Book 2, Chapter 12

We're back! I'll see you on Sunday!

Lily sat cross-legged on the cool stone floor of her room in Aziza's villa, the crumpled piece of parchment that Thutmose had pressed into her hand spread out before her. The flickering candlelight cast an eerie glow on the ancient symbols and diagrams adorning the weathered page.

The room, not spared from the relentless heat of the day, felt chilling to the young woman as she studied the complex recipe with a mix of trepidation and resolve.

The recipe, written by a shaky hand, detailed the components and process for crafting an antidote to the mind-altering potions that had reduced Thutmose to a mere shell of his former self. Lily's brow furrowed as she read through the list of ingredients, some vaguely familiar from her studies, others completely foreign to her.

But Lily knew she had to help Thutmose, no matter the challenge that lay ahead. As a [Librarian], he not only held a wealth of knowledge that could be invaluable to her own journey, but she owed his people a debt: without Hadrian, she would have never become who she was now.

More than that, the injustice of his fate and the cruelty of the Order in stripping him of his mind and dignity ignited a fierce determination within her to make things right, to restore him to the man he once was.

Her thoughts drifted to the Professions that had been offered to her upon gaining her Class – Blacksmith, Potionmaker, Enchanter, Artisan, and Tailor. Each held its own allure, but as she studied the recipe, the choice became obvious.

She had been wanting to talk to a [Librarian] to find out more about Professions, the offspring of her [Alchemist] Class, and now, she had finally gotten an answer – one that she had not expected, though.

Potionmaker, the Profession, held the key to unraveling Thutmose’s fate.

Lily's gaze wandered to the window, taking in the view of Aziza's villa. The opulent mansion stood in stark contrast to the poverty and suffering she had witnessed in the city's streets. The lush gardens, meticulously maintained, offered a respite from the harsh desert beyond.

But even amidst this grandeur, Lily's mind was consumed by thoughts of Thutmose and the challenge that awaited her.

This is the right thing to do, Lily said, feeling a fire ignite in her heart.

She had been unable to fight tyranny when she had been in the Papal State. But she was not powerless anymore.

Tightening her left fist, she looked up at Potionmaker and made her choice.

[Would you like to select Potionmaker?]

"Yes," Lily said.

As she rose to her feet, with the parchment clutched tightly in her hand, Lily heard a stream of notifications go off in her head.

...

[*Ding!* Profession – Potionmaker acquired!]

[*Ding!* Profession – Potionmaker Level 1!]

[Ding! Skill – Quality Analysis acquired!]

[Ding! Skill – Quality Analysis Level 1!]

[Ding! Skill – Mana Distillation acquired!]

[Ding! Skill – Mana Distillation Level 1!]

[You have gained access to the following Recipes:]

[Health Potion (Minor) - Grade: Common]

[Mana Potion (Minor) - Grade: Common]

[Elixir of Insight - Grade: Uncommon]

Lily's eyes widened as she read through the list, her mind already racing with the possibilities each potion presented. The Health and Mana Potions, though basic in their grade, could become crucial elements in any adventurer's arsenal.

I would kill for some Mana Potions that could actually top me up, she thought. Currently, neither Health Potions nor Mana Potions held any allure to her since she was too strong to benefit from them. She had never actually understood how it was possible that [Potionmakers] couldn't make better potions than the quality she had seen going around. But she had pegged it to the same type of problem that [Healers] had had.

But it was the third recipe that truly captured her attention. The Elixir of Insight, an Uncommon grade concoction, boasted a description that made Lily's heart race with excitement.

[Elixir of Insight: This potion enhances the user's cognitive abilities, allowing for heightened focus, memory retention, and learning capacity. When consumed, the user becomes fully immersed in their experiences, absorbing knowledge and skills at an accelerated rate.]

The implications of such an elixir were staggering. Lily's mind immediately turned to her training with Aziza and Hebet and the grueling sessions that left her battered and bruised, both physically and mentally. With the Elixir of Insight, she could potentially overcome the barriers that had hindered her progress, immersing herself fully in the lessons and techniques her mentors imparted.

