The Cornflower Witch

Book 3: Chapter 10: Life After School

Friday's Apothecary class arrived. For this day, the classmates had made quite a bit of preparation, with some even memorizing the entire process the instructor had previously explained.

Refining simple potions is a necessary skill for many professions, and even more so for Mages. These potions can not only assist one's own future path but are also essential for many rituals, and related knowledge is frequently used in other courses.

For the class, the school provided each student with two sets of potion ingredients. If both sets were successfully refined, the successful potions would be the reward for students who studied well. If they failed, not only would their grade be very low, but it would also be an indirect loss of money, which was very distressing and regrettable for students from poor families.

The class took place in a specialized classroom. Here, various tools were already prepared on the tables, and four instructors simultaneously roamed around to supervise.

"Today, the potion we will refine is the common 'Featherweight Potion'. It can make one's body lighter, grant faster movement speed, and also provide a certain degree of damage reduction from falls." In class, the instructor wrote down the formula and key steps. After letting the students familiarize themselves once more, he announced the start.

As a potion between the First Tier and Second Tier, the 'Featherweight Potion' has a rather difficult production method, and its materials are delicate. The main ingredient, 'wind-breather lizard', can die prematurely or fail to activate its characteristics if handled carelessly, leading to potion failure.

Its production materials and effects are First Tier, but its refinement difficulty is very close to the Second Tier. It is often used by various schools for examinations, as it can test students' abilities while also saving on material costs.

Sylutia stood in a corner of the classroom, looking at the materials on the table. With familiar handling, she first placed the 'willow-catkin white grass' into a beaker to boil and extract its juice. At the same time, she processed the cachila stone, grinding it into a fine powder...

Not far from her, Lovier and Aurora were also concentrating on refining potions. Because Sylutia had previously purchased materials, and the two had conducted several practice sessions under this young lady's guidance, they didn't appear flustered today. Instead, they slowly recreated the steps from memory, following the process.

Many students were similar to them because the instructor had also said that this assessment would be quite difficult and recommended students buy materials themselves to experiment a few times in advance.About seventy percent of the class had done preview practice and weren't too panicked, while the other thirty percent had not. These students were now somewhat frantic. Some were too nervous and forgot a step in the process, or their handling was rough, causing material damage and getting stuck midway.

By the time the class ended, more than half of these students who hadn't previewed failed to complete their potion refinement. As for the other students who had practiced in advance, about twenty percent also had accidents, causing both sets of materials to fail. The students who truly succeeded in refining both sets of materials only made up a small portion of the class.

Based on the results, the instructor evaluated those who completed both refinements as 'Superior', those who succeeded with one as 'Good', those with partially effective defective potions as 'Pass', and those who completely failed could only be evaluated as 'Fail'.

As expected, all three from Sylutia's dormitory received 'Superior'. Among them, Sylutia's potion quality was the highest. Among the other students, the best quality refined was 'Excellent', while hers was 'Rare'.

[Featherweight Potion] (First Tier - Excellent): Reduces weight by thirty percent, grants faster speed, and reduces impact force from falls. Duration: 40 seconds.

[Featherweight Potion] (First Tier - Rare): Reduces weight by fifty percent, grants faster speed, and reduces impact force from falls. Duration: 60 seconds.

Seeing this result, Sylutia nodded slightly. Actually, with her ability, she could have refined it even better; reaching Perfect quality would have been easy. If she were to restore her Verdant Nectar Aspect, she could even use the Aspect's ability to activate the potion's efficacy, further enhancing its quality.

Although she felt this matter wasn't a big deal, to the instructor, it was like discovering a rare treasure. Not only did he praise her well in class, but back in the office, news of Sylutia's achievement in the Apothecary class quickly spread among the school's instructor circle.

Several instructors here were Third Tier Mages. Even if they were to concoct the [Featherweight Potion], the result would at most be 'Superior'. To reach Rare quality would require other forms of assistance, either by using better materials or employing some method to temporarily enhance operational ability.

"Did she use any other methods when refining the potion?" The office director looked at the two potions on the table and asked the other instructors beside him.

"No. Several of us went over to watch. Actually, if you had seen her potion-refining process, you wouldn't doubt it, because her operation was incredibly smooth and proficient, every movement perfectly executed."

"Oh, so she had studied and practiced a lot before coming here?" The director stroked his chin.

"Probably. After all, refining potions is a skill that heavily values experience. Even a genius would panic when facing completely unfamiliar situations for the first time."

"Hmm..." The director thought for a moment.

