Chapter 3: I will step upon them all

The desert night wind howled with rarely seen savagery outside the house, as the two women, a tall human and a nanza-cat, tirelessly worked on a healing vraja potion. The dust on the streets was swept and it made the air outside somewhat hard to breathe in.

It was not easy to brew vraja potions, that fact soon became clear in Ssyba's mind. First of all, it demanded for a large amount of mana to be poured in and unless a sole master had ample reserves of mana on their own, most people couldn't even begin the process. Many preparations were needed before even attempting and whether the process succeeded or failed, the mana cost would be the same. Mana was the most basic element for brewing vraja potions, otherwise anyone could do it, even a monkey. For this reason concerning resources, many masters would actually band together to contribute for a greater result. Mana not only dictated the quantity of vraja potions, but the quality as well, its purity and safety for drinking, potency and duration when applied, lifespan and level of decay. And in the act of brewing vraja potions, more mana was not necessarily the better option either. This is where the knowledge of ages showed its value, as recipes and the necessary quantities were constantly refined and improved upon.

Tonight though, Tisila came mentally prepared and everything was set in order and ready for brewing, so that the entire process' duration would be halved at the very least, all while avoiding any unnecessary actions which could potentially lead to failure.

"How much did the water level drop?" asked Tisila, while Ssyba checked with concern.

"It's right below the second line in the kettle," replied Ssyba with innocence but decisiveness.

The water was milky and gleaming with an ivory luster. That was because of the mana infusion, and the resulting substance was to become the base for the potion.

Tisila turned her body and searched deep within her laboratory, not having the time to check the water level herself and trusting Ssyba with it entirely. The night was through and the prince's order was almost due.

"But this already is much better than in my previous attempt," Tisila thought while powdering the other ingredients. "As long as we keep this pace up and don't fumble near the end, the vraja potion will be of a much thicker consistency and my hope is, one grade higher in quality."

Appraisers graded potions on many variables, but usually the most important characteristics of a potion were the potency of its effect, the duration of the effect and the mana consumption required to activate the effect. These, when all combined and everything else taken into consideration, gave each vraja potion a grade ranging from one to ten, one being the simplest grade. The methodology of grading was obtained through arduous work of ages by established grandmasters, each facet of this science carefully analyzed and the methods refined to perfection, because many things rested on the grade of the potion. Grade one to two potions were straightforward and manageable to brew, the ingredients were common but their effects were simple. The vast majority of potions found on the free market ranged between grade one to three, very rarely four or grade five.

Tisila, although she possessed the white cloud mana, her skill in creating potions was nowhere near an expert's level. She was considered to be somewhere between average and advanced, strictly in terms of results. Her healing potions were sold as grade three vraja potions, which meant they were good and were sought after by the wealthy.

Not many could afford to buy grade three potions and even if they could, to use a grade three vraja potion would not be worth it, when taking into consideration the fact that most people possessed clear spring mana quality. For them to use grade three potions would be equivalent to burning an entire forest just to warm oneself at night. Too much power when something similar could be achieved much cheaper and economically sound. Even for white cloud mana, grade three potions were already a bit too potent.

But in truth, as good as her business was considered even now, Tisila could have actually done much better in life. With sufficient resources, experience, talent and education, her white cloud mana quality potions would easily reach grade four to five in practice, yet Tisila only ever managed to brew up to grade three vraja potions, and that occasionally.

Why?

This was Tisila's biggest regret and shame in life. Someone with white cloud mana but lacking the resources and education and means of advancing higher in the hierarchy and the society at large. She had poor upbringing, her parents couldn't afford to pay for her schooling during her youth and after she got married, her husband left early into their marriage, leaving her a single parent to raise Singau. Tisila had to make do with whatever she had, battling circumstances day after day, relying on her white cloud mana and luck, as well as her own talents and interest in the vraja potion brewing arts. She was the embodiment of the unknown talent, destined to die without ever being discovered and properly nurtured. Thus, the above average mana quality of Tisila only managed to produce average grade two to grade three potions.

However, white cloud mana is what it is, and even those potions were of a certain value. This led Tisila to become the supplier for many important people, because even if there were more talented brewers of vraja potions in Yasha'Lafiq than her, pure statistics dictated that they mostly had clear spring mana or at best white cloud, so even with a good foundation and talent, the resulting vraja potions would be average or bordering the advanced class. And the truth was, gleaming silver and faded ash mana people were a few in hundreds at best, and out of them even fewer were established brewers of vraja potions. In fact, most of those who possessed gleaming silver or faded ash mana were members of the royal princedom class, or people who were discovered and nurtured by the royal family. People like Medzanalfif and Iriazel, as well as their usurper brother.

Speaking of which…

"Lady, if I am permitted to ask," began Ssyba and Tisila groaned in disdain, but refrained herself from getting angry. "Who is this client that it's so important for you to deliver this healing potion in time?"

