Edwin felt like an idiot at tis. After so much ti trying to figure out how he could replicate alchemical reactions inside of rocks and pebbles to no avail, it was really embarrassing to have to be reminded that he had the perfect setup for mimicking alchemical reactions already.
Naly, him actually performing alchemical reactions.
It would be fairly straightforward, too. He was working with taphorical training wheels, after all. The goal would be the ability to mix up spell potions on the fly, whenever, wherever, and with whatever he wanted, but one step at a ti.
So here he was, back at square one, going through the motions of making sothing actually useful as he trained his magic to cooperate.
He would have preferred to make health potions, of course. He could make those practically in his sleep these days- given Watchful Rest, possibly literally- but he couldnt introduce his personal mana into the equation without ssing everything up.
Failing that, he wanted to at least do sothing productive, but he really didnt have any nonmagical reactions that utilized liquids at the mont. If he had nitric acid, then things would be very different, but he didnt have nitric acid and the steps to get it were so obscenely complicated it was a wonder that he could even call it up with mory, to say nothing of the people who figured it out in the first place. It was the cornerstone of modern chemistry for a reason. Chemistry, because of how much stuff fixed nitrogen was involved in, and modern because of all the stuff needed to make it work on a comrcial scale.
He broke himself out of a slight daydream where he had been imagining himself with magic that could break down atomic bonds and bypass all the complications required in fixing nitrogen, that was, pulling the most common gas out of the atmosphere and just shoving it into a beaker of water. Instead, he pulled his attention back to water.
It was in theory the most trivial experint possible. Mixing water with water, what could the outco possibly be? Still, for all its simplicity, it did have its advantages. Mainly, that there was no way it could go wrong in so dangerous way. Almost as valuable was the fact that water and water were perfectly miscible. He should have no problems with the normal oil-and-water issues his types of mana had with itself. Or if he did, then that would be interesting as well.
Win-win, really.
Edwin forced himself to imagine his Mana Infusion as pouring out a bottle of mana potion, but unlike most of the ti he used the Skill, he didnt let go at the end, instead maintaining a small asure of contact with his mana as it settled into the water. It was a bit of an odd sensation, but not one that was particularly unpleasant.
With his other hand, he repeated the process. For his first experint, he wasnt changing anything about either of the Infusions, it was purely a test to see how they behaved when combined.
Experint one. Unaltered mana Infused into waters A and B. B added into A slowly while stirring. As predicted, A and B mixed with no incident or notable interrupts.
Experint two
Edwin kicked his feet through the air near the tower, mildly miming the motion of swimming on his back as he lazily chatted with Rillah. He just felt so at ease around her, even when she wasnt using Calming Touch. It was very nice.
Okay so is it an appearance Skill, then? he guessed, Like I can see so of the resemblance to what I think is Idyllic Form. What, do you just really hate the way your ears look or sothing? Is it so kind of Skill that lets you reshape your body a bit?
The adventurer looked at him like he was an idiot.
Actually? he sat up in surprise, I was not expecting that. Um, dont tell . He cupped his hands in front of his mouth in thought, Seasonal Appearance?
Close guess! rcurial Form.
Wait, he thought, So then that skill line goes, he counted them off on his fingers, Unweathered Form, Greater Unweathered Form, Idyllic Appearance, and then back to rcurial Form?
She scratched her head, I dont see what youre going on about.
Well, most of them are sothing-Form, but number three is Idyllic Appearance.
The girl raised an eyebrow, Is there sothing different? Oh! They Polyglot differently for you?
Oh, yeah. I guess so. Weird. Anyway, shapeshifting? he excitedly asked.
She looked to the sky, muttering sothing unintelligible.
What? he asked, Its a cool Skill. And Im kind of curious as to whether your DNA would change, or if you could do sothing with your blood type to make you an actual universal donor. Also, can you make yourself grow an extra finger or sothing?
What? Why?
He shrugged, Just to see if you can. Is your skeletal structure mutable? Can you look like different people? How much can you actually change?
Oh. Thats better. She waved off Edwins implied question as to what she ant by that, I dont think I can do much other than so costic changes. Well, maybe. But its rather limited, and not one Ive played with that much. Mainly, I just use it on my hair and ears to avoid getting too much attention.
Wait, hair? Why? Also, if youre trying to avoid attention, why use it on your eyes?
She glared at him, and he raised his hands in defense and apology, Sorry. Touchy subject, I see.
Well, those are the color of my eyes for one, and for another, they wont change color with the Skill. Lastly, I like them that way. As for my hair, it changes color with the seasons too.
