As I looked around, it beca painfully clear—I was the only one without a partner. Sol, never one to miss an opportunity to tease, chid in imdiately. "Aww, poor you. Maybe next ti, spend less ti with your inner monologue and more ti finding a partner," she said, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. Find your next read on empire
I sighed audibly, muttering, "Not helping, Sol."
Professor Layla, noticing my predicant, stepped closer. "Oh? What's this? No partner?" she asked, her tone carrying an edge of sympathy mingled with curiosity.
I shrugged. "Seems like it. Guess I'll just work alone, then."
Before I could move toward an unoccupied cauldron, her voice rang out, firm and commanding. "Hey! You three over there! Why not one of you pair up with this student?" She gestured toward a group clustered in the corner.
The trio stiffened at her words, exchanging awkward glances but saying nothing. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the faint rustle of robes and shifting feet.
Why does this feel so weird? I thought, the atmosphere heavy with tension. "It's fine," I began, trying to wave off the situation, but my gaze caught on soone at the far end of the room—a girl standing apart from everyone else. Her presence was so faint that it would've been easy to overlook her if I hadn't been paying close attention.
Interrupting the professor, I spoke up. "Professor Layla, there's a girl over there without a partner too. Maybe we can pair up?" I pointed toward the quiet figure.
The professor squinted in the direction I indicated and, spotting her, called out. "Hey, you! In the back!"
The girl startled, flinching as if the sudden attention physically struck her.
"Y-yes?" she stamred, her voice barely audible.
"You're alone, right? Co here and pair up with this student," Professor Layla instructed, gesturing toward .
The girl hesitated, clutching her satchel tightly, before nodding. "Y-yes," she murmured again and began walking over, her movents tentative and cautious.
When she reached us, Professor Layla offered a kind smile. "What's your na, student?"
"I-it's Anya," she replied softly, avoiding eye contact.
"Anya," the professor repeated, her tone light and playful. "Why so timid? Don't worry, I'm not going to bite." She chuckled, attempting to ease the tension. "Alright, you two. You've got half an hour to brew the potion. Better get started!"
With that, Professor Layla strode off, her colorful beads jingling as she moved to inspect the other students' progress.
Anya and I stood there in an awkward silence, the air between us heavy with uncertainty. I cleared my throat, breaking the tension. "Hello, Anya. I'm Arthur."
"Hello," she replied in a soft, almost inaudible whisper.
I sighed, taking in her cautious deanor. Clearing my throat again, I tried to sound encouraging. "Alright then, Anya, let's get started. I'll grab the ingredients, and you can help with the preparation. Does that sound good?"
She nodded quickly. "Y-yes, that's fine," her voice still barely above a whisper.
I gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. We've got this."
The initial awkwardness began to ease as we imrsed ourselves in the task. Thanks to my skill, All Rounder, I was quickly grasping the intricacies of alchemy, guiding Anya through the steps.
"First, let's add the crushed Valerian root," I instructed, handing her a vial of the powdered herb. "Take two pinches and sprinkle them carefully into the cauldron."
Her movents were precise despite her nervousness, her fingers delicately asuring the herb and letting it fall into the bubbling mixture.
"Next, we'll need Essence of Lathander Flower," I continued, holding up a vial of shimring liquid. "Pour half of this into the cauldron—carefully."
Anya's concentration deepened as she asured the liquid, her hand steady as the translucent essence mixed with the Valerian root, the cauldron's contents shifting in color.
"Now, a pinch of powdered Moonstone," I said, handing her a small jar. "This will enhance the potion's healing properties."
Her hands moved with practiced care, releasing the silvery powder into the mixture. The potion began to emit a soft glow, the transformation srizing to watch.
"Finally, stir the mixture clockwise three tis," I said, taking the wooden rod. Anya mirrored my motions perfectly, her hands steady. But then, without warning, she reached for a bundle of Sunveil Grass and added a few strands to the cauldron.
I froze. "What did you just do? That wasn't part of the instructions."
She flinched at my tone, her voice trembling. "I... I don't know. I just... felt like I should add it."
"Felt like it?" I asked, my brow furrowing.
Her head hung low as she stamred, "I... I'm not sure. It just felt right."
Before I could respond, Professor Layla's voice cut through the mont. "What's the commotion here?"
I turned to her, quickly recovering. "Nothing, Professor. We just finished adding the ingredients and were discussing how long to heat it."
She nodded briskly. "Fifteen minutes. Keep stirring." And with that, she moved on.
As she left, Anya turned to , guilt written all over her face. "Thank you... for not telling her. And I'm sorry for ruining the potion."
I shook my head. "Why are you apologizing? The potion isn't ruined yet."
"But I went off the process," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I glanced at the cauldron. The potion shimred faintly, its glow unchanged. "Look," I said, gesturing toward it. "Everything seems fine."
She hesitated before peering into the cauldron. "It does," she admitted softly.
"Alright, Anya," I said with a grin. "What does your intuition say now? How long should we heat it?"
"Why are you asking
that? Professor said fifteen minutes," she replied, confused.
"Forget what the professor said for a mont. What does your gut tell you?"
She hesitated, her eyes searching mine before answering reluctantly, "Thirteen minutes."
"Thirteen minutes it is," I said, setting the tir.
Her eyes widened. "What are you doing? I already made one mistake. I don't want you to make another because of ."
I placed a hand on her shoulder, steadying her. "Trust . Sotis instincts are worth more than rules."
She looked at , unsure, but nodded faintly.
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