I spat out what remained of the herb, coughing violently as panic surged through .
My whole body paused and I snapped my head staring at the sweet innocent smiling girl with widened eyes and feelings shiver.
The girl, utterly unfazed, held up a small vial filled with a bright green liquid. "Don't worry," she said with an almost teasing tone. "We keep the antidote on hand for new mbers. It's all part of the tradition."
"Tradition?" I sputtered, glaring at her. "You poison people as a tradition?"
She shrugged, her smile never wavering. "It's a test of courage. You passed, by the way!"
"Passed?" I snapped, my voice rising. "I almost passed out!"
"Sorry to scare you but you are the one who is unlucky. Not every herb is poisonous. You can see this as a test of your practical knowledge only…." she paused, giving a knowing glance and shrugged.
"If you have any but it seems you don't."
I felt soone slapping with emotional damage.
What the hell is this?
This is too brutal.
I don't accept this.
The other students chuckled, clearly amused by my outburst. One of them muttered sothing about "freshman reactions" being the best part of the initiation. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire
I looked at them and then spotted many freshn who had gloomy expressions who looked at with pitiful gaze after clearly experiencing a good situation.
It seems everyone is in the sa boat.
"Ohh!Here is the antidote.Quickly take it"
Grimacing, I snatched the vial from her hand and drank the antidote in one gulp. The liquid was bitter, leaving an unpleasant aftertaste, but the numbing sensation that had begun to creep into my limbs slowly subsided.
The bitter taste of the antidote lingered as the numbing sensation faded. I shot one last glare at the girl as she clapped her hands together in mock celebration. Her cheerful deanor was unnervingly at odds with the chaos she had caused.
"Congratulations! You're officially part of the Alchemist Club!" she chid.
The atmosphere in the room shifted when the teacher in charge of the Alchemist Club arrived.
Professor Jolberg stepped in, a commanding presence despite his disheveled appearance.
He had a long, rough beard that looked like it hadn't been grood in weeks. His glasses sat askew on his nose, and his ssy hair gave off the impression of a mad scientist.
He was clearly the symbol proving that most scientists have sothing wrong in their heads.
His sharp, analytical eyes scanned the room as he chuckled softly, a sound that sent chills down my spine.
"I trust your initiation was… morable," he began, his voice carrying a mixture of humor and warning. "The herb test, as harsh as it may seem, serves as an important lesson. In the wild, one cannot afford to consu sothing based on appearance alone. Without knowledge of plants and their properties, even the smallest mistake could prove fatal."
His words carried weight, and the room fell silent.
"As hunters, adventurers, or alchemists, your knowledge of herbs can save your life—or end it. A single leaf could heal wounds or cripple an enemy. Rember this well."
The professor's tone softened slightly as he shifted into a lecture, introducing us to the fundantals of alchemy. He spoke about the uses of various herbs, their characteristics, and how they could be combined to create potions. Occasionally, he paused to ask questions, his piercing gaze making it clear that no answer would go unexamined.
Finally, he clapped his hands. "Now, it's ti for so practical experience. Pair up, choose a simple potion to brew, and make sure you na it and describe its effect. Simplicity is key—this is your first attempt, after all."
I was partnered with Tim, a lanky boy with shaggy brown hair and glasses that made him look like he was perpetually lost in thought. He wore a loose, slightly wrinkled uniform, and his nervous energy was palpable.
"Hi," Tim muttered, fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve. His pale skin hinted at soone who spent more ti indoors than outdoors, and his hesitant smile gave away his discomfort in social situations.
I nodded in acknowledgnt. "Let's get to work."
Tim seed uneasy at first, but Professor Jolberg's steady explanations appeared to calm him. As we stood by the table filled with various herbs, I could see his fingers trembling slightly as he reached for a set of vials.