This is… Lily felt her heart in her throat. This is better than anything I could have asked for… but how did Thutmose know to give the recipe to me? Does he know what an [Alchemist] is? Because if he does, I wouldn't mind understanding more about the Class myself.

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she let the knowledge of her Profession wash over her. She looked over at the recipes in her head, and then, with a determined smile, she opened her eyes.

...

The sun was high in the sky as Lily, Aziza, and Hebet gathered around the table in the villa's courtyard, a spread of delicacies laid out before them. The fragrance of blooming jasmine relaxed the senses of the three women.

But Lily's mind was far from relaxed, her thoughts consumed by the revelations of her newly acquired Profession.

As they began to eat, Lily cleared her throat, drawing her companions’ attention. "There's something I need to tell you both," she began, her voice steady despite the nervousness fluttering in her chest. "My Class, [Alchemist], is not like anything I've ever heard of before. It comes with Professions—"

Aziza and Hebet exchanged a look of surprise, their eyebrows raised with curiosity. "Professions?" Aziza repeated, setting down her fork. "What do you mean?"

Lily took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "When I acquired my Class, I was offered a choice of Professions – Blacksmith, Potionmaker, Enchanter, Artisan, and Tailor. I didn't understand it at first. They're Classes, right? How could I get offered a Class before I reached level 60? But now, I actually chose one because… well, because I needed to, and it appears to work similarly to a Class. I’ve got recipes and a few Skills but no Attributes."

Hebet leaned forward, her dark eyes sparkling with intrigue. "That's incredible, Lily. I've never heard of a Class granting Professions before. What does it mean for you?"

"It means I have access to potion recipes and the ability to craft them," Lily explained, a hint of excitement creeping into her voice. "Apparently, one of them can also aid in my training."

She proceeded to tell them about the Elixir of Insight. Soon, Aziza's and Hebet's eyes widened.

"An Elixir that can help you learn and absorb skills faster?" Aziza mused, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Girl, that could be a game-changer for your training. Imagine how much faster you could progress, how much more you could accomplish."

Hebet nodded in agreement, her expression thoughtful. "It could make all the difference, especially with your dance training. The ability to fully immerse yourself into the movements, to let the rhythm guide you... it's a [Dancer]'s dream. In fact, I'd like to try it if you manage to craft it."

"Well, it's going to take a second. I'm not even sure I can craft a normal Mana Potion. I'll need some practice. In fact, I wanted to tell you that I'll be taking a break from our training. This is going to take all my attention."

"That is a wise choice," Aziza nodded. "If this works, it will be time well spent."

Hebet nodded along, even though she looked slightly miffed at not being able to train her successfully without the help of a potion.

Lily hesitated for a moment. "Is it really ok? I don't want to disrupt our progress."

"Nonsense," Aziza said with a wave of her hand. "This is more important. You said it: your success with this Elixir could have far-reaching consequences for your future."

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a pouch heavy with coins and pressed it into Lily's hand. "Here, take this. You'll need funds to acquire the ingredients and equipment for your potions."

Lily tried to protest, but Aziza silenced her with a look. "Don't even think about refusing. Consider it an investment in your future."

A lump formed in Lily's throat, overwhelmed by the generosity and the trust her companions placed in her. "Thank you," she managed, her voice thick with emotion.

Hebet grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Just don't forget about us when you become a rich Potionmaker, alright? And who knows? You might be able to help us out if the Order decides to mess with us."

Laughter filled the courtyard, the tension of the moment dissipating in the warm afternoon sun. As they resumed their meal, Aziza turned to Lily, a curious expression on her face.

"What made you think of this Elixir now, Lily? Did something happen on your walk through the city?"

Lily hesitated, the image of Thutmose's haunted eyes and desperate plea flashing through her mind. But she couldn't reveal the truth, not yet. The knowledge of the broken Librarian was a secret she would keep close to her heart.

"Just a moment of clarity," she said with a shrug, hoping her evasion would suffice. "Sometimes, the answers we seek come to us when we least expect them."

