6.51 – Patron

6.51 – Patron

"Certain requirements?" Sabina prompted.

Heat rose on Zoey's cheeks. "The skill uses up Holy Energy, which I collect through—all of the stuff involving Aria and the temple." She didn't need to specify. Seeing how Sabina was a bright woman, she could read between the lines. "And in doing so, it can move a person through advancements."

Sabina stared at her. As far as reactions went, that was her equivalent of gaping.

"Move a person through advancements," Sabina repeated flatly.

"Yeah. It's ridiculous, I know." She hesitated. "What advancement are you, anyway? That's a personal question, I know, but it's becoming relevant. Like I said, I want to use it on you, and it's gonna be more expensive the higher you are. At least, that's the assumption."

Sabina studied Zoey, obviously digesting the shocking announcement, before she answered as smoothly as ever.

"Fourth."

"Fourth?" She wasn't so rude as to say, that's it? But her tone probably gave it away.

Fortunately, Sabina only seemed amused, not offended. "Craftsmen-type classes advance slower than combat ones," she said. "Or rather, there's fewer means to advance—and the best of them, obscenely expensive. I've been working with limited resources. I'm no scion of a noble family." An eyebrow went up. "Nor sponsored by a goddess. Fourth advancement is respectable for my circumstances."

"Sorry, yes, of course. I didn't mean to imply it wasn't." She laughed abruptly. "My expectations are just way out of whack. I mean, I'm also fourth in my alchemy rune." As Sabina already knew. "And you're like a thousand times the alchemist I am."

"Mm," Sabina said. "You're developing competency quite quickly."

Which was a nice compliment but not a rejection of what Zoey had said. Sabina was the expert here; she was intelligent, passionate, and had years of experience. The two of them weren't even comparable in the field of alchemy. Just, as Sabina had said, she had no goddess's patronage to cheat her way through ranks in mere weeks of dabbling.

"And I suppose I'm indirectly about to be sponsored," Sabina mused. "Simply by an upcoming goddess rather than an established one." She waved her hand. "You mentioned requirements?"

"Right." Her cheeks colored, and she wondered how best to broach the subject.

"Sex?"

Zoey briefly choked on her reply. "Well ... yes." Of course Sabina had made that deduction. "It'd be a ritual. Aria would have to help, I think."

"A religious rite," Sabina said, considering. "Yes, of course."

"I don't even have holy energy to use right now, but I figured I should make you aware of the situation sooner rather than later." Not the type of announcement she should drop in Sabina's lap the day of. She hesitated. "Is that something you'd want?"

"Particularly the one I catalyzed using Mel," Sabina continued. Raising her hand and pulling filled glassware from her inventory, she displayed three vibrant green potion vials. "Duration can be improved, but as I said, I think you'll appreciate them as is."

Zoey took the potions from Sabina, inspecting them as she did.

[Potion of Gooey Transmutation]: Temporarily transmutes a living being's body into a gel-like substance.

"Ah," Zoey said. "I was wondering whether something like this would be possible." She had intended to ask Sabina to try to make one. "But you beat me to the punch. Great minds think alike?"

"Seems like it might have various utility or combat applications," Sabina commented. Her lips twitched. "Though I think you're interested in it for other reasons."

The ability to turn Rosalie, Delta, Maddy, or anyone else into a gooey creature like Mel? Yes, Zoey's thoughts had definitely not gone to the utility or combat uses of the potion.

"I'll take note of its effects and get back to you," Zoey coughed.

"Additionally, I've cracked those two stubborn reagents from so long ago," she said. She withdrew six more potions, three each, and handed them to her. They were both a murky white color, though different shades. "The latter will make collection sessions easier."

[Potion of Internal Stretchiness]: Allows internal organs to sustain significant stretch without damage.

[Potion of Virile Output]: Greatly increases the virile output of the consumer.

"Ah," Zoey said, trying to fight down the fantasies that came with both of those descriptions. The two reagents Sabina had referenced were the ones that had come from that oversized dildo they'd collected parts of so long ago. The one Delta had enthusiastically 'conquered.'

Zoey already had natural affinities for ... accommodation and output, but these potions would take those aspects to the extreme.

"You've been busy."

Sabina shrugged. "All there's been to do is work. It's what I prefer, anyway."

"Well, thanks. I'll put them to good use." Somehow she managed not to blush when she said that.

"I hope you do," Sabina said. "An alchemist wants her work to be appreciated. That's all I had for you. Don't let me hold you up."

She could tell Sabina also wanted to return to her experiments; she wasn't just letting Zoey go. She really was someone who preferred working more than almost anything.

So. Now, she owed Adrienne a short visit to catch her up, then it was back to Rosalie—and planning the rest of what was sure to be a chaotic day.