The following day I join the girls in exploring the stalls. There are a lot more of them than I initially thought. With the tournament's main focus being on combat skills those with non-combat skills, mostly F rank hunters who are only hunters in name, seem to benefit from setting up these stalls as a form of networking. Most of the people visiting the stalls seem to be normal non-guild members, some of which might actually be rich and influential people.

Looking around I see a few people dressed in simple yet excessively clean clothes. Mr analyze confirm them to be rich people trying to keep a low profile, but failing in part due to their inability to wear worn or unclean cloths like most common folk. A couple of middle aged men seem to buck the trend by wearing less conspicuous cloths, but failing to cover the well manicured and soft hands. Their guards would have been completely inconspicuous if they weren't clearly guarding their patrons.

"Come I found something you might like." Lynne drags me off in a direction I have yet to explore. In a small but very busy opening, a number of tables are laid out with similar equipment. Each table have a seemingly independent team working with glass vials and small portable heaters. It looks like a chemistry class. Lined up on some of the tables are small glass bottles with colorful liquid in them.

"Potion making!" Lawra names it before I do. She seems to have followed Lynne and me to the stall. "I used to play with glass bottles when I was a little girl, pretending I was making magic potions." Being from a somewhat better off commoner family it seems her playing was a bit more like my own. I doubt many kids in this world got a chemistry kit for their birthday. I wonder how Lynne knew I was going to like this.

"You like to learn, so I figured you would find this as fascinating as most people do." Lynne's explanation tells me more about most people than it does about her. So potion making interests commoners. I wonder why? After voicing my question Lynne gives me a reasonable answer. "For most people magic is something others do, if they are wealthy they might own a magic tool, but there is something more to potions. Putting magic in a bottle just by mixing ingredients. It can make anyone dream about potion making."

We go to a table that seems to be at the first step of making a healing potion. A number of dried herbs are mixed and ground into powder by one assistant. Another potion maker empties some small pebbles into another mortar and start crushing and grinding them into powder as well. I am sure the ingredients should be secret, but Mr analyze tells me not only that the pebbles are low grade mana stones, but also the name of all the dried herbs. Most of which I recognize from my reading at the guild library.

Both powders are mixed together before being passed to the main potion maker. He seems to be the boss since the others defer to him. To most it would seem like he does the least as all he is seen to do is pour the powder in a glass container with water being slowly heated and stir. Rather than see I feel the very fine treads of magic going into the content, altering it, compounding it, and somehow filling it. Magic is definitely going into the potion without coming out and gradually the color starts to change.

Wonder if most people would be disappointed to learn that even potion making needs magic to make it work. Bet it is a well kept secret by potion makers to keep the mystic in the eyes of the common folk, or maybe they already know but choose to ignore it. Better not speak about it for now, and learn as much as possible. I make sure to observe all the different potions being made in the clearing. Analyze notes and records all the supposed secret ingredients, while I try to pick up a potion making skill by observing the main potion makers.

Several hours later I still haven't learned the skill, but I got a good grasp of the magic used to make the potion. Guess I need to try doing it to learn. I walk up to one of the leading potion makers. "Do you mind if I have a go at doing your job?" "Sure why not, just mix the powders and stir until the color changes." He clearly thinks I don't know he has been using magic.

Mixing the powders into the warm water I stir the content until it is fully dissolved, then I use the magic I have learned by observing. Stimulate the herbs to trigger the desired reaction, and fill up the powdered mana stones with my own healing influenced mana. I recognized some of the forms used from when did my own healing magic practice. Everyone looks stunned at the glowing red potion I have made. The potion maker that let me try his job is the most surprised.

"You clearly have a talent for potion making." There is a slight stutter to his voice. Seems like I will be held up as someone with a talent if I keep quiet about the magic to all the commoners. "I am complete newbie, but I am a quick learner." All true, even got a unique skill too prove it. "I am sure there is plenty I can learn from someone as experienced as you." The flatter seems to soften the mood a bit.

Not long after I am eating lunch with the potion maker and his apprentices. "You can use magic. Guess I shouldn't be surprised since you are a higher ranked hunter. Most hunters don't bother with potion making even if they know magic, and most mages look down on potion making." Grint the potion maker seems intrigued by my interest in potion making. "I just like learning, and I am still learning the basics of magic. I hoped to pick up some tricks at this event." "Well you are certainly a quick learner."

"Is there much demand for potions?" I try not to sound like a prospective business man. Technically Grint is competition when I start making my own potions. "There is always demand for potions, it makes good business, but the effect of most potions is too weak, in particular the healing potions. There is a huge demand for high level healing potions, but these are rare, and the few that are made are made at great cost by people who have better things to do than making potions."

"So the holy grail of potion making is high level potions produced at low cost." Grint looks at me funnily. "Not sure what a holy grail is, but I know I would love to be able to make higher quality potions. Some of my fellow potion makers have blown fortunes trying to find a way. I am happy making a living creating a diverse range of lower level potions, but even I dream about it." "If I make a fortune, at least I know what to spend it on." Grint seems to agree. Most people probably wouldn't.