Chapter 327- Potion X

Elder Kruss slapped another flying dagger away before launching three of his own. Cornered, the raven-haired beauty could only be forced to use her skill to dodge.

"How did you do it?"

She asked while speeding over. Somewhere along the way she filled a mug of water for him.

Elder Kruss walked to a nearby rock and rested his legs.

"You rely too much on your abilities. Your only limit is exhaustion and fatigue. And it is also your weakness."

Noticing the girl listening and nodding, he continued,

"From the tests yesterday, I see you're following a path similar to mine, long-range and a mid-range attacker. However, that doesn't mean you should lack a close-range finishing blow."

"But I do have one. The Ball breaker."

Elder Kruss scoffed while rapping her head with a knuckled fist.

"Your Young Master has shown that he is more interested in demon beasts than people. Your so-called ball-breaker doesn't count."

He stroked his beard with the fingers of his splint-tied arm.

"My teacher was an infamous assassin back in the day. Unlike your sister Lucy who has both speed and strength, he relied solely on speed to launch critical, if not fatal strikes."

Elder Kruss nodded in approval when the girl cleaned her teeth with her tongue and spat in a nonchalant manner to her side.

'A born thug' 

"There are effigies of demon boars, wildcats, tikus and humans in the storage. These are the common foes you will meet in the Pass, marked with their weaknesses. You can correlate your experience against wild beasts and we will plan some sure-kill moves for comfortable executing."

"Thank you, Elder. I will surely wipe the floor with that loose-tongue brat for you. If only Chu would let me try out those torture methods using the shackles that you pointed out in the meeting room."

Miki vowed while gripping his hand with both of hers.

Elder Kruss returned a look into those black, sparkling eyes of swirling chaos. Both of their thoughts strayed from the discussed training.

'Thank the Heavens for sending me this gift. Ancestors, you have ripped open the underworld to send me a true daughter of chaos.'

Standing in the large lighted cavern, Lucy gazed at the two from a distance before turning to the old man a few paces away

Elder Ganne watched the scene before shrugging a shoulder,

"Don't worry about them, it seems they just met kindred spirits."

The grey-haired man wiped two fingers across the flat side of the iron sword.

"Demonic Beast or Sersen. Both have a tell when activating their skill. The demonic boar and Sersens with low-level demonic boar talismans are common in the north. The training is simple, use your normal skills to fight and parry."

He pointed his sword,

"Sersens gain a little strength or speed more than the average person because of their talisman. Try to harness it first. Then you will use it to parry when I activate my own rush skill. The only instance you should use your skill is when you counterattack. Then, it should either be a death or incapacitation hit."

The clang of metal rang out.

Sitting on a bench at the far end, Mr. Thomas watched another elder nod as the redhead blasted away a pair of straw dolls using both hands. The masked-faced Ishara stood beside the nodding Senior, indicating something with her hands.

Wiping the sweat off his brow, Mr Thomas placed the handkerchief in his pocket.

"How in the world did you get yourself involved with these geniuses? And with a priest from the desert kingdom too."

The hunched elder asked,

"You wouldn't believe it if I told you."

Mr Thomas replied to the old man sitting next to him. Not one to take looks for granted, he received a thrashing by this aged grandpa. And that was without Elder Cane activating his skill.

"Kruss has a one-tracked mind. He only thinks about the Society and worries about its future. Any other idiot can see that one, two, three, and four Sersens popping out with powers driven by Ancient Talismans is more than a coincidence."

Elder Cane's gaze turned serious,

"Kruss plans to have these girls act as honorary core members, they are exempted from quests and the like. Only contributing if the Society faces destruction. Their identities are hidden here. Don't let anyone know about these girls' power. The grizzled chin boy is ok, but keep the girls a secret."

The old man raised his head toward the roof of the cavern,

"Frost City is a location filled with secrets. Even now, adventurers emerge from the eastern ruins of the city with discoveries that have the mages in the Tower salivating. You understand what would happen if word of this surfaced?"

Elder Cane waved his hand across the cavern.

