Alchemy is an old-age skill that has been existing for a very long time. It belongs to a thriving profession— the upper class— that monopolizes knowledge in wholesale.
It is only luck that Allenwood is an alchemist today, and maybe also due to destiny as his long lifespan continues to provide him.
Studying over the documents that Varen kindly pilfers from the Urden County's alchemist, Allenwood cannot help but feel too giddy. In fact, he already has concocted some prototype Life Potions. It is best if he can throw himself into research just this instance. There are still many to learn from the pilfered knowledge. It is rare for Allenwood to get in touch with this kind of knowledge.
All of Allenwood's concoctions are self-learned, and few come from trading with fellow stray alchemists. The Tower of Fire's alchemists composes of a bunch of selfish knowledge hoarders who have been an object of hate for him for a long time!
While he is very eager to just do his research and lose himself in the process, he just cannot leave his patients. The other elf warrioress is slowly recovering from the severe 'other' side effects of the Berserker Potion, however, his majesty remains static even to this day.
The first time his majesty is awake is at the closure of the elves' feast back in the Lorekeleim Forest. Allenwood is not even able to converse with the King at that time, as he quickly then falls asleep.
The last time his majesty is awake is recently just this past week. His majesty is awake for some time about an hour less, and then, as usual, he then falls asleep.
Now that his other patients are recovering, Allenwood can focus most of his attention on the Elf King.
"I am not even a physician…"
There is no use complaining, but Allenwood's depression is just getting worse lately. The difficulty of his majesty's sickness is too much. It is as good as a curse!
"Did someone put a curse on his majesty?"
Allenwood doubts it is a curse, but he is at a rope's end.
The mystic circle is getting smaller and smaller with each passing millennium. It has become a primitive practice which is one of the few reasons why it is becoming obsolete. Ritualism is as good as dark magic in the current age as life sacrifices are already very heinous acts. The polytheistic religion of the Ezelea Continent is especially cracking on the few 'mystics' that still exist around.
Allenwood has no choice but to simply persevere.
Maintaining a fluid workflow, he uses brute force via trial and error betting his chances and luck on the impossible task at hand. There must be a way! He convinces himself of this, but the longer he studies the state his majesty is in, the more he learns how impossible it is.
Still, Allenwood doesn't dare give up. While the elves bring him all sorts of herbs randomly from the Dark Forest, he masterfully uses his wealth of knowledge to think of a solution. The Dark Forest is rich with all sorts of resources. Just the herbs alone are enough for him to squander in mindless research for a new intermediate potion.
The fluctuating coma might not be a big deal at first glance, but for a ruler of a nation, this is a great inconvenience. At this rate, Arthram Fae Zorun cannot be a King anymore.
"I am sorry, your majesty, looks like I failed you…"
Truth hits hard when you least expect it. There is no cure.
It might not be so bad either. This is destiny. The King has an inheritor already, so why make a fuss? It is not like the King is really dead. To put it lightly, he just has an irregular sleeping schedule. Seriously though, he is as good as a vegetable. It saddens Allenwood, but there are things he just cannot do… He is not a miracle maker… He is just a lowly alchemist with little tricks.
The vicissitudes of life dull his face. He cannot even feel sad anymore, just 'pity' for this unfortunate development. "He would have been a great King…"
Varen is not around to witness his miserable state. The other patients are also long been discharged. Allenwood has the place all for himself. He lies on the cold wooden floor feeling helpless. Beside him is his majesty deep asleep.
"Is this what the Art of Alchemy amounts to?"
No, this is just how inferior Allenwood is… The Art of Alchemy is a profound discipline. It is able to achieve many impossible things. His 'Elixir' alone is a master potion capable of miracles, of extending an individual's lifespan.
"Maybe an Elixir can work…"
Allenwood ponders on the idea. The Elixir is not a 'medicine', but a 'supplement' like vitamins. Its nature is to cleanse the impurities of the flesh and rebuild the vessel thus expanding a creature's expiration. It is a miraculous alchemy product.
However, this cannot save his majesty.
"It would burst his blood vessels, and explode his innards. There are just too many impurities in his majesty's body. The Godly Berserker Potion after all is that kind of impure drug…"
Allenwood believes that only a legendary potion can cure his majesty. Not even a master potion can improve his majesty's situation.
"Allenwood, how are you?"
At the mention of his name, Allenwood looks to the door only to see the princess. Allenwood swiftly fixes himself and stands up, discarding his depressed outlook. "Your Highness, everything is going well…"
"Lies…" Kara easily pinpoints Allenwood's deception. "Here, we can now make the cure…"
"What? Excuse me?" Allenwood is not sure whether he is hearing it right or not.
