Back to alchemy. Still, without eyes. Well, it was more annoying that hard. I couldn’t tell if infusion is ready, for I couldn’t see how much leafs inside the pot has changed their color, so I needed to focus on smell. Mrogul, despite his ignorance not only in alchemy but also in herbs at all, was quite a help, after telling him what I needed as shortly describing how “what” looked like, it was handed to me in no time.

Yet, the very process was complex. Receipt was complex and lack of many tools that I had in laboratory in slums made in even more complex. I required peace, to calmly focus on this difficult process… I needed peace…. What I needed was peace and the thing required by me was peace, for peace was most fundamental things in my current situation…

“ZARI! COULDN’T YOU AT LEAST PRETEND TO HAVE COMPASION! HOW COULD YOU! RUS NEEDED HELP AND UNDERSTANDING! NOT SHOCK THERAPY!” Guess what I didn’t have while I kept working? You are right. Peace.

Gisele was standing under my door for all the time since she heard about my ways of teaching how to not hold back while facing danger. Two hours. She kept pounding and knocking and yelling all this time.

“COME OUT YOU COWARD!” “Mrogul, mind yelling back to her, that I am working on very delicate process here?” “I am pretty sure I already…”

I simply turn my head at him. I wanted to tell that “I gazed upon him”… but…

“Whatever.” Orc sighed in resignation “Gisele! Please! Go away! Kid is working with herbs, and as I am standing by his side, I would rather avoid explosion!” “JUST TELL HIM TO FACE ME!” “FOR FUCK SAKE!” I lost my composure. Each time I touched anything connected to alchemy, [Mad scientist] turned me into madman wanting nothing more but see vials filled. Before achieving that title, all that mattered for me was the effect that I would receive after making a potion. But now… I wanted to see tubes glow with light, I wanted to hear pot boiling, I wanted to smell herbs changing their form. I no longer was fascinated with outcome, as much as with process itself… I mean… ISN’T THAT FASCINATING?! I was messing with reality! I was changing useless weeds or even poisonous ingredients into life saving potions! I could turn harmless flower into deadly poison! Bah! There was even a moment when I found out, that using ingredients that normally would serve nothing else but preparing a cake, I could made a substance emitting toxic gas! I mean… COME ON! IT’S HILARIOUS! Imagine that HAHAHA… uhm… once again I lost myself in thoughts… what was I supposed to… FUCK! INFUSION!

In last moment I managed to save base for potions that I have been preparing for last hour. As soon as I got situation under control, I took few heavy breaths trying to calm myself down. I needed to react on someone. Mrogul? No. I needed him. I slammed door open preparing to drop whole blame on Gisele. Cause, why not?

“FINALLY! YOU…!” “No! You! Listen now! The fucker that we will deal with in venomous as fuck. Antidotes will NOT work! After getting bitten we will die in minutes, before normal medicines would even start working! The only reason is to “vaccinate” ourselves – take medicine before fight! And that shit is complex as seventh circle of hell! And I have almost destroyed everything I have been working on because SOMEONE is no letting me to focus by YELLING like mad dog! Now, ask yourself, is lesson that you want to give me something that CAN’T WAIT?! BECAUSE THAT…” I yelled pointing at pot behind me “CAN’T! If I won’t treat it once again in twenty seconds, it’s gonna explode. So?”

Gisele went silent on a moment.

“…You are bluffing…” Like on command reaction begun within a pot. the whole vessel started almost jumping and glowing with dangerous red color. “Am I? Wanna check? 10 seconds. When it would turn purple we would have 5. And then I would have three more second to react before…” “IT IS PURPLE!” Mrogul yelled

Gisele gave up and shut the door leaving.

“What a savage.” I pouted dropping dusted root into a pot. It calmed down in an instant. “Don’t scare me like that! But… I have to admit. That war really one nice bluff…” “What?” “What what?” “Mrogul… I wasn’t bluffing.”

My partner remained silent for rest of our work. But in the very end – it was done. Fifteen small vials, each filled with deep dark red color that could be easily mistake with blood from pierced liver.

“Is it… done?” Mrogul was skeptical “Yeah.” “How can you be sure that it will work?” “Does it smell like rotting carcass being eaten by maggots?” “Eee.. yes?” “Then it will work.” “Why does medicines have to smell horrible?” “… it’s not medicine. It’s poison.” “But you told us that we will the one taking it.” “Because that what will happen…” “Say, WHAT?!” “There is no medicine for hydra’s venom. The only possibility is to either have similar regeneration factor, as they have, or to take other toxin before that. Yet this one will start working after day or two. It will be painful, very painful, but at least we will be able to fight and survive being bitten… Now, as I wonder… actually after taking that potion we would even preferred to be bitten… two toxins would fight each other. HAHA! Of course! Double negative gives positive! Why didn’t I think about that earlier! I will have to think about variation with…” And here is start losing myself again “… never mind. Thank you for your contribution. You have natural talent…” “Really?” “…No. But your help is still appreciated. Ok. Now pardon me. I have to meet old man.”

