Chapter 11
1253 Words
“Hel, what a coincidence! I was just about to look for you.”
Meilin turned her head to see the newcomer and immediately broke into a smile.
Hel, a first-level apprentice, had a round and harmless-looking face. But in reality, he was shrewd to the core. Meilin often joked that his talent for business far exceeded his potential as a wizard. He was one of the few friends Meilin had.
Hel usually helped his family manage a shop that specialized in trading with wizards. Meilin often entrusted him with processed materials to sell. However, it was rare for this guy to visit her dormitory in person.
“Hold on a second, let me catch my breath first,” Hel panted. Wizards weren’t known for their physical prowess, and this guy, who barely moved around on a normal day, had clearly run a long way. Sweat was pouring down his face.
“Take your time outside before coming in. Otherwise, people might think I’ve adopted some strange creature,” Meilin teased as she opened the door and walked inside, leaving the plump young man at the door.
“Hey! What do you mean by that? Are you saying I’m some kind of creature?” Hel huffed, rolling his small eyes and pacing in circles outside. He really did wait until his breathing steadied before walking in while wiping his sweat.
“Huh? Wait a second… this energy fluctuation… Have you advanced?” He looked at Meilin in surprise.
“It happened last night,” Meilin replied calmly.
“Ha! Now no one can underestimate you anymore! So, does this mean that Filler won’t dare to bother you for now?” Hel asked.
“I don’t know,” Meilin shrugged. “Hel, I remember your shop has some second-hand alchemy equipment, right? How much are they?”
“Four… No, for you, a friend’s price—two magic stones,” Hel blinked. “Are you really planning to make potions?”
“Why not?” Meilin raised her eyes. “Unlike you guys, I don’t have a family supporting me. I have to find my own way to gather resources for training. If I don’t find a way to earn magic stones, what am I supposed to do?”
“Alright, go quickly and bring them back. Also, get me the materials for a stamina potion, along with Loran neutralizer and Red Crisp Grass… How much in total?”
“Three magic stones,” Hel calculated quickly before asking curiously, “The stamina potion makes sense, but what do you need the rest of the ingredients for?”
“That’s none of your business. Just get them for me. I need them right away,” Meilin urged.
“Okay… wait, no! I came here for something else,” Hel suddenly remembered as he was about to leave.
“What is it?” Meilin asked.
“Never mind. I originally came to collect some herbs, but since you’re making potions now, let’s make a deal—you have to let me sell all the potions you make. Of course, I won’t let you suffer a loss on the price,” Hel said, his small eyes gleaming with cunning.
“That’s… not impossible. But I have one condition,” Meilin said after thinking for a moment.
“I’ll supply you with potions, but you can’t reveal the source to anyone,” she stated firmly.
“What’s there to keep secret…” Hel muttered, but when he saw Meilin’s expression darken, he quickly raised his hand in surrender. “Alright, deal! Don’t worry, I’ll just come to collect them from you in person. And you’ll buy your raw materials from my shop—if we don’t have them, I’ll find a way.”
Hel was truly a businessman at heart. While raw materials couldn’t compare to finished potions in value, business was still business.
Potion-making wasn’t uncommon among wizards, as Hel suspected, but Meilin didn’t want Filler to learn too much about her situation. Keeping things low-key and working with someone she trusted was the best approach.
People often said that fat guys didn’t like to move around—Hel was proof that they just needed the right motivation. When it came to him, there were two things that worked best: food and magic stones.
That evening, after Meilin had just finished dinner, Hel came running back, carrying a blue bundle on his back—a magic pouch. Unlike a storage bag, which had no weight and could preserve items indefinitely, a magic pouch simply allowed more items to be carried, but their weight remained unchanged and their shelf life wasn’t extended. However, it was much cheaper and was the preferred choice for many wizard apprentices when traveling.
“Check it out,” Hel said proudly, opening the bundle and displaying the items inside for Meilin to inspect.
He pointed at the alchemy equipment set. “Don’t let its second-hand status fool you—these are top-notch. Their previous owner was a third-level apprentice skilled in potion-making. Unfortunately, he died during an academy mission, so you’re getting a bargain. Two magic stones for a set like this is a steal!”
“Enough with the sales pitch. How much in total?” Meilin interrupted, knowing Hel wouldn’t lower the price no matter how much he talked.
“Ten magic stones,” Hel said without hesitation.
“Here you go.” Meilin counted out ten magic stones and handed them over.
“Great! Payment received—looking forward to your potions!” Hel grinned, quickly folding up his magic pouch and making a swift exit before Meilin could kick him out.
With all the materials in hand, Meilin didn’t rush to start making potions immediately. Stamina potions were fairly basic. Over the years, she had helped wizards prepare ingredients and had accidentally picked up information about a few simple potion formulas. Since she hadn’t been an official apprentice back then, those wizards hadn’t cared about her learning them. Now, it turned out to be an unexpected advantage.
From then on, Meilin’s daily routine returned to its usual cycle—dormitory, dining hall, herb garden, classroom, and library.
Before she knew it, more than a month had passed.
At a long table in the library, Meilin closed the book she was reading.
Aside from attending public lectures and meditating, she had spent this time studying potion formulas and magic spells. She had already built a solid foundation in herbal knowledge over the past few years, and now, combining that with her newly acquired theoretical knowledge, her progress was remarkable.
Simply put, she was now confident in her ability to create basic potions.
“Phew… Finally, I can begin,” Meilin muttered to herself as she walked out of the library, feeling lighter than she had in a long time.
“Hey, Meilin!”
Just as she stepped outside, a familiar voice called out.
Meilin looked up. “Good afternoon, Qianyu!”
Qianyu, wearing a gray apprentice robe, looked her up and down. “Congratulations on becoming an official apprentice.”
“Thanks!” Meilin smiled.
“By the way, a few of my friends also want tutoring. Do you have time?” Qianyu asked.
“I’m afraid not in the near future. You know I just advanced, and I have a lot to take care of,” Meilin said apologetically.
“No problem. Let me know when you’re free,” Qianyu nodded understandingly before saying goodbye and walking away.
- Writer
