4 Chapter 4 Refining Pills

Althea sat down on the floor and concentrated at the bronze cauldron placed on the table. Taking one of the herbs in her hand she said, "A person must at least be at the third stage of the low level to be able to refine a pill but who am I?"

Putting the herb inside the cauldron, Althea smirked while a green flame mixed with fiery red flame appeared on her palm, "I am Althea Rion, one of the best Alchemist in the land of Dura. Even though I am only at the first stage of low level with the dragon flame I can refine any pill"

Althea started to refine the herbs one by one. To Althea, refining a low level pill like Man grade Energy revitalizing pill is like drinking a water after all she was once a Divine level Alchemist.

After half an hour, the cauldron shook a few times and at the same time Althea quickly drew intricate designs on an empty air and after that she sent it towards the cauldron.

'Clank'

'Clank'

The Cauldron stopped and Althea let out a long breath. "Refining a pill with this meager strength of mine sure is tiring"

Looking inside the cauldron Althea saw eight round, shiny and plump pills laying inside, they were blue in color, and on closer look, there were golden pattern on the pills

Shaking her head, Althea said, "Too bad, if I had my former strength I could easily refine ten pills"

If there were any Alchemists around her at this moment, they would have nearly vomited a mouthful of blood after hearing what Althea just said. Because many Alchemists would be able to produce at the most six pills at one go.

After storing all the eight pills inside a small bottle, Althea focused her consciousness on the spirit seed and started to breath in the surrounding spiritual energy to recover her strength.

'Knock, knock'

"Young Miss, the Lord, and his lady are waiting for you to eat dinner"

Althea opened her eyes and said, "Okay Steward Gwen, I am coming"

After changing her dress that reeks of herbs, Althea headed towards the dining hall.

"Good evening Father, Mother", Althea greeted her parents before taking her seat.

"My dear daughter seems to change a lot for good", said Furiana.

Althea didn't reply back but simply smiled and sat down. Duriaz on the other hand had been observing Althea's every action. After dinner, Althea went back to her room.

In the living room, Duriaz was sitting in the middle of the room lost in thoughts. After a while, a man in black entered the room and half kneeled at Duriaz and said, "My Lord"

"Did you find out", asked Duriaz

"Yes, my Lord, today Young miss went to Rainbow Herb Hall and bought some herbs and also a bronze cauldron", said the man

"Herbs and Cauldron!"

'why would she buy those things?' thought Duriaz.

"Yes my Lord, Young miss also reserved the Silver cauldron in advance. She said that those things are for her friend"

"Alright, I got it, and what about the thing I asked you the last time"

The man fumbled inside his clothes and took out a small book and handed over to Duriaz. "It's all written inside here my Lord"

"You have worked hard Northem", saying that Duriaz handed out a banknotes.

"Thank you, Lord, it's a blessing to work under you. I will take my leave now", saying that Northem left the room

Inside the living room, Duriaz looked at the book in his hand and said to himself, "I hope it isn't what I am thinking"

Opening the book he started to read the contents of the book.

"Althea Rion, youngest and the only female Sovereign of the Hall of Mage. The only survivor from the Rion clan that was exterminated by the unknown force overnight. Adopted by the former sovereign of the Hall of Mage at the age of six after finding out her innate talent. A rare genius in Alchemy and one of the strongest mage. Youngest in the history of the land of Dura to reach the peak of the divine level. Died at the age of twenty seven inside the Dark mist forest after exploding her spirit seed in the year 174223. The reason for death remains a mystery"

Closing the book, Duriaz leaned back on the chair and muttered, "Dark mist forest, spirit seed explosion, four great powers, Alchemist, mage.."

After a while, Duriaz suddenly stood up from the chair and said, "So... it's the four great powers but why?"

On the other side of the mansion, Althea was busy refining the second batch of pills.

"If I am at the third stage of low level, I could consume the energy revitalizing pill to restore my energy but too bad I am still at the first stage", Althea was complaining about her strength while refining the pills.

The next morning after having her breakfast, Althea headed towards the Rainbow Auction hall, the biggest auction hall in Alfing city to auction off her pills.

