The Hua family held a funeral for their fallen elder, and by the time the solemn rites concluded, the sky had already darkened into evening.
Ace, having remained a silent observer throughout, made his way back to his room.
He shut the door behind him, scanning his surroundings to ensure no one was nearby. Only when he was certain did he step into the system space.
Inside, his "workers" were already in motion.
Akha, the Level Two Alchemist, was stationed at her usual spot, sleeves rolled up, eyes sharp with focus.
Khani and Kathum, the Level One Alchemists, busied themselves with ingredients, while Mati, the only one without an affinity for alchemy, tended to the herb garden.
They were Variant Humans, though Ace had long since stopped calling them "the baldsies"—it just sounded bad.
Instead, he had given them names, a small courtesy that made their strange arrangement feel a little more personal.
During his time here, he had also learned a few things.
