– Day 7 –

Alchemy

I open the door to the hallway to find Helen standing waiting on me. She looks to have been there awhile..? She evidently heard something and misunderstood as she is bright red in the face.

“Ya okay there Helen? Ya, look a little feverish?”

“I-it’s nothing, *Ahem* please; this way. I will take you to breakfast.”

We walk along the hallway and run into someone I would rather have not.

“Draconis? Still here.. Going to breakfast I see?”

“Indeed, I am glad to see you are up and about. Are you feeling better this morning? Lady Katharine told me of your–”

“Actually no, I still feel a bit unwell. I think I will retire back to my room and have breakfast bought to me instead.”

Of course you will vile woman. Don’t choke on any small bones now will you, it would be a terrible loss to humanity if you did!

She glances daggers at Helen for a moment.

“Of course Lady Armstrong, I will have the Gerrand bring your breakfast up shortly.”

She nods and turns away.

“Please, this way Draconis.”

Helen takes us downstairs to a large room where Katharine is already seated and is eating a bowl of soup with some crusty bread.

I am shown to a seat opposite her and Emily is carted off somewhere. I was about to speak up when I saw Emily shake her head at me. I guess she’s right, this isn’t my home, and I shouldn’t impose my standards as a guest–

“Did you sleep well Aburi?”

“Yes thank you. It’s been quite a while since I slept in such a soft bed or without having to keep one eye open I might add.”

She smiles warmly, giving a slight nod while resting her spoon.

“I am gladdened to hear that.. Oh, the remainder of the goods in Fathers letter arrived at dawn, they await you in the lobby. I naturally sent the horses and carriage to the stables at the south gate ahead of you and paid for a months stabling as per fathers instructions. We can visit them this afternoon if you like?”

“I would very much like that, but I do have a question for you if that's okay?”

“Certainly, what is it?”

“Do you remember that building in the city centre I was looking at yesterday?”

“The one for sale?”

“Indeed. Emily told me the history of that building and that it’s been on sale for a while. I would like to purchase it if possible, but Emily thinks it’s impossible as I’m a non-human.”

“Unfortunately she is not wrong. Normally only humans can own property in the city; non-humans can only rent…"

Katharine seems to be pondering something as she's skewing her smile.

"There is a way you can get around that though. I could purchase it and lease it to you for free. The property would be mine in only name–”

“That’s very kind, but I don’t think that would be possible either. The previous occupant was killed for treason after all and is why the building remains empty.”

“I see… Then, unfortunately, yes, I would not be able to purchase it… Hmm. I think I know another way for you to purchase it and in your own name too.”

“Oh? How?”

“Purchase it as an embassy. You're a Dark Elf; you should be able to purchase the building if you become an ambassador for relations between Humans and Dark Elves.”

And how exactly am I meant to do that? I have no contacts or connections to Dark Elven society!

“…I have no political ties back home though.”

“I don’t think that will be an issue. Truth be told, we haven’t had a Dark Elf visit the Sinki Kingdom in over thirty years. As renowned manufacturers like the Highland Dwarves, the King will likely jump at the chance to state they have reopened relations with Dark Elves in the Capital. It doesn’t really matter if you're the only Dark Elf in the city, as long as you're planning to make and sell your Alchemy here and will provide board for any additional Dark Elves that turn up, as unlikely as that may be--”

I am…so okay then–

“Actually, the King will probably gift you that building if you visit the magistrate in person.”

“…”

“Shall I make the arrangements for a meeting? Father will also be happy to hear that you're planning to stay in the capital…I would be too…”

A free base? And all I have to do is take in the odd Dark Elf, if any even show up!

“Yes, please make the arrangements. I would very much like to proceed with this”

Hunger: 0% Thirst: 0%

Blood State: Normal

After breakfast, we head out to the lobby as per Katharine’s suggestion, and I inspect the alchemy equipment Alexander, Katharine’s Father, purchased for me…

After rummaging through it, I’m sad to say but it’s all of poor quality. That’s not to say the tools aren’t usable but more that they're overcomplicated and extravagant. Alexander has been ripped off quite significantly–

“Quite the range of high-quality goods my Father has purchased for you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such high-quality wares before.”

