u003cAlchemyu003e (Lvl 1, 2.81%) - The process of mixing raw ingredients to craft potions or poisons with specific effects.

That was the message that greeted Gray in his system notification after creating his first-ever health potion.

After Gray tested his potion at the lab mouse that he has injured, a notification appeared on his system, dictating his success in the crafting of his potion, as evident by the mouse recovering.

Alchemy Success: u003cMinor Health Potionu003e

u003cMinor Health Potionu003e - Restores Health by 200 points.

"Nice." Gray grins in triumph at the result of his hard work

Rarsu could only nod in full approval after seeing his apprentice performed the Alchemical procedures with reasonable efficiency despite being the elf's first time.

"Not bad." Rarsu compliments him. "It appears that you have the knack for this kind of profession. But what you have achieved are merely the basics, a concoction containing only a single reagent. In the future, you are going to practice more of Alchemy as you dive further into the advanced techniques involving two or more reagents."

Gray simply nods in response while crossing his arms.

Rarsu then said as he continues the lecture. "Now before we-"

As Rarsu was about to finish his statement, the sleeves of his robes were nudge by Selena, who approaches him while looking at the lizardling intently and pointing her finger at the workstation.

Gray seemed to have realized what Selena is gesturing as he grins. "Hey, Master, it seems that Selena wants to learn Alchemy as well."

"Truly?" Rarsu stares the girl as well as he ponders. "A Sentinel who has taken an interest in Alchemy… fascinating. I've never heard of something like this before since her kind only felt indifference in such matters. Hmm..."

"Oh, let her," Gray said in excitement. "Isn't it amazing, though? A magical construct creating potions or poisons. Besides, she seemed very curious about it, and her learning such a profession would bring nothing but only benefits as I could also use a lab partner in the future, haha."

SPEECH CHECK: 29

SPEECH REQUIREMENT: 17

u003cPERSUASION SUCCESS!!u003e

YOU RECEIVED 40 XP

[+3 GOOD]

"Yes, I see your point... very well." Rarsu agrees as he allowed Selena to partake in the profession.

The Sentinel's eyes gleamed with enthusiasm as she proceeds to the workstation and begun operating the Alchemical techniques that were demonstrated by both Rarsu and Gray.

Both Mages could only stare at the girl as she delivers with remarkable efficiency. Every single one of her actions is calculated without any wasted movement as she concocts the potion to perfection.

As a matter of fact, she is doing even significantly better than Gray himself, being faster and more efficient.

It's as if the girl is in her own world, in a state of complete focus where even the outside forces that dare disturb her won't prove to be any effect.

'Fascinating.' Rarsu thought with intrigued. 'The girl never ceases to surprise us, becoming more and more mortal every day.'

After she finishes her crafting, the potion was a success as well when she fed it on a mouse.

Although the potion's effect is still the same, it's Selena's way of doing things that impressed both Mages.

Gray and Rarsu could only stare with their mouth agape at what she has exceptionally displayed.

"By the staff of Arkanos," Rarsu utters with total disbelief. "I never thought I would see the day were a mere magical construct would be operating Alchemy with such grace. It's like witnessing a stage play of a bard, each ch.o.r.eography executed with elegance!!"

"Woah, you sure are awesome, Selena!!" Gray could not help but praised her at such a feat. Then he turns his attention to the lizardling. "See, Rarsu? You should also teach and include her in the lessons as well!! She seems to be smart enough to grasp your teachings."

"Y-yes." Rarsu nods with his voice stuttering, still caught off guard by this revelation. "In the meantime, you two continue practicing Alchemy and perfecting the basics of the procedures that I have taught you."

"Right!!" Gray responds enthusiastically as he and Selena nods. This time being together, both of them went back to the workstation and practice brewing additional health potions and other basic ones.

'Heh, it seems that I now have two apprentices instead.' Rarsu simply thought with intrigue as he eyes the girl beside the elf, both of them a.s.sisting with one another in the brewing of potions. 'In addition to the emotions that she has inherited from Gray's soul, she is also capable of complex cognitive thinking. I suppose it would be unwise of me to ignore her deliberately when it's clear as daylight that she has remarkable potential like her soul-brother. After all, she will be beside the Paragon at all times in the coming days, so it'll only benefit both of them greatly in the end. Not to mention, she also possesses a part of Gray, being somewhat of a pseudo-Paragon herself.'

