' "King of Potions", who is that supposed to be? Those visions that I have witnessed, they won't let me rest. Unknown amount of people have been killed before my eyes, what kind of life did that person have to see this?' I was thinking, after waking up from my sleep, I didn't yet want to open my eyes, but thoughts would not let me continue sleeping either 'I might not be as much of a bookworm as Nobu, but I have never heard nor of such title, nor a mass genocide before. And, on top of that, the visions I had, implied that my reincarnation is an alchemist, and alchemy is forbidden by law for being creation of beings from the void (obviously bad for me), which is why there was never alchemists great enough to reborn.'
'I need to get some answers'
I finally buckled up enough to make my eyes open, what I first see is my hair. And there would normally nothing wrong in seeing my own hair, but the problem was that... They became light green
With everything that happened right before I lost contentiousness, I didn't yet have enough feelings to be surprised, but I was indeed confused for a while
Second thing I noticed is that there are plants on my hands. Small vines were weaved around them, with small delicate, almost identical, blue and red flowers growing on them, then I noticed another abnormality.
As I was staring at vines with a bit more confusion, I started seeing a glow around the flowers. Blue and red tulips had dim aura's of respective colors surrounding them. As I was trying to figure out what that meant and concentrated on the auras. Magically seeing them seemed to translate a knowledge of some sort to me. In the blue aura's I was seeing aspect of "Magic", while in the red I was observing "Body"
Thankfully, my thoughts got distracted by a sudden knock on the door, and I just simply decided to leave this mystery for later, getting those plants off my hands and putting them on desk near my bed
"Hideki, are you awake?" spoke Nobutoshi's familiar voice of through the door
"Y-yes, please come in.." I replied, company of my best friend would not be bad for me right now
Nobu quickly got inside and closed the door, while holding cup full of some hot liquid
"How did you know I woke up?"
"I didn't, I was just checking up on you every now and then. Here, have some tea, I originally made it for myself, but you might need it more" Said Nobu and put cup on the desk near me
"Thanks, could you tell me for how long was I asleep?" I asked while seeing through the window that sun still seems to be at early noon, somehow
"Something like 21 hours straight"
"What?! How did I manage?"
"I would like to know myself, honestly"
"And, while I'm at asking questions " here I started curling my hair with a finger "Was it your idea to paint my hair and weave glowing flowers around my hands?"
"No, but, I must admit, It would actually make for a funny joke. That happened during your Ignition, you probably didn't notice while still being in your mind, back then" He made a thoughtful expression before continuing "And, I don't recall those plants glowing"
"Huh? Well look at them gain, they glow pretty clearly to me" Then I pointed my finger on the flowers that were on the desk
Nobutoshi gave them a quick glance
"...I think you are hallucinating. I'll go, you better rest a bit more... " He surprises me with his words and walks to the door
"I'm not gonna notify everyone that you woke up, so they don't bother you... And... congrats on becoming Reincarnate..." he gave me a smile while lowering his chin to the ground
Knowing the odds, it is safe to say that he didn't became one himself. I know him well, he didn't envy me or anything of that fashion, but becoming reincarnate was actually his dream and not mine. That was obviously making him sad inside, but next line made me feel same emotions
"Madam Eve have already sent letter to Efeus Academy, their men will come for you on day after tomorrow..." Then walked through the door and left me alone
Efeus Royal Academy, it is the best institution in the Aencrown Kingdom. It is located in capital, Eryben, in the lower floors of Royal Castle. It is mostly school for high nobles, but by the king's edict all of the reincarnates are mandatorly taken there for learning, to not waste their potential
Nobu's line meant that next days will be last time we'll see each other in next few years. My mind felt like I was in a tornado, everything is happening so fast and out of my control
Meanwhile I was diving into existential thoughts, my hand on it's own grabbed the cup full of tea and I took a sip. We both had similar tastes, this was a green tea using leafs from the garden, they are still floating on the bottom of the cup
My eyes crossed the room as I was looking at the place where I was living for all of my life, then stopping at the glowing plants once again, as I get a sudden epiphany!
Few times my head goes from looking at the tea to looking at the flowers and back at the tea, as I remember the words, "King of Potions". Aura's around the plants could be an ability granted by my reincarnation, it would explain why Nobutoshi didn't see them. And the aspects that aura's are describing to me, could have to do with potion brewing!
Immediately, I stand up in excitement that makes me forget previous sadness (exactly what I need right now). Even though it will bring me problems, I need to test my theory. Questions about visions that I had before are coming back and trying alchemy feels to me like the straightest ways towards answers right now (Plus, don't tell me that you would not be curious)
Slowly, I peeked trough the door and after seeing no one roaming the halls I exited my room and took path towards the kitchen. Thankfully, it was really quite right now and I didn't stumble upon anyone
On the kitchen I took a glass filled with water then went back to my room, and close the door
'Okey, let's try..' I took one of the blue flowers and dropped it in the water. I waited for few seconds, then a bit more, and then more, but nothing
'...Maybe I did something wrong? Let's think... I'm trying to make a magic potion. What would I need for that...? Magic.... Potion.... Maaaagic... Pooootion... Maaagi- ...? Is magic what I need?'
I get back on my legs after laying on the bed and touching bottle with my index finger
'Nobu told me enough about magic before, All I need right now is concentrate..' I closed my eyes and concentrated on tip of my index finger. Nothing happened at first, but as I continued I felt magic going through my arm to the finger tip and then ZAP!
My eyes open to see a green lightning going through the water and then stopping after mear moments. The flowers got burned a bit from it and the water turned slight blue, while I feel fatigue from just doing that
For seconds I just stare at the glass, surprised that it actually work
'I guess, I need to try it...' I take the glass in my hand and just hold it, feeling a slight disgust, but after overcoming it I actually take a sip
It tastes like a herbal tea, with a bit of mint added. As "Potion" is flowing in my mouth, I feel my fatigue lifting off. I decide to not drink everything, but it is still obvious that, if I were to, it would not lift all of the fatigue
After that my mind got hit by short flashes of visions that I have seen before, once again ending with dark figure and massacre. I guess, I am on the right track
Then a sudden knock strikes the door, throwing me in fear, but gladly it is the same person
"Hey, I hope you are better now, I thought we could talk about the-..... Hideki, could you give me some exposition on that what you were doing?" Nobutoshi asks as he enters the room
Well, if there is a person who I can tell everything, it is him