57 - Learning Basics of Alchemy

Victor looked down at his newly acquired licence which had his class, name and adventure rank.

On the other side was the city's symbol of a dragon breathing fire.

You adventure rank affects what level of quests you can take, as your rank increases so too does your benefits.

Both Victor and Michael starting rank is F, which gives them both access to F rank quests and some other things that are not really noticeable

But these benefits were nothing in front of now being allowed to enter one of the Labyrinths in the city.

As for going outside the city, well... If they both couldn't even deal with the weak monsters around Spring City then they have not chance here.

So the only place the both of them can fight monsters with out being instantly killed is within this Labyrinth.

"Ok so now we've gotten this out of the way, let's get moving." Victor said looking around the street.

"How about this while you're doing your stuff, I explore the city." Michael offered not wanting to be potentially being roped into studying as well.

Victor knew exactly what he was thinking and although he felt helpless he still gave him a small pouch money.

"Don't waste it, after all we bearly have enough to survive for the next week." As soon as he got the money he was gone, leaving Victor there by himself.

"Why do I have the feeling we'll be broke soon...?" Victor's voice was low as he felt a sudden sense of foreboding.

"Sigh, it doesn't matter." Victor shook his head before checking how much he had left.

Before leaving Violet full of complete reluctance gave Victor some money with a pained face, like she was giving away her own child.

Even then it wasn't much but it still was far more then what he has managed to save over the years.

But now wasn't the time to focus on this as Victor had over things to worry about.

To first to get started on learning Alchemy he had to get knowledge on the basics first, then get the starting equipment and ingredients.

Fortunately for him, he could now have access to this information, and with the advice Violet gave him.

Victor knew exactly where to go for all these things in this city.

"First is to decide which type of alchemist I want to be, then I'll get the required equipment and ingredients." Victor came to this decision.

Entering a certain district close by you could immediately feel the difference as not only was everything was luxurious but there was also a smell of medicine in the air.

The street was full of people even at this time, walking along the street Victor passed all sorts of stores but they all had one thing in common.

Every single one had something to do with Alchemy, weather that be equipment, ingredients, Pills or Potions.

If you had enough money you could almost get anything from this district, which was correctly named Jade Medicine District.

Coming to a stop in front of a Large Alchemy store owned by an Alchemy Guild, which could easily be seen from outside as their guild's symbol was proudly displayed.

Entering Victor could immediately smell an even stronger medical aroma but it wasn't unpleasant instead it was refreshing and had slight medicinal affect.

The whole inside of the building was decorated in the guilds colours of teal and white.

There's was large view cases through out the open design store, on the right side of the store Potions in expensive glass bottles were on display.

On the other side in the viewing cases were Pills contained within little porcelain bottles.

Next to each of the pills or potions were little signs that had their name, price and effects.

Victor couldn't help but walk along the cases and look at each of the different medicines with a small light of interest in his eye.

There were hundreds of different potions with all sorts of effects from increasing your strength, resistance, poison, healing, recovery and etc.

Victor had already thought about learning to craft potions instead of Pills, as potion brewing is much easier to learn in the beginning according to Violet.

But he still wanted to try both out, as he wanted to make his own decision, plus he didn't know which one he needed to learn for his Girmoire.

"Hello Sir, is there anything I can help you with." A male employee seeing Victor looking around came up to him with a professional smile.

"Yes, I've been told that you sell Alchemy beginner packs for learning Alchemy." Victor replied with his usual cold air, causing the employee to pause slightly before coming back to himself.

"Why yes, right this way please." The employee led vector over to a desk before he took out two large boxes and placed them on the desk in front of Victor.

"In each of these boxes are all the required equipment to learn Alchemy, this one here is for learning Pill refinement and the other is for Potion brewing.

Which one would you like to buy Sir?" He asked trying his best to keep his professional smile while being stared at by Victor.

"Good, I would like both." Victor nodded slightly as he looked at both boxes.

"B-both? Umm yes I'll prepare it for you Sir." At first he was confused but quickly came to himself and got back to work.

"That'll be 15,000 Gold please." After hearing the price Victor felt a tiny pang in his heart at this prince.

"15,000?" Victor couldn't help but double check as he pulled out his wallet.

"Yes Sir 15,000 Gold, 5,000 Gold for the Potion Brewing and 10,000 Gold for Pill refinement." With a happy smile the employee said without any fault.

"Umm... Ok I'll take both." Paying Victor left with the two heavy boxes in his ring but felt a huge sense of weightlessness in his pockets.

Arriving back at their hotel room Victor placed both boxes on the ground before opening them.

They both weren't really impressive as the equipment wasn't even that good, as it was just the bare miniman to get started.

Victor then opened his phone and opened up a book Violet had sent him called From Useless to Able, A Alchemist Journey by John Marsh.

Victor started to read it ignoring the books title, "Alchemy is of a Noble Profession, only for those who strive for the top. You are reading this book either because you've just received an Alchemist class or you wish to pursue Alchemy."

"Now before you start your journey you must decide which path of Alchemy you wish to pursue, so first I will explain the positives and negatives of each of the four different paths of Alchemy..... Four? I thought there was only three..." Victor paused at this point, frowning in confusion as re-read it to make sure he read it correctly.

"Fist is Potion Brewing, this branch of Alchemy is all about the creation of potions, potions have a stronger medical effect the Pills. Likewise it is easier to get started on this path as potion brewing is more about timing and calculations then mana control.

But it isn't without it's negatives, as not only does it take a larger and larger amount of time to brew but potions are also less popular than Pills as they take up more space to store." Victor agreed with this point as think about it, would you rather was three times the space for five potions or use bearly any space for 20 pills.

Not to mention it's easier to eat a pill than drink a potion when your in combat, so pills are far more popular with normal adventures.

But likewise Potions have more potential than Pills, as you can create Potions that increase you resistances to certain elements.

"The second branch is of course Pill refinement, which places a heavy requirement upon your mana and mana control, this allows you to refine Pills far quicker as long as you have the ability.

The tried path is the combination of both, this path is either for those who are incredibly talented and hardworking, or much like myself stubborn. To take this path you will not only need a proper technique but you'll also have to learn all the knowledge about ingredients from both." Victor didn't think that the books author would be one of the incredibly rare Alchemy Master.

Alchemy Master is a special title given to alchemist who who possesses the ability to create both pills and Potions on the same level.

This peaked his interest in the last path that he didn't know about before so he continued reading.

"The last path, the path of legends Alchemical Crafter, there hasn't been anyone on this path for so long it is considered a legend... Alchemical Crafter?" Victor said once more as he went through his memory trying to found any memory of this term.

Finding nothing and now with his interest peaked Victor continued.

"We only know for sure that this class exists because certain blueprints require an Alchemical Crafter to make them. Not much is known about it but it is said that they could craft anything through Alchemy including life.

It is said anything can be made even eternal life and weapons of mass destruction. No one knows how to take this path, it is the wish of countless people even myself to take this path of legends..." Victor found as he lead back into the couch in thought.

"Sigh, Ok let's not think about this, after all it won't make any difference." Victor stopped thinking about this nearly learned info.