"Checked the ingredients?"
"Yes, Vice Headmaster. All is ready."
"Good."
With that, Vice Headmaster Cylinth turned on her heels, the long tail of her robe flowing behind her as she exited the preparation chamber.
The assistant bowed slightly as she left, then returned to double-check the tables lined with materials.
Everything had to be in order. This was an entrance test, but it would still reflect on the Academy's standards.
Meanwhile, the proctor, Professor Gael, strode toward the open field where the sixth test would be conducted.
His steps were firm, eyes sharp, scanning the gathered applicants as the buzz of conversation filled the air.
The open-air alchemy station had been arranged meticulously. Dozens of tables spaced evenly apart, each carrying the necessary materials for the task ahead.
At the center, a raised platform stood where he would oversee the examination.
The key ingredient, the Vitalis Pill, was placed under protective barriers at the front of each workstation. This pill was an essential catalyst in potion-making, ensuring stability during the brewing process.
However, even with the best ingredients, only those with true skill could create a potion without failure.
Gael exhaled.
This test was not originally part of the entrance exam. It had been proposed by noble families who believed that all students regardless of their specialization should possess a rudimentary understanding of alchemy.
Some faculty members had disagreed, arguing that not everyone needed such knowledge.
But in the end, the nobles had won out, and so here they were—the supposed fifth test that was now the sixth.
By the time Gael reached the stage, every applicant was already in place, standing below the platform, awaiting instructions. Some were eager, their eyes shining with excitement, while others appeared indifferent or outright anxious.
He cleared his throat, silencing the murmurs.
"All of you, listen up. This is a practical alchemy test. It won't determine your overall ranking, but it will reflect your ability to follow precise instructions under pressure."
A few applicants exchanged glances. Practical alchemy? All they thought was they were going to brew a simple potion as mentioned before the fifth test before it was cancelled. This wasn't what they had expected.
Gael smirked at their unease.
"This is a simple task."
"You will be given the necessary ingredients to create a basic Potion of Vitality. Each table has all the materials prepared in exact amounts. Your job is to follow the instructions precisely and create a potion that meets the Academy's standards."
"Fail to do so, and you'll receive a penalty."
He let that sink in before continuing.
"Now, Pay attention. Let me explain the process step by step."
He gestured toward a cauldron at the demonstration table beside him.
"First, you will begin by heating the base liquid: spring water. It should reach a simmer, not a boil. If you overheat it, your potion will be ruined before you even start."
He held up a vial of crushed Feygrass powder.
"Next, you'll add this Feygrass Essence. Stir clockwise three times, then counterclockwise once."
"Again, three times. Not four. Not seven. Not ten. This ensures the ingredients dissolve properly and bind with the base."
He picked up another vial, this one containing a shimmering golden liquid.
"After that comes the Blood of Theia, which acts as the stabilizer. This must be added in a slow, steady stream while continuously stirring. Pour it all in at once, and you'll cause an explosion."
"And no, I'm not exaggerating."
Nervous chuckles rippled through the crowd, but Gael ignored them and continued.
"Once the solution turns a deep crimson, you will crush and add the Vitalis Pill. This step requires perfect timing. If you add it too early, the mixture will be unstable. Too late, and the effects will weaken."
He placed the pill onto the table with a small clink.
"Finally, after ten seconds, remove the heat source and let the potion settle. Once it reaches a golden hue, your Potion of Vitality is complete."
Gael scanned the crowd, ensuring they were following.
"If you make a mistake, I advise you to stop immediately and consult my presence. Otherwise, don't come crying when your cauldron explodes."
A few applicants gulped.
"Now then, we'll be calling you up in pairs. Step forward when your number is called."
Originally, the test was meant to be taken individually. However, with the number of applicants still exceeding expectations, pairing them up would speed up the process and increase the failure rate.
He looked at the list and began.
"Applicant 001 and 002, step forward."
Two students, Aeloria and Ciae, walked toward the first set of tables, both appearing confident.
The process continued in an orderly fashion, and the field was soon filled with applicants brewing their potions, following the instructions to varying degrees of success.
Gael continued calling names.
"Applicant 775 and 776, step forward."
He frowned when he realized something.
"No response?"
Murmurs spread through the crowd. Gael narrowed his eyes and checked the list again and looked at the set of waiting applicants.
"Again. Applicant 776 and 777, step forward."
Still nothing.
Some students began whispering among themselves.
"Did they run away?"
"I heard 777 was absent from previous tests…"
"Maybe they failed to show up?"
Just as Gael was about to mark them absent and move on…
Step.
Seven stepped onto the alchemy field, Lythian beside him, both of them arriving just as the proctor was about to start the exam.
