After Zoser finished his training in the private training room, he decided to explore the academy, eager to learn more about this mysterious place he was beginning to feel a part of. Walking through the wide corridors, Zoser kept an eye on the students coming from different departments, all appearing in a hurry, carrying books and herbs, whispering among themselves.
As he continued down a side hallway, he heard the sound of light footsteps approaching from behind. He turned around quickly, and his eyes landed on a familiar girl standing a few steps away.
"Kayra?!" Zoser exclaimed, surprised but smiling.
Kayra smiled and explained, "I didn't expect to see you here, Zoser. It looks like you're starting to adjust to the academy."
Zoser replied, watching her cautiously, "I just wanted to explore the place. And you? Why are you wandering alone?"
She chuckled lightly, then gestured to another hallway, saying, "Actually, I was heading to the Refining Room. If you're free, you can come with me."
Zoser raised an eyebrow, asking, "The Refining Room? What is that?"
Kayra tilted her head slightly, as if weighing her words before responding, "The Refining Room is where chemists train. It's similar to the combat training rooms, but here, we use tools and chemical components. Everything here is bought with our own money."
"But… how do the poor learn here?" Zoser asked curiously.
Kayra laughed, saying, "The food and resources we need are only free during lessons in the chemistry halls. But in the Refining Room, if you don't have your own resources, you can collaborate with other students at the academy. You can get financial support from others in exchange for making potions for them. You'll have the chance to learn without bearing the full cost, though you'll only get a small share of the profits compared to making potions using your own money."
Kayra smiled and added, "If you're interested, I can take you with me now as my assistant. What do you say?"
Zoser thought for a moment, then replied, "Alright, not a bad idea. I'll learn more about chemistry from you."
As soon as Zoser entered the room, he immediately felt the difference between it and the combat training rooms. There were no weapons or battle environments here, just carefully arranged tables, glass jars of various sizes, small stoves, and wooden boxes filled with dried herbs. The air was filled with strange scents, mixing the sweet with the bitter.
"This place… it feels like a magical lab!" Zoser said as he inspected the area.
Kayra laughed, saying, "Chemistry is closer to magic than science, but it relies on scientific principles. Everything here is organized with great precision."
Kayra took out a small card and waved it in front of Zoser, saying, "We only have an hour, so let's hurry."
Zoser nodded and asked, "What are we making today?"
Kayra placed various ingredients on the table and pointed to them:
Silver Moonflower
Powdered Horn of the Stag
Saffron Nectar
"We're making an energy-enhancing potion. " Kayra explained.
Zoser asked curiously, "What does it do?"
Kayra smiled, saying, "The potion contains a high amount of ether. When consumed, it provides instant energy, enough to overcome exhaustion."
Zoser replied firmly, "Alright, I'll watch you."
Kayra stood in front of the table, quickly tying her hair back, then began arranging the ingredients with care. "Chemistry requires extreme precision. Any mistake could ruin the entire potion."
Kayra started by pouring saffron nectar into the jar, then added the silver moonflower powder. Her movements were swift yet precise, as if performing a skillful dance.
"We need to grind the Horn of the Stag well to release its active elements," she said, beginning to grind the powder with a smooth stone. She then added it to the jar with the other ingredients.
The mixture began to react slowly, turning a glowing blue. "The temperature must be carefully controlled. If it rises too high, we could have an unexpected reaction," Kayra explained as she monitored the heat carefully.
A few minutes passed, and then Kayra smiled triumphantly, saying, "We're done! The potion is ready."
Zoser watched the shimmering liquid in the jar, amazed by its beauty and potency.
Kayra smiled at him, saying, "You can give it a try."
"Can I really?" Zoser asked, surprised.
Kayra smiled and said, "Of course. I think the money I brought is enough for three attempts, and I succeeded in my first one, against expectations. We still have time, so you can give it a try."
Zoser smiled, saying, "Thanks, I'll give it a go."
Zoser's Attempt
Zoser began rearranging the ingredients in front of him, reviewing each step in his mind before he started pouring the saffron nectar into the jar. He added the silver moonflower, ground the Horn of the Stag carefully, and then placed it in the jar. His movements were orderly and precise, but when it came to infusing his spiritual energy, he made a mistake.
He raised the heat too much, causing the liquid to harden inside the jar. His first attempt failed, and the mixture returned to a solid state.
Kayra watched silently, and when Zoser finished, she said calmly, "Don't worry, this is normal. Let me tell you what you did wrong."
She explained to Zoser, "First, the ratios must be precise: 3:2:1, with saffron being 3, moonflower 2, and the horn of the stag 1. These ratios ensure the potion will be effective. Second, don't raise the temperature too quickly; you had a flaw in this step."
She then smiled and said, "Come on, try again."
Second Attempt
Zoser focused more carefully this time, paying closer attention to her instructions. He followed the steps with greater precision, and when he reached the point of infusing his energy, he added it gradually, watching the temperature carefully.
When the temperature reached the right level, Kayra stopped him and confirmed, "Stop now. The potion is ready."
Zoser looked at the jar intently, then smiled in satisfaction, "I did it! But…"
Kayra smiled and said, "Your potion is good, but it's not like mine. The quality of potions depends on precision and time, but you're on the right track."
As time ran out, Kayra handed money to the guard for the resources used.
Zoser tried to give her his potion, but she refused, saying, "Keep it."
She added, "Even if your potion isn't the best, it's good enough. Maybe you've overcome your failure in the first attempt, and that's the most important thing. The potions we make can be expensive, but they're very profitable."
They exchanged their places and parted with smiles.