First Alchemy Lesson

 Currently, today is Saturday, meaning it is a day off for all of them. Ian decided to take the time to have one on one lesson with Euralle.

 Unsurprisingly, Fiona decided to follow him, which he allowed. After all, what better way to let her knew he was not cheating on her by having her observe the lesson itself.

 "Good morning, Euralle," Ian greeted the pink-haired girl, the woman answering back his greeting. 

 "So, are you here for your lesson?" she asked.

 "Yes, I am here to learn alchemy," he answered.

 "And her?" she pointed at Fiona.

 "She's here to watch us but she will join our class," he told Euralle, who nodded.

 "Understood, so, let me ask you one thing first, what do you know about alchemy? Any answer suffice," Euralle asked.

 "The only thing I knew is that alchemy is about using different materials and mana to transform an object to a different form," Ian answered. He had spent his free time, usually before he go to sleep to learn about alchemy.

 "Good enough for a beginner, but it is more complex than that. Alchemy is about transforming the essence and properties of the material, getting only what you want such as their essence or aura, and using it in conjunction with your mana to transmute it into another form. This is merely the rough definition.

 To be a good alchemist, good mana control is a must. In fact, you should be able to control your mana even at the smallest degree, as well as able to restrain it, making sure it will not effect the alchemical process," she started her lecture before taking out several ingredients they harvest yesterday.

 "For the more complex materials, you will need to use your mana to split some things like its essence or other substance. However, such thing is only for the really high-grade item. Though it is possible to use your mana to help create some of the lower-grade item, but it is ill-advised to do so, as it will cost you valuable mana which is better utilize in the creation of higher-grade item," she explained.

 "Most lower-grade item's ingredients can be obtain physically, though some also need to undergo other methods to extract certain substance from them. For example, this Light Grass merely needs to be crushed to extract it's special juice. Though it need to be sieve and filtered to make sure the tiny bits of grass to not taint the juice.

 Then, for other materials like Clifa Flower, the only way to extract their essence to put them inside a high temperature object, which will make it release it's essence. It cannot be crushed as the essence will then be mixed with certain substance, making it no longer pure.

 If that happened, the best cast scenario is that the potion's efficiency will not be as effective, the worst case scenario would be fatal," she warned him before grabbing the Clifa Flower and throwing it into the heated cauldron, watching as the essence slowly extracted by the heat.

 As the essence was released from the flower, the smaller woman try to tilt the cauldron, clearly using more efforts to do so. 

 Ian decide to be helpful and pushed the cauldron as well, allowing the essence to a large container. 

 "Also, essence can be stored for quite sometime, making it last longer than the flower itself, but it need a specially made container or it will lose its effect over time," she told him as she finished pouring the essence into the container.

 "This merely the preparation for the ingredients itself, not the actual alchemy. To properly learn of alchemy, you need to know how each ingredients react to the other. After all, some of the ingredients special catalyze to allow it combine, or need other ingredients to cancel out certain effect.

Only by knowing this effect will you will be able to perform alchemy better and not mess up," she exclaimed before grabbing the essence and pouring it inside the cauldron, before putting the extract of Light Grass and poured it inside.

 "For example, the energy inside Light Grass Extract will work perfectly well with the Clifa Flower Essence," she said, as the white liquid and red liquid merged with one another, before forming a slightly pinkish liquid.

 "This can be considered a weak Healing Potion. Look at this," Euralle grabbed a knife and cut herself, before drinking the potions, the injury began healing up, but slower compared to other Healing Potion in the market.

 "Of course, there is some other auxiliary materials for the Healing Potion but I just use the these two to be an example. Now, lets get to brewing potions,"

-x-

 As it turns out, alchemy is not as easy as Euralle make it look. He need to make sure the cauldron reached the perfect temperature, as too hot or too cold will effect the materials. He also need to make sure the equipment is fine and cleaned before using it on another potions or materials, as there could be some residue remaining, reducing the purities.

 And so, he make a lot of mistake, which earned the ire of the pinkatte.

 "Don't I tell you to clean this?! Now you ruin the extract!"

 "This is not the perfect flame! This is too much that it will burn the ingredients!"

 "You call this good! I call this trash! Go make another one!"

 "Do you know what this smells like? It smell like a ruin potion! Brew another one!"

 Ian was assaulted with countless yelling and curses as he learned his way around alchemy, trying his best to appease the smaller woman, whom seem exude a terrifying aura whenever he did something wrong.

 As for Fiona, she sat at the corner, laughing silently at his misery.

 Well, at least someone have fun.

-x-

 "I don't know she can be a slave driver," he moaned in misery, learning alchemy taking a lot out of him.

 "Now you knew how we felt when you and Kell teach us," Fiona exclaimed, seemingly happy of his suffering.

 "Is that so?" his eyes narrowed dangerously at the girl, making her feel like she just make a dangerous mistake. "I think we should get you some more training, maybe it will do you some good,"

 Fiona proceed to try and fail to make him change his mind. After all, he is feeling petty for the time being.

-x-

 "Boss, the girl seem to be having customers lately,"

 "It's that so, we can't let that happen. Try to find out about them, and make sure to threaten them. If it is not possible, dispose them,"

 "At once, boss,"

 "Hhmm, I will get that treasure Eusa, mark my word,"