21. Alchemy

Time passed away Ast and Anya barely left their routine anymore. They would try to get as skilled as possible in archery and daggers and would often visit their hideout to practice near the magical pond. In the cave they also found various artifacts and based on their current abilities they chose one for themselves. Ast chose a pair of black curved daggers which can conjure wind blades and Anya chose a bow which shoots wind elemental arrows. All the artifacts when refined by a person exist in the form of tattoos on their body.

Anya's tatoo materialised on the back of her hand due to which she often wears some gloves. Ast tattoo appeared on his index finger and he hides it with a black bandage wrapped around his finger.

They kept all other artifacts inside a ring, as they were unable to refine them. Ast also observed that there was that same wind elementalist, who spies on them but he is never able to catch him in the act therefore he has to be extra careful.

During this time Ast also payed special attention towards alchemy, he learnt the recipes for various poisons. He learnt how to make smoke bombs, tar bombs, pungent bombs etc etc. He also learnt to make the truth serum, which as the name suggested make the person speak truth for a few minutes, but it also takes the person in a very sleepy state and the person forgets these few minutes of his life.

Ast was able to make such progress in alchemy cause he found out a hidden stash of alchemy books in the cave. Ast was a few months away from his ninth birthday, and he had noticed that during all this time his soul had really strengthened, so he was hoping that maybe his system would activate before him being 10 years of age.

Anya as well was becoming more skilled and due to them possessing lightning essence Anya's progress in understanding and forming her element was a bit faster then Ast. If things were to proceed as usual then both of them would be able to fuse with their element way before. And Ast knew that the pond in the cave was crucial for that to happen.

Ast was also vary because the Blair household send their children away for training when they are 10 yers old and although the chances were slim because Tim usually was considered as the next successor but he didn't want to take a chance and was planning on running away with Anya.