Chapter 73: The Alchemist (2)

The bubbling sound of boiling liquid echoed from the cauldron by the fireplace. The greenish mixture inside popped and frothed, releasing a peculiar aroma that filled the room. Along the walls, various catalysts and ingredients for alchemy were meticulously hung, their colors and textures as varied as the magic they promised to create.

In the center of the room sat Arkemis, her brown hair falling in waves down her back. Her delicate features were marred by an expression of embarrassment as she spoke, her voice hesitant.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“It’s fine. These things happen,” Ketal replied, his tone calm and understanding, as if this situation was nothing new to him.

Arkemis had been utterly terrified when she first laid eyes on Ketal. She had screamed and fled, fumbling to grab catalysts and glowing orbs in a desperate attempt to defend herself. If Milayna hadn’t intervened to stop her, she could have actually used them.

Most people reacted to Ketal with fear or apprehension upon their first meeting, driven by his imposing appearance and the natural wariness of outsiders. Arkemis’s fear, however, had gone beyond that. Hers was the primal terror of prey facing a predator—a visceral, uncontrollable reaction to the sheer presence of Ketal.

“Have you calmed down now?” Milayna asked.

“Yes... I think so,” Arkemis replied with a slight nod. “So, what brings you guys here?”

“This gentleman wished to meet you,” Milayna explained. “He has something he would like to request.”

“Me?” Arkemis asked, her voice trembling with residual fear. Her gaze darted nervously between Milayna and Ketal. “What does he want from me?”

“I’ve developed an interest in alchemy,” Ketal said simply.

Arkemis’s expression twisted into something resembling disbelief, as though she had just heard a lion declare its love for vegetables.

“You’re interested... in alchemy?” Arkemis asked.

“Why not?” Ketal said with a shrug.

“I... Well, I suppose there’s no reason why not,” she stammered. “But why me?”

“I heard stories about you turning the Emperor’s son into a Transcendent. Is that true?” Ketal asked, his curiosity evident.

“Yes, it’s true,” Arkemis admitted.

“That’s impressive,” Ketal said, his admiration genuine. “I didn’t know something like that was even possible.” Arkemis’s expression softened ever so slightly, the praise seeming to chip away at her initial apprehension. Ketal’s gaze wandered to the cauldron bubbling in the corner.

“What are you making there?” he asked.

“A... a catalyst,” Arkemis replied.

“A catalyst?”

“Yes. It reacts to applied energy and amplifies it. It’s one of the basics of alchemy,” she explained.

“What ingredients are you using?” Ketal inquired.

“Uh... Papuchia berries, Cartridge roots, Lifewater from the Mamossi Swamp, powdered fairy wings...” She began listing dozens of components, her words flowing faster as she warmed to the topic.

“That’s quite the list,” Ketal said, impressed. “So, all of that combines to create a functional catalyst?”

“Papuchia berries stabilize the structure. Albroom enables it to respond to external forces,” Arkemis explained, launching into a detailed breakdown of each ingredient’s role in the mixture.

“Does the mixture ratio affect the results?” Ketal asked.

“Of course,” Arkemis said, her tone growing more animated. “If the proportions are off, the catalyst could become unstable and react unpredictably. For example...”

She continued explaining, her words tumbling out faster as her excitement grew.

Milayna, observing from the side, found herself genuinely impressed. She wasn’t just a passive spectator; as a seasoned merchant, she had honed the skill of reading people and facilitating conversations. Her experience had taught her how to flatter, connect, and appease even the most difficult clients. Yet, as she watched Ketal effortlessly engage with Arkemis, she realized that what he was doing surpassed even her abilities.

He wasn’t just listening—he was masterfully guiding the conversation, asking precise questions that highlighted Arkemis’s expertise, and responding with just the right amount of awe to encourage her. It wasn’t just a casual chat; it was an artful, deliberate engagement.

This isn’t something you can learn without practice or innate skill,

Milayna thought, her curiosity deepening.

Where on earth did he pick this up?

Contrary to Milayna’s assumptions, however, Ketal wasn’t pretending—he was genuinely fascinated by the conversation.

Arkemis, oblivious to the depth of his attention, continued her explanation with increasing fervor. Thirty minutes passed, and while Milayna’s expression began to betray boredom, Ketal remained riveted, his eyes alight with interest.

“And that,” Arkemis said with a flourish, “is how you create a functional catalyst.”

