Part 94: Chapter L-15: Alchemy of Happiness

Part L-15: Alchemy of Happiness

There’s gonna be a fair few spoilers for the previous games interspersed throughout this update, but they’re few enough in number and this update is too critical to skip over for me to ask anyone to skip it in its entirety, so I’ll be black barring those. Now let’s check in with Il…


Recipes of Gratitude and Good Wishes

Hmph!

What? What’s wrong?

If you had a problem, why didn’t you come to see me? I’m your mentor! I don’t think I have any recipes to share with students who won’t come to see me.

W-What?! We’re sorry! We’d pretty much given up, you see…

Hehe, I’m just joking. Although I do wish you had come to see me. I know you were struggling with it, though, and it was hard for you to talk about.



Ilmeria’s Recipe received.

This is your recipe for us. Gulp! It looks pretty tough!

Oh yes, it’s very difficult! What do you think? Shall I make it for you?

No, let us do it. It’s our mom on the line… It’ll be meaningless if we aren’t the ones to it.

Heheh, that’s the way. That’s my students. Off you go, then. Go get started. Once you’re done, come and show it to me. I’ll check to make sure you got it right. Don’t hold anything back for this one!

Alright! That’s one of three! Now, let’s pick up Alt’s recipe next…

Alt!



Alt’s Recipe received.

Uwah! Your handwriting sucks, Alt!

Yeah… But I think we can handle it. Barely, but I can make it out.

Sorry about that. My handwriting has always been like that, for the longest time… Ahem. Anyway, we’ve been through a lot, but I’m grateful to you. I’ve managed to part ways with my past self and restore bonds of friendship, thanks to you. This recipe is packed with all my gratitude to you.

Alt!

You’ll face all kinds of challenges in life, like it or not. But, from personal experience, I can say that none of these challenges are impossible. The most important thing is to try, Set your goal and advance towards it. I believe you can do that. You do too, right?

Of course!

Once you’ve made the item, come and show it to me. I’ll check to make sure it’s good enough. Now, go. Show me what you can do, one more time.

We will!

But first, we’ve one last recipe to fetch…



Ah, I’ve been waiting for you. The recipe you need is already finished.



Plachta’s Recipe received.

Of course it is. You are trying to create something beyond normal comprehension… to ascend a divine realm, into which no normal alchemist would dare tread. But I’m sure you can do this. You can make the impossible.

I agree, actually. I really think we can, too.

Yes. Alchemy exists to make people happy. My feelings have not changed in 500 years. This recipe has been created out of gratitude and best wishes for you both. I believe it is the key to your happiness. So… take it.

Thank you. Thank you for all of that, Plachta.

Once you complete it, will you bring it to show me? I’m counting on you both.

Alright, then. Let’s get to it!



So Plachta, Ilmeria and Alt gave us the recipes for the Glittering Pneuma, Relentless Flame and Teardrops of Harmony, respectively…

Yeah, yeah, that’s all I needed to hear. Now let’s start synthesizing!



Let’s start with the Glittering Pneuma. We’ll need a Dunkelheit, some Ashes of Origin, some Rainbow Neutralizer, and some Gas.

At this stage of the game, we should be able to get the most out of our materials’ traits and components, no matter what catalyst we use… and we have plenty of Philosopher’s Stones in storage!



Super high-quality, super good components, and super high-end traits to boot!

Looks like we’ll need an enhancer to really get all the components we need, though…



There we go! Now, let’s do this!



It looks perfect… but we’ll have to check in with Plachta later to make sure.

Yeah. Better safe than sorry with these materials. Now, for the Relentless Flame…



This one only requires three materials. Though that’ll make it harder for us to bring out its full components…



The reactive spots the Philosopher’s Stones generated should let us easily get enough of the red in here, but again, looks like we’ll need an enhancer for the purple…



There! Now we have enough purple to go around!





Perfect! Now the last of these three recipes is the Teardrops of Harmony…



Hate to say that we don’t have any good Holy Water, but the rest of our ingredients should be more than good enough to make up for it.



