Current Date: Year 24,991 | 4th Month Ignara | Day 16
A new day unfurled across the sky, casting soft golden hues over the sleepy town as sunlight gently crept above the horizon.
Whoosh…
A cool morning breeze swept through the trees, rustling leaves with a soothing whisper.
Chirp-chirp-chirp…
Birds sang a gentle chorus in the distance, welcoming the dawn.
The scent of dew-kissed earth and blooming flowers drifted through the quiet streets, wrapping the town in a fresh, earthy fragrance.
Inside Jack's cozy home, the soft clink of cutlery and the faint bubble-bubble of simmering stew on the stove filled the air. The comforting aroma of breakfast hugged every corner.
Jack sat at the table, enjoying a slice of warm buttered bread.
Crunch…
The crisp crust gave way to soft, fluffy bread beneath. He dipped his spoon into a bowl of vegetable stew swirl… sip… steam curling upward as he savored each bite.
Across the table, James set down his teacup with a quiet clink, while Emma gently packed herbs and tools into her small quest pouch
shuffle… clink… zip.
Sofia sat beside Jack, munching happily on a honey-dipped bun. "Mmm! Mom, this is the best one yet!" she said, cheeks puffed adorably.
Emma chuckled softly. "Glad you like it, sweetie."
Ava, seated beside Sofia, wore her usual calm smile as she sipped herbal tea. "It's peaceful here… I wish mornings could last longer."
Jack glanced at them all and stretched lightly pop… pop… loosening up his shoulders.
"I'm off to the Academy," he announced, rising from his seat.
"Already?" Sofia pouted a little. "Can't you stay a bit longer?"
Jack smiled and ruffled her hair. "I'll tell you all the stories when I get back."
James gave a hearty laugh hah! "Just don't fall asleep in class this time."
Emma added with a teasing tone, "And maybe try not to cause trouble on day two?"
Jack rolled his eyes playfully. "No promises."
Eva stood as well, gently brushing crumbs from her lap. "I'll walk with you, Jack. I have errands near the Academy."
"I will Be Alone at Home"
"I'm coming too with my big sister!" Sofia chimed in, her eyes sparkling as she hopped to her feet.
Creak…
The front door opened, letting in a flood of golden light and the fresh scent of morning.
Whoosh…
A breeze danced through the entryway, stirring Sofia's hair.
As Jack, Ava and Sofia stepped outside, James and Emma walked the other way toward the Guild, their boots making a soft thud-thud down the stone path.
"Be safe Mom and Dad!" Sofia called after them, waving excitedly.
Jack turned, smiling. "Same here!"
The sun climbed higher, painting long shadows across the cobbled streets.
Tap… tap… tap…
Jack's footsteps echoed alongside Ava's as they made their way through the town.
Ava looked at him from the corner of her eye. "Ready for day two?"
Jack exhaled calmly. "Yeah… more than ever."
The wind carried distant voices, a cart's wheel creaked, and the faint sound of bells chimed somewhere in the heart of the town.
The day had just begun.
And so had their journey.
------
Clink… clack… rustle…
The soft sounds of morning echoed through the Academy gates as Jack arrived, his boots tapping lightly against the smooth stone path. He paused, gazing up at the towering gates that stood like ancient sentinels, carved with glowing runes that shimmered faintly in the rising sunlight.
Fwoosh…
A gentle breeze swept past him, carrying with it the faint scent of old parchment, fresh herbs, and something… arcane. Jack inhaled deeply.
Eva matched Jack's pace, her silver hair catching the morning light like threads of moonlight spun into silk. "Second day," she said softly, her voice calm yet grounded. "Think it'll be more exciting than yesterday?"
Jack chuckled, adjusting the strap of his satchel. "Hopefully"
A sudden blur of energy bounded up behind them.
Sofia skipped into step, her presence bright and full of spark. "I still wish I could sneak into your class! I bet alchemy smells like candy and smoke!"
Jack laughed. "That's… not entirely wrong."
They passed through the vibrant courtyard, weaving between clusters of students and enchanted message birds flitting through the air like glowing leaves in a breeze. Ahead, the towering arch of Alchemy Class B – Chamber Room loomed, its stone doors etched with radiant runes and elegant, vine-like engravings pulsing faintly with magic.
