Return of the Fallen Volume 5 Chapter 38
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Author: Blue_Rat
ch38
Glacious pat the cauldron before him.
“This cauldron is a tool that many Alchemists use. Alchemists are masters of fusion in a sense. By combining ingredients with magic, they create grand potions, cure-alls, and such. Turning led to gold and all that. Of course, only a thug would actually use such a gift to fake gold. The three great human kingdoms made a counter to that though with the gold Zeni so I guess it all balances out in the end. As Inscription masters use their ability to create objects and magic tools and weapons, Alchemists as I said mainly combine their magic with ingredients and make something beneficial for the body. Some say that there was once a master Alchemist who by using his alchemy could combine other living creatures together and make something entirely new. A creature that was unlike any other.”
Kazuki pushed some of the green slimy liquid away and tried to climb out of the cauldron so he could talk more comfortably but Glacious knocked him back.
Kazuki fell back in the oversized pot with a splash.
*Ugh*
The smell infiltrated his nose and a little even went in his mouth making him want to hurl.
*Ptt ptt*
Kazuki spit out a few times before he glared at Glacious who in turn just looked at him curiously. Kazuki sighed seeing no enmity from Glacious and let it go.
“I don’t understand. How can Alchemist create life, they’re not gods.”
“Who says you need to be a god to manipulate life. I’m no god and yet I can do whatever I wish with most beings in the world.”
“That’s different. Your strength has no bounds, no limits, how can you compare the two?”
“You’re a fool if you believe I have no limits. I’ve already told you before About that Titan not far from here. I’m sure it would disagree with you about my strength were it to actually come out from that abyssal trench. When it comes to Alchemist though, leaving my strength out of it, why is it strange that a master would be able to create new life, after all even a terrible alchemist manipulates life and has some semblance of success. Have you forgotten what a potion is made from? Most of them have a few plants in them. Tell me, do you define plants as nonliving, of course not. A plant’s structure isn’t as complex as an animal or a human but it is still a living organism. Why then would it be strange for a Master Alchemist to be able to use an ingredient much more complex like a person? As they master their craft, is the next advancement, not animal or human? Like I said legend has it that there was once a Master Alchemist that created a new creature entirely.”
“What kind of creature did this Alchemist make?”
Glacious shrugged his shoulders.
“I’m not sure, after all, it’s merely a legend.”
Kazuki felt something within him deflate.
“Senior is this actually real or is it just a tale you like to spin. I mean does this so-called great master alchemist even have a name or are you gonna make something up on the spot for that too.”
“As I said it’s a legend so whether it’s real or not I can’t be sure. I’m only telling you what I’ve heard. In the past, there have been many alchemists who claimed to have actually created life but I know of none that have ever been confirmed to be real. As for that Master’s name who supposedly done it, I believe the name was Zephris or something like that.”
Kazuki shook his head at the unfamiliar name.
“I never heard of it. Up to this point, I didn’t even really know what an alchemist was and now I’m hearing such tales about them. Do they even actually exist?”
Glacious rubbed his chin in thought.
“Strange…is there really no mention of alchemists in the three human kingdoms? They are real though, I know this for a fact.”
“Senior how can you be so sure? I mean if alchemists are what you say, surely they’d be the most famous people in all the lands next to kings and heroes. I mean people who can cure any disease would be hailed as miracle workers right?”
Glacious slapped the cauldron to make it ring out. Kazuki who was inside felt a reverberation as his eardrums vibrated violently, threatening to explode. Kazuki gripped his head in pain.
“WHAT THE HELL!”
Glacious ignored his cries and chuckled.
“This cauldron is proof. As I said it is used in alchemy. You see an ancestor of mine just so happened to be an amateur alchemist and I’ve witnessed him use alchemy plenty. As a matter of fact, I was in your shoes at one point. After training, I too was tossed into this cauldron and used it to heal. Not only that though, but I was also taught techniques and learned many other things when I absorbed some Magic blood orbs in here.”
Kazuki heard that word and a realization struck him.
“Magic blood orb.”
(Just like the Karada cauldron back in Tresta. It felt like we were being cooked alive in that foul liquid. We also absorbed magic blood orbs inside of it. So that cauldron was an alchemist tool.)
Glacious didn’t know what Kazuki was thinking and just responded to his words.