Their late entrance earned them a few glances, some annoyed, some curious, but neither of them paid attention.
Gael crossed his arms.
"You two are cutting it close. Any later, and you'd have been disqualified."
Lythian clenched his fists but said nothing.
Seven, on the other hand, just yawned.
"Get to your stations and brew Potion of Vitality."
With that, the two made their way to their designated tables as the murmurs in the crowd grew even louder.
Gael exhaled, shaking his head before calling out.
"The sixth test begins now."
***
Seven barely took in the setup before him. A wooden workstation, a cauldron, and neatly arranged ingredients: a small bottle of spring water, a vial of greenish essence, a thick crimson liquid, a smooth white pill, and a heating apparatus.
He had read about brewing this potion in the novel, so even though he hadn't heard the instructions, he wasn't too worried.
Lythian, however, was a different story. He picked up the vial of water and squinted at it.
"The fuck is all this?"
Seven gave him a deadpan look.
"Don't do anything weird."
"I didn't hear a damn thing that old—"
"Shut the fudge up and just stand there."
Seven rolled up his sleeves, ignoring Lythian's grumbling.
In front of him lay a standard alchemical cauldron, its blackened surface hinting at years of use.
He exhaled, rolling his shoulders. The original Seven had attempted potion-making before, in the solitude of his room, speaking to the stars as he mixed ingredients.
But now, there were no stars. It was early morning, and the sun burned brightly overhead.
Shaking off the memory, he focused. The potion they had to create was a basic vitality restoration elixir, a fundamental brew in alchemy.
Slowly, he picked up the vitalis pill, crushing it into a fine powder with a mortar and pestle. The scent was earthy, tinged with a faint sweetness. He carefully measured a portion and poured it into the cauldron.
Next was the spring water.
Uncorking the vial, he let a few drops trickle into the mix, watching as the fine powder of Vitalis pill absorbed the liquid and turned a dull golden color.
He knew that too much water would weaken the potion, and too little would make the brew unstable.
Then, Seven reached for the Feygrass essence. He pinched a small amount between his fingers and sprinkled it evenly. The mixture hissed slightly, a sign that the reaction had begun.
Blood of Theia was the last. This was the catalyst, the spark that would activate the potion's effects.
It needed to be heated before being added, and Seven was acutely aware that this was where most applicants failed.
He picked up a small pair of tongs and held the vial of Blood of Theia over the cauldron's flame.
It gradually changed color, glowing from a soft hue into a deep red.
When it reached the right temperature, he dropped it into the mixture.
The liquid inside the cauldron shimmered, bubbling with a faint golden glow.
Seven picked up a wooden stirring rod and stirred in a clockwise motion seven times, then counterclockwise twice, maintaining the balance of energy in the potion.
This was different from the official instructions, which required three clockwise stirs and one counterclockwise. But he knew better—this ratio enhanced the potion's potency, something only seasoned alchemists would understand.
Lythian watched in silence, for once not mouthing off.
"Hah…"
The original Seven had once tried this step while whispering to the stars, hoping they would guide his hands.
Now, he only had himself.
As the mixture thickened, he timed his final stir precisely, waiting for the moment the glow dimmed slightly before removing the stirring rod. He let the potion settle, watching as it smoothed out into a liquid of perfect clarity.
He picked up a small glass vial and carefully poured the potion inside, ensuring no spills.
The end result was a vial of warm, amber liquid—the correct color for a properly brewed vitality elixir. Not just correct, but advanced.
Stepping back, he glanced around.
Other applicants struggled, some staring in confusion, others frowning at failed mixtures that had turned murky or overboiled. The air smelled of burnt herbs and singed ingredients.
…Except six pairs of applicants who were now casually walking out the field, including Aeloria and Ciae.
Seven remained expressionless, setting his vial onto the examination table.
"Fucker. You're worse than any damn applicants,"
"Yeah? They must've sucked."
"..."
The proctor, Professor Gael, made his rounds, stopping when he reached Seven's workstation.
His eyes narrowed as he picked up the vial and examined it closely.
A long pause.
It was different. As someone well-versed in alchemy, he knew at a glance that this wasn't a standard vitality potion.
It was advanced.
His gaze flicked to Seven, who stared back with an unreadable expression.
Failing them for deviating from instructions would be easy. But failing them also meant losing two applicants with a surprising amount of knowledge.
With a grunt, he placed the vial back down.
"Well done. Both of you pass."
A few applicants turned, whispering among themselves. Some eyed Seven with open curiosity, while others glared in frustration.
Seven simply shrugged, picking up his vial and placing it back onto the table with a soft clink.
Lythian crossed his arms.
"Tch. Too easy."