Charlie

"Master, why can't I go with you whenever you leave?" the ten-year-old looking boy in a white tunic and black trousers asked the old man wearing a black robe in front of him.

"Charlie, you have to stay here and make as much potion as you can," the old man responds playfully, "After all, master needs to sell them."

With a confused and naive look on his face, Charlie looked at the hundreds of potion vials that his master was storing by batch in his storage ring. The hundreds of potions are all the ones he had created for a week.

'Do I still need to make more when there's a lot already?'

Charlie has never been to the outside world. Ever since he can remember, he has been in this wide space with no one else but him and his farm animals. His master is the only other person he knows his entire life and he doesn't even stay in the space all the time. He visits every week and would bring him some goods - alchemical books, magical plants' seeds, and the likes. Sometimes, his master would also bring daily essentials or tools that can help him with his daily life.

However, no matter how many excellent, novel, or rare things his master brings him, it never curbed his curiosity on what the outside world looks like. He knows that there's a world beyond the space he is in because his master usually lets slip some information about it. More than that, he also read the books his master gifted him and he can surmise that the world outside can be really fun.

But no matter how much he pestered his master, he just won't give him the permission to go out. And even if he wanted to go out by himself, he had no way of breaking the seal that surrounds the space.

Understanding his thoughts, his old master reached out to him and patted his head.

"Charlie, ah, you should understand," his master said with a look of regret and pity in his eyes, "While the outside world has mana, it still cannot accommodate the massive mana you possess. If you go out, you'll be putting yourself and the people around you in danger. Master can't bear to see you hurt and it is also my responsibility to ensure that you don't hurt other people."

Charlie had heard that excuse many times. Before, he always felt wronged that he was the only one living in this space, with no one to talk to nor play with. Over time and with his master's patient persuasion, he gradually understood why.

Indeed, his massive mana is incongruent with the world outside. According to the books he read, there needs to be harmony between one's surrounding and one's inner mana. This principle is what allows people to safely practice magic, after all.

His mana reservoir, on the other hand, is far greater than the mana in the atmosphere. If he is unable to control his mana, he can cause a calamity. At first, he wasn't convinced that his mana could be that massive. Only when his master showed him a mana measuring stone did he fully accept the situation.

Of course, just because he understands doesn't mean that he was willing to stay in the space forever.

"Making the potions here in this space was the only solution we thought of for you," his master continued, "By making potions, your mana will deplete to a safe level, making it safe at least for you. Even if you're unable to control your mana, as long as you are practicing in this space, you don't have to worry about hurting anyone. Being an alchemist is the safest for you to live."

"But this is not living," Charlie murmured in a small voice.

His old master may not have heard his words as he continued to pack away the potions Charlie had created. Or maybe he had heard but just doesn't know how to respond.

Such a conversation happened multiple times after that. A hundred of weeks. A thousand. Before Charlie noticed, there came a time when his master didn't visit him on schedule.

"My lifespan is nearing its end, Charlie," his master told him one day as he sipped his tea.

Charlie's master didn't seem to be someone whose lifespan is nearing. Although he has long white hair and beard, he still had a youthful face and bright eyes that you can take a peek at if you look closely. He was currently sitting in front of the river near the house, sipping hot green tea.

Charlie was at the side fishing. Hearing his master's words, Charlie was startled. Before he knew it, he threw away his fishing pole and ran toward his master. He couldn't help but ask again.

"What did you say?"

His master sighed before putting down his tea. He gestured for his disciple to sit down on the chair next to him.

"I've already reached the maximum lifespan of an alchemist," his master gazed at him as if reminiscing the past.

"But I haven't grown yet!" the boy replied in disbelief. Hearing his master say that he reached the end of his lifespan caused him to panic. After all, everyone will eventually reach the end of their lifespan and there are no potions or spells that can prevent that. Reaching the end of one's lifespan only means that one's mana is about to run out.

Mana is connected to a person's vitality. His master had already lived a lifetime that is far beyond what normal alchemists can live. On the other hand, he, who was taken in by his master during the latter's half of a lifetime, only looked like he is thirteen years of age.

"Yes, indeed, you haven't grown yet," his master lightly laughed.

The two settled on a heavy silence. In a while, his master gave a melancholic sigh before facing him.

"Charlie, this master of yours will have to apologize in advance."