Jack slowed near the entrance and turned to his sister. "You two go explore. I'll meet you after class."
"Okay! Have fun blowing things up!" Sofia giggled, grabbing Eva's sleeve. "Come on! I heard there's a floating orchard somewhere!"
As the girls turned away, Eva glanced back over her shoulder, her eyes lingering on Jack.
"Nervous?" she asked gently.
Jack gave a sheepish grin. "More like… excited."
Sofia popped back into view, eyes gleaming like starlight. "Alchemy sounds so cool! You better come back with something shiny… or that smells weird!"
They reached the marble staircase leading into the Alchemy Wing. The air was tinged with the scent of rare herbs, old parchment, and the faint charge of lingering mana.
Jack turned for one final look.
"Good luck!" Eva called, her voice steady, quiet, but full of quiet encouragement.
"Still feels like magic." Even on his second day, the place stirred something within him: wonder, awe, anticipation.
The marble walls glistened as if kissed by the morning sky. Above, birds chirped in a playful chorus, their songs blending with the rhythmic footsteps and distant chatter of students. The Academy grounds were alive robes flowing like waves of color, staff crackling with residual enchantments, and voices echoing like ripples in a pond.
Jack navigated the wide courtyard, weaving between groups of students. Some were laughing, others nervously clutching scrolls or potion kits. The building loomed ahead, majestic and radiant.
He climbed the white marble stairs slowly, each step ringing softly beneath his feet.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Then, he reached the familiar door engraved with an alchemical circle: Alchemy Class B Chamber Room.
Creak…
The door opened with a whisper as Jack stepped inside. Cool, herbal-scented air greeted him. The room, lit by floating orbs of soft blue light, had an atmosphere of mystery and anticipation.
Jack made his way to his seat.third row, by the window and settled in. He glanced around as students began pouring in, their excited voices bouncing off the stone walls.
"Do you think we'll finally learn potion brewing today?"
"Maybe poison resistance… or love potions!" someone giggled.
"I heard we might try explosive potions today!"
"Shh! Don't jinx it, we can't get the smell of burning hair!" another whispered back, followed by a round of nervous laughter.
The murmur of voices built into a warm hum, a living heartbeat of curiosity and hope. Jack smiled to himself, fingers brushing over the edge of his desk.
He didn't know what the day held, but he could feel that something amazing was about to begin.
A few moments later…
Creeeak… click.
The classroom door opened with an almost inaudible whisper, like the wind parting a curtain of silence.
And then she appeared.
Professor Elira Moonshade glided into the room, not walking. Her every step carried an ethereal weightlessness, as if gravity itself bent to her presence. A crystal staff floated beside her, levitating gracefully, shimmering with soft, bluish light. It emitted a faint hum, like distant wind chimes resonating under moonlight.
Her silver hair flowed behind her like liquid moonlight, gleaming in soft waves with every motion. The delicate runes etched upon her long elven ears pulsed rhythmically with quiet power
Thump… thump…
As though echoing the heartbeat of nature itself.
Her forest-green robes swayed in tandem with an unseen breeze, trailing faint motes of golden dust. She looked less like a professor and more like a guardian spirit of the ancient woods.
Silence fell like snow.
All whispers, giggles, and shuffling stopped the moment her foot crossed the threshold. Every student sat a little straighter, their gazes locked in awe.
Her vivid emerald eyes slowly swept across the room, measuring, observing… knowing.
Then, a soft smile curved her lips.
"Good morning, everyone," she said, her voice calm and clear, soft like rainfall, yet carrying the weight of a spell.
"Good morning, Professor," the class answered in unison, the reverence in their tone unmistakable.
Elira turned toward the floating chalkboard behind her and lifted her hand. Her fingers glowed faintly as she gestured through the air.
Shiiing…
Glowing script began to etch itself into the space behind her, forming graceful alchemical symbols and runes, hanging midair like constellations. Lines curved and pulsed, forming a mesmerizing diagram.