I said by goodbyes to green-skin and headed to the office. Jericho was in really good mood. Even too good

“ZARI! My favorite depriver of innocence! Ah, I heard what you did! Gisele wanted to hang you at ceiling by balls, to be honest I have no idea why. Your method is, maybe not completely moral and could break weaker individuals, but surly is effective! Rus is back on her feet. Bit shaking, but surly with clear mind… now, why am I having this pleasure of meeting with such splendid mentor?”

He was mocking me. Not that I minded that.

“I have ended preparations. Countermeasures against Hydra, that is. So, what with party? When are we marching out?” “First you have to from it.” Old man chuckled “… that quest is dedicated to you. I also believe that your knowledge about that monster is greatest, and thus member should be picked according your and Gisele’s will… yes, I will force Gisele with you. She is the best, she is respected, and have both natural and gained leading skills.” “Where is she? I am sorry for being so pushy… but I miss my eyes.” “She is in training room, torturing dummy…. Alesia! Sun shine! Would you mind asking Gisele here? You can add that Zari is here, just in case she needed motivation… just be sure that she would leave all sharp objects in training room. First rule of training room – all equipment stays in training room.” “I thought that it would be: [do not talk about training room…” “He? Why would there be such idiotic rule? The more people train the better…”

…. WHY NO ONE UNDESTAND MY JOKES HERE!? WHYYY!?

We didn’t have to wait long till loudly breathing and bit seating dragoness sat by my side.

“Still angry?” I asked.

I was answered with silent growl-hissing sound.

“Apparently yes. OK… Master, mind sharing with us details regarding quest?” “Of course. First of all, have you ever heard about Violet Swamps?” “I doubt so…” I said, yet I noticed that Gisele moved on her chair uneasy “And maybe its previous name? Violet Forest?” “I am pretty sure that Marika said that she… oh. Fuck.” “Fuck indeed.” Jericho said quietly pouring himself a glass of whisky “The beast that exterminated forest of fairies, slaughtering almost every one of them… the monster that killed all Marikas’ friends and her whole family and then corrupted forest into swamps… is that very Hydra.” “Why didn’t guild acted earlier?” “Hydras are no joke kid. They are very aggressive, especially while laying and protecting their eggs… but maybe you could tell us why?”

I quickly recalled every bit of information Kleir shared with me.

“They breed rarely, sometimes one individuals can lay eggs only one in life time. And as they are magical creatures, their eggs needs lots of magic in environment if these wants to hatch… this is why they may leave their natural habitations areas looking for places with high mana density to first lay, and then protect their eggs…” “Yes. But it also means that as long as no one would walk on their territory, no one would get hurt. Hydras make such journeys once in life time. So for them to be dangerous again, eggs had to hatch, which takes decades, and then till they would grown up, which takes centuries. Even if it’s cruel, especially for Marika, there was no need to risk people life.” “Until few days ago. What happened?” “No idea. But whatever it was, that beast in angered beyond imagination. It already attacked two villages. And nothing shows that it’s about to stop. Eyewitnesses, few poor bastards that somehow managed to survive, said that beast is huge as barn as has eight heads. Could use water magic.” “Temple Hydra? Fuck. As fire mage, I have to say that I am deeply in ass.” “You can also use nature magic, shouldn’t this one be useful?” Gisele pointed out. “I am afraid that my nature magic is focused mostly on crowd control… But I know someone who also knows nature magic… and can be used as guide. In case she could hold her emotions, that is.” “Marika? Yes. She deserve to have revenge. But Hydra is no joke. Plus she is B rank…” “So what that she is B? I am C!” I tried protecting her good name “No, Zari. You are incarnation of monster king that has skills and capabilities of A rank that ranked up four times within three months. Plus predispositions for S rank in a year, SS in two, and SSS+ in three or so, that is not taking into consideration that you gain stronger and stronger with every creature you consume… I don’t even want to know what you would become after laying your hands on parts of Hydra.” Jericho hide his face in palms.” Normally I would ask for Ride to from…. It is better to have 25 adventurers than just 5… the problem is, that right now we are lacking S and A ranks. And I will not send dozens of novice into such hellhole… Maybe if…. Maybe if… Fuck. This will be problematic, but… Gisele, Zari. Pick four adventurers that you would like to see in party. Then I will make a statement.”

Gisele looked at me.

“What kind of fighters we need?” “Rogues will be useless. Daggers will simply deal no damage. We need heavy weapons that would make huge wounds. We are not going to kills with single blows. We have to damage it over and over again. Hammers, axes, great swords, we want to mutilate it to force it to regenerate. Magic of neutral or wind element for damage. Nature and Earth for crowd control. As I know, we have no wind mage, and only nature mages here are me, Marika… and Rus. But Rus will not come with us because of obvious reason.” “So, three warriors and three mages. You, Marika and Nyx should do the trick. You would focus on restricting it, Marika on dealing damage, and Nyx could mix between supporting and dealing damage with his… hers… gravity magic… Best pick for warriors is: me, of course, Aloizy and Gerwazy. Normally I would also suggest Miroslav, but…” “It’s fine.” Jericho said “It will be more than enough. In the end, I am coming with you.” He raised from his chair and walked to the wardrobe. As soon as he opened it, the magic that emitted from the inside made me shiver. “Let’s see if I can still fit in my old armor…”

Whatever he was about to wear, it was enchanted with magic I have never seen before.