Alchemist’s Rule.

Or as most know it, The Law of Equivalent Exchange.

The basis of this law, or rule, is that nothing of value can be gained without exchanging something of equal or greater value.

To this end, I have been pondering in the few years between naps…

What have I lost?

There is no denying I am powerful now.

There is no denying I have gained greatly from my adventures.

Yet, with every new power-up, with every new advance in my Chaos I feel like something is being traded.

Meh, whatever. As long as I’m still me, who cares what I lose?

I have Dryad.

I have Chaos.

I am powerful.

Do the ants crawling in the dirt understand what the birds in the sky have lost or gained? Of course not.

One day I’ll give this more serious thought, but for now I’m shelving this line of thinking.

Because, today is the day.

After just over a decade of learning, S’neli is finally ready to produce her first Elixir of Youth.

A mere decade to rise to the level of Grandmaster, I admit I had a great part to play in this, but still…

S’neli has enormous talent in the field of alchemy. Not even the greatest chef can cook without ingredients after all.

The shop has been closed since morning. Hordes of frustrated merchants, grumbling nobles, and even a few guardsmen were turned away.

I can’t let anything disturb S’neli as she concentrates on this creation after all.

There were a few attempted robbers, and three or four different threats made. Mishra took care of them all with prompt service. I’m sure they will consider their body donations to science, I mean, alchemy as a great boon of karma.

Currently I am occupying the seat of honor on a shelf above the table S’neli is using to start the Elixir process.

I watch her carefully separate the components, some of which took me days to prepare for her. Mishra made it look like they were all purchased on the black market, so there is no link to me.

The moment when an alchemist succeeds in creating their first Elixir is a momentous moment in their life.

Elixir of course is one of the basic ingredients for a Philospher’s Stone.

Although she already has a Stone, there is truth in the words that only a Stone created by the Alchemist, is truly compatible with them.

It’s like a doctor who hand forges his own operating tools.

There is just some link that makes those tools better than any mass produced models.

I don’t question this type of obscure thing, I just make sure to take advantage of it.

This, as well as the massive profits, are why I carefully guided S’neli towards this path.

Besides, explosions are fun, if they weren’t I might never have gone down the path of the Dao of Fire after all.

While monitoring S’neli and her progress, I am simultaneously forging within a small pocket of one of my leaves. Lately the ability to perform true multi-tasking has started growing on me.

There is a difference between true multi-tasking and doing things so fast it appears you are doing two things at once.

As such, my late experiments in the matter have caused no few headaches. At least, it was that way until I discovered that my branches are more than mere holders-of-leaves.

With enough concentration I can actually use my branches to create something like ‘parallel processors’ reminiscent of Earth’s computers. This of course is something that gave me great joy. Back in Vex’s Plane I managed to learn how to leave a small part of me ‘awake’ while sleeping.

Now, I’m taking the next natural step.

Sleeping while being awake.

Hah!

Of course, I’m making sure there aren’t any split personality issues.

There’s only one Tree in this body, and that’s me!

S’neli moves her hands in a blur combining ingredients, manipulating the flame, and expertly using the machines available.

Some people were surprised with the incredible amount of machinery around the shop.

I ignored those idiots.

The age of cauldrons and fire manipulation is over with me around.

Centrifuges, fridges, heat pans, glassware, there isn’t any reason to not use every advantage possible when crafting.

I mean, can you imagine the number of impurities when using a cauldron? The sheer amount probably is over fifty percent of the failure cause.

Alchemists are stressed enough as it is when doing high level crafting, there’s no reason to force them to use stone age instruments too.

Oh oh!

There it is!

The shining moonlight purple glow of a perfected Elixir, with a minor amount of permanent dexterity boost mixed in.

Different colors denote different types of Elixir after all.

I gently grab hold of S’neli with telekinesis as she collapses from exhaustion. The past thirty-seven hours were tough. She cut, mixed, combined, separated, and perfected a host of herbs, metals, and rare ingredients. All told it was impressive work.

I don’t hold it against her that she was doing it for her brother either.

Although she acts tough on the outside, I’ve seen the notations in the accounts payable ledger. Everytime the caravan company F’neli belongs to is about to go under, a mysterious ‘donation’ is made.

Mishra is fantastic at that stuff after all, I’m reasonably certain she’s become the black market de facto merchant. Which is probably half the reason we keep getting robbers, the other half are obviously competitors trying to steal secrets.

Competitive espionage is alive and thriving in any universe after all.

After making sure S’neli is taken care of, Mishra and I have a short chat.

This progress is excellent for the plan. Are the buyers prepared? I send through the aether to my servant.

Yes, Master Plant. After separating portions, we have enough for seven sales. The last portion I have reserved for S’neli as discussed previously. Mishra replied, promptly.

With this amount of gold, we will be able to open an account at the Bank of M’zven. That will give access to the crystal card, and thus we will no longer be bound by the limits of physical gold. I said, my branches waving in glee.

On this planet known as Vespar, there exist a curious people. They are a combination between gnomes, goblins, and dwarves with a mix of all three.

However, the M’zven are superior to all three races in a single aspect.

Financial moxy.

Financial prowess.

Or, to put it shorter…

Greed.

They are the literal midget embodiment of Greed. Now, don’t get me wrong...the M’zven won’t ever rob someone. That would be crass!

No, they will charge fees. They will provide loans with compound interest. They will buy debts and leverage them.

These guys would make Earth financial institutions look like a group of small children begging for pocket change.

However, as long as you have money…

They are the most reliable bankers in this universe, or likely any other.

For the M’zven only respect those with money!

In their words, if it is a power money can conquer, then it isn’t a power at all!

There are those who seem to think that if they have enough strength, money is useless.

M’zven people have proven those folks idiots time and time again.

So what if you’re the strongest world shattering creature around.

If you need to eat? They’ll buy all the food around you and burn it.

If you need to sleep? They’ll buy every bed and throw it in a bonfire.

If you need water? They’ll buy every well around and poison it.

These people are not the type you try to push around with mere strength!

Best of all, to those with the ability to create gold, they are literally the most trustworthy servants around.

Mishra is my servant, but, S’neli needs some of her own.

People she can trust to get the job done.

People to handle her soon to exist travel plans, organize her schedule, take care of her sleeping arrangements, and so much more.

Since I will be having Mishra take care of a few other things at this time, I’ve decided to take care this issue, now.

Make contact with the M’zven and have them come visit me, before S’neli wakes up. Afterwards, handle those issue we talked about previously. I want no loose ends on this, no matter who stands in the way. Pave the path in ashes and smoke if you must. I state, before focusing back on my refining project.

With a short bow, Mishra departs to contact our soon-to-be new friends.