“Don’t get me wrong. Blue is a great color. Beautiful color even. I just feel like I don’t want all my clothing to be blue.”

‘But it’s the clans color.’

“That’s a part of the issue, I’m not a part of the clan.”

“The two blue clad couple stroll down the street, heading towards the forth crafting area, known for its mastery of alchemy.

In fact, the whole street is filled with various alchemy workshops.”

“Ye, I´ve been wondering about that, it was the same with the forging area. So many forges.

The leatherworking and formations places weren’t like this though.”

‘There are many forges because the city needs a lot of weapons, armors and projectiles such as arrows.

They even transport to some less populated defensive forts.’

“Okay, that make sense I guess.”

‘Most forges specialize in one product, like three or four different weapons. And some of course deal more in armor.’

“Oh. And the alchemy area?”

‘Because alchemy varies even more than forging and the demand is comparable. Some alchemy stores focus on large shipments of a specific processed materials or potions.

Some are very specialized and only the wealthiest and powerful can get them to act.’

“Interesting. But we still need to go to a specific place. It should be around over there.”

“Alchemy, a true study of materials. Many forges have unending dealings with alchemists that transform common metals into more favored products.

Many will argue what a true alchemist is, some call it the art of transformation, while others claim it to be the unfathomable search of potions.

In the end, even if the two subjects clash and merge together on many occasion they can still be traced to imbuing materials before they are passed on to be crafted into something usable.

Potion making however is a more tedious process, they change and process the materials and then work with them to create something consumable.

Both require decades of research. and due to the immense demand for both, many alchemy organizations flourished on every corner in this world.”

“What the hell. Which one is it? Potions or whatever.”

‘Hmm?’

“Never mind, I'll find out when we get there.”

“Even the dead would rethink entering the suspicious fog crawling through both the windows and door.”

“This doesn’t look all that safe.”

‘What a scary place.’

“Despite the ominous appearance this particular, worn down, alchemist workshop, isn’t dangerous in the least.

But the trickster, Tio, already knew that but used the opportunity to get closer to our hero”

“Narrator said it was safe.”

‘Let’s go in then.’

“You sure? I don’t trust him.”

‘Has he lied to you before?’

“Yes, he is often spouting out nonsense about me that just isn’t true.”

‘I see. Want to go to a different place?’

“No, let’s go in.”

‘After you.’

“I knew it! Look. Why is every building so large on the inside?”

‘It is an expansion formation.’

“Formation? Those formations really do seem useful.”

“Although most families require the use of formations, they often train their own formation expert, and most formations last for tens of years as long as they are not deliberately sabotaged.”

“Hmm. Does your Oh clan have a formation expert?”

‘Of course. Mother is actually a very prominent formation and scroll maker.’

“That terrifying woman? Hmm.”

‘She specializes in making small formations called enchantments.’

“Oh! I was wondering whether enchanting was a thing.

So, people get crafting materials from alchemists, create whatever they want from them and then have them enchanted?”

‘Yes?’

“Yes?”

‘Yes.’

‘What do you two youngsters want?’

‘Who is it dear?’

‘Some blue children.’

‘Blue?’

‘Blue children, dear.’

‘What do they want?’

‘I just asked.’

‘Okay, send them in.’

‘But we don’t know what they want, dear.’

‘Ask them then.’

‘I just did dear.’

“Ehem. I want to learn alchemy.”

‘You hear that dear?’

‘Hear what, darling?’

“Why didn’t I get a quest?”

‘Darling, they want a quest.’

‘Quest? Who are they?’

‘A pair of blue children.’

‘Well, send them in.’

‘Alright, dear.’

“The two elderly couple appearance makes one doubt one's sight. Their wrinkled faces, toothless mouth and vapid eyes makes one question what is alive and what is dead.”

“Greetings, mam.”

‘Oh, so you’re the blue children?’

‘Yes. I am Tio and this is Ji.’

“What? No. We aren’t blue children. I’m human. Not a water person.”

‘Human?’

‘He said human, dear.’

‘Why is this human blue?’

‘I’m afraid I haven’t seen humans in a few years, maybe they’ve become blue dear.’

‘I see. Is it a disease?’

‘Is it a disease, son?’

“No, no. I’m just wearing blue clothing.

I want to learn alchemy.”

‘Oh, you should have said so!’

“I thought I did.”

‘Do you have materials with you?’

“Let me check.”

“Inside our hero’s inventory are a bunch of pale green bundles of grass, a few plain looking white mushrooms and a sealed container of water.”

“Is this alright?”

‘Yes, yes. Here, read this. Follow the instructions and create a potion that stimulates the senses.’

“Alright!”

“As our hero starts reading his new material, the little lady, Tio, starts chatting to the female alchemist.”

‘Why is he making a potion?’

‘Why wouldn’t he make a potion?’

‘I thought alchemy was mostly about transforming and improving materials.’

‘Ohohoho. My sweet blue child. Taking herbs and fusing them together is a transformation!’

‘Oh.’