Aziza studied her for a moment as if sensing there was more to the story, but she didn't press further. Instead, she raised her glass for a toast. "To Lily, the [Alchemist], and the path that lies ahead. May your Potions guide us to victory and enlightenment."

Hebet joined in, her voice ringing with enthusiasm. "To Lily!"

Lily smiled warmly. Even though she had been robbed as soon as she had set foot in Amunara, and the Order might be after her, she had made… friends.

...

Lily found herself in a small, dimly lit room in Aziza's estate. It had been arranged by the owner herself who had told her not to practice potionmaking in the main building—Aziza had not-so-jokingly said that if she released some poisonous gas into the air, they wouldn’t go down with her.

Before her lay a makeshift workbench, its surface cluttered with an array of rudimentary instruments – a beaker, a pot for boiling, and a set of weathered scales that had seen better days. The flickering light of a nearby candle cast dancing shadows across the walls, adding to the atmosphere of mystique and experimentation.

With a deep breath, Lily rolled up her sleeves and set to work, her mind focused on the task at hand. She reached for the worn parchment that contained the recipe for a basic Health Potion, her eyes scanning the list of ingredients.

[Health Potion Recipe (Minor)]

[Ingredients:]

[- 5 Sprigs of Elderberry]

[- 2 Drops of Honey]

[- 1 Pinch of Ground Ginger]

[- 1 Vial of Purified Water]

Lily gathered the components, her hands trembling slightly with anticipation. She carefully measured each ingredient. The Elderberry sprigs, their leaves a vibrant green, exuded a subtle aroma of vitality.

She combined them in the beaker and used Mana Distillation to meld them together while she held the beaker over a small flame. She could feel the motes of Mana inside the ingredients slowly getting drawn out.

The vibrant green of the elderberry leaves deepened, their color swirling into the purified water that served as the potion's base and creating a mesmerizing spectacle of light and color. The room's light reflected off the potion, casting prismatic patterns on the walls.

As the potion reached its optimal temperature, Lily carefully removed the beaker from the heat, her hands steady despite the excitement thrumming through her body. She poured the mixture into a small vial, the glass cool against her palm.

She held the vial up to the light, examining the fruits of her labor. The liquid within was a pale, translucent green, its surface shimmering with a faint iridescence.

She used Quality Analysis to check the potion.

[Health Potion (Minor) - Quality: Mediocre]

The words "Mediocre" stared back at her.

"Huh," she scratched her head. "This is… weird."

As if in response to her pondering, a sudden notification appeared in her mind.

[Ding! Profession: Potionmaker - Level 2]

"I guess not everything is so hard to level up as Alchemist," she muttered, focusing on the next step.

And so, Lily placed the Health Potion on the workbench.

With a deep breath, she turned her attention to the next recipe on her list, the Mana Potion. She would not rest until she had mastered each recipe.

...

Days had passed in a flurry of activity, with Lily completely immersing herself in her new Profession. The small, dimly-lit room had become her sanctuary, a place where she could lose herself in the intricacies of her craft. The once-bare shelves were now lined with an array of vials and bottles, each containing her various attempts – Health Potions and Mana Potions of varying quality.

Lily's hands moved with newfound confidence as she measured, mixed, and brewed, the recipes becoming second nature to her. And as she completed a new Mana Potion, something happened.

[Mana Potion (Minor) - Quality: Perfect]

She had finally managed to extract all the Mana from the ingredients and had been able to differentiate the higher quality ones from the worst ones thanks to Reality's Whisper and Mana Sense. But the real surprise was just around the corner.

[Ding! Profession: Potionmaker - Level 15]

[Ding! Class: Alchemist - Level 36]

"What?" Lily was stunned by the level-up. "WHAT?!"

She had toiled in the dark and fought monsters that she should have never been able to even scratch at her level to barely advance her Class to level 35. And only now had she finally gotten a new level.

"Is it the fumes?"

She had actually poisoned herself twice with the fumes from the beaker, but it was nothing a few pulses of Death Magic through her body couldn’t clear up.

