Inside the stone chamber.
The Witcher apprentices worked on the herbs in their hands, but within five minutes, someone had already cut through the vascular membrane of the Knitbone Herb.
Green sap seeped out, carrying away most of its medicinal properties.
The herbalist nun watched and sighed silently.
Although the Witcher apprentices could identify the herbs, their handling was far too rough.
The apprentice named Paul was especially bad.
Even the hand gripping his small silver knife looked stiff.
Vesemir of Kaer Morhen was, without question, an outstanding master swordsman, but when it came to Herbal Alchemy, he was still sorely lacking.
“This lesson is going to waste quite a few herbs.”
The herbalist nun murmured to herself.
Her gaze shifted, and her chin suddenly lifted as she noticed the dark-haired boy seated on the far left.
Alvin looked focused.
His right hand, holding the silver knife, did not tremble in the slightest.
With his index finger pressed against the back of the blade, he gently pushed forward, slicing open the veins of the White Fern.
[Herbal Alchemy Experience +1!]
There it was!
Alvin placed the prepared White Fern into the vessel.
Next was the Reachcluster.
Looking at its broad, densely packed leaves, Alvin frowned slightly.
Suddenly, the clean, sweet scent of Chamomile drifted over.
The herbalist nun came to his side, extended her slender index finger, and slowly traced down from the top of the Reachcluster.
“When preparing Reachcluster, you need to cut along the leaf veins.
That’s the only way to preserve its medicinal properties.
Keep your hand steady.
Don’t rush.”
Alvin’s cat-like eyes narrowed.
Following the herbalist nun’s guidance, he immediately saw the pattern of the Reachcluster’s veins.
He brought the blade down along the veins and slowly separated the Reachcluster’s rhizome.
[Herbal Alchemy Experience +10!]
The number that appeared on the interface stunned Alvin.
Just one simple explanation, and his experience points had shot up by 10.
So this was what it meant for a teacher to impart knowledge and resolve doubts?
Alvin looked up at the herbalist nun with gratitude in his eyes.
“Thank you, Lady Vries.”
She said nothing, but an apprentice’s voice called out from behind her.
“Lady Vries, Lady Vries!”
The voice was urgent, and Alvin recognized it as Aiken’s.
The herbalist nun turned and walked over, but as she approached Aiken, her steps visibly paused.
The Reachcluster on his tray had been cut into an utter mess.
Aiken scratched his head and put on an embarrassed expression.
“Lady Vries, I’m really sorry.
I’m not very good at handling this.”
The herbalist nun did not get angry.
Instead, she picked up the small silver knife from the tray.
“I’ll do it once.
Watch carefully.”
Aiken nodded earnestly while raising an eyebrow at Alvin, giving him a smug look.
Alvin ignored him and began preparing the next Knitbone Herb.
His Herbal Alchemy experience had already reached 96.
He was only 4 points away from leveling up.
Who had time to bother with anyone else?
Time passed, second by second.
The herbalist nun returned to the lectern, smoothed the slight wrinkles from her cuffs, and said in a somewhat weary voice, “All right.
Today’s Herbal Alchemy class ends here.
You may go.”
At that, many of the apprentices let out sighs of relief.
If they were asked to handle swords and blades, they would have no trouble at all.
But facing a small silver knife and a pile of herbs was truly difficult for them.
All they could think about was getting out of the stone chamber as quickly as possible.
Even going back aboveground for a breath of fresh air would feel wonderful.
The apprentices stood and quickly bid farewell to the herbalist.
“Goodbye, Lady Vries.”
The herbalist nun gave the apprentices a very proper nod.
Alvin stood and opened his interface.
[Herbal Alchemy Lv1: 98/100]
Only 2 points left until he leveled up.
Alvin’s compulsive streak flared up, leaving him with a nagging discomfort like a fishbone lodged in his throat.
No.
He had to find a way to deal with this.
Alvin glanced to the side.
Paul had already followed the others out of the stone chamber, but there was still an unprocessed Reachcluster left on his tray.
There it was!
“Lady Vries, may I help you prepare these herbs?”
The herbalist nun was visibly taken aback.