…Should I keep quiet. No, I shouldn’t. Sir Direct after all.

“Katharine. Permission to speak plainly?”

“Permission? Uh, granted…?”

“Your Father has been ripped off…significantly ripped off. Although usable, these tools are overly complicated and have low durability. I wouldn’t tell this to anyone else but those who sold your Father these have fleeced him.”

Katharine looks surprised, then confused and then flies off in a fit of rage. The way this girl cycles emotion is truly amazing.

“Are you sure? I mean it looks fine to me…but you are the expert.. It’s true, isn’t it. I’ll have that merchants head on a spike for this! Come Aburi; we’re going into the city!”

“What about Emily and–”

“She’s with Mira; they’ll be fine. We have business with a merchant!”

*blink blink blink blink*

Without any chance to tell Emily where I was headed, Katharine hurries me out the door and into a carriage waiting outside.

After a thirty-minute carriage journey, we arrive at a large Alchemy shop, much larger than the ones past yesterday.

“Oi, clerk. Find Devan and bring him out here. Tell him Lady Katharine’s here and she ain’t happy!”

You would think a thirty-minute carriage ride would have calmed Katharine down a bit, but it hasn’t. She was steaming the entire way here, and nothing I said seemed to calm her down. To be honest, I’m slightly more confused with her demeanour..is this the real Katharine I see right now? Has she been struggling to keep up the polite noble girly figure this entire time? Would explain the Knighthood route though right?

“Lady Armstrong. What brings you back here so soon?”

“Devan, meet Aburi Draconis. Aburi, Devan Milas. Aburi is a master alchemist from the Deserts of Mia in the deep south. He is also the man who saved my life.”

Well, if nothing else, I now know where the Dark Elves live. It seems the reason Katharine is so angry is that she did the Alchemy shopping on her father’s dime.

“A pleasure?”

She pounds her fist on the counter.

“Aburi, tell him what you told me.”

Well, avoiding confrontation was never my style so, why not–

“The Alchemy goods sold to Lady Katharine here are overly complicated to the point they actually hamper potion production. The quality of the tools are low grade as well; you won’t get much use out of them. On top of that, the materials themselves are of extremely low quality. They were harvested months ago and then dried. They have one-twentieth the potency of a fresh counter-part.”

Devan looked shocked and dismayed at what I have said, but it’s unquestionably an act.

“I’m appalled a mere Elf would dare question the quality of my wares, let alone spew lies into the ears of Lady Armstrong. It saddens me greatly to see you have been taken by this Elves mislead–”

Argh, enough–

“Shall I prove it then?”

Devan didn’t expect me to counter mid-sentence like that. It screwed up his delivery.

“I’ll purchase this, this and that basic equipment there. You use the same equipment you sold Lady Katharine and the ‘High quality’ ingredients. Whoever makes the better tonic is telling the truth.”

“Ha, as much as I would like to accept your challenge, Lady Armstrong purchased the last of–”

“That’s okay; I bought the stuff with me.”

Sorry, Devan, I’m not letting you out of this so easily.

*blink blink blink blink*

“How!?–”

“This should allow you to show us you're telling the truth right?”

Devan has little he can do here to counter. He can argue my skill is better than his and look for someone to take his place, but that will enforce my statement on the wares and goods as he’s confirming I’m better than him at his craft. He has to take the challenge or admit what he has done.

“Admit it, Devan, while you can still retain some honour.”

Katharine presses in. Tick tock Devan.

“Fine, I accept your challenge.”

Moron. As Katherine said, you could have still retained some level of dignity. I guess I’ll just have to crush you completely.

He hands me the equipment I chose and the ingredients, [Taproot] and [Blue Flower ampist].

That’s right. It’s a basic antidote for [Alrist Poison].

I crush the ampist flower in the mortar, add a couple of drops of water, mix and transfer the contents to a large pestle and mortar. I next crush the [Taproot] with about 12 drops of water, mix and add it to the larger pestle and mortar too. Finally, I add in about 800mls of water and mix, take a bottle, fill it and place it on the table to breathe.

