The workshop was divided into two sections. The outer section was partitioned into four or five small rooms. Inside each room sat a young man; some were muttering spells over bottles, while others appeared to be resting. Seeing Alec walk in, they nodded in greeting. Alec returned each bow in turn.
The inner section was blocked off by a thick iron door, hiding whatever lay inside from view. However, pretty cursive writing was inscribed on the door: The working laboratory of the mage Sackville and his assistant Alec. Do not enter illegally; trespassers bear the consequences.
Romon glanced at Alec ahead of him and thought: It seems this person is highly valued by the mage. Moreover, this Master Sackville seems to possess a bit of the eccentric, deadpan humor of researchers from his past life.
Alec led Romon and the other toward the inner room. He stopped at the doorway, turned back to look at the two behind him, and said seriously, "Ahead is the laboratory of my teacher, Sackville. I require that once inside, you must not carelessly touch any items in the room out of curiosity. As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat. And the result of showing curiosity inside a mage's laboratory is mostly killing oneself."
Romon spread his hands and smiled, saying, "The only place more dangerous than a druid's natural greenhouse is a mage's laboratory."
Feiqiya also smiled. "A qualified merchant knows how to control his curiosity."
Alec nodded, pushed open the iron door, and revealed a flight of stairs leading downward before everyone's eyes. It seemed the mage had built his laboratory underground.
The three walked down as the iron door closed automatically. A point of light lit up overhead in the originally pitch-black hallway. Romon then saw that at the foot of the stairs was another iron door, with cursive writing on it that read: Old friends don't need to knock.
Alec in front pushed the door open, and the three finally stepped into Sackville's laboratory.
Romon carefully looked around. The size of the room was about the same as the outer chamber, and the entire space was roughly divided into four areas:
In the northwest corner, a long table held numerous vessels. Educated with modern knowledge, Romon could roughly distinguish their functions from the shapes of the vessels: there were balances and measuring cups for weighing doses; sealed utensils for storing special items; distillation apparatuses, heating appliances, cutting tools, and so on.
In the southwest corner, some herbs and medicinal ores were piled up categorically. Romon made a rough identification; he could probably recognize more than ten kinds of herbs, while only a few of the medicinal ores.
On the northeast desk, some parchment rolls were scattered about, along with several quill pens stuck into inkwells and laid outside.
The southeast area held two beds, making it look as though the mage and his disciples sometimes slept right inside the workshop.
At this moment, Fifth Level Mage Mr. Sackville sat beside the desk, frowning as he looked at something.
"Teacher," Alec stepped forward and called out respectfully.
Mage Sackville was a bald old man of short stature with a flat, square face, thick eyebrows, and long, snow-white beard. When reading, the old man unconsciously stroked his beard.
Sackville did not look up, letting out a "hmph" from his nose. "Is Jacob's matter settled?"
Alec smiled bitterly. "That really is a child who doesn't give people peace of mind. He even used Flame Palm outside just now."
Sackville raised his head. "Oh? What is this about?"
Alec recounted the beginning and end of the matter, incidentally introducing Feiqiya and Romon.
The old mage shook his head upon hearing it. "Dandy is an old friend of mine. But this disciple of his is truly quite hopeless. I will write a letter to Dandy and Baron Ibi to deal with this matter."
Then he looked at Feiqiya. "Your father Barnel is a good man, but his capital is too small to handle business with people like us. You must work hard!"
Feiqiya immediately said gratefully, "Master, I will certainly work hard, and I hope to one day earn the qualification to serve you."
The old mage waved his hand, glanced at Romon, and said to Feiqiya, "Is this the young fellow Barnel recommended to me? He looks quite spirited. Hm, I am going to test you with a few questions. If you can pass, work here with me."
Romon bowed to the old mage. "Please pose your questions, Master."
The old mage scratched his head. "First, what is the basic principle of alchemical potions?"
Romon recalled the answer and replied with certainty, "Using solidifying agents to temporarily store spells—that is the basic principle of alchemical potions."
Sackville nodded. "The second question: do you understand the solidifying agent preparation method for alchemical potions such as cure minor wounds?"
"I have learned one, but I have never operated it with my own hands," Romon replied. Although he had studied and worked under the pharmacist Ansen back in Rika Town and had even brewed potions, ordinary potions and alchemical potions were entirely two different concepts.
"Oh? Which kind?" Sackville's brow twitched.
"The standard preparation method for Druid Cure Minor Wounds potion. The materials used are: Nightmoon grass picked on the night of the full moon, immediately soaked in wine to extract the juice; Azure stone, soaked in rain and ground into powder;..." Romon thought for a moment and fluently spoke the answer he knew.
Sackville nodded repeatedly. When Romon finished speaking, he asked another question: "The final question: the correct timing for using a solidifying agent and the casting state that should be chosen."
