Chapter 471: Advanced Alchemy

Chapter 471: Advanced Alchemy

Mr. Roth, I was hoping Id find you here, a quiet voice came over Alexs shoulder, startling the young wizard.

Professor Jules. Alex wheeled around in his chair, half-rising as his alchemy professor plopped down in a seat beside him.

At the other end of the tableand across the third floor of the libraryseveral students looked at her with a mix of surprise, spite and naked fear. A small smirk played at the edges of the professors lips.

Oh dear, they dont like the sight of me, do they? She said lightly, making herself more comfortable in her chair. Shall I increase the difficulty of my assignments, I wonder?

And this is why students dont like her that much, Alex thought.

I do not think she caresfather. Claygon looked up from one of Selinas books on arithmetic.

I know, which makes them like her even less, Alex thought.

Were you just thinking about how students dont like me? A white eyebrow rose on the professors wrinkled forehead.

Guh, never Alex started to say, but was cut off by a dismissive wave of the hand.

Dont lie to me, Mr. Roth, Ill see through it, she said, then paused. ...is what Iwould say if I had foreseen the Amir situation.

A dark cloud consumed her expression, stoking Alexs guilt: he was still lying to her by omission about using her laboratory without permission. If he was lucky, shed never put it together; and if he had his way, that secret would go with him to the grave.

In any case, I saw that youd submitted your course selection, she said primly. Which is why I am here: youve signed up for the Introduction to Magic Item Creation course?

Er, yeah, Alex said, scratching his beard. Its not a problem, is it? I mean, with the expedition and all.

No, no, its not. Im glad youre taking additional alchemy courses, I just think youre taking the wrong one, she said bluntly.

O-oh? He frowned. Most potions only go up to third-tier effects, right? And Ive already been brewing all sorts of potions on my own, I thought Id go for something a little more advancedyou want me to take another potions course?

No, by all the planes, no. Professor Jules took two forms from her carry-bag, sliding themand a pentoward the young wizard. He peered at them nervously, like they were angry weasels ready to spring as she quickly explained. So, one of those is a form stating that youll be withdrawing from the Introduction to Magic Item Creation course, taught by Professor Procipkek, and the other will enrol you in the Advanced Magic Item Creation course taught by me.

He stared at the two forms, then looked at his professor in shock. Really? You want meto skip a course. Even without challenging the exam for credit?

You can write it, if you want to, but itll be a waste of your time and waste of an afternoon for one of my teaching assistants. She laced her fingers together before her. A little bird, named Toraka Shale, tells me that youre involved in a special project with her. One involving a special substance?

Alex winced: her body language screamed distaste. I, er, take it you dont approve?Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com

Of course I dont, she scoffed. Youre running offhalf-trainedto put your life in danger finding a powerful substance that we dont quite fully understand, in an attempt to bring it to market.

Eris that not allowed?

It's not a matter of allowed or not allowed, its your own private matter, its just that youre triggering a rush more quickly than I anticipated. She sighed. I suspect well be dealing with profit-seeking adventurers from all over the place, soon enough. Also, youre not completely trained in all alchemy safety protocols. Youre risking your life twice over.

Um. He glanced at the application for Advanced Magic Item Creation. If thats truethen why am I being rewarded?

Away from distractions, and distractors.

Only one pair of eyes looked on; Claygon stood silently at the edge of the workroom, watching the two golem crafters engaged in their art.

I think were nearly at a resting point, Toraka said. Which means it needs time to stabilise before we move on to the next step.

Yeah, I agree, Alex looked to the other side of the room. You want to work on the body for a while?

On a sturdy work table at the other end of the space, a partly-completed construction of iron lay, forged in the form of a statuesque woman. Much of the constructs chest cavity was wide open, revealing a complex network of mana pathways leading into its limbs, and in the centre of its chest, the hole was ready to receive the golem core.

Claygon looked upon the iron golem with shifting emotions, many Alex couldnt begin to separate. The golem touched his own chest just above the spot where his own core burned, drawing Alexs attention..

He began to say something when Torakas voice cut in. Sure, lets work on the body for a while. Youre picking up metalworking fast enough.

Thanks, he said, stirring the solution with his mana conductor. Honestly, youre doing most of the heavy lifting on that, though.

I should be, Ive been doing this longer than youve been alive. Toraka shifted her mana within the solution, gradually calming the reaction. Alright, Im going to set it to rest.

Shepressed a sigil on the side of the cauldron, sending a pulse of mana into the substance. Immediately, the rolling boil ceased, the solution stilled until its surface resembled painted glass concealing a source of inner light.

Good stuff, he said.

Very, very good stuff, she agreed. Im very pleased with how things have gone. Honestly, youre doing a lot more work on the golem core than I thought you would be.

He shrugged. Its my design, right? Itd be kinda weird if I came up with the thing then couldnt bloody-well make it.

Youd be surprised how often that happens, Toraka sighed. Theres lots of idea people out there, Alex, and not many with the skills to turn innovation into reality.

Yeah, well, Im not one of them, he carefully placed the cauldrons lid atop the massive pots lip.

Toraka pressed another sigil, andwith a pulse of manaa click sounded and the lid locked in place. Im glad youre not, but unfortunately, most students with big ideas are, though.

Really? Alex wandered over to the golem body, opening a tool kit.

Its an epidemic. She went to a mana-powered forge, pressing a glyph on its side which sparked another pulse of power, followed by a burst of flame and heat within the furnace. In the early days, after I first bought this shop, I made it a point to go to a career fair that the university put on in the main castle annually. It was always well attended by eager students with the idea being to recruit the best and brightest right out of school.

And howd that go? Alex asked.

Well, I dont go anymore, do I? Her laugh was bitter. We did get a few excellent hires, but far more bad ones. Then there were the ones approaching our booth, clutching schematics for magical devices that couldnt even cut it as passable projects in a second year alchemy class. But of course, to them, their ideas were always the next big thing which only needed a few skilled workersprovided by the workshop of courseto get things started.

The mention of the word staff brought a surge of excitement to Alex.

When hed left home that morning, the staff had almost completed its growth process.

It was so close to being finished, that he figured it should be complete when he walked through the apartment door that evening.