The Valkyrie and the Chemist walk side by side through the dense forests, as the latter keeps running off to grab herbs and plants that catch the eye.
Syncing Knowledge with System...
Skill Obtained!
Botany
Level 22
Assists in identifying and taking care of flora.
Rank 2 - Assists in recognizing properties of flora.
“Well, that’s neat.” Lavender breaks the silence between the two, and her guard turns to look. “A new Skill?”
“Yep. Botany, level 22. Should help out plenty here…”
“…If I might ask, why is it already that high? I thought the ‘chemists’ of your world didn’t use plants?”
“Ah. I used to study plants and stuff, I was a bit of a nerd when it came to flora for a while… I thought stories of ‘alchemists’ were fun back when I was a li’l kid, and I guess the knowledge stuck?”
The Valkyrie just… looks at Lav for a second, a flat look. “So you learned that much… for a passing whim?”
Lav walks a bit before responding, “Pretty much. It’s really easy to get information you want in my world, y’know. You’d like it, I think.” Kara realizes that she hadn’t taken that into account: So in Lavender’s world, it’s merely that simple to learn about a subject? Intriguing…
The two continue in silence for a few moments, until Lavender speaks up again. “Now, this one’s interesting.”
“Hm? Isn’t that a lot like the others?”
“No no, this one’s different.” She wafts the plant towards her. “This thing positively smells violently lethal. I’ll need to keep an eye out for more of these.”
“...Do try not to kill anyone.” Kara cautiously glances at the chemist from the side, making sure she doesn’t do something stupid.
Kara looks away for a moment, and when she looks back, the chemist is carrying an entire armful of assorted plants, fungi, and herbs. “Is that going to be enough, then?”
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“Yep. This should be enough to whip something up.”
“Then let’s head back.”
The two continue in silence back towards their shelter for a few minutes, until Lavender speaks up.
“...By the way, thanks.”
“...Hm? For what?”
“Y’know, for the help. Without you, I’d probably just have up and died here.”
The guide is a bit taken aback by the bluntness, but doesn’t show it. “Well, it’s only my job. Even if we’re in the wrong place, it’s my job to ensure your safety.”
But this only makes the chemist… laugh. “Doesn’t change anything. You still saved my ass, and I’ll need you to help again.”
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“So you want me… to carve out a mortar and pestle.”
“Yes.”
“With my spear.
“Exactly.”
“Do you… really need me to do this to start practicing alchemy?” The valkyrie is understandably hesitant to use her spear for something so trivial.
“Oh! And can you also cut some of that-” Lavender points to the hide of the boar. “Into pouches for me? I’ll need something to keep the product!”
Kara sighs, taking her spear and one of the boar’s bones to begin carving it out. An inefficient process, but she doesn’t have anything better on hand… She could make something, but arguing with the eccentric human wouldn’t get her anywhere.
She soon slides the mortar and pestle she carved out over, and starts working on the pouches…
All while Lavender gets to work on the ‘medicine’.
Syncing Knowledge with System...
Skill Obtained!
Alchemy
Level 24
Assists in producing medicines and alchemical mixtures.
Rank 2 - MP can be consumed for cleaner mixtures.
Syncing Knowledge with System...
Skill Obtained!
Poison-Making
Level 12
Assists in producing harmful chemical and alchemical mixtures.
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Lavender packs the newly created powder into the loose pouches, now properly equipped. “Hey, Kara.”
Kara looks up from polishing the blade of her spear. “Yes?”
“I’ll be heading out now to test these out now, so…”
“Alone? When I’m the one more capable of combat between us two?”
“Yeah. I’ll stick to the parts that we’ve already been to to see-“
“Not a chance.” The Valkyrie immediately denies that, the look in her eyes making it quite clear that she isn’t budging on this. “Going out on your own would be suicide, in this situation we have to work together.”
Lavender sighs. “Alright, fine. You get to play bodyguard while I dig around in bushes and maybe throw some poison powder at a boar.” She punctuates this childish acceptance with some grumbling, eliciting a disappointed look from the warrior across from her.
Not too long after… the two enter the great forest once more.
What could go wrong?