Basic Botany and Simple Potionmaking

The next morning, the card game had fallen through after yesterday afternoon's events ruined his 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 buy books from a bookstore.

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

The bookstore's owner was an elderly gentleman.

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

Whenever Lance passed by, he could see through the display window that the old man would be sitting quietly behind the high counter with a steaming cup of coffee, flipping through weighty tomes.

Pushing open the wooden door with its brass 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 on the rows of tall mahogany shelves.

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

"Ostra Travel Illustrated: Summer Issue."

His eyes brightened slightly, and he reached out almost unconsciously to take it down.

The moment he opened the cover, an extravagant foreign allure washed over him.

The inner pages were made of expensive coated paper, depicting towering white bell towers piercing the clouds and enormous ships riding the winds and waves.

The remaining sixty-odd pages gave detailed portrayals of Ostella's intoxicating local customs and scenery.

A graceful foxgirl glanced back from inside a tavern, the fur on her ears clearly visible.

A noble, icy 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 paint.

When Lance stared at the images, the motionless figures gave the illusion of slowly moving. Even the swaying of the foxgirl's skirt looked lifelike.

"What a wonderful thing..."

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

Then he glanced at the steep price printed on the back cover and could only reluctantly return it to its place.

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

Next time, for sure.

Lance gathered his thoughts and began weaving through the shelves in search of his real objective.

Not coming to browse the bookstore before had truly made him miss far 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 turned around the corner of a tall bookcase filled with herbalism books—

A petite figure carrying books happened to approach from the other side.

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."

Her voice was soft and gentle, carrying a trace of flustered panic after being startled.

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 had the quiet, scholarly air of a refined student.

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

"Flora?"

Lance called out tentatively.

Hearing the familiar voice, the young woman looked up in surprise.

When she saw that the person before her was Lance, a flash of delight appeared in her doe-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 bashfully and held up the thick hardcover book in her arms as though displaying some precious treasure.

The gilded lettering on its cover gleamed in the sunlight.

"Published by Viridia: The Most Suitable Basic Potion Handbook for Alchemists."

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

A hint of irrepressible excitement showed in 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 meant "Emerald Crucible" in the common tongue. It was the holy land in the hearts of every school of life alchemy on the continent.

Virtually all the newest potion formulas and theories originated there.

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

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

Lance was sincerely happy for his friend.

"Congratulations, future master alchemist."

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

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

"By the way, what kind of books are you looking for? The categories here are a bit 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 bookshelves to an area by the wall.

"They're all here."

Following the direction of her finger, Lance immediately saw the target he had been longing for.

"Copper Creek Herbal and Mineral Guide."

Beside it, another thick black book aroused Lance's intense interest.

"Copper Creek Forest Monster Manual."

Lance pulled it out and opened it.

After only a few glances, he was stunned.

The contents recorded in this book were far more detailed than the thin beginner's handbook the Adventurers' Guild gave out for free.

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

From the camouflage features of goblin nest entrances to the distribution patterns of slime cores.

From distinguishing gnoll class ranks by fur color to emergency evasive postures when encountering demonized wild boars.

Every detail had been recorded.

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

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

"Found it."

She rose onto her tiptoes 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 though presenting a treasure.

Lance looked down.

"Basic Botany and Simple Potionmaking."

"If you want to learn how to identify wild herbs, learning this along the way will be very helpful."