“That’s fascinating,” Ketal said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “You’ve given me a lot to think about. I do have one question, though—is it impossible for someone who hasn’t awakened Myst to learn alchemy?”

Arkemis tilted her head thoughtfully before answering. “No, it’s definitely possible.”

“Really?” Ketal’s surprise was evident.

“Unlike swordsmanship or magic, which rely on Myst within oneself, alchemy deals with external Myst. There are countless substances in this world that naturally contain Myst. Alchemy is about understanding and utilizing those properties.”

While the outcome could be similar to magic, the processes were fundamentally different.

“All in all, magic and alchemy are very similar. There’s even a school for alchemy. But, to use alchemy, you don’t need to wield Myst,” Arkemis explained.

To illustrate her point, she stood, retrieving a gray orb and a few colorful catalysts from the shelves. With practiced ease, she combined the materials and tossed them into a fireplace.

Crackle!

The flames didn’t just extinguish; they transformed into shimmering, ethereal ice. It flickered like fire, but instead of heat, it radiated an intense cold. Mist spilled from the hearth, spreading frost across the room.

“Wow!” Ketal exclaimed, his eyes widening in awe.

Arkemis smirked, clearly pleased with his reaction. “This is called a property reversal. In magical terms, it’s equivalent to a Level 3 spell. And I didn’t use a single drop of mana.”

She gestured at the icy fire, which continued to ripple and crackle like ordinary flames despite its frozen form. “This is pure alchemy. By manipulating external Myst, I created the effect.”

“Unbelievable,” Ketal muttered, his admiration plain on his face. “Could someone like me learn to do that?”

“Anyone can,” Arkemis said casually. “As long as you have the right catalysts, there is no reason you couldn’t.”

Milayna, watching the exchange, couldn’t help but nod in agreement. Whatever quirks Arkemis might have, her talent was undeniable. The level of skill she had just demonstrated wasn’t something an amateur could fake.

Her admiration was short-lived, however. As her gaze lingered on the frozen flames, a troubling thought struck her. Milayna’s brow furrowed. “Arkemis, the catalyst you just used—wasn’t that one of the rare materials I recently acquired for you? The one that cost a small fortune?”

“Uh...” Arkemis froze, her expression instantly guilty.

“You used that for a demonstration?” Milayna’s voice grew sharp, disbelief and irritation mingling in her tone.

Arkemis avoided eye contact, coughing awkwardly. “

Ahem,

So... what brings you here again?”

“I have a favor to ask you,” Ketal said.

“What is it?” Arkemis replied.

“Will you teach me alchemy?” Ketal asked, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Both Milayna and Arkemis stared at him, their eyes wide with surprise. Before either could respond, Ketal continued, “Your skills are extraordinary. Watching you work was like witnessing a miracle. The way you manipulated those simple ingredients to create something so profound... it was nothing short of amazing.”

“Well, it

is

pretty amazing,” Arkemis stammered, her cheeks flushing slightly as she basked in the genuine praise. Normally, she would be terrified to even be in the same room as a barbarian. However, it felt even more delightful to be praised by a barbarian.

“Your craft is remarkable. I want to learn from you,” Ketal said earnestly. “Will you teach me?”

For a moment, Arkemis was silent, her eyes darting between Ketal’s sincere expression and Milayna’s exasperated face. Then, after a brief pause, she gave a small nod. “Okay, sure.”

***

Ketal strolled through the forest with a satisfied expression, while Milayna, walking behind him, asked with a puzzled look, “Ketal, were you planning to learn alchemy all along? I thought you wanted an artifact or something.”

“Not entirely. It’s both,” Ketal replied casually.

On his bucket list for living in a fantasy world, one of his greatest goals was to unlock the mysteries of Myst.

Mastering techniques like Aura and magic—those extraordinary powers—seemed irresistibly alluring.

Not to mention the practical reasons,

Ketal thought.

In this world, there were situations that couldn’t be dealt with without using Myst. For instance, he couldn’t kill the demon until Aquaz lent him power. Similarly, Adamant’s cloning magic had confounded him for too long because he couldn’t discern the real from the illusions.

Ketal increasingly felt the need to grasp the essence of Myst. Arkemis, the alchemist who had turned an ordinary human into a Transcendent, seemed like the perfect person to guide him on this journey. Initially, he sought her out to unlock his potential in wielding Myst.

