It didn't take long for Shaun to weave through the busy town to the outskirts were Oakmont mountain was located. The area was home to a number of small creature and a vast woodland and plants.

Shaun left in the morning and had arrived there 45 minutes after leaving and after exploring till noon his harvest had been quite plentiful. He had be able to amass quite a number of valuable herbs he had read up on. When he was growing up aside from the odd chores that he had to carry out the orphanage had a small library with some useful information. There two books that caught Shaun’s eye which were Basic Alchemy and Herbology.

Basic Alchemy

The use of ingredients such as herbs to formulate elixirs

and pills that can aid one to increase their strength

or help them regain their health.

Alchemy is not just limited to the use of herbs

but can be used in conjunction with other materials

such as the bones or task of a certain beast or

water from a sacred spring.

Herbology

It can be used to identify herbs and their properties but also

has the formulas to low level elixirs of Tier 1 to Tier 3

“With these two types of information in the future if I am able to practice they will aid me attain strength” Shaun thought to himself

Sapphire Vine - Tier 1 Herb

Forest Sage - Tier 2 Herb

Wild Ginger - Tier 3 Herb

These were the ingredients he had gathered. He was quite surprised when he found the the Wild Ginger under a rock and only managed to spot it because it had grown to to be quite big its root shooting everywhere hence he was able to see it. This bounty along alone was far more than enough since Sapphire vines were rare there would sale for a silver.

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The ranking system was also related to the pricing of items.

It spanned from Tier 1 to Tier 13.

As the Tier increased, it would be tenfold above the previous.

The Tier system applied to weapons and items as well, allowing for easy identification

…………..

Shaun was finished by noon which he found pleasing and was ready to depart. He had only climbed up a small amount up the mountain and hadn't gone to the peak yet. As he was setting up to go down at the corner of his eye he saw that off in the distance was a wooden hut. Shaun had heard that sometimes there were hermits that lived in mountains and some of them were alchemist who were looking for secluded area to work without distractions. With these thoughts in mind Shaun arrived at the wooden Huts entrance where he knocked on the door ready to impress this master with his knowledge.

It must be known that one needed talent to advance but what was more important was the teacher who would impart the teachings to the student, without a solid foundation how could the student grow up to become strong and powerful.

The door opened and a voice that was both peaceful and soft sounded out,” Well, Hello there young fellow how can this old man help you”

The one standing in front of him looked to be in his sixties, his back straight along with a full head of white hair as well as a long white beard. His face resembled his handsomeness when he was younger and was over two meters tall were as Shaun was barely over a meter.

“Greetings Elder, this young was wondering through the mountain when he saw your house and thought that you must be a renowned person in secluded training”, Shaun spoke truthfully

The Elder inspected the youth in front of him then let out a smile as he stroked his beard in approval.

“Young one what is your name and can you see this place properly?”

“My name is Shaun and yes i can see this place properly”

“hahahahaha, good… very good.. ahh sorry about that, losing my cool like that, well come on inside Shaun”

The elder walked inside the house and I followed behind him but as soon as i entered the entrance I felt my mind warp as if the place I was going to was at a distant land but was still connected back here. As my mind warped I gradually lost consciousness and fainted.

When I woke up I was sitting on a chair, in front was the elder who was sipping a cup of tea while reading a book. When he saw that I woke up he looked at me with all smiles, closing his book and motioning me to drink the tea in front of me.

“So how did entering the house feel?” The Elder asked.

“I felt as if my mind was going far away but I could sense a lot during that period as if the further my mind went the more I could feel.”

“Excellent Kid, and sorry for the late introduction the name is Jerome” The elder said as he continued on, “So Kid are you interested in the practise of Kei?”