Tisila's annoyance was quickly diminished, as it was a fair question to ask. Earlier, she had used Ssyba in her own business, prodding her to spy on her clients in the tea club, chase after beggars and impress influential clients who came after healing vraja potions. Ssyba was an intelligent and beautiful nanza-cat. Even Tisila had to inwardly agree upon Ssyba's attractive body shape, soft and tiger-like fur and alluring gaze. Only a fool wouldn't make use of such a beauty.

"These men," Tisila began with a low voice as she checked the potion infusion. "They are in league with the current first prince, Yanamusad."

"Current first prince?" asked Ssyba with a clear surprise on her face.

"Well, nothing is really certain, no official came out of the High Fortress to announce it to the public, but there have been rumors. You can't stop rumors. Did you know that there has been a fire in the High Azur Fortress a mere day ago?"

"And the rumors say that First Princess Iriazel died in it..." added Ssyba occupying herself with Tisila's instructions regarding the making of the potion.

"And lord Yanamusad replaced her. Dark times will fall over Yasha'Lafiq," mused Tisila with a bit of a gloom.

Even commoners could tell that the age of Iriazel's peace had ended alongside her.

Ssyba blew into the steaming liquid before sniffing it. She wouldn't normally engage in this conversation on politics. It did not directly concern her, but rather her human masters. Animals wouldn't get much involved in the battle of princes, for it was mostly a game of resources, influence and vraja potions. However, Ssyba had a secret...

"It smells like rose syrup," said Ssyba in order to change the subject, as to not appear suspiciously interested in politics.

"Already? Quickly, sprinkle this while I grind the axehound whiskers."

Ssyba conscientiously listened to Tisila and sprinkled the pepper-like dust in the concoction. She caught a whiff of it and sneezed healthily. Tisila giggled and inwardly thought she did good with Ssyba. Not a waste raising her.

"Been wondering what's gremlins doing in Yasha'Lafiq," said Ssyba, then turned and pointed at her head wound.

She couldn't exactly ignore that an unusually large number of gremlins stalked the streets as of late.

"See, this is exactly what I meant. I've seen them myself even on that night," agreed Tisila. "Gremlins do not belong here, not that I have anything against them personally, but now with prince Yanamusad taking the First Throne. I wonder if he hired the Cultelari to help him establish his position as the first prince."

Tisila maneuvered herself around the tea kitchen, as if looking for a small object.

"The prince also made a significant order of certain ingredients days ago. Ah, here it is."

"To throw a tea-party I presume," said Ssyba, smirking like a sassy cat.

"No, but the ingredients suggest something else. It's mostly to treat metal and heal injured flesh and bone. You do know what this means, don't you?"

Ssyba scratched her butt.

"Not a shred of idea if I'm honest," she said.

"The first prince is definitely getting himself and his men ready for some kind of confrontation, otherwise why would he need healing potions and metal maintenance materials?"

Ssyba's tail lashed once against her left leg, but then she casually reached for the other ingredients as instructed by Tisila earlier. She knew that Tisila had a knack for these gossipy, speculatory things.

"That's a bit of a stretch," Ssyba said through stiff motions around the black kettle. "Princes order ingredients and potions all the time. Be it peace or internal strife, potions are what keeps them young, running, sharp-minded. Master Izzmahil said so himself."

Tisila sighed.

"You're not seeing the entire expanse of this picture. If the prince Yanamusad already ascended to the First Throne, why is he expecting conflict before even cementing his position?"

"How would I know?" said Ssyba absently rolling her eyes, and even Tisila felt a little embarrassed for dragging this simple nanza-cat into such a conversation.

"Maybe he expects trouble from the other princes?"

"Maybe…" said Ssyba uninterested. "What else?"

"Nothing else," said Tisila after some moments of silence. "Alright, now it's time to filter the infusion and since we don't need the remains anymore, we can throw that junk away."

Ssyba followed Tisila's directions to the absolute letter and with such vigorous heed, that even Tisila herself, while in school, did not appreciate the vraja recipes so. This was slightly unnerving but not entirely so, since Ssyba simply tried to remedy her situation and pay Tisila her due respects as her master. In Tisila's ignorance, there could be no other answer for Ssyba's behavior. Tisila chose to leave those thoughts aside for now, because she had to concentrate on pouring the last amount of mana and finally complete tonight's work.

"The final step towards the entire brewing process is also the most difficult and requires the overall greatest level of control," said Tisila.

Ssyba merely watched with a neutral, animal indifference at the surface, but in her heart she could barely contain the excitement.

Tisila continued:

"This is where the talent, practice and skill has the greatest influence, because the brewer must know how to carefully close the mystical gate at the right time."

Ssyba nodded almost imperceptibly but had it all memorized.

"Too soon and the vraja potion will be too thin with mana and the potency won't be there." Tisila's tone suddenly darkened and she continued in a solemn voice. "Too late late though, and it could turn unstable and the potion might blow in your face, sometimes to deadly repercussions."

Ssyba nodded wisely but remained silent. Within the confines of her mind, there was a desperate attempt to make sense of everything learned throughout the night, knowing that such an opportunity might never come again, despite her diligence and promptitudine.