And with that, Rarsu continues to observe the soul-siblings in their Alchemical endeavors, guiding and correcting some mistakes now and then.

***

After Alchemy comes Enchanting, the lesson that they will be tackling from 10:45 am to 12:15 pm.

Gray and Selena were instructed by Rarsu to follow him as both of them were led into the Enchanting table at another part of the bas.e.m.e.nt.

The Enchanting table is a black pentagon-shaped table with a complicated looking drawing of a magic circle. The circle's characteristics feature a well-drawn shape with different Elharis symbols engraved inside near the circ.u.mference.

Further inside, the circle shows a set of various forms and symbols that are displayed in an elaborate pattern. At the very center of the circle is a symbol of a skull that is plunged with a sword.

Aside from the drawing that is engraved, the table itself boasts a unique appearance. It has two figures of demonic hands, one on each side of the two upper edges that are menacingly facing each other. In the middle of the area where the hands are facing is a receptacle with a small hole, most likely meant for something to be put in.

"This is the Enchanting table." Rarsu presented the table to the soul-siblings. "This is the sole area for imbuing certain items with magical enhancements. Now, you are most likely wondering the empty s.p.a.ce in that receptacle, correct?"

Gray and Selena nod together in reply.

Rarsu then answers them by taking out a white shard from his Inventory. "This is a Caecus shard, a magical conduit that we put in the receptacle and used for storing the magical properties of the item. The shard may vary depending on its color, indicating its grade, durability, and capacity to store the magic properties that I have mentioned. This shard right here is white, thus being of the common grade, allowing only a small amount to be stored. The others are yellow, red, blue, violet, and black, stated as per their quality. The enchanting process itself is rather easy as the workstation would perform most of the work for you. But the real challenge lies in the procedure before it… Disenchanting."

"Disenchanting, huh," Gray said with interest as he listens attentively.

"Yes, and I'll show you why," Rarsu replies as he took out a pair of gloves from his Inventory again. "These gloves are imbued with the characteristic of enhanced Strength, granting its user more physical prowess when worn. Now, stay focus on me as I demonstrate."

Rarsu then lays the gloves on the table and puts the shard on the receptacle. He then starts to chant a series of mantras based on Elharis in which Gray recognizes a few of the words.

Suddenly, red magical energy was brought out of the gloves as the item's fabric slowly starts to get torn apart.

The lizardling managed to stay in composure as this was nothing new and is already used to it, apparent by his collected demeanor.

He then directs the red energy into the shard, maintaining the integrity of the magical connection between the gloves and the shard throughout the whole ritual.

Gray and Selena could now witness the shard being filled up inside with the red magical energy, evident by the shard's transparency.

After some time, Rarsu ceased his action, indicating the ritual's completion.

Then, the lizardling began to explain what he has demonstrated. "Disenchanting requires the total focus of the mind, hence why I am explaining to you just now and not while I performed the ritual. It involves the extraction of the item's magical properties, destroying it during the process. Through this method, you, as the Enchanter, would seize the raw power within it, drawing the energy into the shard, which uses in performing enchantments. The ritual demands the item's sundering in a controlled way while reciting the right combination of the Elven incantations repeatedly as you channel the energy into the shard. Be careful, as the energy is quite uneasy to control and will merely be a waste if one loses his focus, thus ultimately failing the Disenchantment ritual. The flow of the energy from item to shard needs to be maintained precisely at a constant rate. Too fast may result in the shard shattering due to the unnecessary force, while too slow would cause the stability of the flow to erode and fall apart."

Gray and Selena merely nod in acknowledgment as both of them took every information sincerely in their own minds.

"Next, we proceed with the actual Enchanting process," Rarsu said as he removes the destroyed gloves from the table and replaces it with a necklace that he took out from his Inventory. "This is an unenchanted necklace that we are going to use as an example. With the shard now filled with the inherent magical properties, we may begin Enchanting the item. Simply touch the two hands that are near the receptacle, channel your Mana into the hands, and utter the words, Fascinar."

With the word chanted, the hands reacted as it started to move on its own, redirecting the Mana it was provided into the shard. The shard, as a result, begins to shake slightly as the red energy that is contained inside starts to flow out, spreading the energy into the table.

As such, the Magic Circle starts to glow brightly in red, indicating its reaction from the magical energy. In a short while, the energy finally integrates itself within the necklace, showing the fulfillment of the Enchanting process.