I could actually do it, but he was wrong.

“I’ve already finished a tenth of it.” I said.

He raised a questioning eyebrow. “A tenth? That’s like a hundred and fifty pages.”

I nodded, keeping my expression neutral.

“I find that hard to believe. Last time we spoke, you were on page thirty-three - and that was just yesterday. I don’t think anyone can read a hundred pages of this in one day.” He dismissed the progression of my nightly reading session.

“And yet I did.” I said. “You can ask me anything up to page one hundred and sixty-six.”

He chuckled at my words. “Alright, I’ll take you up on that.”

He pulled the compendium off the shelf and opened it, looking at me. “Take a few steps back.” He ordered. “I don’t want you peeking or anything.”

I did as he asked, confident in my eidetic memory.

“Tell me about the Luminous Thistle.” He challenged, his tone implying he didn’t believe I could.

I found it amusing that he chose the thistle, which also happened to be the name of the compendium’s author.

I cleared my throat before speaking. “The Luminous Thistle, also known as Carduus Lucidus, is a rare plant that grows in the western lands of Morthryga. It thrives in damp, cool environments, often found near streams or shaded areas.”

Seb’s expression remained unchanged, so I continued.

“The plant is known for its vibrant purple flowers, which emit a faint bioluminescent glow at night. This glow is believed to result from the plant’s absorption of mana from the soil.”

He nodded slightly, indicating I should go on.

“The leaves of the Luminous Thistle are dark green and serrated, containing a potent compound that can be used to treat a variety of ailments. When properly prepared, the leaves can be made into a poultice that is highly effective in treating infections.”

I took a breath and maintained my steady tone. “Additionally, the roots of the plant can be ground into a fine powder and mixed with water to create a tonic that helps alleviate the symptoms of magical fatigue, a condition common among mages who overextend their abilities. The flowers themselves, when steeped into hot water, produce a tea that soothes anxiety and promotes restful sleep.”

Seb’s eyes widened slightly, though he maintained his stoic expression. “And what about the limitations and potential dangers?”

I nodded, recalling the details from the page. “While the Luminous Thistle has many beneficial properties, it must be used with caution. The plant contains small amounts of a toxin that, if ingested in large quantities, can cause sever nausea and dizziness. Proper preparation and dosage are crucial to ensure its safe use. The recommended dosage is - ”

“Stop.” He cut me off.

Seb stared at me for a moment, clearly impressed.

“It’s almost as if you’re reading it straight from the book.” He said, a hint of excitement in his voice. “That was word for word.”

“Do you believe me now?” I asked.

“Not so fast.” He chuckled. “I’m not done quizzing you yet.”

“Sure.” I said, accepting the challenge.