Soran stood at the stand, watching Glenn with 14 other participants waiting for Princess Narisa to announce their ranking. Seventeen participants successfully refined the Nightmare potion, and 14 of them were able to withstand the nightmare and awaken their mind power except her son, whose mind power was already awakened when he became an alchemist.
She wants to shout and cheer for her son but her race does not show emotion outside. The parents of the other 13 participants remain silent with only smile on their face. She moved away from Torain and went to the outskirts to live 20 years ago, Where she met Glenn's Father because She felt suffocated living around her people.
She hears a voice beside her," Soran, What do you think your son will get any rank?"
She turned her face and came face to face with Verna's face. " What question did she ask?" " Ah! Remember ranking." " I do not have confidence that Glenn will get any ranking." She did not know what to reply as she was astonished when Glenn passed the second round. And now Glenn passed the third round. She hesitated for a few seconds," Yes, I am sure." With much confidence in her voice, she said, " And your daughter?"
Verna smiled and confidently spoke," My daughter will get the first rank."
Soran nodded. She also wanted to have such confidence in Glenn, but Glenn had only started refining the potion. A week had not passed. Glenn passing all rounds and standing before the princess now is a miracle for her.
She turns her attention to Glenn again as the Princess starts announcing the ranks.
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Rain standing beside all the participants, looks ahead to the Princess as she finishes her speech.
Princess Narisa," I will start announcing who gets what rank from Rank 10." Rain now full attention to her and he can change of atmosphere around him.
Princess Narisa," Rank 10- Adam GoldenOak." Rain found the boy, he cannot tell the age of the boy but he and the boy's surname are the same. Most Tree spirits get their surname from the tree their ancestor transforms.
Princess Narisa," Rank 9- Fren Frozen." Rain found a girl, with light blue hair, from the surname the exception tree spirit like those created by the Goddess. She is a descendant of the 6th rank demon" Changer profession". All 6th realm professions are collectively called demigods.
Then the Princess announces up to rank 4th. And Rain's name ' Glenn GoldenOak' was not called.
Princess Narisa," Those names I call step forward." Rain watches the seven step forward and then Princess Narisa turns her face to Master Allerick and nods. Master Allerick receiving the nod from the Princess steps forward and stands beside the Princess.
With a relaxed smile on his face, Master Allerick speaks," The test for the third round was not tested for potionist but for elite potionist, so we decided to reward everyone who cleared the third round."
"Everyone who succeeded in refining the nightmare potion even those who fail to awaken their mind power can choose to study under a Great Master potionist for three years or choose 100 Gold leaves." Rain hearing these made his choice in a moment '100 gold leaves'. He would need the money for his journey to the city of freedom.
" And the reward for those who obtain rank 10th to rank 4th are 500 Gold leaves and a spiritual fruit."
"Now from 10 rank come to me and take your reward." Rain watch 7 bags appeared on the platform. And from Adam one by one went to Master Grey to take their reward from him.
After giving away the reward finish, Master Grey was taken by Master Allerick, he announced the reward for ranking third which were three spiritual fruits and 1000 Gold leaves. After that, he announced the name, a girl named Violet SpringTree.
After rewarding the girl, Master Allerick announces the reward for the second rank is five spiritual fruit and 2000 Gold leaves. And a boy won the second place.
Rain watches the reward ceremony calmly without any emotion because he wants the first-place reward a life seed. So the next few minutes will determine if he got the first place. He watches Master Allerick's place taken by Master Solarius.
Master Solarius starts speaking," For the first place we have two people whose scores are tied. And so we decided to reward both of them the first place and a life seed." There are no money rewards mentioned with Life Seed. But he thought for a second and felt normal as the life seed value is double for all the rewards given till now.
Princess Narisa clapped her hands," Yes, I will reward both of them with a life seed." and the palm of both her hands a green seed appeared. Rain observes the life seed though it looks like a pea with golden markings around it.
Rain watches with anticipation as Master Solarius starts speaking," The two people who won the first rank are Vivienne SwordLeafTree and Glenn GoldenOak." Rain hearing his name being called his eyes widen and a smile spreads on his face. He was not sure he would get the first place after he stumbled to refine the nightmare potion. With the soul chip, He was confident nothing would happen but when he started adding the nightmare flower to the potion.
The potion reacted he was going to fail but he used the power of his soul to restore his control. He thought because of this his point would be cut. He was full confidence in winning the first place but deep in his mind, he was sure he would not get any rank. As the names were being called from 10th to 2nd rank. Each announcement with his name being mentioned lessens his mood. But now is lifted to sky high, He accomplished his goal and won first place and he will get the reward he wanted 'Life Seed'.
He hears Great Master Solarius ask him and the girl who won the first place to take the life seed from the princess.