"Take this old man's advice. Before you showcase this strength, make certain you have the power to compete with the three kingdoms. Keep your eye on that Wu Clan, you are feuding with, I always suspected them over the years. Sketchy bunch."

The hunched Elder pondered a little,

"I have a contact in the Tower. In this city, few can hide from the Tower for centuries. I can see what I can do after speaking to the others. I might be able to register the boy. No promises though. Mages tend to only focus on the Tower and its goals."

Mr. Thomas agreed in silence.

***

Chu watched the cauldron bubble.

"Sue, add the Earth rhizome, Erin, get the fenmill leaves ready. Slice them evenly. Two coins of weight. Grandmaster Bing, step away from the table."

Barking orders, he scribbled some notes on a side desk and flipped the empty hourglass.

"Sue, add the fenmill as soon as the milk starts to coagulate. Erin, peel the corngrass. Only the spongy heart will do. This time one coin's weight. Elder Shi, do not touch my notes."

With a little leeway in the process, Chu stepped away and breathed in a full lungful of air.

"Brat, why all the secrecy? You made an ironclad oath for us not to harm you and your family. What is this Potion X such that it requires another oath at the church of Bountiful Nature? Do you know how expensive another oath is?"

Mage Norivak asked while seated at the front row of the empty amphitheater. The boy had the young Sally shuttle them to a church of Bountiful Nature in the slums.

The priest there had probably never served so many high-ranking elites in his life. Mage Norivak did not miss the amicable conversation between the little girl and the female Healer present at the church.

"Brat, when did you arrive in Frost City?"

Chu stretched his arms and glanced at the hourglass before answering,

"Elder, you are shooting questions too fast. I arrived in summer, and this Potion X is something that, if created, may bring untold wealth and strength to the Tower and Alchemist Guild. Conversely, it may spell your destruction. As for the expense, I am sure the Tower will not miss a few gold coins."

The teen beckoned to the two alchemists hovering around the table. Gathering the three, he continued,

"I only allowed you to see this because I trust you. If this is successful, you three will need to remain here and make a decision. Erin will watch over you and send a message when you're ready to talk."

Chu engaged them in conversation.

During this time, Sue slipped in the dried Jalethorne the teen handed her before in secret.

"The corngrass..." 

Six hours later, a green mist floated above the simmering liquid.

"Stop the fire! It's complete. Thank the Heavens we went for the larger alcohol lamp."

Chu shouted while eyeing the solution in the cauldron. He turned to Erin who was removing and capping the flame.

"Young Master Willows. In place of the three elders present, I thank you. Depending on the outcome, your name will be marked among the greats in both the Tower and Alchemist Guild."

Clasping his hand and bowing slightly, he turned to the three seniors peering into the cauldron.

"The venomous-looking green mist had them taking a step back."

"Brat, you sure this is a success?"

Mage Norivak asked dubiously.

"Not only is it a success, but it only needed the proper ratio to be consumed."

He replied while lifting an earthen jar of water onto the table.

"Not that I doubt your intellect, young heaven-gifted, but most drinkable potions are red in color."

Grandmaster Bing stated while watching a delayed mushroom cloud dissipate.

"What kind of potion is this anyway?"

Elder Shi broke into the crux of the matter.

Chu smiled, grinned, and then laughed.

Looking at the wrinkled faces staring at him, he coughed.

"This Potion X was made by sacrificing lives. Always remember this is how it entered into human hands."

Smiling at the group, his face turned serious.

"Who wants to live for another hundred years?"

***

"Are you sure about this?"

Chu asked,

"Who else better to try this than me."

Grandmaster Bing vouched as he watched Sue carefully measure the contents.

"That may be true, but seeing as the Brat says the effects are painful, who will ensure no one bursts in here to stop the effect."

 "Mage Norivak is right, maybe you should remain with the children in case of problems."

Elder Shi suggested. His words caused the old man to fly into a rage.

"Shi! How dare you stop me from carving my name into the annals of Alchemist's History! This is my Guild, see who dares to interrupt me."

Pacing out the door, Grandmaster Bing hollered outside. Soon he called over the group, except for Sue, to the entrance.