“Yes, a Magic blood orb. An orb of highly condensed blood filled with both magic, sometimes soul fragments as well as memories. Absorbing one can impart special knowledge or secret techniques into an individual. That’s what I am going to be doing for you as well. I plan to give you a few blood orbs to help speed up your progress in learning from me, though it won’t give you everything, it will definitely jump-start your progress.”
“You’re going to give me some blood orbs from yourself. Isn’t that dangerous though I mean you said it yourself, you’d be giving up fragments of your soul.”
“Dangerous, hah! When you reach my level it is not hard to grow your soul and split off tiny bits of it. It only takes a few minutes for me to recover what I have severed. What I’m going to give you is literally a fraction of my whole. Your worrying mind, do me a favor and ease it young Kazuki. There is no harm in this whatsoever. I just wish I could give you more so that I can guarantee that you could learn to make your own blood orbs as soon as possible and impart your own knowledge back to me.”
This puzzled Kazuki.
“What do you mean? If I absorb your blood orb, won’t I already learn that technique right away?”
Glacious crossed his arms, a look of dissatisfaction on his face.
“If only it were so simple. No, I’m afraid whatever knowledge or memories you absorb from my blood orb will not only not be complete but I have no way of knowing nor controlling what knowledge you receive. If I were better at this I could increase the chance of you learning exactly what I wish but I myself am an amateur alchemist and am not very proficient at all of this.”
The two went quiet for a moment before Kazuki had a thought.
“Senior, why don’t you use a Mind Frey then. It sucks having all of my thoughts looked at but if I’m seeing yours as well, it can be considered an equal exchange.”
Glacious gave a quizzical look.
“Mind Frey, what’s that?”
Kazuki was taken aback. Eventually, Kazuki understood that Glacious was not joking and quickly explained everything. Glacious went quiet for a while before saying.
“So this Mind Frey can show one’s memories for all to see and you say it seems to be a living creature. I have traveled the entire continent several times over but this is the first I have heard of such a creature. Not only that but from what you’ve said, other kingdoms don’t seem to have this creature and only Treia does. Add onto the fact that there is that Karada cauldron and you and the others have experienced magic blood orbs before. All of these piling up, it seems Treia used to have a powerful alchemist at some point.”
“Used to?”
Glacious nodded.
“Yes, from what you’ve told me it seems Treia is reluctant to bring out the Mind Frey, and not only that, no one seems to know much about alchemists, yet the three kingdoms all use gold Zeni a product clearly made from alchemy. The magic gold that every country uses, who do you think creates it? Healing potions and Mana recovery potions are considered rare and cost a small fortune even though you told me the ingredients are abundant and so common that old grannies have them in their gardens. Yes, I think Treia used to have alchemists or at least one that was fairly competent but something happened. Maybe they got too greedy or the kingdom figured out how to make their products and silenced them to keep things secret. The lack of potions though is curious. Did they not get the complete recipe or mess up somewhere. Things are truly odd in the outside world.”
Kazuki found it all to be too strange and far too coincidental. In the end, though, there was nothing they could do about it, nor did they care too much either. With the idle talk out of the way and Kazuki knowing exactly what was going on now, his guard lowered and he was ready to accept a blood orb.
Glacious used his thumbnail to cut the tip of his finger and a drop of blood began to gather. The blood gathered and gathered and gathered some more. It was well enough heavy to fall from his finger but it seemed to hang on with all of its might and continued to grow. The drop of blood doubled in size and then tripled. Eventually, it was the size of a golf ball and small inscriptions could be seen floating around the orb. Glacious then flicked it into the cauldron and the orb raced for Kazuki.
Kazuki did not block the large drop of blood and felt it strike him directly in the forehead. The orb of blood slowly began to sink into the center of his head as though he were a sponge. At the same time, Kazuki began to release his magic into the cauldron as he was directed and the cauldron began to glow as hundreds of inscriptions lit up all around him.
Glacious began to close the lid at the top but just before he sealed it shut, he smiled and said.
“I’ll see you when your done, oh yeah be sure not to die, good luck.”
*CLANG*
The top was sealed and Kazuki was surrounded by darkness.
Kazuki became alert with those words and just when he was wondering what Glacious meant he felt it.
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