Im surrounded by ani protagonists, he ntally sighed, Too? Wait, so then that ans your eyes change color?
How how do you make every question Im so sick of sound so reasonable?
Uhhhhh. Edwin had no clue how to respond to that one. Should he apologize? Make a joke? Sympathize?
My eyes change with my magic, yes. Surely youve noticed them lightening?
You think I notice stuff like that? You have one green eye and one brown eye, thats about all I can ever rember.
Yes, well thats just in the fall and spring. Blue and amber in the sumr and winter.
He nodded, Very cool, I see why you like them. What about your hair then?
Brown in the spring and fall, red in the sumr, blond or almost white in the winter.
And you went with brown year-round?
I like it. Its less eye-catching.
Ah yes. Less eye-catching. Thats exactly how I would describe you.
She halfheartedly swatted at him, Jerk.
Edwin chuckled, We got way off topic. So, your ears? What do you need to change about them? Dont tell they change with the seasons as well.
She hesitated, clearly deliberating what she wanted to say.
I can promise that no matter how what it is, I wont laugh or make fun of you about it, he reassured her, then paused in thought. Unless its really funny, in which case I might be unable to control a small laugh when I first see them, and might tease you about it if you seem anable to the idea later on.
Rillah glared at him.
He dramatically shrugged, Hey. You were the one who said you liked my honesty.
Thats fair, she sighed and rolled her eyes. Ah! Was that a joke or was that actual exasperation? Um, shoot. Ah, damage control, damage control
I can lie if you want! he blurted out.
She glared at him.
Or not! he made vaguely helpless motions with his hands, I dont know! Look, if you just keep glaring at Im going to have no clue what you an.
She sighed, Youre fine, Edwin.
Are you sure, because he trailed off, but his mind filled in the blanks, Because thats exactly what I would say to soone I was exasperated with and just waiting for a chance to get rid of but didnt want them to feel bad about it. And I dont want to chase off another person who I actually like spending ti with. I have so few to start with!
Im sure, she tried to reassure him, and sighed, Its just been a while is all.
Edwin was about to ask about what she ant, when he saw the Skill working. Her ears quickly shifted from normal to distinctly pointed. Pointy ears, pretty girl
His eyes got very wide, Are you an elf? he excitedly asked.
What? No! she shushed him.
Sorry, he mouthed.
Rillah shook her head, sighing, Its alright. I should have warned you to stay quiet. Youve never t an elf, I take it? he shook his head, Thats what I thought. Youd never think I was one if you had.
Oh? Well, does that an youre what, half-elf, then? Thats still so cool!
Rillah raised an eyebrow, Not what I was expecting.
Rillah, I dont know how to break it to you.
She tilted her head in an indication to continue.
Im from very far away. I get that I react unusually a lot. If youre expecting to be anything close to normal, hi, Im Edwin and we clearly have never t.
She laughed, and Edwin imdiately felt better. Hm. Was that a Skill? Joyful Laughter? He shook his head slightly to try and focus it.
I just thought you knew.
Well, I just didnt, I guess. Dang it, hed really screwed up this ti, hadnt he? He was usually better at well, not being asked questions about people he knew.
Hm. I could have sworn I told you at so point, or at least ntioned it while you were around.
Okay, clarifying question though: was I involved in an experint, planning an experint, or had literally anything other than just directly talking to you going on when you said this?
Edwin, is there ever a ti when one of those dont apply?
I an you could definitely grab my attention whenever you wanted, he joked, and had to fight back a wince. It had sounded much better in his head.
Hmmm, she assessed him, Well see.
So whats that like?
Whats it like being a human?
Edwin paused, Point taken. But like what sorts of reactions do you get?
Edwin, I keep my ears permanently shifted to look like normal human ears, what do you think?
He wasnt able to hold the wince in that ti, Right.
Then he thought about it a bit more, Wait, but why? I feel like Ive seen at least six different species living in the Empire essentially in harmony. Avior, humans, gnos, halflings, dwarves and okay, maybe just five, unless theres another that looks really similar to one of those guys. But still! Why elves, or not even full elves?
Where have you been?
Highpeaks, traveling, Vinstead, the middle of the woods, Panastalis, and here.
Ah, never seen Kinea?
Cant say Ive heard of it, no.
Thatd do it. Also, just try visiting the mainland. Not as many humans, way more strange looks. Its even worse if youre not actually human. But beyond that, theres lots of bad blood between Kinea and Quoena.
