What does a perfect lab look like?
Allenwood has a simple answer to this limiting it to a single word— isolated. That is all he needs, as such, per his request, the elves make him the lab that he perfectly desires.
Inside the spacious hollow trunk with several reinforcements and extra wooden platforms for the needed space, Allenwood now has the most expensive treehouse in the Dark Forest. Using several nails, and as a result of time-consuming trials and errors, his lab must be the elves' greatest investment so far yet.
So as he wills it, he dares not disappoint those who are expecting a lot of things from him. Quickly after the construction of his lab, he immediately throws himself to work. He sure is old, but his heart is always young and passionate.
Shortly a month later, he finishes a Potion deriving from the Aphrodisiac… It's Potion no. 1 that his majesty is requesting of him, a potion that will promote fertility. It is easier to make that Potion No. 1 as its properties are not so far from the original Aphrodisiac.
The Aphrodisiac is generally poisonous in nature, and humans consider it pretty much solely for the purpose of pleasure and not for reproduction. This is where the elves will differ in the future, and as a result, guaranteeing their population.
After naming the new potion as 'Fertility Potion,' he immediately reports it to Kara, only for Kara to tell him to wait. Allenwood as a sensible old elf realizes the princess's intentions. The elves are still in the process of rebuilding, so they cannot have any elves end up pregnant during the course of rebuilding.
They need every elf.
This didn't dishearten Allenwood's fighting spirit but only serves to ignite it further.
Returning to his lab, Allenwood researches ways how to derive a potion that can fasten an elf child's growth. Allenwood doesn't need something so explosive as the Berserker Potion, what he needs is something just enough to promote growth to adulthood at the same phase as a human child's growth.
This way, they can enforce their workforce at a level that can compete with humans.
Allenwood finds his temples hurting like crazy. He ties his white hair into a ponytail revealing his ear lobes lacking any actual ears. The phantom pain sets in causing him to grimace. He feels a painful ringing in his ears. Using a balm, he spreads the minty medicine to his ears soothing the pain.
Finding himself too exhausted by research, Allenwood decides to take a nice stroll outside his confinement. Just outside his tree house are multiple wide extensive bridges connecting to other tree houses.
Allenwood takes a casual stroll and ponders on the new formula. Following him is his bodyguard, an elf soldier who recently finishes the Einherjar training.
It is Mid-Spring, the 41st day of the 3rd cycle. It is the season of rebirth and a new beginning. Allenood casually passes by the tree houses of the most trusted Einherjar units. Apparently, the military, under Trudviar's guidance already has a ranking system on them.
The Gold Rank elves are the highest level of authority in the military only second to Trudviar. These Gold Ranks' housing is set up in a way that they are surrounding Allenwood's lab. The princess personally requests this from Trudviar and him.
While it might feel like restricting him, Allenwood doesn't really mind as this is better than humans restricting him. After the short break, he returns to working on his potions. At some times, he suddenly finds inspiration from his current work and then ends up creating something entirely different.
Like the addictive incense that should be better than the coca tobaccos his majesty first made, and all kinds of other stuff that are most often useless.
If he is lucky, he gets a repeat of an already existing product judging by its effects. In other cases though, he just ends up creating inferior products plainly worse than the already existing ones.
The research and experimentation continue.
Until one year later.
Early-Winter, 11th day of the 3rd cycle.
"It is time, her highness is planning to introduce the Fertility Potions this winter." Just by the door, Yirlung abruptly tells Allenwood of the news.
"So what? Do not disturb me, you rascal…"
"As grumpy as ever… You really are getting old."
"Don't tell me that. Look at the mirror, you geezer…"
"No matter how hard you try, I can see that you are hunching."
"Hu~hunching? You must be imagining things."
"My back is still straight."
The two old elves bicker with each other showing the strong friendship between them. Allenwood continues on his potion making not even deigning to look at Yirlung. "If you are here, you might as well close the door. If my potions suddenly get bad, I will feed you my newly invented laxatives…"
"…" Yirlung chooses to remain silent at Allenwood's remark.