Wearing a veil, Althea entered the Rainbow auction hall. After she entered, a young male attendant came to guide her.

" Young Lady, are you here to buy things or to appraise the treasure for auction", asked the attendant politely.

"For appraisal"

"Please, come this way"

The attendant guided her to the room upstairs. After knocking the room, the attendant announced, "Manager Lane, we have a guest"

"come in"

Althea walked in and saw a old man sitting on the chair.

Noticing that it was only a little girl, Manager Lane said, "Little lass, we only accept things that have value"

Without saying anything, Althea simply took out a transparent bottle filled with blue-colored pills and put it on the table.

Manager Lane looked at the bottle and laughed out, "Little lass, are you joking with me! This is man grade Energy revitalizing pill, anyone can find it on the medicine shops"

"Why don't you first take a look at it", Althea calmly said sitting on the chair.

Manager Lane was about to say something when he noticed the tiny golden pattern on the pill. Quickly pouring out one pill on his hand, he inspected it and said with a shock on his face, " Golden patterned Energy Revitalizing pill!"

Althea looked at the manager's expression and said, "Yes, it's a Golden patterned Energy Revitalizing pill. As the manager of the largest auction hall in Alfing city, I am sure you are aware of what it means. Normal energy revitalizing pill will take five to ten minutes to completely restore your energy base on their quality but the Golden patterned pills will restore it instantly. On a battlefield where your life is on the line, many people would want the Golden patterned pill. I hope you understand this well"

The manager immediately turns his attitude to one-sixty degrees and said, "Young miss, please forgive this old man for my previous behavior. Let me first invite the senior alchemist of our Rainbow Auction Hall"

The manager immediately sent an attendant to invite an Alchemist. After a while, an old man entered the room with a grumpy face.

"Old man Lane, what is it that you can't handle and have to invite me. I have been trying to refine an Earth grade pill and another batch of ingredients became a waste because of you"

Althea lightly chuckled inside the veil. As an alchemist herself, she knows very well how it feels to be disturbed when refining a pill.

"Master Doxon, it's something that will lift your spirit", said Manager Lane.

"Oh! what is it? If it doesn't lift my spirit as you say, then be prepared to face my wrath", said Master Doxon walking towards the table.

Picking up the bottle of the pill, he poured out and inspect it.

"This is.... the golden patterned energy revitalizing pill and it's a top-quality", Master Doxon was trembling as he hold the pill in his hand.

" Didn't I told you that it will lift your spirit", said Manager Lane with a smile.

"Old man Lane, where did you get this pill?"

"This pill belongs to the young lady over here, she wanted to auction off these pills"

Master Doxon immediately turn towards Althea and asked, "Young lady, I wonder who refined this pill"

Althea already had the answer prepared in advance, she looked at Master Doxon and said, "It was refined by my master, he is an independent alchemist"

Master Doxon nodded his head and said, "So, he is not from any of the five powers, I see"

"Old man Lane, this pill is authentic and it's a top-quality", said master Doxon.

"Manager Lane, since the pill has been personally inspected by the alchemist, we should discuss price", said Althea

"There are twenty-four pills here and one golden patterned pill costs around two thousand Rizas. This is just a base price, the price will increase if we auction. The Rainbow Auction hall will take ten percent from the earnings", explained Manager Lane

" Deal, then when are you planning to auction it!" asked Althea

"Ten days from now, first we need to announce the appearance of the Golden patterned Energy Revitalizing pill to attract more customers", said manager Lane

Ten days is too long for Althea, she needed to collect ingredients to refine an Earth grade pill as soon as possible to speed up the healing process of her spirit seed. Noticing that Althea had remained silent for long, Manager Lane said, " Young Lady, if you need money, we can pay half of the money in advance "

"Are you sure", asked Althea.

" Of course young lady", saying that Manager lane took out Fifty thousand Rizas and handed it to Althea along with a Rainbow token.

"Here is the advance payment and our auction hall's VIP token"

Taking the money and Token, Althea headed straight towards the Rainbow herb hall.

Taking off her veil, Althea walked inside the herb hall. As she was about to walk towards the counter, she heard a familiar voice.

"Miss Luvan, I heard that you woke up from a coma two days ago"