"No, this is…" She looked at the notification again.

[Ding! Class: Alchemist - Level 36]

"Fuck me," she swore. "Fuck me, for real. Is this part of how I'm supposed to level this Class? Professions? Yeah, of course. It's part of the fucking Class. A fucking Class gave me some fucking Professions, and I ignored them. How stupid!"

She almost punched the workbench before looking at all the vials she had filled so far.

"ARGH!" She roared before grabbing her face.

"OF COURSE!"

…

After finding out that becoming more proficient in her Profession gained her new levels, she had almost gone crazy, but soon, she simply resumed her practice. Now, having mastered the two minor potions, she felt more confident approaching the much more expensive Elixir of Insight.

Lily had pored over the ingredients and studied the instructions with a meticulous eye, but each attempt ended in failure so far. The liquid in the vial refused to stabilize, its color a sickly brown instead of the vibrant amber described in the recipe.

Lily frowned, and her brow furrowed in concentration as she surveyed the latest failed attempt. The Elixir of Insight was crucial to her plans, the key to unlocking her full potential and allowing her to infiltrate the damn palace.

She needed to figure out what was going wrong, or she would lose her goddamn mind.

As she stared at the bubbling liquid, her mind began to wander, drifting back to the lessons from her past life. On Earth, Lily had been a student of biology, her curiosity driving her to explore the intricate workings of the natural world. Those lessons, though distant and seemingly irrelevant in this new reality, suddenly took on a new significance.

Lily's eyes widened as a realization dawned upon her. Just as she had used her knowledge to eradicate the parasites that had ravaged Aziza's body, she could apply that same understanding to the art of Potionmaking.

She reached for a fresh piece of parchment, her hand trembling with excitement as she began to list the ingredients and their potential effects. Lily's mind raced as she considered the different combinations and the ways in which each component could enhance or hinder the others.

With a deep breath, Lily activated Reality's Whisper, focusing her attention on the failed potion before her. She let her senses expand, delving into the very essence of the liquid, seeking out the imbalances and imperfections that had led to its failure.

As she probed deeper, Lily began to notice some emerging patterns – the way certain ingredients clashed, their energies discordant and chaotic. She could see where the proportions were off and where the timing of the additions had been crucial.

Armed with this new insight, Lily set to work, adjusting the recipe with meticulous care. She experimented with different ratios, tweaking the order in which she added the components. Each attempt brought her closer to her goal, the liquid in the vial slowly shifting from a murky brown to a clearer, more vibrant hue.

Hours turned into days as Lily lost herself in the process, her dedication unwavering. She drew upon her knowledge of the natural world, seeking out parallels between the ingredients and the plants she had studied on Earth. While she lacked the tools and terminology of modern science, her intuition and understanding guided her, leading her down new paths of discovery.

Finally, after countless attempts and adjustments, Lily held up a vial of the Elixir of Insight, its amber liquid glimmering in the candlelight. She could feel the energy emanating from the potion, a subtle vibration that spoke of its potency.

[Elixir of Insight - Quality: Excellent]

Lily's heart soared as she read the notification, the word "Excellent" a testament to her hard work and ingenuity. She had done it – she had unraveled the mystery of the Elixir of Insight, forging a path that combined the best of her knowledge and the magic of this world.

With a triumphant grin, Lily raised the vial to the light, watching as the amber liquid caught the flickering glow.

...

Lily stood in the center of the courtyard, the amber vial of the Elixir of Insight clutched tightly in her hand. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the stone floor. A gentle breeze carried the scent of jasmine, a subtle reminder of the beauty that existed beyond the confines of her training.

With a deep breath, Lily uncorked the vial, the scent of the potion wafting up to greet her. It was a complex aroma – a blend of herbs and spices that hinted at the power contained within. She hesitated for a moment, her mind racing with the possibilities and potential consequences of what she was about to do.

But the desire to test her creation, to experience the effects of the Elixir first-hand, outweighed any lingering doubts. With a swift motion, Lily brought the vial to her lips and drank deeply, the liquid cool and slightly sweet on her tongue.

