"80 years!!!" Lance yelped in surprise.
Holy hell.
80 years!
What kind of potion needs to be worked on for 80 years!?
Even his grandmother didn't reach that age!
"Hmm." Seeing his facial expression, the hero nodded as he continued:
"Although I don't have the specifics regarding the elixir. For the past several years that I've worked with her, one thing I know is that it is her goal to complete the elixir."
"The Elixir of Awakening uses the blood of an ancient phoenix and the water from the spring of immortality as a catalyst, one with the capability of immortality through rebirth, another through rapid regeneration."
"Not to mention the countless other rare materials that are in there that even I cannot name, giving various properties to the elixir, while also strengthening its immortal characteristics."
"Although it has strengthened, that is not her goal. Her goal is to awaken and lengthen a person's potential…"
"To give you a clue, a person's potential is determined by birth, it's something that cannot be changed through normal means, it is because it lies within the soul of a person, and a soul is something delicate and hard to mess with."
"Even gods cannot mess with souls that easily, although they have the highest potentials making their souls several times higher in quality."
"The fact still remains that they all have limited potential."
"Just like a brain, not all of the potential of a person can be brought out, only through experience and training can they maximize it… but even so, that is still not enough."
"Thus, that's where our favorite alchemical witch took interest."
"I don't have any exact date for when she started it, but according to her it has been 80 years, and I don't doubt it. The materials that she's using to complete this are all rare, some beings would even get red-eyed and would kill others just to get it."
"I'm actually more surprised that she's continuing it, some I've even helped her acquire like the Fern of Nightmares and Venom of the Golden-Tongued Python."
Lance who listened attentively, especially those ingredients which sounds like they came from a xianxia cultivation novel, asked with obvious shock in his eyes and tone:
"D-damn, isn't that too much? She's basically trying to change the unchangeable… Also, the amount of the rare materials that she's using."
"I know right? Regardless, that's her own life goal."
"Well… why so hell-bent on completing it…?"
Taking a bit of time to reply, Lance was about to apologize if he asked something sensitive, but was immediately cut off by Alterick:
"She wanted to change a certain person's fate."
"Uhh… What??" A bit confused, Lance asked for clarification.
"As you know, witches are selfish in nature, although they remain impartial and quite greedy, they still have a sense of camaraderie within them as fellow witches." Alterick continued with a serious face, looking at the back of the woman.
"This is especially true for Francia… as someone who has one of the kindest attitudes in the higher position in their society, she won't forget to return a favor for those who did well to her…"
Lance soon followed his gaze and looked at the witch too.
"I won't delve deeper into her personal life but… she has a relative that she so badly wants to save… A relative who was cursed by fate to be the witch with the lowest potential; Francia Hanelin wanted to save that relative from her curse of low potential." Alterick continued with a meaningful tone and a clear gaze.
"I see…" Lance just agreed, understanding the implications of the hero.
Just from the summary of the witch's situation, Lance can't help but feel lucky that they actually ran into such a good witch.
If it might have been others, then they were doomed to face death ages ago.
But fate can sometimes be a good girl for a person when they need it the most.
Granted that they were saved by these two good people.
Especially that 'selfish' witch in front of them…
Such a witch who would spend her life researching and making a path for the sake of her relative, makes Lance grasp the importance of the flask she's using to save his friend.
With that, he actually felt bad. It might be because of them, that Francia might not be able to save her relative from that curse of fate.
Sensing the emotion of the student and seeing his clenched fist, Alterick decided to drop a bomb to lighten the mood:
"Hahaha~ also I forgot to tell you, this is confidential information. I bet not even her queen knows the elixir that she's working on… so yeah… be quiet okay?... but then again she used the elixir right in front of us, so it should be fine!" The dumb hero casually laughed, giving a thumbs up.
Lance who heard this immediately froze.
This guy is completely irresponsible!
Telling other people's deepest secrets as if it was your day-to-day neighborhood conversation!
What's worse is supposedly he did it 'accidentally'!
Looking at the free-spirited hero, Lance felt helpless.
'I'll just pray that no one comes after my head…' Lance vowed to keep this secret along with his burial.
Whooowmm~...
Sensing the disturbance, they both focused on the man who is currently floating right now, surrounded by colorful wisps of lights.
Soon, magic circles of different colors, sizes, and patterns appeared.
What happened next completely took them by surprise…
The visages of different mythical creatures mysteriously appeared, along with the converging of the colorful lights as they all rushed in at the red creature who looks like a hybrid of a phoenix and a dragon.
The hybrid opened its beak, absorbing the colorful lights and mythical creatures.
With each light and creature it absorbs, the more vibrant its appearance gets, making the hybrid appear 'realistic' as if it is not a projection.
After a few moments, the light disappeared, and the giant hybrid appeared next to Rion touching his forehead with its sharp dragon claws.
