A middle-aged man in an Alchemist's robe entered through the side door, the Four-Grade Alchemist badge on his chest gleaming warmly beneath the lights.
Frank took his place at the podium, slowly sweeping his gaze across the packed hall before giving a slight nod.
"I am very pleased to see the hall filled to capacity today."
"For this lecture on Alchemy, I would like to begin with a basic, yet not entirely basic, question: the application of the Wood Attribute in Alchemy."
The hall fell silent. A trace of the Wood Attribute within fire was a prerequisite for becoming an Alchemist; anyone with even a little knowledge of Alchemists knew that.
"Rest assured, I am not here to repeat introductory lessons."
Seeing the puzzled expressions on some faces below, Frank smiled and waved a hand.
"Fire containing wood is necessary for alchemy. Everyone here understands that. But what I want to ask is: what exactly does that trace of wood energy do?"
The audience went quiet for a moment.
"Doesn't it just control the flames?"
A young One-Grade Alchemist in the front row muttered softly.
"That is not wrong, but it is far too broad."
Frank shook his head.
"Many people possess similar levels of soul perception. Then why can some only refine second-grade pills, while others can refine fourth-grade ones?"
This question was much more practical, and low murmurs immediately rose throughout the hall.
Frank extended his hand, and a flame suddenly sprang to life. Then, unhurriedly, he began to explain.
Blah blah blah blah...
"In other words, fire is the means of alchemy, while wood is its eyes."
"These are fundamentally opposing forces. Yet the reason Alchemy is called an 'art' lies in how human intervention allows these two conflicting powers to work together within the same cauldron."