As Vera removed the lid off the cauldron, the strong metallic scent of blood quickly wafted throughout, prompting one to think that a massacre had taken place in her sleeping quarters if one were to smell it.
Knowing the implications of such a smell, Vera skillfully created a bubble of mana above her cauldron, catching most of the scent that had wafted out as she grabbed an empty vial from a nearby box.
Removing the stopper from the vial, she then manipulated the bubble of mana above the cauldron to transform into a scoop of sorts, carefully removing the contents that remained inside the cauldron before moving it into the vial. Soon, a viscous red liquid filled up the inside of the vial to about halfway, with Vera putting the stopper back on once she was certain there was nothing in the cauldron left.
Placing the filled vial aside, she then rubbed her hands to quell some of the excitement she felt as she started her second attempt.
And with that, a few hours had unknowingly passed.
Enamored and slightly intrigued by the entire process, Valyr silently watched Vera do her thing as if he was in a slight trance. In the meantime, Mystia's voice would resound from the orb from the time to time, informing Vera of a few movements she could've done better, or a few things she could have added to make the process more efficient.
Eventually, Vera had gone through all five attempts of concocting Basic Physical Reinforcement Elixir, surprisingly only failing one as four vials with red liquid were placed neatly on a nearby desk. As to how one attempt had failed, Vera asked her mentor if she could do one attempt on her own without her mentor's advice, which allowed the previous successes to get to her head as she became slightly overconfident. Because of that slight overconfidence, she had ruined the balance of the concoction as a faint fizzle resounded from the cauldron.
With the Basic Physical Reinforcement Elixirs concocted, she then moved on with concocting the Basic Mental Reinforcement Elixirs. According to Mystia, the latter was slightly more difficult to concoct, due to the fact that the nature of the materials were clashing against one another. With that in mind, the alchemist would have to manipulate the extracted essences in a way that a harmonious balance could be achieved.
In fact, this was the reason why Vera had failed her first attempt at concocting the elixir as she recalled her previous bout of overconfidence, causing her to lack the level of control necessary for the essences to harmonize and meld with one another. Because of this blunder, Vera had received an earful from Mystia, which only made Valyr become even more silent, making a mental note to always be on her mentor's good side.
Fortunately, after that mistake, the next four attempts at concocting Basic Mental Reinforcement Elixir were a success, with Vera making sure that she didn't allow her emotions to affect the entire process.
By the time she had gone through all 10 attempts, the sun was already at its peak.
…
Placing the four vials of red liquid and dark blue liquid into the bag she had been given earlier, a light yet satisfied smile could be seen on Vera's face as she gave the bag back to Valyr. "Here you go, sir Valyr. Four vials of Basic Physical Reinforcement Elixir, as well as four vials of Basic Mental Reinforcement Elixir."
Receiving the bag with a nod, Valyr took a short look at the vials in the bag as a light smile adorned his face. "I knew I made the right choice to trust you. I'm pretty sure even experienced alchemists would have a hard time doing what you just did."
"I just followed the guidance of my mentor," Vera said in response, lightly scratching her slightly flushed cheeks. "If anything, she should be the one you should be thanking."
"That was all you, dear." Surprisingly, Mystia was of the same opinion as Valyr. "I only taught you the recipe. Even though I gave you a bit of advice from time to time, that was all you, Vera."
"In any case, I'm pretty sure this man right here will come back here at a later time to have more of the elixirs concocted, so you better polish your alchemy skills," she said, chuckling. "Is that right, Valyr?"
"Well, you're definitely not wrong." Valyr chuckled as well. After that, he went silent for a bit as he looked at the inside of the bag once more. Scratching his head, he eventually took out a vial of red and blue liquid before giving it to Vera. "Here. As a token of gratitude for fulfilling my request, take this."
"Eh? But these are your materials! This is too precious… I can't take them." Naturally, Vera was surprised by Valyr's sudden action, waving her hands back and forth in refusal.
"They may be my materials, but they wouldn't serve me any purpose if not for the fact you turned them into what I needed," Valyr said in response, his expression now somewhat stern. "Please. Take it."
"But…" Just as Vera was about to refuse once more, Mystia's voice echoed from the orb once more.
"Just take it, Vera. Think of it as him wanting to foster a better relationship with you," she told Vera. "After all, if he's not heading to a nearby town to have it concocted, you'll be the one he'll be asking to concoct them."
Hearing those words come from her mentor, her cheeks turned slightly red as she inwardly let out a light sigh, receiving both vials with her head slightly down.
Seeing as Vera had taken the vials, Valyr could not help but nod in slight satisfaction. "With that out of the way, how much do I have to pay you for the service?"
"Ah, there's no need for that anymore, sir Valyr," Vera politely declined. "The experience I've obtained from concocting the elixirs, as well as these vials you've given me are more than enough payment for me."
"Are you sure?" Although Valyr did not mind paying for the service even after he gave her a couple vials, Vera nodded in response.
"Yes," she told him. "If you still feel like paying me back, how about having me concoct more elixirs for you?"
In response to those words, Valyr let out a bit of laughter before nodding in agreement. "Alright then. I'll make sure to come find you once I get another batch of materials."
With that, Valyr waved farewell to Vera as he left the clinic, leaving both Vera and Mystia alone.
"You should form a closer relationship with that Valyr boy," Mystia said all of a sudden, which Vera found surprising. After all, it was rare for her mentor to be interested in a person.
"Why is that, Mentor?" Vera asked soon after.
"Although it doesn't seem like it, he's actually…"
…
As he walked out of the clinic, Valyr could not help but look around as he was walking, deciding to take a detour into a secluded alleyway.
Once there, he dropped the bag on the ground before retrieving a vial of red liquid from it. Removing the stopper on the vial, he then went ahead and downed all of its contents, feeling a burning sensation quickly envelop his body.
Ding!
[Your VIT has increased by 1 point.]
[Your STR has increased by 1 point.]
[Your AGI has increased by 1 point.]
[Your DEX has increased by 1 point.]
[You have completed part of the quest's requirements.]
As the burning sensation gradually disappeared, he then retrieved a vial of blue liquid from the bag before downing its contents as well. Soon, a cooling sensation coursed throughout his body, which mostly concentrated around his upper region.
Ding!
[Your INT has increased by 1 point.]
[Your WIS has increased by 1 point.]
[Your PER has increased by 1 point.]
[You have completed the quest. Head to Tristan to receive your rewards.]
Checking the notification he had received, a grin could be seen on his face as he downed the remaining vials in the bag.
"Now we're finally getting somewhere."