"Record it for now. After all, it's just a First Tier potion; it doesn't prove much. If in subsequent courses, she consistently performs outstandingly in Apothecary class, we'll have to consider reporting it."

"Recommending talents with special aptitudes is our duty. It benefits both the school and us." The Mage Alliance has always offered rewards, and quite generous ones at that, for schools that discover such exceptional talents or aptitudes. Even Third Tier Mages would be tempted and envious.

"Oh, right. I remember the police station came by before, also asking about her situation." One instructor recalled what happened last week.

After he finished describing what the police said at the time, the instructors present also became curious.

"So it seems she really is very calm. No wonder she does well in the potion-refining course—meticulous, calm, and precise."

"Give her special attention. Write it in this month's report and inform the higher level."

"Yes."

...

In the afternoon after school, Sylutia and her two roommates picked up their handbags and left the school. The three had just squeezed out from the surrounding classmates and teachers.

"So many people surrounded Hedra. The teacher said Hedra's potion could be exchanged for 2 gold coins. Two bottles would be 4 gold coins."

"Several classmates were stunned when they heard that." Lovier described the earlier scene.

"Because the potions everyone else refined, if they were Pass quality, are only worth 20 silver coins." Aurora shook her head slightly in response.

"The price of one set of materials is 40 silver coins. To break even, you need at least Good quality."

"Calculating that way, the price of Rare quality is five times higher. Refining two bottles a day, you could earn 120 gold coins in a month." Lovier felt it was amazing.

"That's why everyone was so surprised. Because many Third Tier instructors can only refine potions of 'Superior' quality, and even that requires intense concentration to complete." Aurora, coming from a major family within the Mage Alliance, had a deeper understanding of the market.

Sylutia walked to the side, listening to everyone discussing her matter. She recalled when she first arrived at the Hidden Grove. Back then, when she farmed in the valley, a season's wheat harvest was less than 100 gold coins, though she hadn't accounted for the portion paid as tribute and the supplies from the Hidden Grove.

Truth be told, it was also because she had accumulated a very solid foundation at the Hidden Grove. Most students in the Mage Alliance purchase materials from shops and refine potions according to standard procedures. The Hidden Grove was different; many herbs couldn't be bought or were in insufficient supply, requiring one to gather them from secret realms or various places themselves.

This took a lot of time and also meant Apothecaries at the Hidden Grove advanced more slowly. But the benefit was that they often understood the properties of herbs more deeply, clearly knew where each component of a potion came from, could better preserve the herb's properties during collection, and, because of their greater understanding, could produce higher quality potions during refinement.

Additionally, because raw materials were often hard to find, everyone would consider using substitute materials and actively experiment. This led to many potion formulas being diverse, not fixed, and containing much personal experience and insight.

Under such a mechanism, the number of pharmacists in the Hidden Grove was far less than in the Mage Alliance, but each could stand on their own.

Nothing in the world is perfect. The two cultivation mechanisms each have their own strengths and weaknesses. The Mage Alliance can train qualified Apothecaries in large batches to meet the growing needs of the Transcendent population, but compared to the Hidden Grove, it is somewhat lacking in potion research and innovation. However, supported by its massive scale and base, this shortcoming isn't very apparent, only falling behind somewhat at higher tiers.

As Sylutia pondered the differences between the two cultivation systems, the three unconsciously arrived at their usual eating place.

Cooking in the dorm was pretty much impossible. Even for Sylutia, because she had just arrived in the Asra District and was busy with studies and reading, she hadn't had time to prepare. As for the two young ladies, Lovier and Aurora, they simply didn't know how, so there was no hope there.

After the three entered the restaurant, several waiters greeted them. Everyone was extremely familiar with Lovier, this young lady of a prominent family. Several times, Lovier had treated the entire class here.

"Miss, what would you like to eat today?" A waiter enthusiastically approached.

"It's so hard to decide." Lovier looked at the menu she had ordered from once before, distressed about which to choose.

"Do you have any recommendations?"

"The weather is cold now. You could consider a spiced lamb stew, paired with sliced roasted parsnips, and then a slightly sour and sweet lemon fruit tea to cut through the richness." The waiter skillfully recommended.

"Then we'll order three portions."

"Very good."

Afterwards, the three sat in the restaurant waiting. Pale golden candlelight illuminated the room as scattered light snow began to fall outside.

On another corner of the city, Agate Street.

"Little girl, coming to help so late again?" In a simple restaurant, a woman with large, wide ears greeted.

In a corner of the back kitchen, a horned girl less than one and a half meters tall was vigorously washing dishes, preparing for the upcoming evening dining rush.

