Chapter 103: The Potion Master

"Welcome to potion class one zero one."

Jim glanced over this big smile of this master of the griffin clan. He was a calm looking one, with a good impression left for those glancing over him.

And the class was quite filled up this time, as if this master was famous for his easy going nature.

"We will start this year with the basics of potions, how to form potions. Then if I found someone worth nourishing I'll assign more tasks and teach him how to concoct pills."

The master words weren't rashed, calm as if he was speaking to a close by friend not disciples.

"May I hear your thoughts about potions?" his smile grew wider while Jim just had the image of that vulgar female master of the forging class resurface in his mind, "C'mon, don't be shy. I won't discount anything from you like the others."

He laughed and Jim realized the attitude of that female master seemed not to be an exception here.

"Potions are the mix of plants to get their benefit together in a stronger format," one disciple said and the master nodded.

"Five points to the hydra pantheon," he said before adding, "anyone else wants to add a more profound meaning and info?"

"To make potions we need extreme knowledge about plants and their uses. We also need to be aware of the fact that making potions isn't just about adding things together and cooking them."

"Brilliant one," the master clapped in encouragement, "ten points to the pantheon of phoenix. Anyone else?"

"Potions are hard to make due to many variables," a disciple spoke again before adding, "for example the heat, the fluid used to make potions, and even the condition of the herbs used… all these and more interfere with the end result and the success and failure of potions."

"Impressive… twenty points to the Kraken pantheon," the master said in a pure laugh, "anyone else?"

"Potions are based on understanding the deep nature of each herb," Jim suddenly spoke up, enticed by these free points given to everyone while he already got a perfect answer from his old man.

"For example a fire based herb can't be used with a water based herb, instead using a wind based herb will give better results. Also it's not only about adding the herbs together, it's about understanding how they will react if added to each other.

Some herbs might augment others, while others might suppress the same herbs. Arranging the herbs to be in a specific order is crucial or else the end result might not be quite satisfying."

"Amazing… this is just a brilliant answer," the master clapped while his face showed many expectations for Jim, "fifty points to the resurrected Fairy pantheon… bravo kid," the master was just too generous with him, "can you then tell me how the potions are made?"

Jim smiled while saying, "sure master, but I dunno any formulas so far," he tried to buy himself some precious seconds while the old man provided him with an answer.

"Just speak generally then out of your understanding," the master wasn't dejected by his question or lack of knowledge. Instead he looked much amused and had even a glint in his purple eyes.

"To make potions one must first start with herbs," Jim said before waving his hands, "for example a leaf herb must be smashed to give its essence before using. A fruit should be squeezed and a mere bark of a tree should be crushed into minute pieces.

Preparation is the most essential step of any potion, then comes the selection of the herb itself. Its condition, state of maturation, reservation, and even the age of the herb matters.

Then comes the fluid. Each potion contains special requirements for its fluid essence. To make sure the end result would be perfect one shouldn't try to play with the essence.

Then comes the order of any potion and this any formula will contain a detailed explanation for this, or might not be obscure and not contain anything at all.

So sometimes we need to improvise and test first to make sure the end result will be great. Also this allows for personal variations and experiences to play a role in making potions.

Even a single formula might result in slightly different potions where our own individual differences will play a role."

He said the exact words the old man whispered, and through these he also started to gain more knowledge about potions.

"Outstanding answer," the master beamed with a grin while clapping hard to Jim, "I never imagined to find such a well knowledgeable kid this year. Bravo, you just gained one hundred points for your pantheon."

The master then paused as he seriously added, "I've set my gaze on you, don't disappoint me."

"I won't," Jim's smile was so wide that extended from ear to ear. He was content with such an impression, and didn't care about all these gazes his colleagues here gave to him.

"Alright," the master said before adding, "we now will discuss our first potion."

He pointed towards the black board behind as fiery words started to appear there, "our first potion is a strength augmenting one. Of course it's a basic grade, with nothing special about it except the most impressive disciple of you here will get one while moving home today."

A wave of soft whisper spread at once while he waited, seemingly not annoyed by such a reaction. "Alright," he loudly said, "let's start discussing the potion."

The next moment the words behind changed to show up the ingredients of this potion. "Here I'll provide you with everything you might need," he waved his hand and miraculously many pots appeared out of thin air with a large number of herbs.

He simply waved his hand and then each pot and a small number of herbs landed beside each disciple's place. "You'll use my pots and herbs during the first semester, and then you'll have to provide yours."

He then pointed to the board as he added, "this is the detailed formula of this potion. Try to make up yours now and I'll just pass by and give some pointers from time to time."

"Master," one disciple said, "how can we light the fire?"

"Just touch the pot and the fire will be ignited on its own," the master simply said, "the fire is adjusted to be suited for this potion making. Controlling fire requires some talent and so I decided to make it for another time."

The disciples then started to move and test the pot, all but Jim who sat in his place motionless while his mind was memorizing this potion.

'I can let you make a higher grade one if you wanted to,' the old man suddenly said.

'With the same ingredients?' Jim asked.

'Of course, but the fire might need slight adjustment,' the old man said.

'Alright, let's do this.'

Jim didn't want to let such a chance slip off his hands. He wanted to taste the effect of such potion on him. If it was beneficial then he would find a way to get his hands over enough potions for his team.

He went to the pot while the old man's voice rang inside his mind. 'First you need to prepare things in the same way, but the order of adding them will be adjusted a little.'

'And the fire?'

'It's easy, the master of yours is so kind to cast a spell over it to maintain its state. All you need to do is just use a bit of force and it will be crushed.'

'It's this weak?' Jim was speechless.

'The master never imagined that a disciple like you will try this out,' the old man laughed, 'besides it's just a low leveled spell and he used it over a large number of fires. It's normal for it to be weak.'

'How can I raise it?' Jim started to revise the steps of preparing the herbs once more.

'Just touch it with your sword,' the old man said and Jim knew what he meant.

He would instigate his innate power and use it to control the fire better and raise its strength.

Jim then started to make the potion. The potion required a set of five different herbs; three leaves, one seed, and one fruit.

"Let's squeeze this first," he held one fruit in hand and started to apply pressure over it.

'If you want a better result,' yet he was stopped by the sudden words of his old man, 'you should do everything with your pantheon power.'

Jim didn't hesitate to put this pineapple-like fruit with green surface and red leaves on the desk before taking out his sword.

The moment he did so, his golden aura appeared all of sudden, startling many.

"What do you think you're doing?" one disciple sneered.

"Are you mistaking this for the war class?" another laughed while Jim only ignored their remarks and watched the observing gaze of his master.

And the master silently nodded.

'He knows,' Jim inwardly sighed.

'Of course he does,' the old man laughed, 'did you think he would be oblivious to what you are doing? C'mon, he is the master of potions, and it's only normal for him to know much more than you do.'