"Today," Elira said, her tone shifting to something more focused, "you begin your very first step into true alchemy."
The floating script flickered with golden light as she continued.
"You will learn how to craft your first potion, the Minor Healing Tonic."
A soft gasp escaped from a few students. One even whispered, "We're really doing this…"
Jack leaned forward, heart beating faster. This was no longer just theory or fantasy.
This… was the real beginning.
---
Alchemy Recipe – 1st Star (Low Tier)
Minor Healing Tonic
Ingredients:
Glowpetal
Dewleaf
Windberry
Effect:
Restores minor physical wounds and slightly revitalizes stamina.
---
Jack leaned forward, eyes gleaming with focus, and began scribbling the recipe into his alchemy notebook.
Scratch… scratch…
His quill danced over the parchment as glowing letters shimmered in the air above the professor's head soft golden runes that pulsed with life before gently dissolving like drifting fireflies.
Fzzz… shhhh…
Each rune vanished into the air, leaving behind a faint echo of energy.
Professor Elira took a step forward, her voice serene but commanding.
"Remember," she said, her tone deepening with weight, "alchemy is not merely mixing herbs in a bowl. It is an art, a sacred process where nature's essence is transformed by your will."
She lifted her crystal staff.
Vwooom!
A wave of energy swept from its tip. Four glowing titles appeared in the air, hovering before the class in radiant, flowing script:
The Four Alchemy Steps;
1. Understanding Herbs
2. Essence Extraction
3. Mana Infusion
4. Alchemy Circle Design
---
Professor Elira walked to her alchemy table, her emerald robes whispering like rustling leaves. Ssshh... They swayed gently, as though moved by an unseen forest breeze.
She turned to the class, her crystal staff hovering behind her like a silent sentinel.
"Step One: Understanding Herbs."
She held up three ingredients, each one glowing with faint energy.
"This is Glowpetal, a healer's delight, warm and vibrant. It enhances regenerative properties."
She lifted the second herb. "Dewleaf, rich with life's moisture, replenishes lost stamina."
Finally, she held the last, "And this Windberry stabilizes the blend, ensuring harmony between the ingredients."
She placed them gently on the table with a
clink-clink-clink.
"A true alchemist," she said softly, "must not only know what the herb does, but feel it. Study its texture, color, smell... and most importantly its mana reaction."
With a delicate wave of her hand
Whoosh!
a shimmering illusion expanded above the table. The three herbs, magnified and glowing:
Glowpetal: a soft pink radiance pulsing gently, like the heartbeat of a flower.
Dewleaf: glistening with fresh droplets, its scent sharp and clean.
Windberry: small, plump, and dancing with flickers of pale blue mana.
"Come," she gestured, "experience it for yourselves."
A few students walked forward. Jack stepped up, heart quietly pounding. He reached out and gently touched the Glowpetal.
Fwwmp...
A faint warmth bloomed beneath his fingertips; it was like pressing a hand to life itself.
He stared in wonder. So this is alchemy...
"Step Two: Essence Extraction."
Elira's voice cut through the quiet awe like a silken blade.
She unsheathed a slender mana knife
Shing!
And with careful grace, crushed the Glowpetal between her fingers, letting it fall into a vial of distilled water. A soft sizzle followed as the petal dissolved into a pink swirl.
She squeezed the Dewleaf
Drip... drip…
its glowing blue sap flowing like starlight.
Next came the Windberry. She mashed it gently into a violet paste, which she stirred in with a silver spoon.
"Elixirs must be coaxed into life," she explained, her hands moving in fluid, practiced motions. "Too much, and the magic rebels. Too little, and it lies dormant."
The class leaned in, breaths held, quills scratching rapidly against parchment.
Then came the third step.
"Step Three: Mana Infusion."
She raised her palm over the vial.
Hummmm...
A soft hum filled the room as mana flowed from her hand, enveloping the potion with radiant energy. Blue and pink threads intertwined within the vial, like two dancers in harmony.
"Mana is the soul of the potion," Elira whispered. "It listens. It responds. But only if you respect it."
The liquid shimmered like liquid light.
And finally
"Step Four: Alchemy Circle Design."