Done.

After about fifteen minutes. Devan is still struggling to crush his dried Taproot. He might as well be trying to crush steel with his bare hands. Katharine can be heard behind me tapping her foot. The very fact I completed my potion ten minutes ago proves I was telling the truth, but Devan is a stubborn bastard. He still thinks he can get out of this.

Finally, Devan produces the antidote…

Sitting side by side, you can tell just at a glance it’s weaker than mine. What’s even more telling is the amount of potion created. I still have two potions worth in the large pestle, whereas Devan was struggling even to fill the glass bottle.

The clerk lifts the two bottles and looks at them–

[Appraisal Acquired]

A new skill? I need to check that out based on the name alone, but weird hand gestures in this environment wouldn’t be wise. I’ll come back to it.

“Sorry Devan, no matter how you look at it, Sir Draconis wins this by a massive margin.”

“Aargh, I refuse to yield to a cheat–”

“One more word Devan and I will execute your scandalous person where it stands! Two people bore witness to this; there was no cheating here today!"

Katharine lets rip her anger on the lying little man.

"Now, you will return the money for the goods I purchased, and you WILL compensate Aburi Draconis and myself for this massive waste of our morning or by my father's name, I swear to see you hang!”

Devan looks like he’s about to piss his pants. Is it strange that I’m a little turned on by this version of Katharine?

“Aburi Draconis, please accept my humble apologies for wasting your time today and excuse my employee’s behaviour. If you allowed me, I would like to exchange the goods Devan sent to Lady Armstrong. I am certain the exchanged goods will meet your expectations. I will also, of course, add in extras to compensate you for your time wasted here.”

So the clerk isn’t a clerk but the owner. Sly guy, he didn’t once give that away, even at Katharine’s rude entrance.

“I am more than happy to accept that proposal as I do still require alchemical goods and equipment. Please emphasise the freshness over cost as well.”

“But of course. Lady Armstrong, do you have the bill of sale with you? May I see it?”

Katharine nods and hands him the bill from her blouse pocket.

“…I see. Devan, I will have you answer my questions regarding the pricing of these goods later.."

Unable to raise his head to face us, Devan meekly nods at the shop owner while the owner continues to speak.

"I’m afraid I do not think we will be able to exchange the goods listed here completely. So instead, we will exchange what we can and refund the remainder. Lady Armstrong, I do apologise again, to you this time, on behalf of my employee. Can I ask how I could compensate you for this mess as I do not think anything this store has would be of interest to you?”

“…As long as Aburi is satisfied with the outcome, I have no need of compensation.”

“Then I will send someone to collect the rest of the goods post haste and exchange them before this evening.”

“Very well; Aburi, let us take leave.”

As we leave the shop, Katharine’s mood changes back to the polite noble. I fight the strange erg to call out ‘Don’t go’ to her domineering side.

“Aburi, may I ask how you made those items appear out of thin air? I remember seeing you do it before with some coins but I thought it merely a trick…”

No point trying to hide it now. I just hope it's not too rare an ability.

“Inventory magic. It allows me to carry a small number of items in a pocket dimension. It’s how I secured a some of my goods when I was attacked on the highway.”

Katharine looks at me with an inquisitive look

“Do you know magic then?”

“Some, not a lot. I believe I have high magical potential, but I’ve never found a teacher, so I only know what I’ve picked up.”

Not one word of a lie. I fight the urge to stick my tongue out.

Katharine put her hands on hips.

“You are full of surprises aren’t you… Hmm, I might know a someone who could help you with magic but…well, another time.”

“Understood”

“Now that’s taken care of, where would you like to go next?”

“Well, I still need to visit the mercenaries and adventurers guilds, but I was planning to do these with Emily. If you're free though, perhaps we could go together?”

Katharine smiles warmly at me and nods.

“I would very much like that. First, let’s head to the magistrates' office though. I want to set up that meeting for securing that house for you. It will only take a moment, and it’s on the way to the mercenaries guild.”

“Sounds good. Lead on”