Atlas woke up with a circular and slightly gooey substances in his mouth.
Unawarely, he bit into it.
A fresh gush of liquid and a drop of acute tasting sting meandered through his lung, clearing his drowsy vision and mind.
"Pills? Did they take some from my pocket?" Atlas reached for his pocket, realizing he has already used them all up in a previous battle to exterminate the poison in his veins.
Where else can pills be obtained though? Unless...
Atlas jumped out from his bed, lively as ever, storming downstairs towards the kitchen. "Nova! It's you right?! You're a god damn genius!"
He reached the first floor, witnessing Nova stirring a pot of blackish liquid inside the cauldron with his parazonium.
"What the hell!" Atlas spat out air, removing the acute aftertaste. "So unhygienic! Your cooking pills with the weapon you use to kill people! No wonder it tastes so frickin weird.
"Pff. Okay drama queen! What's so bad about a little weird taste? At least I washed it in advance."
Atlas slapped his forehead. "A spatula in the kitchen counter would have worked as a great substitute."
"I was going to get to that. See that silver puddle," Atlas followed Nova's finger, where a pile of silvery unknown substance could be seen, still steaming from the cooling reaction with air. "Normal kitchen utilities don't even stand a chance against the heat. They melt like ice cream on a hot summer."
Atlas approached the cauldron, sighing with helplessness. "Can't help it then."
Perspire drenched Nova's forehead, which Petal, who appears to have dropped by early, is wiping off with a handkerchief. She's holding the instructions that he previously showed to Nova, Hugh and Blade, before he lost consciousness.
{Leave those two potential lovebirds to do their lovie dubie shenanigans. You should examine how to cauldron works. It may help you if your interested in becoming an Alchemist.} Nam advised Atlas.
[Sure. When and where did he learn the phrase Alchemist though?] Atlas crouched to reach the cauldron at eye level, unknowingly conveying his thoughts to Nam.
Atlas examined the cauldron from bottom to top. It was craved with Dragon patterns running up the surface shell of the cauldron. It's held by four stands, each shaped like the landing gear of a helicopter. A bit higher above, is four crest gaps diagonally positioned to the stands.
Inside it, is a vibrant flame flickering, radiating heat which conducts through the metal structure above it, where the tar-like, thick liquid billowed and writhed within the container that is spacious enough to fit a basketball wholly.
Atlas saw Blade practicing some moves in the living room, slicing a block of wood on the desk yet not breaking it.
He then heard vigorous bubbling and when he turned around, he saw clean and bright Aura fusing into the parazonium and into the black liquid, giving an astoundingly lively energy.
The flames displayed elation, raging with scorching heat as warm colors streamed upwards along the dragon patterns.
The height of the black liquid receded lower, compacting till the bottom can be seen, revealing several concave dents that looks like they can perfectly insert half a quail egg into.
Most percentage of liquid remained, leaving some portions of invisible, pungent gas to exit the open cylinder of the cauldron through evaporation.
Finally, with enough compaction, and reduction through evaporation, the remaining liquid settled into an agreement to mold into what every Alchemy pill looks like — a tiny circular ball.
Other than the holes that the now 3 available pills rest, there are 22 more holes, nearly empty with morsels of pale liquid, as if all the nutrients inside has been sucked dry. The number sums up to 25, arranged in a spiral clock motion.
"So that's the art of Alchemy? Cool."
"Yeah. Looks cool, but actually god damn exhausting." Nova slumped onto the chair, wiping the last gland of sweat on his temple. "Controlling the fire requires Spiritual Energy. A lot of Spiritual Energy. To kickstart the fire or to cook the items placed in the pot, you need a gift closely related to fire, the key element of the first step to Alchemy. My light Aura fits the criteria."
Atlas stared at his palms. "What about electricity?"
"A little too explosive and electrifying. But still worth a try." Nova encouraged, motioning Atlas to the cauldron.
Atlas grabbed a handful of herbs and carrot like medicine on the kitchen counter, throwing them into the cauldron.
"Easy peasy lemon squeezy." Atlas fired up crackling Aura within his hands, allowing his Aura to seep into the cauldron to relight the flame that has just died down. "Witness a phenomenon!"
Bam! A mini explosion occurred as black smoke billowed out the gaps of the cauldron.
Painted in utter black ash, Atlas huffed out black misery.
As a matter of solid fact, Alchemy isn't easy. Not one bit.
"Mama Mia! I did it!" After three hours of brain cramps and mini explosions that constantly set off the fire alarm, Atlas finally created his first Tier 1 Aura Restoration Pill with the instructions and guides his mentor had given.
A single pill sat quietly in the center of the 25 holes, which in Atlas's eyes, is so beautiful.
Taking the motive to wash his face and Nova's weapon disguised cooking utensil after a celebratory success, Atlas turned to Nova, noticing Blade blowing lightly at the block of wood in the corner of his eye, only for it to transform into flying paper thin sheets.
"Finally succeeded. That was a hell of a battle. How long did it take for you?" Atlas asked Nova.
Nova received the parazonium that Atlas used to practice Alchemy, cleaning it even more thoroughly with a tissue paper. Sadly, the smell of herbs clearly won't go off sooner or later. On the bright side, at least the smell is pretty refreshing.
Nova held up two fingers.
"2 hours! So quick? A whole hour faster than me!"
Nova shook his head. "No. Two tries."
Atlas staggered backwards in disbelief, pressing his chest to fake a heart attack. "That's nuts! Two attempts! My mentor once mentioned that if I can become an Alchemist in one day, I can be considered a genius! You overdid me by that much! Crazy!"
Nova combed his half golden and half ink black hair. "Speed doesn't prove anything. All we need to know is that we have two Alchemist on our side. You and I. Imagine stuffing mouthful of Tier1 Pills in battle, our Aura can never be more replenished."
"You're right. We now have an advantage. Two Alchemist." Atlas grinned with mischief. "I'll cook up more Aura Restoration polls as practice while you can take the shift when I'm exhausted."
Atlas rolled up his sleeve, determination flashing in his eyes.
But before he got ready to continue honing his Alchemy skills, he turned back to Nova, smiling awkwardly. "I might need your parazonium again. Can't really mix liquid with a chain."