However, such concepts escaped Ssyba's simple mind for the time being.

Throughout the entire process, the potion's mystical gate remained open under Tisila's firm mental command, so that she could time after time pour in mana and combine it together with the ingredients. Sometimes referred to as the invisible glade or the immortal place, everything contained a mystical gate within, even intangible things such as wind and lightning, and these mystical gates led directly to the divine unknowable realm from which every universal law permeated all around the natural world. Through these mystical gates humans sent their mana alongside a soul link, which in turn allowed them to control the divine powers of the universe. The mechanics behind such an action was deeply debated and studied with fervor and curiosity.

"Almost done," said Tisila licking her lips, and Ssyba watched carefully with a fiery expression.

Tisila transferred the finished and filtered liquid from the black kettle into a compact glass vial, careful not to spill anything on the sides. With a simple thought, Tisila directed the last few bits of mana through the potion's mystical gate and then closed it permanently.

At this point, the process of creating a vraja potion was completed, and the potion could be used at any time. All someone had to do was drink it and expend their own mana in order to use the vraja potion's property, in this case healing.

"I knew it would happen!" exclaimed Tisila with a joyous glint in her eyes.

As she looked closely and inspected the liquid, Ssyba couldn't tell what Tisila meant by it.

"This potion is a fourth grade potion. It's truly outstanding even for my standards!"

"Really? Huh..."

Ssyba kept on looking at it. The liquid was deep red in color, a shade lighter than blood and obviously thinner in consistency. The glass vial held between eight and ten milliliters of vraja potion liquid in it, just enough to be downed in a single, easy gulp. A grade four potion was much better than a grade three potion. By comparison, if a grade three healing potion could close a medium wound and stop a bleeding, a grade four potion could seal a deep gash in the flesh and put together bones, leaving no marks or scars. It could save someone's life in the blink of an eye.

"It's beautiful, this one…" absentmindedly said Ssyba.

She was suddenly struck by the thought of snatching the potion and drinking it on the spot. Then the wound on her head would certainly heal and she would soar to the skies. Once confirmed that she had a soul, there would be nothing more inherently inferior about herself than any other human, except maybe for mana quality.

Mana quality?

Ssyba's expression turned sour, to the point where she didn't even care about Tisila noticing her. The thought of mana quality and how closely it dictated a person's eventual growth or potential dangled heavy on Ssyba's mind ever since first hearing about it. And the more she thought about it, the more questions she had, and some questions that Tisila couldn't satisfy unless Ssyba chose to expose her secret. In the end she decided to opt for prudence, and kept her mouth shut. Even if she possessed the common clear spring mana quality, it was still times and times better than being a simple earth-bound animal for the rest of her short life. The change in power and status was a difference in realm, it was the night and day difference between seed and tree, for even those humans with thinner, weaker mana still held higher social positions than any other animal and powers inaccessible to anything else, as evidenced by the current environment of Yasha'Lafiq. Humans, or more specifically those with mana to use, ruled everything as long as they had resources. How would Ssyba rule, as the only non-human creature in the world to have a soul?

Ssyba curbed her imagination and began to think more calmly. By the end of this night she had gained much and her horizons widened, the current knowledge that she held about the relationship between soul, mana and vraja potions was inestimable to her, so she decided to take a step back and reevaluate her position. First, she needed to find the quality of her mana even before she attempted to drink any vraja potion. Then she needed to secure a batch of ingredients and try her hand at brewing a potion. Either that, or she needed to somehow put her claws on a potion all by herself.

"And after that," her eyes glinted with a sparkling light and she barely suppressed the savage and prideful thoughts inside herself.

Ssyba was a nanza-cat first and foremost, and thus she could not rely on outside support for her growth. Be it a family, a school, a sect or an entire city, humans relied on one another and formed bonds and relationships to survive and ease their existence on the harsh world of Jord, taking care and nurturing their own so that they could in turn do the same. As a tribal animal, humans all established the same parameters for survival and had all formed more or less the same ideals and basis for a society. For what exactly was a city if not a larger family? A group of humans, be it large or small, bound together by ideology, need, blood relations and goals. Cooperation was the essence of humanity.

But Ssyba knew, cooperation was simply the easiest, shortest path towards the same goal, which ultimately is survival. Where humans relied on one another to form nations, nanza-cats and indeed, almost all animals relied on their own strength and intelligence.

"Why are there no nanza-cats nations?" Ssyba once asked and she did not know the answer at that time.

Survival of the fittest. A most primitive line of thought for a most uncivilized being, for even among animals, nanza-cats were considered wild and mostly untamed.

Why are there no nanza-cats nations? Because nanza-cats were solitary by nature and with a mentality that allowed one to step on corpses without feeling remorse. There could be no civilization. Ssyba's aspirations as a nanza-cat were too big for her small self, giving a soul to a nanza-cat ensures that the entire world will eventually become her enemy.

"But destruction is not my intention, nor needless slaughter, it is simply survival of the fittest. If anyone tries to prevent my pursuit, I will not compromise. I will step upon them all and reach the apex."