A blinding light flashed, causing them to close their eyes. By the time they opened it, the hybrid disappeared along with all the spectacles, as if everything that happened was a dream.
"What was that… That thing was too beautiful." Lance remarked with an open mouth. He completely lost count of how many shocks and surprises he got in such a short amount of time.
He felt dizzy just thinking how much of this would change the whole world.
Everything that is happening is too bizarre and instantaneous.
He can bet his testicles that if he told what has happened right now, he would be sent directly to a mental hospital… Not that it would happen considering that this bizarre shit is happening all around the world.
Many have probably gotten crazy already from seeing those awful monsters, eating humans like a free-lunch meal.
…
'I hope I won't regret this one…'
Francia sighed with heavy emotions.
Following the strong instincts that she was getting, in the end, she succumbed to her sixth sense and used the most precious item in her possession.
Her eyes depicted different kinds of complicated emotions while gazing at the unconscious panda man who is in front of her.
Looking at the flask, the colorful lights within the liquid seem a lot dimmer and less vibrant. The liquid remains calm, unlike the lively motions that it did before.
'40 years!! 40 years gone, just like that!' Francia really felt like crying blood.
For a witch, her lifelong work whether be it research, an artifact, a potion, or other things. They are the representation of their achievements and purpose in life… and for that to be reduced by half just like that.
Not to mention, this elixir is meant for her relative who she promised…
Francia heard her heart sound like she betrayed the expectation and promise to that person.
Needless to say, even the 'selfish' witch, Francia, felt her heart bleed.
But soon enough, slowly but surely, she tried to let go of the heavy regret that she was holding.
The males approached them, seeing the commotion settled.
"Is he okay now?" Lance asked just to be sure, but looking at Rion who is fully recovered as if he just fell asleep on the ground looking like a beggar with his ripped clothes, Lance felt relief.
"Yes, the corruption on both his body and soul has disappeared, and has completely recovered…"
"To be honest, his potential is enormous, to be able to absorb that much power… as expected of a warlock." Francia told the duo, analyzing Rion with the rune-inscribed monocle in her hand.
"That's quite reasonable, seeing he has awakened and been able to use magic instantly, and the fact that he is an awakened male… He's indeed a rare genius." Alterick nodded in expectation.
"...Is it rare for a man to be able to use magic?" Lance, who is listening, asked curiously.
"No, being able to use magic is not rare in this mystical world. The world is filled with mana, being able to use it is just a matter of time and effort, the growth and how far they grow will depend on the potential of a person." Alterick replied, while Francia continued:
"Yes… Being able to use it is just a matter of time with the right practice and techniques to 'forcefully' use magic. But being able to use magic and store mana without any training or techniques, while being able to use it instantly, that only happens on females."
Lance looked at Rion misunderstanding Francia's words, while a freezing thought appeared in his mind:
'Is bro actually a hoe? A reverse trap?'
Alterick who is at the side, laughed hysterically looking at Lance's face, instantly knowing what the student is thinking:
"HAHAHAHA~ no, no, you got it wrong, kid!"
"To make it simple, at some point in time being exposed to the mystical side of the world will allow you to use magic, regardless if you're a male or female but it takes special training, and practice to absorb mana, and awaken magic as an acquired talent."
"While in the case of the witches, they are females who have awakened magic without those special training and are able to use it by the time they awakened."
"They are all geniuses blessed to use mana, beings who have an innate talent for this diverse energy, and all of them have great potential… "
"Now what happened to your friend over there, is that he basically became a 'male' witch. A rare and exceptional 'witch' with enormous potential... A warlock."
"Oh…" Lance nodded, understanding the difference.
But deep within his mind, the curiosity lingers:
'Does gender really affect it that much? Mana must be a playboy or something, for it to always choose to bless the females…' Lance thought disapprovingly at the possible gender discrimination of this energy.
Francia who is oblivious to Lance's thoughts, finished examining her 'specimen' and faced Lance as she continued:
"Yes, that's the simplified version of it… Witches are the most proficient and diverse when it comes to mana and magic in general… Magic is a witch's specialty."
"Of course, there are a lot of beings out there who aren't witches but are still great at using magic just by training, one of them being the heroes."
Francia paused for a while, then she continued, summoning a ball of flame on her palm:
"In the long history of our society, beings who awakened and were able to use magic and absorb mana in their body are mostly females." The flame on her hand followed her words as it molded into a mini feminine figure on her palm.
"This is because the females have a delicate soul compared to males."
"A delicate soul is suited for the mana to manifest and live inside the soul to awaken a part of the person's potential, and most likely enable them to use magic… "
"That's also the reason why females are able to awaken their innate talent in magic without any form of special training, and why we can control and manipulate the mana inside our body, smoother than those who used other methods to use magic."