‘The art of alchemy runs deeper than the vast oceans.’

“flicking through the pages, Ji starts awkwardly but very deliberately processing the herbs.

Of course with the hidden guidance of the system, he breezes through the work like a once-in-a-thousand-years genius.

We can see him reach for a small bowl. He gently crushed the pearl white mushrooms, their small tops are squeezed of their clear liquid.

The gentle light of mana streaming from his hand into the ingredients and tools. This could be said paramount to a successful craftsman.

Any and all craftsmen of any stature will have to hone their control over their mana, and not only their own mana but also create a connection with the mana inherent in the materials.”

‘Mister, how is he doing?’

‘Mrrm. It’s okay. Almost comparable to this one's’ younger self.’

‘Oh? That good?’

‘Ho ho, only passable.’

‘What are you bragging about old man!’

“Laughing without care the withered old man gently speaks to his wife as if reciting ancient poetry.”

“This is oddly satisfying.”

‘Oh, are you done?’

“Just about. The easiest part should be to mix them together. Luckily I can just weigh everything and add them as instructed.”

“Although this particular test can’t be called hard, for the common man it would require at average a couple of weeks to get used to the refining process.”

“About a gram of this infused cloud-shroom juice and then you just have to…”

“A parrot in blue, the little miss Tio, nods her curious head occasionally with great interest as our hero mindlessly narrates his actions.

Despite their hidden veil, layers upon layers of wrinkled skin, we can see that the aged couple have quite the interested gleam in their eyes.

The pair are whispering in a near imperceptibly low tone, unfortunately for them, we are more than mere bottom barrel sentients’.”

‘What do you say Sileumus?’

‘He definitely has potential; best I’ve seen in decades.’

‘So?’

‘We will still depend on him to decide, will we not?’

‘Are you saying you are willing to let him to go that easily?’

‘Of course not, Pelera. My dear, I am only suggesting not to force the boy.’

‘If you let him get away, who will have the talent to take up our research?’

“The most cunning and deceptive people in this world are the wizened, and with age often comes wisdom.”

“And it should be finished now. All we need to do is wait for condensation to form and that’ll mean it’s ready.”

‘Amazing, Ji! You are really talented.’

“No, no. It is mostly the system. I almost blank out in every one of these crafting procedures.”

‘Really?’

“To be honest, I think I blanked out during the formation part yesterday. It’s a bit fuzzy.”

“It is only natural that the feeble mind of our protagonist could not stand up to the task of creating formations.

It may not have been the most complex overall but it is most strenuous in the early stages.”

“How is Pelera?”

‘Oh? You know my name?’

“It’s in the quests name.”

‘I see. The potion will do. It is only the most basics of stimulants. We’ll call it good enough.’

“Thank you, venerated alchemists.”

‘What a polite young man!’

‘Indeed, you are not eyeing my beautiful wife are you, boy?’

“A heart-rending grin appears on the alchemists, enough to frighten ghosts and soften diamonds!

Our now pale-white hero nearly loses strength in his legs while the usually eloquent Tio has started to back away, seemingly planning to escape any second.”

“No! Of course not sir! I wouldn’t dream of it!

With such an astoundingly handsome husband, how would I stand a chance!?”

“While the words roll out of the young master's mouth we can see his unfathomably respectful and sincere eyes radiate an aura of honesty.

One may even question one eyes at such display of flattery, sincerity and rapid change in facial expression.”

‘Hahaha! What a good boy! Good boy!’

“A slight tinge of red can be seen on the wizened couple, their smile even more exaggerated, oddly the fog in the room has even turned slightly red.”

‘Here, consider this a gift from the little old me. If you ever decided to continue pursuing alchemy, you need to have the right tools and materials.’

|Death’s pass token|

“Even the dead require permissions to enter.”

An authentication token of the Death’s pass organizations. Only found on elders.

“Thank you, sir and madam!”

‘Don’t mention it, go, you youngsters must have other plans.’

“After bowing deeply the blue clad couple, Tio and Ji, recede from the Death’s pass store, one of the world’s leading alchemy guilds.”

‘I never knew you were so talented, Ji.’

“I told you, it’s the system helping me craft. I’m barely doing anything.”

‘Not crafting, your acting skills. You could easily compete with scions of the large clans.’

“Acting? You don’t know this, but I believe acting to be a form of lying, and I never lie!”

“Again, a seldom seen sincerity is exuded by our hero, not only the words but every fiber of his being appears to give of a sense of honesty and trust. How would one develop such an ability!?

Fear not the malevolent, but those of great benevolence. - Con’ Ter-aul.”

‘I can’t stay with you any longer, Ji.

Ever since the portal room opened up there have been multiple portals activating and people keep streaming in and out of them.

I have to be there at certain times during the day to receive people’s quests and act as a mediator.’

“Hoooh? Got any quests for me?”

‘You’ll have to come with me to the meeting point to find out.’

“With a sigh and reluctance the beautiful water princess of the Oh clan, returns to her occupation.”

“Still not hungry, should we just head to the next place?”