However, as he listened to her stories and witnessed her work, his interest in alchemy itself grew. Alchemy was a uniquely fantastical art, something entirely absent from the modern world he had come from. Learning and wielding such a craft was undeniably tempting.

That was why he was planning on learning alchemy and unlocking Myst at the same time. The only concern had been whether Arkemis would refuse to teach him.

After all, skills and knowledge of such value were rarely shared with outsiders. Her refusal would’ve been understandable. Ketal had been racking his brain for ways to persuade her. Fortunately, Arkemis had accepted his request with surprising ease.

Ketal was utterly satisfied. “I’ll start learning alchemy tomorrow. Excellent.”

“As long as you’re happy with it, Ketal, I suppose that’s all that matters,” Milayna said hesitantly.

“But to think she’s an elf,” Ketal mused. When Milayna first described Arkemis, he had been surprised—especially considering this was the Denian Kingdom.

“I assumed other races would be excluded, given how the king has the power of the Declaration of Humanity,” Ketal said.

“There are people who think that way, but the kingdom itself doesn’t discriminate,” Milayna explained. “It’s been too long for that kind of bias to hold sway anymore.”

Even non-human races lived in the Denian Kingdom, albeit in small numbers. Aside from a few rare purists, most people didn’t give it much thought.

“I see,” Ketal said, nodding. For him, it was good news. Starting tomorrow, he would begin learning alchemy.

As he walked, Ketal thought about the elves he met after leaving the White Snowfield. They feared him and avoided him. The elf queen herself had described his presence as predatory to their kind. When he was in their village, he couldn’t stay long because his presence terrified them.

Even Arkemis had been overwhelmed with fear upon meeting him.

Will this really be okay?

Ketal wondered. After a moment, he brushed the thought aside with a lighthearted grin.

It’ll be fine.

If Arkemis truly didn’t want him around, she would have rejected his request. The fact that she accepted meant she didn’t find his presence intolerable.

Even elves seem to get used to me eventually,

Ketal concluded with a satisfied smile.

Meanwhile, Arkemis was having a meltdown.

“Ahhh!” she shouted. Left alone in her home, she sat on the floor, clutching her head in despair.

***

“What have I done? What were you thinking, Arkemis?!” She berated herself aloud. She could not believe she had agreed to teach alchemy to a barbarian. This meant she would have to spend extended periods in the company of such a terrifying being.

Normally, she would have outright refused such a request. However, Ketal had been so skilled at flattering her, lifting her mood, and making her feel appreciated. In the rush of positive emotions, she had impulsively decided to teach him alchemy.

Now, she was paying the price.

“What do I do?” she muttered, biting her lip. She wondered if she should go back and say it was all a misunderstanding and that she couldn’t actually teach him. However, she knew that wouldn’t work.

She knew that if she rejected Ketal

after

accepting his request, the barbarian would grow angry. He would accuse her of lying, of mocking him and he would raise that dreadful axe of his.

Just the thought made her shiver.

No, I can’t let that happen.

She had to go through with this. However, she could not picture herself teaching Ketal. She just hated the idea.

It wasn’t just that he was a barbarian—normal barbarians didn’t scare her. She was more than capable of defending herself against them.

However, Ketal was different.

He’s not a normal barbarian!

she thought, panic rising.

The aura Ketal exuded wasn’t merely one of strength. It was something fundamentally alien. His essence itself felt wrong, like it didn’t belong in this world.

It seemed Milayna, a human, hadn’t noticed anything unusual. However, Arkemis could sense it. As an elf—a being connected to the natural world—she could feel the dissonance Ketal’s presence created.

He only looked like a barbarian on the surface. Beneath that appearance was something entirely otherworldly.

“Why would someone like him want to learn alchemy...?” she groaned, clutching her head again.

After agonizing for what felt like an eternity, she came to a conclusion.

That’s it!

she thought.

Ketal was interested in alchemy. However, he probably didn’t understand its intricacies. He had to have been dazzled by its flashy results and thought it looked fun. Arkemis knew Ketal wouldn’t stick with it. The moment it got boring or tedious, he would lose interest and leave.

“Yes, that has to be it,” she muttered to herself, clinging to the thought like a lifeline.

When Ketal would get bored of alchemy, she would be free of this ordeal.

“Yes, that’s exactly what’ll happen,” she said, nodding firmly. Arkemis held onto that hope with all her might.