[Elixir of Insight consumed]

[Skill: Enhanced Perception activated]

[Skill: Accelerated Learning activated]

[Duration: 2 hours]

The effects were almost instantaneous. Lily's senses sharpened, the world around her coming into stark clarity. Colors seemed more vibrant, sounds more distinct, and even the most subtle scents in the air became noticeable. She could feel the energy of the potion coursing through her veins, a subtle vibration that resonated with her very being, as if every cell in her body was awakening to a new level of awareness.

Closing her eyes, Lily let her mind drift back to the lessons she had learned from Hebet and Aziza. She recalled the fluid movements of the dancer, the way her body swayed and undulated to an unheard rhythm, each motion a perfect expression of grace and emotion. She remembered the precise strikes and smooth dodges of the warrior, the way Aziza moved with deadly grace, her body a weapon honed to perfection.

With the Elixir of Insight heightening her perception and learning, Lily began to move, her body responding to the memories with newfound ease. She started with a simple step, a fluid motion that mirrored Hebet's dance. Her feet glided across the stone, her arms sweeping through the air in a graceful arc as if she were painting a masterpiece with her movements.

As she danced, Lily felt a sense of connection, a deeper understanding of the movements she had struggled with before. The Elixir allowed her to internalize the lessons, to feel the music in her bones, and let it guide her steps. Each motion became an extension of her soul – a physical manifestation of the rhythm that pulsed within her.

Seamlessly, Lily transitioned from dance to combat, her body shifting into the stances Aziza had drilled into her. She lunged forward, her fist striking out with a speed and precision that surprised even her. The air whistled around her arm as it cut through the space, a testament to the power behind the blow. She pivoted, her leg sweeping out in a low kick, the movement fluid and controlled, as if she were a sculptor shaping the very air around her.

With each step and strike, Lily could feel the Elixir working its magic. Her mind absorbed the lessons with a newfound clarity, the muscle memory solidifying with each repetition. She danced and fought, the two disciplines blending into a seamless whole – a true testament to the power of the Elixir.

Time seemed to lose its meaning as Lily lost herself in the flow of movement. The courtyard became her stage, her training ground, a place where she could test the limits of her newfound abilities. She leaped and spun, her body a blur of motion, the air humming with the energy of her exertion.

As the sun dipped below the horizon and the shadows lengthened, Lily finally came to a stop, her chest heaving with exertion. A sheen of sweat glistened on her brow, but her eyes sparkled with newfound confidence.

[Skill: Enhanced Perception deactivated]

[Skill: Accelerated Learning deactivated]

[Elixir of Insight effects ended]

Lily marveled at the progress she had made in such a short time. The movements that had once felt awkward and foreign now flowed through her with natural grace. She had internalized the lessons, her body and mind working in perfect harmony.

With a grin, Lily looked down at the empty vial in her hand. The Elixir of Insight had proven its worth, unlocking a new level of potential within her.

As the night settled over Amunara, Lily made her way back to her quarters. She had tasted the power of the Elixir, and now, she was hungry for more.

…

Two Months Later

Lily panted hard as Hebet looked bedazzled by her performance and clapped.

"You'd make me worry for my livelihood if you had taken the [Dancer] Class—or Profession, I guess."

"There's no Dancer Profession," Lily panted. "Was it good? Do you think I can pass as a [Dancer]?"

"Take this," Hebet said with a sigh. "Nutitari used to have it on her at all times, but she gave it to me a while ago. I never really had a use for it."

Lily took the bracelet that Hebet was offering.

"What is it?" She asked.

"It will conceal your Class for a few hours. It takes days to recharge, though. It'll block the Hawthorne brothers from seeing your Alchemist tag."

"Really?" Lily looked surprised.

"Now, I heard that they'll be back tomorrow. Khnum has finalized the preparations for the banquet, and we're going to be part of the main event. Are you ready?"

Lily clenched her fists, feeling the same craziness she had picked up in the underground temple crawl up her spine.

"I was born ready," she smiled widely.