"A good question. No, they are not separate sources. Rather, they are combinations of the four primary elents. Lightning, for example, is a mixture of fire and air. Wood magic stems from earth and water. Ice magic is water but with a strong influence of air. Magic isn't rigid; it's fluid and can blend in various ways." Keira grinned seeing how further Liam thought.
"You also ntioned that fire isn't mostly chosen as a source. Does that an it's avoided entirely?" Liam asked.
"Not exactly. Fire is difficult to control, so it's rarely used as a primary source by beginners. However, for accomplished sorcerers, accessing fire becos much easier. Those with the skill and knowledge to ta its wild nature can use it more effectively." Keira said.
"So, the four elents are the main sources, but are they the only ones?" Liam was curious and by that Keira was done with the bathing and slowly got up.
"Turn around." Liam's eyes took a quick glimpse of her body till her navel before turning around. "Not at all. The four elents are simply the most conventional sources. There are others. So individuals themselves can act as a source of magic. Take Ciri, for example. She doesn't need an external elent to draw from because she herself is a source of magic. Though, that kind of magic tends to be different from conventional magic and follows its own set of rules."
Liam heard the trickling of water and splashes around as he guessed Keira had gotten out of tub. He was having a bit of hard ti and turning around just made him a bit more tempted to have a sight of what he was missing, but he stopped himself. Being a man, and having been devoid of human touch for such a long ti, had been a bit hard for him.
He even wondered why he didn't go and find a girlfriend for himself. As he was sure there were people who could live as long as him. Was his immortality the reason why he didn't want to get attached to anyone?
He could think all of these thoughts later.
"So, magic isn't just about controlling external forces. So people generate their own?" Liam asked as he thought of his Forspoken magic. He needed to understand that magic once he returned.
"Precisely. That's why mages study for years—to understand not just how to wield magic, but where it cos from and how it manifests. There's always more to learn." Keira replied and by now she had dressed herself using magic. Making clothes out of thin air.
"Enough about magic. Let's make you the most capable alchemy assistant of this century. Co with ." Keira continued and Liam followed her. He was a bit lost in the thoughts of magic.
The dim glow of alchemical lanterns illuminated the underground chamber as Keira placed a heavy to on the wooden table before Liam.
"If you're serious about learning alchemy, then this will be your first real test," Keira said, tapping the page. "Mahakaman Spirit is a vital component in many potions. It serves as the foundation for Dwarven Spirit, which in turn is used in countless alchemical concoctions. Without it, most potions wouldn't even be possible." Keira said.
"And here I thought making liquor was simple." Liam replied.
"This isn't just liquor, dear student. It's an alchemical base, refined to perfection by the dwarves. It's stronger, purer, and capable of preserving magical properties within potions. If you can make it, you'll have taken your first step into real alchemy." Keira chuckled.
Liam nodded and got to work. The first step required fernting a mixture of barley, grain, and special herbs found only in the Mahakam Mountains. Since they lacked direct access to Mahakaman ingredients, Keira had procured similar substitutes, but they needed precise treatnt. And of course, Interceptor helped him in every way.
His first attempt was an absolute failure. The ferntation process went wrong, producing a foul-slling sludge instead of the clear, potent liquid he was expecting. Keira had laughed at his sour expression.
"Patience, Liam. This isn't just mixing things together and hoping for the best. Precision is key. Temperature, timing, and ingredient quality all matter."
The days blurred into weeks as Liam refined his thod. He studied the chemical reactions in depth, understanding how the ferntation process interacted with magical properties.
Keira was relentless. She made him docunt every attempt, and even with the Interceptor helping, she would ask him to write down the attempts and his failures.
"Alchemy isn't just about magic, Liam. It's science, chemistry, and intuition all combined. You can't brute-force your way through it."
Liam adapted. Using his armor's interface, he asured temperatures precisely, recording ferntation tis to the second. Yet, the spirit remained imperfect. One evening, as Liam sat by the bubbling cauldron, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"Keira, why is this taking so long? I've made so many adjustnts, yet it still lacks the purity you demand."
"Because true mastery isn't about rushing. If alchemy were easy, everyone would do it. The dwarves have perfected this art over centuries. You're trying to replicate their craftsmanship in re weeks." Keira said with a sweet smile.
Liam sighed but didn't give up. Over the next few weeks, he experinted with different aging thods, refining his distillation process. He had taken inspiration from the modern process of distillation of alcohol and changed so of the processes. Keira had noticed the changes that Liam was bringing and didn't stop him. Innovation and ideas should always be welcod in alchemy. Magic was a different matter since it was dangerous and unless so forbidden alchemical concoction was being made, it was fine to add ideas to alchemy.
His final breakthrough ca when he realized the wood of the barrels played a crucial role in the spirit's refinent. Thus he searched for a particular wood in the nearby forest and made the spirit. By the end of the month, he stood before Keira, presenting a flask of the clear, strong liquid.
Keira took a sip after she had seen the whole process in front of her and said.
"You've finally done it."
"So, does this an I pass?" Liam grinned.
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