"This is Master Elmn. I already explained the situation that this is a highly classified experiment and under no circumstances must anyone enter. There will be guards positioned outside and screams or not, no one will set foot here."

"Ah, teacher, I mean Grandmaster Bing, you do know this is not the Limerock Guild but Frost City right?"

"Pah! Mere sophistry. You think Earns will bicker with me? Now do as I say you ingrate."

Chu greeted the serious old man, Grandmaster Bing dragged across.

"Ok, that settles it. Erin, send a message. We need to wait for some people before we begin. We also need some beds."

***

Priest Faust stood slack-jawed among an unlikely band.

"Did everyone here take the oath?"

Chu asked.

The nodding of heads answered him.

Doug, Singh, Hans, Fole, Chong, Green.

Priest Faust and Healer Daisy.

Elder Shi, Grandmaster Bing, and Mage Norivak.

Chu clapped his hands to gain attention,

"Elder Shi, Grandmaster Bing, and Mage Norivak will go first in that order. We move at one-hour intervals. Priest Faust and Daisy will serve as helpers at first to ensure a smooth transition."

Chu looked over to Doug,

"I need three of you to man the doors from inside as added security. This matter will stagger on for a day or two. If need be, we will fetch Mr. Thomas and his family here."

Nodding at Sue, he walked over to Elder Shi.

"Let's begin."

The amphitheater posed an ideal location to administer the Hakkim-made potion. Grandmaster Bing blatantly pushed forward his time to drink his dose, despite the contorted moaning face of his fellow Alchemist. The culmination of both their screams nearly deafened the group inside.

Luckily, the alchemist labs had the best sound barriers money could buy.

"Brat, I'll see you in hell if this goes wrong."

Mage Norivak shot him a glare before swallowing a mug of liquid.

Doug sent Green, Fole, and Chong as the next batch to join. He and the remaining others would be enough to handle any unforeseen problems from outsiders.

Chu also agreed to wait three hours before they would take the potion.

"With a three-hour window extension, Elder Shi should be recuperating and able to assist in explaining any problems."

Doug had said.

Priest Faust and Healer Daisy flitted among the beds, checking on the condition of the patients. Fortunately, besides the expressions of pain and occasional thrashing, there were no concerns.

Priest Faust found a little time to speak to Singh.

"Do you know what is going on here?"

Singh shook his head in the negative.

"Is that drink safe?"

Singh shrugged a shoulder before replying,

"It sure is painful."

He replied while watching the twisting and contortions of expressions on Green.

 "What does it do?"

"Dunno."

"And you're still going to take it?"

"If my fighting skills weren't good, I would have been the first to go. Damn Green!"

Priest Faust nodded while watching the snow-bearded Seniors scream and thrash. Fole had fallen off the bed and thumped away at the floor to suppress the pain.

The elderly priest caught the looks of anticipation on Doug and Hans as their eyes kept flitting toward the hourglass.

He nodded his head toward them.

'Yep, a bunch of madmen. Oh Daisy, what have you gotten yourself into?' 

For the entire night, Priest Faust struggled to make sense of the situation while tending to the bedridden.

Not that there was much to tend to.

Chu let Erin and Sue take a nap, while he waited with Daisy and Priest Faust. According to the hourglass, it was probably early morning. Daisy had fallen asleep, and Priest Faust lay on a cot half-awake.

A painful shout came from one of the bunks as if someone stepped on a nail. A figure sat up while fingering his hair.

Chu walked over when the occupant of the nearby bed also raised himself.

Under the light from the fat candles above, the two alchemists stared at each other. Fingers pointed simultaneously,

"Shi?"

"Bing?"

Priest Faust dropped the mug of water he was bringing over.

His eyes switched between the two men and then to the cauldron at the table.

He slowly turned to see the young lady he treated like a daughter asleep on a cot. A slight drool dripped down from the side of her lips.

Priest Faust strode across and flipped her off the bed.

"What are you doing? How can you sleep when your husband is in pain? Hurry and kneel beside him to comfort him."

Seeing the girl skitter away, Priest Faust raised his head skyward.

'Oh Daisy, don't ever lose this man of yours.'