Still though, this one’s gonna be a stretch…



But it’s nothing we can’t handle!



We’ll need some shuteye before showing these to Ilmeria, Alt and Plachta…

Sure thing. But first things first…



See you… in the morning…

Upon waking up…



Good work. Yes, this looks perfect. You’ve really upped your game, girls! A recipe made by a super alchemist, completed by her super students! This is one super item. So go ahead and keep this up!



Don’t worry. We’re going to be happy, you’ll see!

Ilmeria, thank you! We’ll see you again soon!

You’ve got this. I’m so proud of you, my students!

Next up, Alt!



More than enough. Well done, girls.

It was really hard! Your handwriting is barely better than scribble!

Ahem. I told you to get over that. I’ve tried to improve it but it just won’t take… Enough about that, anyway. This will be enough to act as a material for the item in question. Now just carry on toward your goal. That’s what you’re best at! Good luck, girls.

Hehe, thanks! We’ll show you just how we will reach our goal!

Alt, thank you so much!

…I guess I’ve mellowed a bit in my old age. I never would have expected this from myself not too long ago… But I guess this isn’t so bad. Right, Plachta?



You have? Then let me take a look. Hmm… I see no problems with this. You really have improved so much, girls.

Hahaha! I guess we’ve really made it, when Plachta praises us like that!

I know! I’m not sure we can get any higher than this!

Hmph. If you keep being this weird, I will take back my praise. Now, off you go. You still have something left to do, right?

Ah, of course! Sorry, we got a bit too carried away!

Hehe… You’re right about one thing. After being praised by me, there’s nothing you can’t do. Keep up the good work. I’m always in your corner, Lydie, Suelle.

Thank you, Plachta!

Hmm… looks like Sophie isn’t done yet, so let’s go back home and think about what to do…



Meanwhile, at the twins’ atelier…


Recipes from the Heart

Ah! I never would have thought of that… Now this is getting me fired up!

What are you doing, Dad? It looks like the two of you are having quite a lot of fun.



I heard the rumors, but the real deal is even more impressive. This was a lot of fun, Firis.

Not at all, I enjoyed it too! All of your ideas have given me a lot to work with.

Is this the budding of a friendship I see?

So, Firis. I take it you came to our atelier to see us?



Firis’ Recipe received.

The recipe for your material for the Pastels of Unity?

Not quite. Mine isn’t a material, but a cauldron.

…What? A cauldron? Like an alchemy cauldron?

Yep. There are all kinds of alchemy cauldrons, and you need a good one for difficult alchemy. So I’m giving you this recipe for a new cauldron. Do you think you can make it?

We’ll give it a try… Can you use an alchemy cauldron to make an alchemy cauldron, though?

Of course you can! What’s wrong with that?

It feels completely wrong to me, but trying to apply logic to alchemy will only lead down a dark path! Very well! We’ll give it a try!

That’s the way. Alchemy makes dreams come true. Make a wish, and it will happen for you! Don’t give up until the end, girls! You can do it!



So this is the recipe Firis gave us. Still though…

Of everything we’ve synthesized, this feels the… No, it’s too late to turn back!



For this, it looks like all we need is to hit the Philosopher’s Stones’ spot for effect level increases.



Well, then… let’s do this!



Hahaha! We made an alchemy cauldron using an alchemy cauldron!

I didn’t notice as we worked, but this doesn’t fit inside the original cauldron, does it?

You’re right. So how did we… no, like I said. Let’s not start down that dark path…

Hahaha, well, we did it so I guess that’s all that matters! Let’s go and let Firis know!

Good idea. Sophie might have finished her recipe too. Still… That cauldron definitely doesn’t fit inside the cauldron that made it…

Hey, stop that! You can’t let that get in your head! Come on, Lydie!



Really? Great work. Did it all work out?

We gave it a try, and you know what? It worked!

Good, good. This looks perfect! So all you need now…



Is this recipe for the final material. Now you’re one step away from the Pastels of Unity.

Ah, Sophie! You’ve finished the recipe?

Yes. Sorry it took so long. I tried to avoid having to use too many rare items.



