Reincarnation Of A Swordsman: The Omni Mage

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Satisfied, Kyle walked over to the shelves lining the walls. He scanned the 15 unlabeled jars that were placed there carefully, and it didn't take long to locate a jar that contained small, glowing seeds which matched the book's illustration perfectly. Kyle grabbed the jar and handed it to Riya.

She took it with a grin. "Not bad, but you were too slow. At this rate, the potion would take all night."

Kyle narrowed his eyes at her teasing tone. "I was just warming up. Watch, I'll be faster next time."

Riya laughed. "We'll see. Next, we need Silverleaf Essence."

Kyle turned back to the book, his fingers flipping to the index. He located Silverleaf Essence and hurried to page 2143, where he found an elegant drawing of a silver-colored plant with notes about extracting its essence. Memorizing the picture, he rushed back to the shelves and scanned for it.

This time, it only took him half the time. He handed the bottle to Riya with a smirk. "Faster, right?"

Riya nodded, clearly impressed despite her casual tone. "Better. Let's keep it going. The third ingredient is Duskshade Petal."

Kyle repeated the process, flipping through the index and the book, and managed to locate a jar of dried purple petals in record time. Riya grinned at his improvement.

"Last one," she said, her voice a mix of challenge and encouragement. "We need Lunar Powder."

Kyle dove into the book once more, flipping to page 1378 after finding it in the index. The powder was described as a fine, shimmering white substance extracted from Lunar Stones. He quickly found the jar on the shelves and handed it over.

"Not bad," Riya said, lining the ingredients up on the table. "Now, let's test your memory. Can you identify each one and tell me its role in the potion?"

Kyle took a deep breath and pointed to the first jar. "Fireglow Seed—restorative and stabilizing effects." He moved to the second.

"Silverleaf Essence—calming properties, right?" Riya nodded, and Kyle continued. "Duskshade Petal—enhances the potency of healing potions. And… uh…" He hesitated over the Lunar Powder.

Riya raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

"Lunar Powder… something about synergy with other ingredients?" Kyle guessed.

Riya smiled. "Close enough. It amplifies the effects of the other components. Not bad for your first try."

Kyle grinned at the compliment, feeling a swell of pride at his genius. "So, what's next?"

"Now, you watch and learn," Riya said, pulling the smaller cauldron toward her. It was simple yet elegant, with intricate engravings along the rim. "This is my starter cauldron. It's not as advanced as the white one I won in the tournament, but it does the job."

Kyle watched intently as Riya began the process. She first ground the Fireglow Seeds into a fine paste using a mortar and pestle, her movements precise and deliberate.

The Duskshade Petals followed, crushed into a soft powder. She mixed the two together in a small bowl before carefully measuring out the Silverleaf Essence and Lunar Powder.

Next, she activated the cauldron by channeling mana into it. A soft hum filled the room as the cauldron's temperature regulated itself. Riya placed the ingredients inside, one by one, and then held her hand over the cauldron, muttering a spell.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"[Scorch]," she commanded, her flame erupting in a mesmerizing shade of blue.

As the potion began to simmer, the cauldron's engravings glowed faintly, regulating the heat and ensuring even mixing. Riya stirred the mixture in a slow, rhythmic motion, explaining each step as she went.

"The Fireglow Seed provides the base for healing. The Silverleaf Essence soothes any harsh reactions, and the Duskshade Petal boosts the potion's potency. The Lunar Powder ties everything together, enhancing the overall effect."

The room filled with a faint, soothing aroma as the potion neared completion. After several minutes of careful heating and stirring, the liquid inside the cauldron turned a vibrant crimson red. Riya extinguished her flames and poured the potion into a small vial.

"And there we have it—a Basic Healing Potion," she said, holding it up with a proud smile.

Kyle stared at the vial, feeling a newfound respect for alchemy. "That… was incredible."

Riya placed the vial of Basic Healing Potion gently on a rack beside her. She wiped her hands on a nearby cloth and turned to Kyle, her expression shifting to one of stern amusement.

"Alright, that's enough for today," she said firmly. "I've helped you more than enough, but don't get any ideas; you're still not ready to brew your own potion yet."

Kyle frowned slightly, folding his arms. "Why not? I just helped you identify all the ingredients, didn't I? I even memorized their roles."

"And you think that's all it takes? Brewing a potion isn't just about tossing things into a cauldron and stirring. You need to understand the properties of at least 20 ingredients before I might decide to let you," she said with a smirk.

"Fine, so I'm not ready yet. What's the plan then?"

"You'll come back tomorrow," Riya declared, her tone leaving no room for argument. "And this time, buy your own ingredients, the ones we used just now. I'll guide you through the rest. If you manage to finish everything on time…" She paused and added with a wink. "You can teach me some rune-making."

"Alright," Kyle agreed. "Thanks for your help, by the way. I've learned a lot today."

"Good." Riya crossed her arms and nodded approvingly. "Just don't forget the ingredients tomorrow. I'll call you if I'm free."

"Yes, ma'am."

As he started packing up, he noticed the massive black book on the table and gestured toward it. "Mind if I borrow this? It'd help me prepare."

Riya shook her head and laughed. "Borrow it? Kyle, that book's from the academy library. You've probably walked past it."

"Seriously? It's in the library? I must've missed it when searching for alchemy books."

"It's in the alchemy section, right in the middle of the fourth row. You can't miss it. Though, knowing you, I wouldn't be surprised if you managed to."

"Alright, fine. I'll grab it on my way out."

"Good luck with that," Riya said, turning her attention back to organizing her workspace. "And don't come back tomorrow unless you're ready to impress me."

"Challenge accepted." Kyle said with a mock salute before grabbing his belongings and leaving for his house.