Chapter 37 - Compromise

While Riza was glaring at the old man, Reeve couldn't help but re-evaluate the old alchemist. He had heard from Riza that the old man was arrogant, but seeing him laugh like this, it almost seemed as if Riza had lied to him.

"His name is Reeve", Rizaneth finished the introduction.

"Oh, weird name. Where are you from … eh … what's with the outfit? And what happened to your face?" began the alchemist. He was surprised by the stitches on Reeve's face. Then again, who could blame him?

"I'm from the Southern E… I'm from a city called Bernice."

"Eh? Bernice? Why haven't I heard of it?" asked the old alchemist.

"Well … it's newly built you see. Some time ago, it was just a small tribe at the edge of nowhere", replied Reeve.

"Hmm. Is that so? Anyway, what brings you here?" asked Jaen, turning towards Riza.

Rizaneth ended up explaining everything that had happened earlier. She started with telling him about the Southern Earth tribe, and then she explained about how they were supposed to go to the capital. Of course, she blurred some things she couldn't tell him directly. There were some things like Reeve being an immortal zombie which she couldn't explain clearly because she didn't even know how that had happened. However, she did manage to include his interest in alchemy.

"It's chemistry! Totally different from alchemy!" Reeve voiced his disgruntlement.

"Oh, chemistry, is it? I've never heard of such a thing. Anyway, how can I help in this situation?" asked Jaen, stroking his beard.

"I would like to be your apprentice, to help you in making medicines … ahem … portions. I need to raise some money, so please give me a chance to prove my worth", said Reeve with a bow.

Jaen frowned when he heard this. He replied, "I'm sorry young man, but things don't work like that around here. You have to go to the …eh … what are you doing?"

Reeve had begun looking at the various portions inside the store. He couldn't bear to hear the old man's rejection, so he decided to forcefully make Jaen accept him as an apprentice. How? Oh, by evaluating the portions in the store. But then one might be thinking, how does high school chemistry help in identifying alchemical portions? The truth was … it didn't!

"I'm looking around. Is that not allowed for your customers?" said Reeve.

Well, seeing Reeve continuing to fool around, Jaen started getting angry. "That's about enough, young man! I have a lot of work to do! You saw the lady that just left here, right? She wants me to make her a portion that helps her sleep! Do you know how intricate the formula for such a complicated portion is? I really don't have time for this! Rizaneth, it has been nice to see you again, but I have to ask you and your acquaintance to leave!" The old man finally snapped.

However, Reeve widened his eyes when he heard the kind of portion the old man was developing. Wasn't this too much of a coincidence? He had flowers from the Valerian plant, and didn't Soren say they could work as sedatives? He began to thank the god of coincidences, as he thought that he had finally found a break.

"Wait! You said you want to make a portion that helps with sleep, correct? I can help you with that", Reeve came back from where he was.

"And how can you do that without a certificate in alchemy? Don't tell me you were taught by some wise old sage who lives in the mountains! I'm not a three-year-old!"

"Umm no! What you simply need to do is … oh right", Reeve face-palmed himself. If he disclosed how to make the sedative, wouldn't that be the same as giving away his upper hand?

Everyone was startled for a moment. They thought he was performing some sort of ritual that required hitting his face. Jaen seemed to come up with an answer as to why there were stitches on Reeve's face.

"Why don't we do this: I'll help you to make the sedative… ahem … sleeping portion. However, you can take all the credit, but I want you to take me as an apprentice!" declared Reeve.

Jaen seemed to be thinking. A few minutes passed by, and the sun was now setting. Golden rays reflected on the windows of the shops, causing a darkness to envelop the entire city. Inside the shop, Jaen lit up a lamp, and shadows of the shelves and the people inside could be seen.

There was a deathly silence inside the shop. Rizaneth didn't want to get involved in whatever was happening. All she had wanted was to learn the combat method that could beat her. Well, she wasn't actually invincible. And that was the problem. That was the reason she wanted to learn this combat method. What was the word he called it again? Anyways, seeing the two talking, she looked at the unfinished portions that were at the counter. She smiled brightly when she thought of something. The fact that no one was paying attention to her paid off.

"Fine! However, if you decide to leave this place, you have to swear an oath to protect anything you might have learnt!" Jaen said, continuing their conversation.

"That's okay with me", replied Reeve.

"Come back tomorrow morning, and I will give you the equipment to use. Now, you can leave", said Jaen, as he turned to go to the back.

Reeve was elated. It seemed as if the god of fortune was smiling upon him. Well, if he knew that it was the god of death that was smiling, he would have stopped the celebration that he was performing in his heart. As for Rizaneth, she walked towards the door, her steps being fast. They bid their farewells, but it looked as if Riza was escaping, since she was almost running.

"We need to hurry", she said, when they were out of the shop.

"Why? Is there something I should…?"

KABOOOOOM!

Reeve didn't get to finish asking that question. There was an explosion inside the shop, followed by sounds of glass breaking. Afterwards, a white smoke came out of the shop through the broken windows.