Basic Botany and Simple Potionmaking

The next morning, the previous evening's card game had fallen through after the afternoon's events had ruined everyone's mood.

Still, Lance had not forgotten about finding books to study.

Bright sunlight streamed through the bookstore windows, dust motes dancing in the golden beams.

Grayrock Town did not have a public library.

For ordinary people, the only way to acquire new knowledge was to come to a bookstore and buy books.

In this world, knowledge, like life itself, was an expensive luxury.

The bookstore's owner was an elderly gentleman.

A pair of delicate gold-rimmed glasses rested on his nose, and he wore a well-tailored linen shirt.

Whenever Lance passed by, he could see through the display window the old man holding a steaming cup of coffee, seated behind the high counter as he quietly leafed through hefty tomes.

Pushing open the wooden door with its bronze bell, Lance stepped into the spacious two-story bookstore.

Its collection was quite extensive. From basic literacy primers to the latest journals on magical theory, nearly everything could be found upon the rows of towering mahogany shelves.

Lance's gaze swept across the dazzling array of book spines before a large illustrated volume displayed prominently caught his attention.

"Ostella Travel Illustrated: Summer Issue."

His eyes lit up slightly, and he reached out as though compelled to take it down.

The moment he opened the cover, an extravagant exotic atmosphere washed over him.

The pages were made of expensive coated paper, illustrated with soaring white bell towers and enormous ships cleaving through the waves.

The remaining sixty-odd pages vividly depicted Ostella's thrilling local customs.

A graceful foxfolk girl glanced back in a lounge, the fuzz on her ears clearly visible.

A noble, cool-eyed elven ranger drew her longbow, her gaze sharp.

And there was also a boldly dressed succubus with a heart-shaped tail, casting flirtatious looks at the reader through the page.

This illustrated volume had clearly been created by a professional. The artist had mixed a trace amount of illusion dust into the paints.

As Lance stared at the pictures, the motionless figures seemed to slowly move, even the swaying of the foxfolk girl's skirt appearing lifelike.

"What a fine thing..."

With the pure appreciation of an art lover, Lance carefully examined every page.

Then he saw the steep price printed on the back cover and could only reluctantly put it back where it belonged.

Today's budget was limited. He truly had no spare money to support this kind of spiritual nourishment.

Next time, for sure.

Lance collected himself and began weaving through the shelves in search of his true objective.

Not visiting the bookstore before had truly meant missing too many treasures.

He even spotted a copy of "Advanced Three Dragon Cards Techniques Explained" in a corner and nearly could not resist buying it.

Just as he rounded a tall bookcase filled with books on herbalism—

A petite figure carrying a stack of books happened to approach from the opposite direction.

With their vision blocked, neither of them managed to stop in time.

Thump.

With a soft impact, the figure, who did not even reach Lance's shoulder, swayed slightly.

"I'm sorry."

The other person's voice was soft and gentle, carrying a trace of flustered panic after the fright.

Lance looked down.

Before him stood a young woman in a beige dress, with a dark brown apron embroidered with herb patterns over it. She gave off the quiet, scholarly air of a student.

She was apologizing with her head lowered, her two distinctive braids hanging over her chest.

"Flora?"

Lance called out tentatively.

Hearing the familiar voice, the girl looked up in surprise.

When she saw that the person before her was Lance, a flash of delight passed through her fawn-like eyes.

"Lance? Are you here to buy books too?"

"Yeah."

Lance nodded with a smile, then asked curiously,

"At this hour, shouldn't you be helping out at Aunt Morwenna's potion shop?"

Flora smiled a little sheepishly. She raised the thick hardbound book in her arms as though displaying some precious treasure.

The gilded words on its cover gleamed in the sunlight.

"Published by Viridia: The Most Suitable Beginner's Potion Manual for Alchemists."

"Aunt Morwenna asked me to come buy this book."

An irrepressible hint of excitement colored Flora's voice.

"She said I've already mastered the basics and can start trying to learn real alchemy."

Hearing that name, Lance could not help growing solemn.

Viridia, which meant "Emerald Crucible" in the common tongue, was the sacred land in the hearts of all followers of the Life Alchemy School across the continent.

Virtually all the latest potion formulas and theories originated there.

Being able to begin studying books like this meant Flora was no longer the little apprentice who could only chop herbs.

"You're finally going to start making potions?!"

Lance was sincerely happy for his friend.

"Congratulations, future master alchemist."

At Lance's praise, Flora broke into a sweet smile. The dimples on both cheeks appeared faintly, making her look especially adorable.

But she quickly came back to herself and looked at Lance in confusion.

"By the way, what books are you looking for? The categories here are a little messy, but I know this place well. I can help you find them."

Lance did not stand on ceremony and directly described what he needed.

Flora nodded and led him past two rows of shelves to an area against the wall.

"They're all here."

Following the direction of her finger, Lance immediately spotted the object of his desires.

"Copper Creek Herbal and Mineral Compendium."

Beside it, another thick black book drew Lance's great interest.

"Copper Creek Forest Monster Manual."

Lance pulled it out and opened it.

After only a few glances, he was stunned.

The information recorded in this book was far more detailed than the thin beginner's handbook, only a few pages long, distributed for free by the Adventurers' Guild.

The pages contained not only exhaustive written descriptions, but also rough yet highly distinctive sketch illustrations.

From the camouflage characteristics of a Goblin nest entrance to the distribution patterns of slime cores.

From distinguishing Gnoll professional ranks by fur color to emergency evasion postures when encountering a demonized wild boar.

Every detail had been recorded.

Just as Lance was still debating whether to add this Monster Compendium to his must-buy list as well—

Flora, who was searching through the shelves beside him, suddenly let out a soft cry.

"Found it."

She stood on tiptoe and pulled a book with a dark green cover from between two rows of heavy tomes.

Then she turned around and stuffed it into Lance's arms as if presenting him with a treasure.

Lance looked down.

"Basic Botany and Simple Potionmaking."

"If you want to learn how to identify wild herbs, learning this alongside it will be very helpful."