Chereads / Dreamweaver's Abyss / Chapter 3 - Whispers of Shadows: A Lesson in Potions

Chapter 3 - Whispers of Shadows: A Lesson in Potions

Elian, calming himself, mumbled under his heavy breaths, "Was that really a dream?" Stunned by the experience but still collecting himself, Elian's breath slowly calmed down. He checked his surroundings; even though it was dark and the only source of light was the moonlight, he could tell that he was in his room. As the wind blew through the curtains, making them swing, Elian realized the window was open, which he could surely remember closing because Mrs. Whisker, the cat of his landlord, used to climb up to her room and had ruined many of his canvases. Thinking about the peculiar dream, he stared through the window blankly and slowly fell asleep.

Elian woke up to the sound of horse's hooves clanging on the road. His room was in the building next to the street. Elian jumped out of his bed when he saw the clock; it was already 8:00. He rushed to the bathroom and came out in just a few minutes. Struggling to find his sock and then putting it on in a hurry, he got dressed and dashed out of his room. He came back, grabbed his bag, then dashed out again; he was ready to run the whole way to school, which he did after he locked the door.

As soon as he entered the hallway of Odyssey High, the surroundings got filled with chatter. The bell rang, and everyone started heading toward their classes, so did Elian.

Elian entered the class and sat beside Read, who immediately commented on how his hair looked like a nest. Realizing that he forgot to comb his hair, Elian tried to set it with his hand. The chatter stopped with the arrival of Professor Elliott in the class. He was in his dark brown cloak, his head full of hair with some strands black, cheating his age. Just by a glimpse of him, you could tell he is a wise but strict man. He taught one of the most sensitive subjects - Potions.

Everyone started taking out their books as Professor Elliott wrote today's topic. The class got filled with the turning of pages and chalk rubbing against the board. And as soon as he was done writing the topic - Philosopher's Potion, he turned around, his gaze examining all the students and stopped at Elian. He said in a low but clear and firm voice, "Mister Elian, would you come forward and demonstrate how the philosopher's potion is made?" Elian, stunned, hesitantly stood up and replied, "Yes, sir." He walked up to the front beside the professor, facing his classmates and trying to remember how the professor had shown to make the potion yesterday.

He started by taking out and separating the ingredients he needed for the potion and then measured them on the small weigh machine beside the cauldron and stove. Then he started putting the ingredients in the cauldron and put the base liquid, beginning to boil it. Stirring the pot for some seconds as the professor started explaining the use of philosopher's potion. "Philosopher's potion is one of the most basic yet most important potions in potion-making; it is one of the most common ingredients in higher-level potions and contains mystic light energy.

He paused as Elliott reached out for the philosopher's fern, the final ingredient in the potion, and as soon as he put it in the cauldron, the potion changed color to golden, and its smell changed, filling the room with a sweet and comforting aroma. Elian poured the potion into the glass tube and looked at the professor. "Excellent job, Mister Elian," said the professor with a slight smile. And then suggested him to taste the potion as tasting the potion was an excellent way to check the quality of the potion but beware not to taste the poisonous ones unless you are brain dead. Elian dipped his finger in the potion that was left in the cauldron and then tasted it. It was sweet like honey. The professor then proceeded to continue his lecture as Elian walked toward his seat where Read was waiting for him with a proud face, but the smile soon faded away from his face; with a thud, Elian had fainted.