"But in this world, there is a saying that says, 'there are always exceptions.'... and this man proves this next point." Francia explained, the flames then started to flicker and deform.
"...There were records of males who have awakened magic… and they were all at a different level than your typical witches. They possess enormous potential, comparable to an ancient or even the queen of witches… they are called warlocks.'' Soon, the flames reshaped into two male figures.
Looking at these mini-figures, despite being made out of flames, Lance can feel the extraordinary posture radiating from them.
One of the figures looks like a domineering man holding a staff in his hand, the other figure reading a book with a wise complexion.
"These warlocks are your once-in-a-millennia type of geniuses, they are born to be a great person with lots of achievements and ground-breaking breakthroughs ahead of them."
"In the records of the society, only two warlocks have awakened, each having their own contribution that brought life-changing benefits to the Witch Society." The flame soon disappeared, closing her hand into a fist.
"One became a great king and invincible fighter, while the other became the most genius magic circuit and rune researcher… they are true geniuses amongst all geniuses." Francia reminisced, for a second, a hint of sadness flashed in her eyes.
Lance who noticed this took note, asking another question:
"Then is good sir considered to be one of these great warlocks?"
"Hmm…that still depends on the person, even if that person is given a huge amount of potential, they are only provided with an opportunity to do great things in the future, but as to the desire and effort if they will pursue it, that still depends on the person." Alterick shrugged, while Lance nodded.
It is true after all.
People who are given the opportunity, but do not take action or effort, will never accomplish anything.
You reap what you sow.
If you do not plant, then don't expect to yield anything, even if you are provided with the best tools and the healthiest soil.
Francia who recovered from her reminisce, spoke:
"That is true, it still depends on the person if they will work for it or not… but in your friend's case, you don't have to worry about that…" Francia gave a smile that wasn't a smile.
Lance sweated for his friend, he may or may have not thrown his friend into a deeper hell seeing the witch's cold smile.
As such, like a true friend:
'RIP, good sir!' Lance gave Rion an advance farewell salute in his heart!
"Well, in case you have accessed your status as you have awakened."
"In simple terms, witches got their
"The former being stronger and much more proficient than the latter." The hero shrugged, giving a gamer's nutshell explanation.
"Why is he still not waking up?" Alterick looked confused, closely inspecting the man.
"Well, the elixir may heal pretty much everything, but not the mind." Francia said helplessly.
"Makes sense, mental fatigue is one of the warrior's enemies." Alterick nodded in agreement, as he carried Rion on his back.
"Dumbass, look from a normal person's perspective."
"Getting your hand bitten off by a terrifying monster, experiencing a life and death situation, the sudden shock from all the events, and all the other stresses and factors?"
"Any sane human would be traumatized and broken down by all these events…" Francia looked at Alterick like an ignorant ape.
"Well I guess that's true, it made me remember my past hahahaha~"
"As expected of a barbarian." Francia just gave a dead look.
"Lance–" Francia was about to call the student who was lost in his world when suddenly the cries of those monsters resounded yet again.
KRAAAA!!!!
SHRAAAAA!!
ROOOOAR!!!
Awaken by the cries, they instantly snapped back to reality, putting their serious faces on, Alterick was the first to respond:
"We need to go, those monsters have started spawning again."
"Wait, it's not the end?" Lance asked, a bit curious.
"Yes, as you can see in the timer in the corner of your vision. These things won't stop spawning till the timer ends." Alterick quickly responded as he fixed Rion's position on his back, preparing to take off.
"Let's go." Francia gestured at Lance.
Riding the floating broom, the two immediately took off, while Alterick followed them instantly.
But what they didn't know…
At the corner of the room, within the shadow, stood a formless black being…
It cracked a wide smile of pure insanity, immediately dashing off in the direction of Rion and his companions.
With insane speed, it quickly attached itself to Rion, immediately dissolving into his skin.
The people around him didn't notice anything, not the witch or the hero.
…
Looking at the bright soul of Rion, the formless being, felt immense happiness.
It then left incomprehensible words before dissolving into a thin sheet of darkness that covered Rion's soul, becoming invisible as if it wasn't there in the first place…
"F̷̹̯̤̟͎̟͚̤̉̑͋̔̑͗̓o̸̜̘̤̥͇̰͖͔̒̏͒͝ũ̶͎͕͕̯̘̞̽͊͝ǹ̸̟̺̠͚̄̐̉̈́̈d̵̡̲̬̊̈́̊́ͅ ̷̩̜͉̻̫̲͐̿̐͘ẏ̸̡̛̱̹̜̤̆̎̄̔́͊o̷̘͇̳̪͆́̂͋̑͂̉̚ü̴̝̹͓̟̟̱̫͉̉̈́̆̇̈́.̷̞͉̣͙̬̒͌̌̈"
…