Part 6: Chapter 2-2: Their Mentor's First Lessons

Part 2-2: Their Mentor’s First Lessons



Thanks for the breakfast! We’re off, Dad!

What? Where are you headed?

It’s a secret! See you later!


The Meaning of Alchemy

Off we go! Anyway, Lydie, I gotta say…



Yes! It’s really convenient for us that Ilmeria’s atelier is just down the street from our own!

Master! We’re here!



We haven’t! We want to learn alchemy from you, Ilmeria.

Please! Master, teach us all about alchemy!

OK. I’m not going to hold back, though. Get ready for this!

We’re ready!

You sound it. Let’s start your lessons at once. Tell me then, my students. Just what is alchemy?

What do you mean? Mixing materials in a cauldron to make something, right?

That’s not a bad overview, perhaps, but it isn’t entirely accurate.



The voice of materials? They can talk?

She’s already losing me…

Yes. Only the very best alchemists can hear them. Most alchemists will never…



Aaah! S-Sue, wake up! Teach, I’m sorry!

Hehe. A lecture is too boring for Sue? No problem. You’ll need more than lectures to improve, anyway. Years of lectures can be trumped by one year of experience. That’s how alchemy works. Both of you, come over to the cauldron. I’ll teach you some high quality synthesizing.



So what more is there to alchemy, Teach?

This is more than just mixing materials. The order you add them, cauldron temperature, are all important.

I see…

Let’s begin. First, tell me something you already know how to make.



Hmm… we’ve been making Healing Pads for clients.

Then let’s start with Healing Pads.



I’ll provide you with materials. Pay close attention to their components, and where you put them in the cauldron, and in what order. Let’s start with the Princess Grass.



I’ve never thought to look for components before, or where to put them in… but now that I’m thinking of that, I see that this Princess Grass has one green component.



The shape and color of the component determines how large of an effect it contributes to the final product, or if it contributes at all. But that’s not all. Let’s move on to the component from this Taun. It’s green, and so is that spot in the cauldron. Now put it in and see what happens.



Whoa! That’s a pretty big boost!

It is! Try to match up the colors of the components with their respective colored spots in the cauldron as much as you can. That’s what will yield the best results. Now mind the blue component of this Blue Flower.



Sometimes you’ll have to rotate components before putting them in. Otherwise, they can cancel out parts of other components and weaken the product.

Alright. I’m putting this one in. Now there’s the blue spot…

That leaves the Blue Flower’s green component left! And there’s one green spot left! I know exactly what to do!

Go ahead, Sue. See what happens…



Whoa! I think these Healing Pads are gonna be more effective than anything we’ve ever made before! And they’ll be able to heal us a bit after being used!

Even so… as it is, there’s a hard limit on how effective the Healing Pads we make can be, isn’t there?

Sure there is. But as you grow better and better at alchemy, you can smash right through those limits. For now, my students, just finish this synthesis!



Yes, that’s the way. You pick things up quickly.

Sue. Look at that!

Yes. It’s totally different! Like when we used materials from inside the painting.

From inside where? Ah, no matter. These are the basics of synthesis. Remember them well.

We will! At this rate, we’ll have the greatest atelier in the kingdom before we know it!

No you won’t. Alchemy is more than just synthesis. Alchemy is about creation. Creativity and imagination are as important as synthesis skill.

Imagination? Creativity?

Yes. The ability to imagine new recipes, for example. It isn’t something I can teach, either. Thinking flexibly and experiencing many different things. That’s the key to discovering recipes.

Experiencing many different things… like, fighting monsters? Gathering? Synthesizing itself?

It’s time for me to test you a little. I want both of you to come up with some new recipes.

What? Isn’t that a little sudden? We have to think of some new recipes already?

You’ll be fine. I have a friend who can think up two or three recipes in a single night. Just go and try lots of different things! Off you go, and do your best!



Hahaha, you might be right. She explained things really well though, didn’t she!

I was sleeping for half of it, but she did seem pretty good at it!

If we follow her lead, we can become great alchemists! We need to do what she told us. Get hints from experiencing various things. How about taking on some quests, then?

