17 The Potion Master's Quest

Kael woke up early the next morning, still feeling the excitement from the previous day's duel. He was eager to take on new challenges and further his growth. As he walked through the academy's courtyard, he came across a notice board with several light missions posted on it. One, in particular, caught his eye: "Potion Ingredient Collection: Help the academy's potions master gather rare ingredients from the nearby forest for an upcoming lesson."

Kael's eyes lit up as he read the notice, excited by the prospect of a more relaxed mission after yesterday's intense duel. "This could be a nice change of pace," he murmured to himself, pulling the notice off the board.

The academy's enchanted notice board, located in the courtyard, serves as a hub for students and faculty to share missions, requests, and opportunities for growth. Missions are written on parchment scrolls, indicating difficulty, description, deadline, and rewards. Rewards can vary from Elyrian Crowns, valuable items, to new connections and mentorship opportunities. The academy encourages students to take on missions to enhance their skills, foster teamwork, and gain practical experience, offering a dynamic and engaging learning experience.

Curious, Kael decided to accept the mission, he called Luna to come along and headed to the potions classroom to meet the potions master together. There, he met a middle-aged man with graying hair and a neatly-trimmed beard, wearing an elegant robe adorned with various potion bottles. "Ah, you must be Kael! I'm Master Gideon, the potions master here at the academy. I've heard about your recent exploits, impressive for a newcomer! Are you here to help me with the ingredient collection?"

Kael nodded, and Master Gideon smiled. "Wonderful! I could use the extra hands. Luna is quite knowledgeable about the local flora, which will be helpful. Unfortunately, I have to stay and prepare for my class, but I trust you two can handle this."

With a wave of his hand, Master Gideon handed Kael a list of the rare ingredients they needed to collect. Kael and Luna set off towards the enchanted forest surrounding the city of Amarant. The forest was lush and teeming with magical flora, providing a wealth of resources for the academy. As they ventured deeper, Kael's Arcanum Interface guided him in recognizing various herbs and plants.

At one point, they encountered a problem: a rare herb they needed to collect was growing on a steep cliff, seemingly out of reach. Luna looked up at the herb and sighed, "Well, this is a pickle. How are we going to reach that?"

Kael furrowed his brow, deep in thought, before suddenly exclaiming, "I've got an idea!" He turned to Luna, excitement in his eyes. "You can use your wind magic to create an updraft, and I can use my Shadow Step ability to teleport from one shadowy ledge to another, hopefully reaching the herb. What do you think?"

Luna hesitated for a moment, then nodded, determination filling her expression. "Alright, let's give it a shot."

Kael took a deep breath and focused on the shadowy ledges of the cliff. Meanwhile, Luna positioned herself at the base of the cliff and began to channel her wind magic, creating a powerful updraft that sent leaves and debris swirling into the air.

As Kael teleported from one ledge to another, he suddenly found himself face-to-face with a Razorbeak, a large predatory bird with sharp beaks and talons, known for their swift and agile hunting techniques. The Razorbeak screeched, mistaking Kael for an easy meal.

"Uh-oh," Kael muttered, attempting to maintain his balance on the narrow ledge. "Luna, I might need some help here!"

Luna quickly changed her focus, sending a gust of wind toward the Razorbeak, knocking it off balance and buying Kael some time. Seizing the opportunity, Kael used his Shadow Step ability once more to teleport to the ledge nearest the rare herb.

He quickly plucked the herb from its precarious perch, but realized the shadow on the ground was too far away for him to teleport back using Shadow Step. Kael glanced at Luna and called out, "Luna, I can't reach a shadow from here! I need your help to get back down!"

Understanding Kael's predicament, Luna nodded and focused her wind magic once more, creating a controlled gust of wind that gently lifted Kael off the ledge. As Kael glided slowly towards the ground, Luna carefully manipulated the wind, ensuring a safe and steady descent.

As Kael was nearing the ground, he noticed the Razorbeak regaining its focus and swooping towards him, its sharp talons outstretched and ready to attack. Kael shouted out a warning, "Luna, it's coming for me!"

Luna quickly assessed the situation, her eyes narrowing in determination. She nocked an arrow, imbuing it with wind energy as she prepared her skill "Gale Shot". The arrow crackled with energy as the wind swirled around it, increasing its speed and impact force.

Just as the Razorbeak was about to reach Kael, Luna released the arrow with pinpoint accuracy. The Gale Shot struck the bird, its powerful impact sending the creature spiraling off-course and away from Kael.

The Razorbeak, realizing that it had met its match, retreated into the sky, squawking in frustration as it disappeared from sight. Kael's feet finally touched the ground, and he breathed a sigh of relief. "Nice save, Luna. I almost become its dinner for tonight."

Luna grinned, giving Kael a friendly pat on the back. "No problem at all."

Kael and Luna, having successfully collected the rare herbs and dealt with the unexpected Razorbeak encounter, made their way back to the academy, their spirits high from the day's adventure. They approached Master Gideon, who was eagerly waiting for their return.

Upon seeing the rare herbs in their possession, Master Gideon's eyes lit up with gratitude. "Ah, you've managed to find the rare ingredients I needed for my upcoming class! Thank you both, your efforts are greatly appreciated."

He eagerly took the herbs from Kael and Luna, then set to work concocting a variety of potions for his students. As a token of his appreciation, he handed Kael and Luna each a small vial containing an Elixir of True Sight. "Here, take these as a thank you for your hard work. This potion will allow the user to see through illusions, invisibility, and other magical deceptions. Use it wisely."

Kael and Luna exchanged smiles, grateful for the unexpected reward. As they walked away from Master Gideon's workshop, they couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie. Their successful mission had not only aided the academy, but also strengthened their bond as friends.

As they made their way back, the Arcanum Interface chimed in, "Congratulations, Kael! You have successfully completed a mission that benefits others. You have been awarded 50 experience points and 1 silver EC."

Kael's eyes widened in surprise, pleased by the additional rewards from the system. He now knew that helping others was not only personally fulfilling, but also a valuable way to grow and develop as a mage.