Oh hey, I know that one thats the elven city, right? But why would oh, who am I kidding. People are awful. And that holds in the rest of the Empire, then? Sheesh. So dad? he guessed, I presu if it were your mom youd be living in the elf place, or if you were an outcast from there you wouldnt be a normal adventurer. What is the normal procedure for people from another nation visiting the Empire, actually?
Youre clever, you know that?
Thats what people tell , Edwin awkwardly deflected, Feels like Im wrong more than Im right, though.
Nonsense. But yeah, mum was the one to have the scandal, and here I am. She spent too much ti in the Verdant, I suppose.
So where are you from, then? Not Kinea?
Rhothos.
Edwin frowned, Is everyone from Rhothos? I know Yathals from there, and Im pretty sure Lefi is as well. At least, thats where his Registrar is. Then youre from there too?
Nah, Lefis not from Rhothos. Dont know where he is from, but he just likes Vinstead. The province is quite well-populated and is friendly to adventurers, though.
I never got that sense while I was there.
Most other places are worse.
Okay, I cant refute you there. You are the well-traveled one, even if-
Even if you have the World Traveler path, yes I know. Rub it in a bit more, why dont you?
Oh, only if you insist, he teased, In fact-
Edwin didnt finish his sentence, distracted as he was by sothing else. A grin crept across his face, I hit it!
What?
Flight! I just got the notification, it hit level 60! he fist-pumped the air, I was hoping I might finally get it today. I need to figure out what Im doing with it now.
Well, what do you have for Paths?
Just a second. Hm. Theres no way to show soone else your System stuff, is there?
Rillah shook her head.
Ah, pity. Well, this will take a minute, then
Combat
Assassin 0/60, Bomber 0/60, Giant Slayer 0/60, Heedless Hunter 0/60, Hunter 0/30, Killer 0/30, Titan Slayer 0/90, Warrior 0/60, Way of the Empty Hand 0/60, Trapper 0/60, Artillerist 0/60, Sapper 0/60
Alchemy
Alchemical dic 0/60, Demolitionist 0/60, Makeshift Alchemist 0/60, Potioneer 0/60, Practical Alchemist 0/60, Mystic Alchemist 0/90
Science
Chemist 0/60, Experinter 0/60, Researcher 0/60, Purifier 0/30, Scientific Revolutionary 0/90, Scientist 0/60, Engineer 0/60, Physicist 0/60, Mathematician 0/60, Material Scientist 0/60
Magic
Aerialist 0/60, Fey Friend 0/60, Feybound 0/60, Feycaller 0/60, Mage 0/60, Magical Gardener 0/60, Micro-Biomancer 0/90, Primal Constructor 0/90, Primal Ritualist 0/90, Realm Traveler 0/120, Skilled Arcanist 0/60, Fey Supplicant 0/60, Feykind 0/90, Attuner 0/30,
ntal
Dedicated Student 0/60, Lecturer 0/30, Scholar 0/60, Unbowed 0/90, Canny 0/60, Steady Mind 0/60, ntalist 0/60,
System
Almanac Administrator 0/60, Forerunner 0/60, Outsiders Almanac Specialist 0/90, Pioneer 0/60, Skill Researcher 0/60, System Scholar 0/60,
Trophy
Blackstone Conqueror 0/60, Deepwoods Panther-Hunter 0/60, Stonehide Vanquisher 0/60, Titan Spider-Slayer 0/60
Career
Brickmaker 0/30, Butcher 0/30, Diver 0/30, Gardener 0/30, Lumberjack 0/60, rchant 0/30, Potter 0/30, Scribe 0/30, Woodsman 0/30,
Physical
Ascetic 0/60, Daredevil 0/60, Physical Alchemist 0/90, Survivor 0/60, Physical Laborer 0/30, Athlete 0/60
Traveling
Escapee 0/30, Exile 0/30, Traveler 0/30, World Traveler 0/60
dical
Field dic 0/60, dic 0/30, Steadfast dic 0/60, dical Lecturer 0/60
Misc
Arsonist 0/60, Autopyromaniac 0/60, Burglar 0/60, Child 0/12, Expert 0/60, Imperial Ally 0/60, Novice 0/12, Pyromaniac 0/30, Razer of the Ruined Tower 0/60, Rebel 0/30, Slave 0/12, Trainee 0/60, Traitor 0/60, Brushed by Power 0/60, Lirasian Citizen 0/30, Royal Advisor 0/60, Favored by Power 0/90, Insomniac 0/30, Sleepless Disciple 0/60, Student of Power 0/60
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