Make some money, and earn some experience? That sounds like two birds with one stone!

That settles it! Let’s head over to the Plaza right away!



Lydie. Take a wild guess what that crowd over there is waiting for…


Quips and Quests

Uwah! Borthayre is as popular as ever today.

I know. I’m so jealous. The Ranking system hasn’t changed that, has it?

They’re a long standing store, after all. I’m still really jealous!

Oh my! If it isn’t Lydie and Sue!

Gah, we’ve been spotted…

What’s with that reaction? What are you doing here, anyway?



Uwah, she saw right through us… Yes, Lucia, you’ve hit the nail on the head. We were just talking about how nice it would be to be so busy every day!

Ohohoho! I’m sure you were! This is my atelier, after all! What about your atelier, then? Empty? Deserted? Closed for the foreseeable future?

I-It’s not that bad! We don’t have that many customers, but still…

Hmm, I see. In which case… If you ask nicely, maybe I’ll tell you the secret to our success? Hehehe?

R-Really? Tell us, Lucia!

No thank you! Come on, Lydie, we’re leaving!

Sue walks off.

Ah, hold on! Sue!

Lydie runs after her.

Ah! I’ve gone and done it again… That wasn’t really my intention…

Sheesh, Lydie, did you really think Lucia was going to give us an honest answer? Or help us?

I guess not, Sue.

Anyway! We didn’t come here to hear her talk down to us. To the Notice Board!



Hmmm. I guess it’s to be expected, but a lot of them involve leaving the city.

There are monsters out there, so we’ll have to prepare well. Make some items, and…

Get some weapons and armor, too. We can find both of those at Hagel’s place.

We’d better go and see him. Although we can’t buy anything without money.

Ah, I completely forgot about that problem!

Well… let’s just pick something, since we came.



This looks doable! I feel bad for the guy who got licked by the mushrooms, though.

We can also do this other job that involves hunting Beasts! It’ll pay 200 Coll.

And finally, there’s this person who wants five Fairy Parasols. They’re not paying in Coll, but the Darkshrooms they give should come in handy for synthesis down the line.


The Blacksmith and the Nun

Now off to Hagel’s!

Ah, it’s you girls! What can I do for you this afternoon?

Hey, Hagel! You sell weapons and armor here, don’t you?

That’s how I make my living! Off to fight some monsters?

That’s right! We’re going to beat up every single monster we can find!

Don’t get carried away! We just need to be ready to leave the city for some requests, that’s all.

I see. In which case, you’re in the right place.



Hahaha! I’m a master blacksmith! Take a look around!



We’ll be back… once we have more money in our pockets.

See you later!



Sue, before we leave the city for our quests, I want to visit Sister Grace.

Fine by me!



Ah, welcome, welcome. You’re here to pray, of course!

Hahaha! Of course not!

Haah. No harm in trying. Even though our lord is saddened by your lack of faith, I’m sure.

T-Tell him we’re sorry about that. I don’t mind a bit of prayer, but Sue…

Hey, don’t blame me! You said praying was boring too, Lydie!

Uwah, don’t say that! That’s not true, Sister Grace!

Hehe, it’s all right. All children dislike prayer. If you aren’t here to pray, are you here to play? What’s it going to be today? Tag? Playing house?

Sister Grace, please! We’re not babies anymore… We’re adults now. We’ve grown out of those childish games.

Ah, of course you have. I’m sorry. I’ve known you since you were small, so it’s easy to forget. Very well. If you are adults, then you are here to pray. Correct?

What! No, well… Sue! You know what, I think we are still children after all!

Hahaha! You know what, I think you’re right! Come on, Sister Grace! Let’s have some fun!

Honestly! Haha… I have a board game here that someone gave me, hold on.



Very well, I will be there at once. I’m sorry, Lydie, Sue. It looks like I’ve got some work to do, so we’ll have to play again next time. I’m very sorry.

Grace leaves to attend to business.

Ah, she’s gone. It looks like she’s very busy again today.

Yeah. It can’t be helped, she’s important. Let’s just come again another time.

Alright… I really wanted to play that game, though. But I guess we’ve dawdled long enough.

Right. Off we go!