She took a brush dipped in shimmering mana-ink and began drawing beneath the potion.
Swish... curve... click...
A beautiful circle formed etched with ancient runes and sacred geometry. The moment she finished, the entire setup lit up with a soft thrumm.
"This seals the reaction, binds it, and turns it into true alchemy."
The potion inside the vial began to glow a deep pink-red, and a gentle floral aroma drifted through the room.
Whiff...
Professor Elira lifted the vial, the liquid inside shimmering with magic.
"This... is the Minor Healing Tonic."
The room fell into stunned silence before soft gasps of awe echoed throughout.
It was no longer just theory.
It was real.
Jack's chest swelled with emotion. The air felt charged, the path of an alchemist no longer a dream it was now something he could touch.
Then
Clack!
She set the vial down and turned to the class with a gentle, knowing smile.
"Now…""" she said, her eyes sparkling, "your turn."
-------
Students hurried to gather their ingredients, the rustle of robes and clink of vials filling the room. Jack moved with quiet purpose, collecting the Glowpetal, Dewleaf, and Windberry from the supply table. He returned to his station, eyes calm, hands steady.
He laid the herbs before him and closed his eyes for a brief moment.
Step One... Understanding Herbs.
He examined them carefully the soft, velvety texture of the Glowpetal, the dewy coolness of the Dewleaf, and the firm, mana-rich skin of the Windberry. Each one had a scent floral, earthy, sweet. Faint threads of mana pulsed through them, warm to the touch.
He could feel it: the pulse of life within the ingredients.
Step Two... Essence Extraction.
Jack crushed the Glowpetal with the base of his spoon and dropped it into the vial of distilled water swish. A delicate pink hue spread through the liquid.
He gently squeezed the Dewleaf, watching the glowing blue droplets fall like stardust
drip… drip…
He mashed the Windberry into a purple paste, stirring it into the vial with care. The potion began to shift, its color softening into a swirl of pink and violet.
Jack inhaled softly. Almost there.
Step Three... Mana Infusion.
He placed his hand above the vial and began channeling his mana slow and steady. A faint hum stirred in the air as the mixture responded. The glow inside the vial brightened, stabilizing into a gentle pink light, warm and alive.
The potion's breathing, Jack thought.
Step Four... Alchemy Circle Design.
With precise movements, he drew the Alchemy Circle beneath the vial using mana-ink. He etched the stabilizing runes they had learned simple, but effective. The circle glowed a soft white as it activated, binding the potion's magic.
The liquid shimmered with vibrant energy.
Jack stared at it for a long second, a flicker of disbelief in his chest.
He had done it.
His very first potion flawless.
He lifted the vial, holding it up to the light. The warm pink-red glow shimmered inside like a captured sunrise.
Professor Elira walked by, her eyes scanning his work. She paused, then smiled with rare warmth.
"Very well done, Jack. Your control is impressive for a beginner."
Jack gave a small, proud nod. "Thank you, Professor."
Around the room, students were hard at work. Some glowed with success; others frowned in frustration. Elira moved among them like a gentle breeze, offering guidance where needed.
At the back, a girl with trembling hands dropped too much Windberry. Her potion hissed
Fsssh!
And turned a dull gray.
Elira knelt beside her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Remember, alchemy is patience," she said, voice calm and kind.
She helped the girl reset the process, correcting the proportions and showing her how to restore balance to the mixture.
By the time the bell chimed
Ding-ding
The room was filled with soft smiles, glowing vials, and the quiet pride of first success.
Elira faced the class. "Take your potion home. You've earned it. Tomorrow, we begin learning about Intermediate Herb Mixing."
Polite applause echoed across the classroom.
Jack packed his potion into a padded pouch, handling it like something precious. He rose and walked to the door.
As he stepped outside, the academy grounds buzzed with life.students talking, laughing, rushing to their next class.
But Jack walked slowly.
The feel of mana still lingered in his fingers, and the glow of the potion stayed etched in his mind. He thought of the runes, the pulse of life in the herbs, the satisfaction of precision.
He smiled to himself.
This was only the beginning.
--------
To Be Continued…!!