Sophie’s Recipe received.

Yes. I once moved Plachta’s soul into a doll, and I adjusted that recipe for this. To put it simply, it brings the effect of a needle indicating direction of an existence to the Pastels of Unity… It isn’t really needed for the synthesis, but it’s what binds the Pastels of Unity together.

Gulp! What binds them together? So if we botch this…

Hey. Don’t think about failing before you even start.

Don’t worry. I know you two can do it! Be confident!

Thank you! Once we’ve made it, though, could you still check it for us? Just to make sure…

Hahaha, of course. We’ll be supporting you, girls!



The Samsara Compass… we’re almost there, Lydie!



We’ll have to make full use of our catalysts and enhancers to get this right.



There we go! Now…



To Sophie!

And make sure you check in with Sophie, even though you can technically synthesize the Pastels of Unity right now! The game might bug out otherwise, from what I read.



Hehe, well done, Lydie and Sue. That went even faster than I expected. Good… This will work as the centerpiece to the Pastels of Unity!

Yes! If you say so, we know it’s true, Sophie!

Great! In which case…

Yes, this is the final stage of the mission! Now you just need to synthesize the Pastels of Unity!

Once we have the pastels, we can save Mom…!

You said it! We have to make this succeed, for Mom’s sake!

You’ve both worked so hard… Never backing down, no matter what. I bet the god of alchemy is smiling down on you both! Girls… Good luck making the pastels!

Thank you!



Now, for the moment of truth…



This’ll work out perfectly, with all these incredible materials and components!



Okay, Lydie! It’s do or die!

Let’s do this! Full speed ahead!



We’ve done it…! The Pastels of Unity…! We’ve really done it. This isn’t a dream, right?

Y-Yeah… I’m sure it isn’t a dream, at least.

I’m not hearing much confidence! If you think you’ve done it, stand by your work!



Ah, everyone! That’s pretty good timing?

Ah! You’ve been watching over us, out of worry, haven’t you?

Hah, as if. We don’t have that kind of free time!

Actually, Roger let us know that you were about to complete the synthesis.

You made the materials from our recipes, after all. So we all came to see how the final item turned out… Although it doesn’t look like you need any help.

Which means? These Pastels of Unity…

Yes. They are pretty much perfect. Congratulations!

Yes…! We did it, we really did it!

This is so good. I’m so glad… So glad…!



Hahaha, I think it’s just the tension breaking. This has been a difficult time!

Good. Let’s wait until they calm down… Well done, both of you.



Yes, we’re fine. Sorry about that.

As soon as I realized we’d done it, I just couldn’t stop crying!

Hehe, no need to worry about it. If you feel like crying, you should cry all you like.

That’s right! Every time I met Miss Sophie in the past, I'd cry like a baby!

I think you cried a little too much, to be honest! You were crying all the time!

Hey! It wasn’t that bad. Just sometimes… I only cried sometimes!

Hahaha! Thank you, all of you. We made this item, thanks to you. Now Mom doesn’t have to vanish, thanks to you!

Me too! Let me thank you all, too!

Think nothing of it. You’re the ones who made that item. It is the manifestation of your strongest, most heartfelt hopes and dreams. …It’s time to leave, anyway. I’ve done what I came here to do, and seen the pastels completed.

Me too. I’m so proud of you both, my students! You never backed down, no matter how hard it got… and now, you’ve earned the ultimate reward! And with that… Bye-bye!

Great work, Lydie, Sue! To have synthesized an item like this… You are top level alchemists now!

But you can always aim higher! Never give up on improving yourselves! We can expect even greater, more wonderful things from you in the future—I’m sure of it! See you later!

Right… What do you think, Sue? Shall we go and use the Pastels of Unity right away?

Hmm, I’ve been thinking… How about we do that after we reach S Rank? To commemorate becoming the greatest atelier, as a gift to Mom! What do you think?

That sounds lovely. We need to keep them safe until then.

Haha, good point. We wouldn’t want to lose them before we get to hand them over! Right then… Time to focus on raising our rank!



Here we come!