Allenwood hears the creaking of the door telling him that Yirlung did it close. The architecture of his lab is very concise, and from the inside, a person will realize that the place is sealed tight.
"Can you even breathe in here?" Yirlung complains.
"It takes practice to build tolerance. So what does Her Highness exactly want from me?" Not moving his eyes from the burner, and the liquid inside it, Allenwood asks Yirlung about his business.
Yirlung covers his nose from the nasty smell coming from Allenwood's work. "His Majesty wants you to gather apprentices to spread the workload. Moreover, she wants you to prioritize the manufacturing of Life Potions."
Allenwood frowns at hearing this. Honestly, Allenwood would rather prefer experimenting on the Aphrodisiac over the basic manufacturing of the Life Potions. This must be why her highness is only ordering him to gather apprentices and not for him to just concoct Life Potions.
It will be more effective if it is Allenwood who will create the potions, but clearly, the more efficient method for him is to have apprentices do it. The only downside to this is that it is a hassle to teach apprentices.
In the long term, having apprentices will help him more. Still, Allenwood is reluctant to have apprentices. He sincerely wants to simply do alchemy which is infinitely better than teaching a bunch of noobs. He doesn't want to get political, but doesn't his majesty's decree supersedes her highness?
"I will talk to Her Highness about this."
"Good," Yirlung nods in relief. "Thankfully, I don't have to argue with you over this. At the End-Winter, there will be a feast… Please don't be late. The official ceremonies will start at dawn, so by dusk before the 90th day, you should be already there. It will be a whole night event."
Allenwood shoes away his visitor after hearing all of the necessary matters. "I will be there so just go away." Shutting the door to Yirlung's face, Allenwood returns to his work.
And finally, on the 89th day of End-Winter, Allenwood prepares himself to visit the open plaza where the festivities shall occur. Since today is the 4th light of the 3rd cycle, Allenwood decides to wear something green.
Each cycle consists of seven minor cycles. Every minor cycle has over roughly 360 days. Meaning, a cycle has approximately 2520 days. There is a reason why they call it a cycle. To the common person, they refer to these minor cycles as lights that correspond to every color of the rainbow. It means that every cycle represents the passing of a rainbow. This celestial spectacle is how the people of the Ezelea continent judge time.
After picking a random grass from his troves of raw materials and mixing up some herbs to make a temporary adhesive, he then glues the said random grass to his robe where people can easily see it.
Not eager to waste his time on the pleasantries of this celebration, Allenwood simply wishes to meet her highness and just be done with it already. After conversing with the princess, he should be able to return to his lab fast and continue working.
While on his way, he finds Naya who is similarly on her way to the plaza.
"Oh, Clairvoyant Naya!" Allenwood utters jubilantly finding Naya to be an excitable acquaintance.
"If it isn't to elves' national treasure, greetings to you." She shortly answers Allenwood. After seeing Allenwood's ever-present bodyguard, she also greets him. "Greetings, elf kin." To this, Allenwood's bodyguard nods in affirmation.
"Clairvoyant Naya, this might sound so shameless of me, and while it hurts my pride as an alchemist. Can you foresee my future to see whether I succeed in making the potions that his majesty requests of me?"
"Ah~? I am sorry, but that will be too difficult for me."
"I see, that is unfortunate."
The two of them with Allenwood's bodyguard in tow proceeds to the open plaza.
The wooden bridges that connect the tree houses are sturdy. They are mostly treated bamboo. Thankfully, the Dark Forest almost has everything. They are lucky to secure a bamboo forest just at the beginning of spring since last winter. The designs of the bridges are simple but sturdy. As a bridge, it is quite functional.
Arousing Allenwood's curiosity is why the bridges look like rafts. He didn't bother asking as it is not really of any importance to his business.
As they arrive at the open plaza, they witness a hill with a flattened rock, and surrounding it are the many bridges of similar architecture as the one they are standing at.
The princess stands on an improvised podium of boulders stacking one after another.
"My dear elves. Today is the day of resurrection. And with the authority that our King, his majesty, allows me, I declare this a holy night!"