Minor Hemostatic Potion, Wizard Market

After the combat class ended.

It was soon time for the final potion studies class.

This time, it was not held in the previous classroom, but in an enormous laboratory. Complete sets of Experimental Equipment had been placed on twenty tables.

Brass crucibles, mortar and pestles, hand-blown glassware, tin balances and weights...

"These are only basic Experimental Equipment, not alchemical artifacts, but they're more than enough for your use.

"For the next three months, we'll be studying Minor Hemostatic Potions. Each of you may collect one set of materials. I'll demonstrate first!"

At the front, Victor stepped up to the experiment table.

He took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, he radiated powerful confidence.

"First, weigh out 1.5 grams of Three-leaf Blood-stopping Grass. It must be precise, or its stability will be severely affected."

Using his Mental Power to move the balance, Victor controlled the weights.

"Second, Silver Root Grass powder and evening primrose juice are important blending agents and stabilizers. Three grams of each."

The former was a pale silver powder with a faint sheen, while the latter was a thick, transparent liquid.

"Next, process the main ingredient!"

Victor picked up the pestle and began grinding the leaves with steady, rhythmic motions.

The movements were small, yet they carried a peculiar sense of rhythm.

"Grinding isn't a matter of the finer, the better. The goal is to release the active components while preventing impurities from seeping out. It needs to be powdery, but retain a slight granular texture."

Victor explained.

Everyone below listened carefully, afraid of missing even the smallest detail.

"The third step is to combine the three ingredients. The final color should be bright red, then heating is used to promote fusion."

Victor mixed the three substances together, then placed them over a small alcohol lamp.

Blue flames steadily licked at the bottom of the crucible.

At the same time, he slowly stirred it with a stirring rod, as though caressing it.

The entire process lasted around ten minutes.

The liquid in the crucible gradually deepened in color, shifting from bright red to a profound, stable ruby red. It gave off a unique medicinal fragrance, faintly sweet and tinged with the scent of rust.

"Now you may begin trying it yourselves."

Victor handed out the steps written on paper, along with one portion of materials for each person.

Ian lowered his head to examine the materials.

Taking a deep breath, he began studying them carefully.

They took turns brewing, and Ian's turn came quickly.

More than half an hour later.

Looking at the ink-green potion in the crucible, Ian's face darkened slightly.

It had obviously been a complete failure.

Not even a new skill had appeared on the panel.

"I really need to try more."

Ian sighed.

On the platform, Victor watched everyone. Not a single person had succeeded.

That was perfectly normal.

If brewing magic potions were that simple, potion masters would not hold such lofty status.

In previous years, once this class ended, apprentices would gradually give up on brewing magic potions and turn to other paths—either the Combat Department or other directions within the Logistics Department.

This, too, was the Academy's selection process.

Night.

Mutual Aid Society.

"I'm planning to give up on the fundamentals of potion studies."

Logan said it outright.

"Me too. This class simply wasn't made for people like us." Emily was downcast as well.

"I'm going to focus on combat. I'm heading to the market today to buy a weapon." The brawny William made his choice.

"I want to try for one of the other departments in the Logistics Department."

Alfie said. He was a lean youth who had never had much of a presence.

"But Boss, you're still going for the Potions Department, right?" Coro, his underling, turned to look at Ian.

"Yeah. I'm going to give it another try."

Ian did not tell them about Victor. Instead, he turned to William and said, "Pick up some materials for me when you go to the market."

Ever since Merlin and several other apprentices with Third-grade Talent had died on the road to the market, Ian had not been there himself.

Nor did he plan to go now.

So he intended to have the others from the Mutual Aid Society make the trip for him.

"Sure."

William nodded in agreement.

The next day.

Ian received the materials from William, who had returned.

"Ian, you should really go take a look around the market sometime. It's a genuinely fun place." Logan, who had gone with William, clicked his tongue.

"Maybe when I get the chance."

Ian smiled.

He knew there were plenty of fun places and good food in the market, but he simply had no time to spare right now.

One trip would take at least several hours. He might as well spend that time studying more tricks and wizardry.

Besides, the road was not guaranteed to be completely safe.

He would not be going himself anytime soon.

"Sigh, you really work too hard."

Logan sighed with feeling.

Only after knowing Ian for so long did he understand that Ian's excellence had been earned entirely through relentless cultivation.

Every bit of achievement was drenched in sweat.

Ian's life returned to its routine once more.

He woke at five in the morning to study wizardry. In the afternoons, he rented a laboratory to brew potions, and at night, he sparred and exchanged insights with the others from the Mutual Aid Society.

Thanks to the previous battle, Halman had acquired the nickname "One-Punch Halman."

It spread far and wide.

Halman was so furious he nearly fainted.

In the blink of an eye, five days passed.

Inside the laboratory.

Ian looked at the pale red potion before him and finally let out a breath.

Though its quality was abysmally poor, it was still a success.

He opened the panel.

[Name: Ian Green]

[Age: 13]

[Strength: First-class Wizard Apprentice (22/100), Knight (Complete)]

[Talent: Third-grade Star (164/250)]

[Skills:

Tricks: Light Spell (Master Level), Breeze Spell (Master Level), Dust Spell (Master Level)... (45 spells)

Zero-ring: Basic Meditation Method (Master Level), Lionheart Knight Method (Master Level), Mental Power Impact (Master Level), Witch's Hand (Master Level), Mental Power Detection (Master Level), Light Body Technique (Proficient 2/200), Magic Plant Identification (Proficient 150/200), Minor Hemostatic Potion (Beginner 1/100)]

"Thirteen years old."

Ian felt somewhat emotional. As a serf, the original owner of this body had never even known his own age, much less his birthday.

Just yesterday, on the sixth day of December, Ian had finally turned thirteen.

As for the other changes, they had come naturally—three zero-ring spells had reached Master Level.

He had even mastered forty-two tricks. Unfortunately, as he learned more and more tricks, each one contributed less and less to his Talent.

It now took nearly four or five tricks to provide a single point of Talent.

It was far less effective than before.

Of course, the most important thing was the appearance of the Minor Hemostatic Potion.

"If it appears on the panel, that means it can be improved. Every brew from now on will raise its proficiency."

Ian let out a sigh of relief.

He had been worried it wouldn't show up on the panel!

Mixing potions was truly too expensive. Just getting started had cost him ten Magic Stones in materials and five more to rent the laboratory.

He only had six left now.

Magic Stones were being burned through at a terrifying rate.

A few days later, aid from the Silver Moon Lake Family arrived, letting him catch his breath a little.

What delighted Ian even more was—

He was gradually able to understand the runes on the feather. He estimated that in a few more days, they would appear on the panel.

Excellent-grade Wizardry was a whole tier stronger than any Wizardry he currently possessed.

It could also serve as a trump card.

In the blink of an eye, the second lesson proceeded as usual.

"Not bad."

In the distance, Victor watched Ian's movements, now far more practiced than before, and nodded in satisfaction.

His potion-mixing technique was quite good as well.

That night.

Ian finally succeeded in preliminarily imprinting the runes on the feather.

A new skill appeared on the panel.