The old man was dressed in tattered, earth-toned robes. His long, tangled beard reached his chest, and his eyes, sharp despite their age, gleamed with curiosity. Though he looked no better than a wandering beggar, Emery's sharp divine sense revealed the undeniable aura of power that surrounded him. This man was no ordinary observer.
"Young man, you must be new here," the old man said, his voice gravelly yet firm. "That is Master Zain, a rank 5 alchemist—just second to Master Baldoni himself. You'd do well not to speak nonsense."
Emery, unfazed by the old man's warning, allowed a faint smirk to tug at the corner of his lips. His sharp nose twitched slightly as he inhaled the lingering scent wafting from the cauldron on the distant alchemical platform.
"I can tell from the smell," Emery said, his voice steady and calm. "It's a high-grade Soul-Calming Pill... but unfortunately, it's going to fail.