Romon frowned. He was not a systematically trained druid; fortunately, because producing healing potions was the greatest financial lifeline for lower-tier spellcasters, he had checked relevant materials in the town's temple library at the time and consulted pharmacist Ansen and druid Jefa about it. Recalling the fragments revealed in books and by the two men, Romon sorted out his thoughts and replied, "The first question: after a solidifying agent is successfully prepared, its activity index continuously fluctuates. Once the activity index of the solidifying agent drops to zero, it signifies that the solidifying agent has failed and needs to be prepared anew. Moreover, the fluctuation patterns of activity indices differ for different solidifying agents; in principle, one should choose the time when the solidifying agent's activity is highest to perform the enchantment. The second question: manufacturing alchemical potions and magic items, casting spells during the process is called enchanting spellcasting. Both the incantations and gestures used in enchanting spellcasting differ from ordinary spellcasting. Taking the cure minor wounds potion that I know as an example, during the incantation process, one should..."
Romon stated everything he knew in as much detail as possible.
After listening, Sackville smiled and said, "Young man, you have passed my test. Next, I want to discuss your compensation and work requirements. If you feel it is unsatisfactory or have special requests, you may bring them up after I finish."
"Very well, Master," Romon answered respectfully.
Sackville stroked his snow-white long beard and said, "You must know that a general cure minor wounds potion, such as the one you know whose medicinal efficacy lasts for one month, sells for 1 gold coin. As for the potion I brew, the medicinal efficacy lasts as long as 45 days, and this potion sells for 2 gold. As for the total price of the solidifying agent materials, the kind you know generally fluctuates around a market price of about 2 silver coins. However, considering that you cannot successfully brew qualified potions every single time, just the material cost alone is higher than 2 silver. The cost of the solidifying agent formula I use is lower than the formula you know, with the cost price at about 1 silver. Therefore, your work compensation is calculated like this. You should complete one qualified potion every day. For this bottle of potion, I will give you 7 silver as the cost of casting, and then I allow you one failure opportunity per day. However, for every time you exceed that, I will deduct 1 silver coin from you to compensate for my solidifying agent material cost. Finally, if you can complete three bottles of cure minor wounds potion daily, I will give you an extra 5 silver as a reward. As for food and lodging, you will get a small room and a free lunch. Oh, I forgot the most important benefit of working here: every week, you may audit my lectures, but you cannot ask questions or speak. As for my requirement, the solidifying agent issued cannot be taken out of the workshop, and failed defective products must also be turned back in. Do you understand?"
Hearing this, Romon nodded earnestly. "Master, you are a generous person. I am willing to serve you."
"Then. Let us sign a magic contract. The term is one month, and after one month, we will decide whether to renew based on the circumstances." Smiling, Sackville took two pieces of parchment from the desk drawer.
Romon took them; they were in duplicate. He carefully read the clauses above, which were roughly as Sackville had stated, with the more detailed parts specifying how to handle situations failing to meet the terms. At the very bottom, Sackville had already pre-signed his name. Feeling there was no problem, Romon picked up a pen and signed his own name on each.
The old mage took the contract, smiling even more amiably, and instructed Alec, "Alec, take Romon to his room and his workstation, and oh, demonstrate the potion brewing for him once. Romon, you must remember that you have a total of three chances to watch Alec's potion brewing for free—again, you can only watch and not ask. Afterward, if you wish to observe Alec brewing potions, Alec will charge a fee, probably about 5 silver each time. Also, I suppose you won't rashly barge into a mage's laboratory, right?"
Romon bowed deeply. "Master Sackville, I understand." Then, he retreated along with Alec.
The three passed through the dim stairs once again and returned to the outer workshop.
"Mage Alec, Romon will have to rely on your care from now on." After coming out, Feiqiya said with a smile.
Alec patted Romon's shoulder. "No problem, I see he's a sharp lad."
"Then thank you very much. We came rather hastily this time, and the caravan is returning to Rika Town immediately, so we can only invite you to drink a cup at the House of Arcana next time."
Romon pricked up his ears to listen to their conversation. The "House of Arcana" in Feiqiya's mouth was something he had also heard adventurers mention back in Rika Town. It was a tavern affiliated with the Spellcasters' Association of Aps City, and its basic target clients were the money bags of those seeking help from mages and other spellcasters—meaning if someone wanted to find a spellcaster to handle some business, they would choose a place like the "House of Arcana" to treat the mages to a drink. Of course, mages also had an exclusive internal bar of their own, which ordinary people could not enter.
Although I am a spellcaster myself, as a druid, I must wait until after reaching the fifth level to be qualified to enter. A place like this is still something I cannot go into yet! Romon thought this, yet felt not the slightest bit resentful. Backed by the Shennong Horn, he was full of confidence regarding the future.
Before you continue