Rain walks forward from the corner of his eye to observe the girl who won first place with him. Rain reaches in front of the princess, he bows to her to show respect. Rain raises his head and speaks," Thank you Princess for organizing a magnificent Competition."
The Girl follows him and says," Yes, Thank you, Princess."
Princess smiles at Rain and the Girl," I did not organize the competition it was all the Potion Guild. I am only told the potion guild I will reward the top three ranks of the seasonal test of joining the guild."
" But, more than 100 people join the test. Which made the test a magnificent spectacle. If it was at the same time of birth of the original Tree Spirit. The arena should have been fully open to the public so they could watch the talent of our empire." In her mind, She is jumping with joy because the competition was a success. After the news of the competition spread around, everybody will think about her for the success of the competition. Which in turn spread the influence of the Royal family around this region.
"I should organize competition around the empire. This will increase the influence of the Royal Family around the empire. And in turn, raise my status in the family."
"I should talk about this with my council and carefully plan. Now I should reward them and return to guard Loreal."
She looked at the boy and the girl in front of her," Put one of your palms forward." the boy and the girl put their palm forward facing her and the two seeds from her hand floated on their open palm and landed there.
"Now enter the seed with your mind power and refine it."
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One hour passes, after Rain receives the life seed and refines it. The life seed is now on chest like a inner armor protecting his body. The life seed is in its initial form and cannot merge with the body. In the coming days, He will have to become familiar with the life seed, so that it can merge with his skin.
He wanted to quickly return to his grandfather's house and start to practice with the life seed. But, in front of him is in deep conversation with the lady seated beside her. Rain finds she is the mother of the girl who was with him ranked first. The Lady was his mother's former best friend. He did not know why they stopped becoming friends.
He feels like he is forgetting something, he then remembers Albus. He decided to pay a visit to Albus. See if anything is wrong with him, he did not come to the potion guild to watch his test. And I can also share the good news with him. Without his help, he would have not even passed the written exam and ranked 1st.
He finds his mother coming back, and he starts walking toward her reaching her halfway.
Mother, "Let's return home quickly there are three hours left for the party to start."
Rain remembers about Albus, "Mother, How about we pay a visit to Albus's home? to see how he is doing?"
Mother," I forgot about Albus. We have to pay a visit to him and share your good news."
Rain," The Priest will be at the party tonight. So we do not have to visit him."
Mother," Let's go."
And Rain starts following his mother. While walking on the street, Rain finds the street is full of guards patrolling. The birth original Tree Spirit increased the security around the streets. While Walking he with his power of soul investigates the life seed.
To find how it is made and finds the life seed is made of tiny cells smaller than the cells of his body. He can feel the life seed absorbing his body's energy. Tiny needles smaller than his cell emerge from the life seed enter his skin cell and start absorbing nutrients.
To make it merge with his skin cells first, he will feed it with his energy and it will grow to the size of his entire body and cling to his body like a second skin. Nobody can tell the difference that his body is surrounded by life seeds. Because it feeds with his energy, it starts to transform. The cells of the life seed first grow to the size of its skin cells.
The next step is for the cells of the life seed to merge with his skin. After the merge is completed he can control his skin and change the color of his skin. And he can hide his pointed ears which give away his half-tree spirit identity. The first is to feed the life seed with food. The food can only be his body's energy. The life seed only eats the energy of the one who refines it.
There are many ways to disguise his identity in the human kingdoms but they are not reliable. The life seed is the most reliable option after it merges with his skin, he will able to control his skin. Then it will merge with his muscle cells then he control his muscle.
Rain stops his daydreaming ahead, as his mother stops in front of a house. Rain finds the door of the house is locked.
His mother turns toward him," I remember Albus told that his family house but only his sister leaves here, who works in a potion shop."
Rain nods and he remembers Albus mentioning this and the name of the shop where his sister works. He was proud of his sister, she was an elite potionist like Albus but she was more talented than him. Who was going to become a master potionist anytime?
Rain sends his thoughts to the soul chip, as it is the library of his memory. The soul chip- Exium potion house.
Rain receives the answer from the soul chip," Mother, It's Exium Potion House, the place where Albus's sister works. Are we going there?"
Rain watches his mother silent for a few seconds as she contemplates the next course of action, "Exium Potion House. If we go there now then we will waste half an hour. We also attend the party."
"I remember Exium Potion House is on the street near the City Lord House where the Party is going to be held. So before entering the party, we will visit her."
Rain nods and follows his mother. After a few minutes of walking, they walk into an alley. Entering the Alley, Rain suddenly becomes alert as he is using his soul power. It heightened his danger sense and entering the alley he felt danger. Rain's face remains with any change and spreads his soul power around him and finds three people hidden above them in the branches of the trees.