"Because I want to earn money, so I can't waste time." She looked up to answer, revealing her mismatched horns.

The woman washed ingredients while responding, "Hehehe, that's a good thought. There's nothing wrong with wanting to earn money. You need to eat to live."

"But I'm still a bit worried about you. I remember you said before that you have classes during the day, right? If you don't study at all at night, won't you fall behind? That would be gaining a little but losing a lot."

Hearing this, the little girl didn't answer. Only the sounds of work in the room could be heard.

Faced with this scene, the woman sighed and didn't continue.

Everyone has their own difficulties. Why pry too clearly? This was a place where beastmen and laborers gathered. Most people living here were those with not-so-high status in the Asra District, with limited capabilities. Taking care of oneself was considered good enough.

When the time came, she turned on the shop's sign. Soon, waiting laborers outside came in.

"Aunt Kugina, you're opening a bit late today." A sturdy beastman man walked in, found a familiar spot, and casually took some pickled radish.

"You're here to eat, yet you have so many demands." The woman answered skillfully, then served this beastman a steaming hot bowl of dinner. Inside was a stew of noodles, vegetables, potatoes, and a small amount of minced meat, emphasizing simple preparation and large, filling portions.

"Hehe, if my demands were low, I wouldn't have waited so long; I'd have gone to other places earlier. Aunt Kugina understands me best. Today's dinner is really good." He ate with a large spoon while talking about recent events.

"Things have been okay lately. I heard that fellow Ango was taken down some time ago." The tiger-man 'Ango' was a famous bully on Agate Street, often taking things without paying at various shops and occasionally extorting money.

"Ango... I haven't seen him for a while." The woman thought about it.

"Aunt Kugina doesn't know yet? Hah, then I have something to talk about tonight." This beastman with thick body hair laughed and began to tell the recent situation.

"I heard it was also last week, seems like a rainy evening. Ango and a few underlings were loitering on Agate Street, and then that kid Ronda saw a girl dressed quite well walking across the street. You know, that kid Ronda has the 'Night Vision' talent, often doing bad things at night."

"Seeing the girl was well-dressed and very pretty, they surrounded her. Following their usual routine, they tried to extort some money first. If the other party was timid, they could come up with even more despicable ideas."

"That girl must have been in trouble." The woman shook her head, feeling this story wasn't good.

"Listen to me finish. It's said the girl initially was also prepared to give money, but when Ronda saw the pocket watch hanging from her waist and saw how pretty she was, he suddenly didn't want to let her go."

"The result was, when they tried to grab the girl, they were injured by her in an instant."

"This really provoked those guys. If they just admitted defeat and let the girl pass, how could Ango maintain face in front of his brothers afterwards? So they charged, planning to grab the girl immediately."

"Then the two sides fought. Originally, Ango thought it would be easy, but unexpectedly, the other party was that kind of 'genius youth'. She actually took down Ango's entire group by herself, blood flowing everywhere."

"With our beastmen's noses, even in the rain, the smell of blood could be detected for several hundred meters around. But at that time, no one dared to go over, only watching from afar."

"That fellow Ango was really miserable, haha. That little girl used threads to strangle his neck, forcing him to kneel on the ground, and led him to the police like walking a dog."

"Tsk tsk, remembering that scene, I could enjoy my meals every day."

"Alright, say less. But Ango disappearing is indeed a good thing." The beastman woman continued preparing food, serving new customers, then collecting the used bowls from other customers and taking them to the back kitchen.

"Anari." She called the name of this horned girl in the back kitchen and walked over.

"Did you hear the talk outside just now?"

"Mm, I heard." She turned around now, revealing her small face under the dim light.

This girl named Anari had messy dark purple hair. The curved horns on her head were smaller on the left and larger on the right. She still looked very thin, the outlines of bones visible. Those deep blue eyes were probably the most beautiful part of her.

"That Ango who robbed you before is locked up now. You don't have to worry about running into them on your way home anymore." The woman hugged this skinny little girl.

"Coming to the shop to help earn money is fine, but you also need to study hard. Try to stay with good people, don't learn bad things from others."

"Auntie can only do this kind of work. Working hard every day is just to maintain a living. You're different; you have a very broad future ahead." As she spoke, she seemed to recall things from her youth.

After hugging for a while, she let go, smiling and patting Anari.

"When it's not busy later, you eat something too. Go home with a full belly."

"Mm." The girl nodded, hugging the woman's waist, lowering her head to nuzzle against her, seemingly trying to hide the warm things flowing from her eyes.