Then, holding a small pair of scissors, she went over to the potted plants and snipped a bunch of yellow-green flowers from one of them. She went to a cabinet on the other side, took out a fist-high bottle of unidentified liquid, and returned to the workbench.
"First, we need celandine."
As she spoke, the sorceress apprentice placed the little yellow-green flowers she had picked into the prepared mortar, spreading them evenly across the bottom.
Then the sorceress apprentice looked at the witcher. "Get started!"
"Start what?"
"Grind the celandine gently with the pestle in the mortar, of course. Do you expect me to do even that?"
At her words, Dick immediately picked up the pestle and began grinding slowly.
Then came the conversation from the beginning.
Before long, a fine celandine powder had formed in the mortar, giving off a faint, fresh fragrance.
The sorceress apprentice looked at the results of Dick's grinding with satisfaction and nodded slightly. "It seems you do have some talent for alchemy. Next is the dwarven spirit."
The sorceress apprentice gently twisted the stopper of the dark bottle to the right, then tugged it upward with force. With a pop, the stopper came free, and the smell of strong liquor wafted out.
The sorceress apprentice fetched a beaker and began giving the witcher instructions. "First, pour the celandine powder into the beaker."
Dick did as instructed.
"Now slowly pour in the dwarven spirit. Yes, slowly, slowly. That's enough, up to that mark."
The sorceress apprentice handed the witcher a glass rod. "Stir gently counterclockwise. Stop when I tell you to."
Dick obediently did as she said.
After a while, the liquor and powder had mixed thoroughly. The solution gradually turned pale yellow and began giving off a peculiar scent that mingled liquor and flowers.
"All right, you can stop. Last is the Drowner brain."
"Dick, just put the Drowner brain straight into the beaker."
Dick was a little puzzled. "Xiya, don't we need to mash the Drowner brain?"
"No. Once the celandine and dwarven spirit have combined, the Drowner brain will dissolve on its own when you put it in."
"All right."
Without another word, Dick slowly placed the Drowner brain into the beaker and continued stirring.
Just as the sorceress apprentice had said, the Drowner brain slowly dissolved. The solution gradually deepened in color, turning a honey-like yellowish brown, while giving off a slightly pungent smell.
"Well done. There's one last step."
The sorceress apprentice took the beaker and placed it on a roughly square device.
Then she pressed a button on the device, and Dick noticed its temperature slowly rising.
"This is a magical heating device," Xiya began explaining again. "It's a research product specially developed by our Magic Academy. It requires energy stones inside.
"As for you witchers, if you need to make Swallow Potions during a long stay in the wilderness, you can use a crucible or another iron pot instead.
"It's just that potions made that way won't work as well as those heated evenly like this."
Dick nodded again at her words.
As time slowly passed, the solution bubbled gently in the beaker, its color growing richer.
After another unknown stretch of time, the sorceress apprentice pressed the button on the heating device beneath it again and gently set the beaker on the workbench.
Then she took out three small glass bottles and placed them on the workbench.
She filled each small glass bottle with the finished liquid from the beaker, fitted them with stoppers, and sealed their mouths with beeswax.
"Well? Here are your Swallow Potions. Oh, there's still a little left in the beaker. Want to taste the Swallow Potion to get used to it beforehand?"
Xiya had only been joking, but to her surprise, the witcher in front of her actually lifted the beaker and drained the remaining solution in one gulp.
Dick grimaced in distress. "The liquid in this really tastes awful."
Then he felt pain throughout his body, though fortunately it was not particularly pronounced.
As for the Swallow Potion's effects, he did not feel much.
After all, this potion was meant to heal injuries, and he was not injured at the moment.
But he already knew he had mastered a new skill.
Because a notification had appeared on the panel:
[Alchemy]: Potion Making (Novice)
He looked at the sorceress apprentice with a broad smile, while she wore a somewhat frightened expression.
"Dick, I was only joking.
"The toxins in the Swallow Potion have made the veins on your face bulge.
"Luckily, you're a witcher. If an ordinary person like us took a sip of this potion, they might lose half their life.
"But I've heard that even witchers can only drink one potion at a time. If they drink too many, they'll drop dead too. You must be careful!" Teacher Xiya reminded him again.
"Thank you for the warning."
"Then let's look into making sword oil next."
"Sure."
"Take out the Ghoul's glands."
After an unknown amount of time, Dick contentedly acquired three specially made little bottles containing a slippery, butter-like paste. This was the result of his work with the sorceress apprentice-Ghoul sword oil, which could deal extra damage to Necrophages.
To use this sword oil, he only needed to smear it on the blade.
His spirits high, Dick was just about to ask the sorceress apprentice to make a few other things in case he needed them.
Because after they finished making the sword oil, another notification had appeared on the panel:
[Alchemy]: Sword Oil Making (Novice)
But when he looked up and saw how tired the sorceress apprentice looked, Dick finally realized how much time had passed.
"Then how about we get something to eat? After dinner, I'll need to rest."
"Isn't it too early to rest? What time is it, anyway?"
"You witchers really do have strong constitutions! I'm a little envious, honestly. The sun has already set. Didn't you realize we've spent the whole day in the laboratory?"
"So that's it. Then let's hurry and eat, and get some rest."
The sorceress apprentice said nothing, instead pointing at the remaining laboratory equipment. "You'll have to help me clean up the rest, understand? I'll go out and rest for a bit first."
Dick nodded. "All right."
Then Xiya pushed open the door, and Dick noticed that it had indeed grown dark outside.
He felt a little touched. Xiya had been under no obligation to help him, yet she had still lent him a hand.
Whatever her reasons, she had helped him all the same.
If she ever ran into trouble, he ought to repay her.
With that thought, he quickly cleaned up the laboratory equipment and left the laboratory.
To his surprise, food had already been laid out on the table in the living room.
Xiya had already changed into her nightclothes. Her fair calves were pressed together, her bare ankles resting on a stool. She was enjoying the food, holding a cup in one hand. Judging by the smell, it was probably juice made from grapes.