The professor's voice rang out again, directing us to pick our ingredients carefully. "Your task is to create a simple potion—one with an obvious, imdiate effect. Be mindful of your combinations; even a slight imbalance can lead to unexpected results."
Tim and I exchanged a glance, and I could see a hint of determination in his eyes as he steadied himself.
"How about we make a basic healing potion?" Tim suggested. "It's the simplest one in the textbook, and I think I rember the formula."
"Sounds good," I agreed, and we turned our attention to the herbs, ready to begin.
Tim and I stood before the table, which was covered in various herbs and alchemical tools. Glass vials, a small cauldron, a mortar and pestle, and a burner were neatly arranged in front of us. The strong scent of herbs filled the air, a mixture of earthy, sweet, and sharp aromas.
"Alright," Tim began, his voice a little more confident now. "We'll make a basic healing potion. It's simple but effective."
I nodded, letting him take the lead while I observed closely. Tim seed to know what he was doing, and I didn't want to ss anything up.
He pointed to a few herbs on the table. "We'll need Redthorn leaves, Moondew petals, and a pinch of Bitterroot powder. Redthorn is for quick regeneration, Moondew stabilizes the potion, and Bitterroot gives it that healing kick."
As he explained, I tried to morize everything. Tim's focus impressed . He carefully picked up the Redthorn leaves, their deep red color standing out against the other herbs.
"First, we crush the Redthorn leaves into a paste," Tim said, placing the leaves into the mortar and handing the pestle. "Here, you can do this part. Just grind it until it's smooth."
I took the pestle and began crushing the leaves. The vibrant red turned darker as their juices mixed, forming a sticky paste.
"Perfect," Tim said, leaning over to inspect. "Now, add the paste to the cauldron."
I scooped the paste into the small cauldron while Tim asured a few Moondew petals. Their pale blue hue almost glowed under the dim light of the alchemy lab.
"Moondew petals are delicate, so you have to tear them gently," Tim instructed, carefully ripping them into smaller pieces and sprinkling them into the cauldron.
"Got it," I said, watching his hands. Tim's precision was impressive, and I could tell he had done this before.
"You are quite skillful," I comnted.
"I aspire to beco an alchemist and not having good fighting skills, I feel being an alchemist is not only safer but it is also a high-paying job."
He reached for a small jar of Bitterroot powder and held it up. "Just a pinch of this. Too much, and it'll ss up the whole potion."
I nodded as he added a tiny amount, the fine brown powder mixing with the other ingredients.
Tim lit the burner beneath the cauldron, adjusting the fla to a low heat. "We'll stir this slowly for about two minutes. It should turn a light green if we've done it right."
He handed a wooden stirrer, and I began to stir the mixture gently. The ingredients lted together, creating a smooth, slightly viscous liquid. Slowly, it shifted in color, turning from reddish-brown to a pale green.
"That's it," Tim said, his voice carrying a hint of satisfaction. "We're almost done."
He reached for a small funnel and a glass vial. "Now we just pour it in and test it."
I carefully poured the potion through the funnel, watching as the light green liquid filled the vial. Tim corked it with a satisfied nod.
"Congratulations, we just made a healing potion," Tim said, giving a small smile.
I returned the smile. "Not bad for a first attempt, huh?"
Tim sneaked a curious glance at , then asked, "Are you sure you want to take an alchemy class?"
I tilted my head, confused. "Uh… why?"
He hesitated, then said, "Because it might ruin your face."
I blinked, about to ask what he ant when—
BOOM!
The sharp sound of an explosion made everyone gasp and so scread in shock. I spun around and saw a cloud of black smoke rising from another group's table.
A boy stood there, his face completely blackened, looking stunned while pieces of sharp cauldron debris rain down.
Professor Jolberg's lips twitched in irritation. "Just what did you do to make it explode like a bomb?"
I turned back to Tim, whose expression was calm, though his eyes seed to say, See? This is why I warned you.
I sighed, realizing alchemy might be more dangerous than I thought.
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