She truly had not expected an apprentice to stay behind and help her clean up the mess.
Especially a Witcher apprentice.
A child with this kind of patience was rare.
“Of course.
As long as it doesn’t interfere with your rest.”
After receiving her reply, Alvin’s lips curved upward.
He started from Paul’s seat and quickly dealt with the Reachcluster.
The herbalist nun watched Alvin’s technique.
Compared with his first attempt, it was much cleaner and more fluid.
The cut was smooth as a mirror, without a single stray fiber.
“This child…”
She murmured to herself, a trace of surprise in her voice.
Alvin’s hands grew more and more practiced.
[Herbal Alchemy Experience +1!]
When he finished preparing the final portion of White Fern, the mechanical notification sounded again.
[Herbal Alchemy Experience +1!]
[Herbal Alchemy Lv1: 100/100 -> Herbal Alchemy Lv2, acquired the White talent Alchemy Sense]
[Herbal Alchemy Lv2: 0/1000]
[Alchemy Sense (White): You have become familiar with the most basic alchemical properties.
By focusing your mind, you can sense the energy fluctuations between alchemical items, allowing you to handle them more effectively.]
It was a new talent.
Alvin took a breath, joy flashing through his eyes.
“Very well done.
It seems you’ve put real effort into Herbal Alchemy.
Vesemir’s alchemy teaching isn’t as dreadful as I imagined.”
Alvin gave the herbalist nun an apprentice’s salute.
A meaningful smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
“I don’t think you’ve ever completed a full alchemy process before.
Are you interested in trying once?”
Alvin looked up, wanting to see the face beneath the herbalist nun’s hood, but it was as if a layer of mist lay between them.
Aside from her outline, he could make out nothing.
Without the slightest hesitation, Alvin nodded.
“Of course.
I’d be very glad to.”
Just a single sentence from her had raised his Herbal Alchemy by 10 experience points.
Now that she was personally guiding him, who knew how much experience he might gain?
Only a fool would refuse.
“Follow me.”
Alvin followed the herbalist nun to the lectern.
She took two items from a nearby herb chest.
“Do you know what these are and what they’re used for?”
Alvin glanced at them.
With the [Alchemy Sense] talent, he quickly recognized them.
“This bright yellow little flower is Celandine, and this brown, dried object is Drowner Brain.”
After a brief pause, he said firmly, “These should be ingredients for making the [Swallow] Potion.
It’s only missing a bottle of strong liquor.”
The herbalist nun took out a distillation flask, a crucible, and a bottle of Dwarven Spirit.
“Absolutely correct.
Then begin.
I’ll be watching from the side.”
Alvin took a deep breath and began the preparations.
The first step was to cut the Celandine along its veins, just as he had done with the Reachcluster.
Next was the Drowner Brain.
It had to be cut in half, and the membrane picked out so its medicinal effect could be brought out fully.
He poured both into the vessel and crushed them.
[Herbal Alchemy Experience +1!]
Alvin focused his mind and activated [Alchemy Sense].
Ripple.
He clearly sensed a ring of pale green ripples appearing in the vessel, spreading continuously outward.
When they touched the Dwarven Spirit in the crucible, pale blue ripples spread out from it as if in response.
That was about right!
Alvin slowly poured the prepared Drowner Brain paste into the crucible.
In an instant, the spirit and the Drowner Brain paste reacted violently.
Bubbles kept rising to the surface, green and blue ripples tangled together, and the clear liquid turned cloudy.
Then the ripples gradually softened, and the liquid turned a clear green.
Alvin’s cat-like eyes lit up.
The [Swallow] Potion was complete!
[Herbal Alchemy Experience +1!]
The herbalist nun lightly tapped her finger against the table.
The interest in her eyes gradually turned to surprise.
“Fifteen minutes.
Though it’s only the simplest Swallow Potion, reaching this level on your first attempt is very good.”
Then she picked up a silver spoon, scooped a little from the crucible, held it before her nose, and gently fanned it with her left hand.
“The scent, color, and concentration are all basically up to standard.
Child, tell me your name.”
“My name is Alvin.”
“Alvin,” the herbalist nun’s tone suddenly sharpened, “you did very well.
However…”