With no time to waste, Kara reveals to Allenwood the good news. "Clairvoyant Naya saw to your future. You succeeded in creating a 'cure' for his majesty. These are the herbs you will use to concoct the cure."
Allenwood is speechless. He doesn't know what to say or feel. Euphoria? Victory? Hope?
"I… I succeeded? I succeeded in the future?" He emptily asks himself recalling the princess's words of how Naya peers into his future to steal the cure. It is a very novel method.
"Please receive it." Kara hands out the sheet of parchment.
Without further ado, Allenwood dives into research once more. He flips the parchment finding himself realization and enlightenment. There are even notes on how to process specific herbs. Though the notes are not perfectly complete, Allenwood can remedy the gap with his memory and analysis.
"If Clairvoyant Naya really wrote this, she is a better alchemist than I am!" He jubilantly cries as he reverently addresses Naya.
Kara just shakes her head as she leaves the old alchemist to his own. It is to her consternation, but she cannot stay. She has better things to do. With hopeful eyes, she waits for the day that the Elf King wakes up.
Under the peace and quiet, Allenwood submerges himself in the process. "So a purple hyacinth boiled in treated slime…" "Dried goblin ears… huh? I have to request them to get some for me…" "Goblin grass is easy to get, but its treatment method is difficult…" "Hmmm… This looks like an alternate formula of the Life Potion… This is a good counteragent…" "Oho… This is like a discounted Elixir. It doesn't increase lifespan though…"
The research's progress is smooth sailing. There is not even a single bottleneck for Allenwood. It will be his victory. Eventually— he succeeds in the task at hand...
"I… I have done it!" He excitedly exclaims.
Just before winter begins, Allenwood announces his success.
The important personnel of their little elven community gathers at Allenwood's Tree House. Kara, Trudviar, Yirlung, Varen, and even the curious Lafira. Unfortunately, the other elves cannot come to witness the resurrection as it will be too crowded.
"It is unfortunate, but Clairvoyant Naya won't be able to come. She wishes to remain in her abode to rest…" Kara glumly comments, but she quickly changes her attitude as with a spirited smile, she addresses Allenwood. "So, will his majesty wake up now?"
Kara's childlike eagerness is a refreshing sight. However, contrary to Kara's expression, Allenwood shakes his head denying Kara's question.
This immediately changes the atmosphere to that of dread.
"What do you mean? Alchemist?" Trudviar addresses Allenwood with hostility.
"Please calm down and let me explain."
Allenwood walks beside the sleeping Elf King. In Allenwood's left hand is a round pill, and on the other is a bottle of potion with pristine white liquid. Using his somber neutral tone not showing a single emotion, Allenwood then gives his explanation.
"His Majesty is not sick. I have been thinking of it the wrong way. I almost concluded that it must be a curse, but it isn't. I am a fool! It is just that his majesty's physique is special. He has too much vitality. He is not sick, he is in fact recovering. It is just that the harm to his body is too much the recovery process is rather this exaggerated. The sleep itself is not harmful."
He explains in one breath, trying his best to be as concise as possible, however, this only contributes to more confusion for those who are listening. Allenwood continues his explanation. Raising the bottle of potion from his one hand, he addresses the 'cure' in question.
"This is the cure… Well, we now know that his majesty is not really dying of sickness and is just sleeping, but the problem still remains. We don't know how long he will be sleeping for the recovery of his body to take full completion. In my estimate, it might go as long as a hundred years minimum. He would wake up on a few occasions but the nature of it being random is just as bad as the long wait of his sleep. The potion in my hand is an augmented sleeping potion on the level of a master potion. The inspiration comes from my Elixir formula and the Life Potion formula…"
The audience patiently waits for Allenwood's explanation.
Allenwood trying to catch up with his breath takes a microsecond to breathe air. "Ah~ the augmented sleeping potion will reduce his majesty's sleep for at least ten years! I am sure of this!"
Surprise, joy, and relief spreads among the others. Kara feels a lot of burden on her shoulders in hearing this news. She starts thinking to herself, at least she will have someone to rely on… While Trudviar, Yirlung, and the others are reliable, the Elf King, his majesty's presence is an entirely different matter.
However, Allenwood is not done yet.
"Ahem~ ladies and gentlemen, please pay attention to this pill."
Allenwood's audience looks at the brown unassuming pill in his other hand. "This will wake up his majesty for half a day. It wouldn't affect his health, and after ingestion of the augmented sleeping potion, there would not be any problems…"
That day, the Art of Alchemy takes center stage.