Twilight

Arjuna gently placed another piece of firewood into the crackling campfire. He quietly stared into the bright orange flames as they rose up and started to consume the piece of wood.

It was late afternoon, the sun was beginning to set behind the mountains in the distance, and hints of red could be seen on the horizon.

Arjuna leaned back against the log he was using as a bench and closed his eyes enjoying the rustling of the leaves.

The sound of the guards' chatter could be heard in the background as they ate their food.

"Arjuna!" A female voice called out.

Alanis walked over to him, she had her hood on since they were close to the guards, but Arjuna could smell the stench of sweat on her body. She was holding her bow and quiver in her hands as she walked over-breathing a bit heavily.

"We are heading out now, they want to reach the city of twilight before the gates close at sunset"

Arjuna nodded and walked over to the carriage while Alanis relayed the information to the guards.

He gave the door to the carriage a small knock. A gentle voice responded

"Please come in"

Arjuna slowly opened the door to see Kei the noble girl that he was now protecting sitting in the carriage. She smiled at the sight of Arjuna and lowered her head in greeting

"welcome mister Arjuna will you be riding with us?"

Arjuna smiled and responded

"yes, Alanis will be the one keeping watch with the guards today"

Kei nodded and Hisoka the butler standing attentively behind her gave Arjuna a quick bow

"thank you, kind sir, for teaching Kei fighting techniques"

Arjuna laughed and shook his head

"no, it was mostly Alanis, I only taught her the beginner techniques"

Kei jumped up, her cheeks red

"no! that's not true, you were a great teacher!"

Kei realized that she was almost shouting and sat back down again, lowering her head she shyly and softly finished her statement

".... and I w-would love if you were to teach m-me again"

Arjuna shook his head

"Im more suited for long range combat and production. Alanis has spent years perfecting her skill. She will teach you well."

Kei opened her mouth. But Hisoka's hand made her stop and close it.

Hisoka raised his hand from Kei's shoulder.

"miss" he said gently

"remember that sir Arjuna is our savior, we should treat him as such"

Kei again raised her voice to argue, but Hisoka cut her off again by addressing Arjuna

"But I'm sure sir Arjuna would be fine with teaching our young lady a few tricks right?"

Arjuna laughed while pulling out a transmutation tablet and a few vials of liquid

"perhaps a few," he said lifting one of the vials and inspecting it carefully.

Kei out of curiosity sat closer to Arjuna and looked at the strange black green and white tablet on his lap.

"mister" she asked while pointing to the tablet "what is that?"

"it's an alchemy tool called a transmutation tablet" Arjuna responded while crushing up a few leaves of goldenseal letting the golden liquid seep into an outstretched vial.

"alchemists use these to create potions, "

Hisoka asked in surprise

"Sir Arjuna is an alchemist?"

The aroma of the golden seal was refreshing and sweet, and it swept through the carriage. Arjuna threw in some butterfly wings, wheat, and delicately added in some blue mountain flowers he found a few days ago.

With a smile, he placed it on the transmutation table and slowly injected mana into it. The vial of ingredients glowed light blue in return. Arjuna looked up to Hisoka and smiled

"it's just a little hobby"

[you have completed a variation of the health potion]

[health potion]

[rank: excellent]

[effects: (+200 hp), (10% health recovery for 3 min)]

[the skill (Dawn alchemy) has leveled up to (intermediate level 3)]

[your ability to produce potions has increased]

[you have completed your 1000th excellent ranked potion]

[awarding title(perfectionist)]

[perfectionist]

[description: a person who takes their time with creating something, sometimes perhaps even to a fault.]

[effects: 20% chance for potion rank to increase]

Arjuna let out a hmm at the new title. The excellent rank was only the 4th highest one out of potion ranks.

The highest-ranked potion, he had ever made being perfect rank. The ranks were from beginner, intermediate, advanced then excellent, and perfect. Arjuna had no knowledge of what quality ranks the potions were after that. He had never seen one before.

But Arjuna was sure that someday he might reach that level. He even had an epic ranked potion recipe in his inventory the (breath of darkness). Since it was an epic-ranked potion, the quality rank of the potions would be much more difficult to achieve which was what made the final trial of the dawn alchemist's so hard.

Arjuna carefully placed the potion away in his inventory. He was almost done with the amount his brother had requested. He could only hope that his potions could help support him and his master.

"whoaaa"

Arjuna looked up to see both Kei and Hisoka looking at him with awe. Kei accidentally let her mouth speak what she was thinking and she quickly covered her mouth.

"I'm so sorry," she stammered "that was just... so stunning"

Arjuna cocked his head slightly

"stunning?"

Hisoka nodded his head

"yes, sir Arjuna, it looked like you were a master at alchemy, every single one of your movements seemed to be filled with intention and strength, and at the end when you put your hands on that tablet. It looked like your hands gave off the glow of gentle morning light"

Arjuna let out a laugh. Really? him making potions was stunning?

"well maybe its because I'm a dawn alchemist."

he said casually

Both Kei and Hisoka looked at Arjuna like he had just said something impossible. Kei lifted her shaking hand

"y-your one of the famed dawn alchemists? the ones whose potions have single-handedly catapulted the entire empire into the potion capital?"

Arjuna sat, just as surprised as the two of them.

He knew that dawn alchemists were famous. But they made the nightshade empire into a potion capital? Really?

Hisoka looked at the other vials of ingredients in Arjuna's hand.

"Sir, w-would you be willing to sell some potions to us? I'm sure we would be able to speed up our plans if we were able to sell something as extraordinary as that"

Arjuna raised his eyebrows. He knew what this meant. His brother had prepared him a bit for cases such as these

"you realize how expensive a dawn alchemist's potions are right?"

In truth, Arjuna had no idea that the potions he made were really a rank higher than any regular alchemist's potions. A regular alchemist usually struggled to get a potion to intermediate or above. And even then there was a hefty chance of failing altogether if they didn't handle the ingredients right.

Arjuna was extremely lucky to have found a very capable instructor since most players had to simply use trial and error to find out how things worked.

Still, the fact that his potions were actually more valuable than he thought was good news to Arjuna and definitely to Perseus.

Hisoka lowered his head again.

"Please sir Arjuna, I know we do not have a lot right now, but I am willing to offer you a large percent of the company I am planning to build. I promise you that any sales you make on your potions you will gain the majority profit. Just please, help us."

[new mission]

[Help Hisoka]

[rank:A]

[description: Hisoka has discovered the great talent and skill of the player. He asks for help in his desperate situation. In exchange for potions, he offers shares of the company (golden thumb) that he will be making and will equally share the profit with you, in exchange you must help him raise (golden thumb) up]

[rewards: determined on the rank of completion]

Arjuna looked at the quest description. Honestly, he was totally fine with accepting it. Hisoka had proved to a trustworthy man in the few days that they had traveled. He had a few secrets, but then again who didn't. The only problem was that he was going to be tied to this (golden thumb) company that Hisoka was making.

Arjuna quickly asked Boops who was conveniently in his headspace to communicate with Perseus and Jason.

Perseus approved but was worried that Arjuna might not like being tied down to a singular place. Jason also approved saying it was always good to have more influence and sources of income.

So with a sigh, Arjuna accepted. He stretched out his hand.

"Alright, I accept

[you have accepted the mission]

Hisoka let out an overjoyed smile. They now had a Dawn alchemist on their side. They now had a real chance to take back the land. Many many people would be interested in a dawn alchemist. Soon strong and powerful people would gather around Arjuna, perhaps Hisoka was just riding on his coattails.

Whatever the case was. Hisoka was overjoyed and ready to arrive at the city of twilight.