novelraw Chapter 9 : Basic Botany and Simple Potion Crafting
Chapter 9 : Basic Botany and Simple Potion Crafting
Chapter 9: Basic Botany and Simple Potion Crafting
The next morning, because his mood had been ruined by what happened in the afternoon the previous day, the card game they had planned ultimately did not happen.
However, Lance did not neglect the matter of finding books to study.
Bright sunlight streamed through the bookstore windows, and dust danced within the golden beams of light.
Graystone Town did not have a public library.
For ordinary people, the only way to acquire new knowledge was to come to a bookstore and purchase books.
In this world, knowledge, like life itself, was an expensive luxury.
The bookstore owner was an elderly gentleman.
A pair of delicate gold-rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, and he wore a well-tailored linen shirt.
Whenever Lance passed by, he could see through the display window the old man holding a steaming cup of coffee, sitting behind the tall counter, quietly reading heavy tomes.
Pushing open the wooden door with a copper bell, Lance stepped into this spacious two-story bookstore.
The collection here was quite rich. From basic literacy primers to the latest journals on magical theory, everything could be found among the rows of tall mahogany bookshelves.
Lance’s gaze swept across the dazzling array of book spines, and soon a large-format illustrated album placed prominently caught his attention.
《Ostera Illustrated Gazette · Summer Edition》
His eyes lit up slightly, and as if guided by instinct, he reached out and took it down.
Opening the cover, a sense of extravagant exotic charm rushed toward him.
The pages were printed on expensive coated paper, depicting towering white bell towers reaching into the clouds and massive seafaring ships cutting through the waves.
As for the remaining sixty-plus pages, they vividly illustrated the thrilling customs and allure of Ostera.
A Foxfolk girl with a graceful figure glanced back in a lounge, the fine fur on her ears clearly visible.
A noble and cold Elven Ranger drew her longbow, her gaze sharp.
And there was also a boldly dressed Succubus with a heart-shaped tail, casting flirtatious looks at the reader through the pages.
This album was clearly the work of a professional. The artist had mixed a trace amount of illusion powder into the pigments.
When Lance stared at the images, the once-static figures seemed to move slowly, even the swaying hem of the Foxfolk girl’s skirt appearing lifelike.
“What a fine piece…”
With the pure eye of an art appreciator, Lance carefully examined each page.
Afterward, he glanced at the expensive price on the back cover and could only reluctantly return it to its place.
Today’s budget was limited; he simply did not have the spare money to support such spiritual nourishment.
Next time for sure.
Lance steadied his mind and began moving through the shelves, searching for the true target of his visit.
Not coming to browse the bookstore before had truly made him miss many treasures.
He had even spotted a copy of 《Advanced Techniques of Three Dragon Cards》 in a corner and almost couldn’t resist buying it on impulse.
Just as he turned around a tall bookshelf filled with herbalism books—
a petite figure happened to be walking toward him from the opposite side, carrying a stack of books.
With their vision obstructed, neither managed to stop in time.
“Thump.”
With a soft sound, the figure—who did not even reach Lance’s shoulder—wobbled slightly.
“S-sorry.”
The other party’s voice was soft and gentle, tinged with a trace of panic after being startled.
Lance lowered his head to look.
Standing before him was a girl wearing a beige long dress, with a dark brown apron embroidered with herb patterns over it, giving off a quiet scholarly air.
She was bowing her head in apology, two signature braided pigtails hanging in front of her chest.
“Flora?”
Lance called out tentatively.
Hearing the familiar voice, the girl looked up in surprise.
When she saw that it was Lance, a hint of delight flashed in her deer-like eyes.
“Lance? You came to buy books too?”
“Yeah.”
Lance smiled and nodded, then asked curiously,
“At this time, shouldn’t you be helping at Aunt Movenna’s potion shop?”
Flora smiled a little shyly. She lifted the thick hardcover book in her arms as if presenting a treasure.
The gilded title on the cover shimmered under the sunlight.
《Viridia Print: The Most Suitable Basic Potion Manual for Alchemists》
“It was Aunt Movenna who told me to come buy this.”
There was an unmistakable hint of excitement in Flora’s voice.
“She said I’ve already mastered the basics and can start trying to learn real alchemy.”
Hearing that name, Lance couldn’t help but feel a sense of respect.
Viridia—in the Common Language, it meant “Emerald Crucible,” the holy land in the hearts of all life-alchemy schools across the continent.
Almost all the latest potion formulas and theories originated from there.
Being able to start studying this kind of book meant that Flora was no longer just a little apprentice who only cut herbs.
“You’re finally going to start making potions?!”
Lance was genuinely happy for his friend.
“Congratulations, future alchemy master.”
Praised like this by Lance, Flora revealed a sweet smile, dimples faintly appearing on both sides of her cheeks, making her look especially adorable.
But she quickly came back to her senses and looked at Lance with curiosity.
“By the way, what book are you looking for? The categories here are a bit messy. I’m familiar with the place—I can help you find it.”
Lance didn’t stand on ceremony and directly described his needs.
Flora nodded and led him through two rows of bookshelves to an area by the wall.
“They’re all here.”
Following the direction of her finger, Lance immediately saw the target he had been longing for.
《Copper Creek Herbal and Mineral Compendium》.
And beside it, another thick black book caught his intense interest.
《Copper Creek Forest Monster Manual》.
Lance reached out and pulled it out, flipping open the pages.
After only a few glances, he was shocked.
The contents recorded in this book were far more detailed than the thin beginner’s handbook with only a few pages that the Adventurers’ Guild distributed for free.
The pages contained not only detailed textual descriptions but also rough yet highly distinctive sketch illustrations.
From the camouflage characteristics of Goblin nest entrances, to the distribution patterns of Slime cores.
From distinguishing Gnoll class ranks by fur color, to emergency evasive postures when encountering a demonic wild boar.
Every detail was meticulously recorded.
Just as Lance was still hesitating over whether to add this monster compendium to his must-buy list—
Flora, who was searching among the shelves beside him, suddenly let out a soft exclamation.
“Found it.”
Standing on tiptoe, she pulled out a book with a dark green cover from between two rows of thick volumes.
Then she turned around and, as if offering a treasure, placed the book into Lance’s arms.
Lance looked down.
《Basic Botany and Simple Potion Crafting》.
“If you want to learn to identify wild herbs, then learning this along the way will be very helpful.”