Bab 10: Chapter 10 : First Success
Unknowingly, another four months passed just like that.
A brown-haired youth walked slowly along the black-tiled pavement, his head lowered in deep thought. He looked to be around thirteen or fourteen years old, his face pale as if he had not seen the sun in a long time.
Leylin's right hand was hidden inside his sleeves, fingers curled tightly around a test tube. His grip was firm, his mind contemplating a decision that could shape his future.
"It has already been four months since the first time I successfully brewed a potion," Leylin thought, watching the other acolytes pass him by.
Over the past few months, nothing major had happened in the academy. However, rumors circulated that Fayle was on the verge of a great breakthrough, while Merlin was about to perfect a new potion. The fame of these so-called geniuses only continued to rise.
Leylin, however, had his own concerns. If everything followed the original timeline, Jayden was merely two months away from advancing to a level 2 acolyte.
Leylin was not far behind. Based on his estimations, he could also advance in ten weeks or so, a speed that showcased his unnatural talent.
Kroft had been surprised by Leylin's rapid growth, openly expressing his astonishment at his apprentice's exceptional Soul attributes.
Leylin's spiritual force recovery, his endurance, and his deep understanding of soul-related topics had all set him apart from the rest.
Despite lacking the natural aptitude of a true genius, Leylin's advancement speed was comparable to that of a fifth-grade acolyte—an astonishing feat. Even more impressive was the fact that Jayden had started his acolyte journey long before him, and yet Leylin was catching up. Not to mention, unlike Jayden, he had devoted a significant portion of his time to potioneering.
By all logic, he should have fallen behind, yet he remained on equal footing with the so-called elite students.
During these four months, Leylin had purchased numerous strength potion ingredients, conducting extensive brewing sessions. All the profit he earned from tutoring had been reinvested into refining his potioneering skills.
Whenever he encountered obstacles, he would consult his mentor, Kroft, and on occasion, even sought insights from other experienced potion masters.
With the A.I. Chip's help, Leylin could confidently say that his potioneering skills had already surpassed Merlin's. The only person still ahead of him was his mentor, Kroft.
And today would be the day he put his skills to the test.
If he succeeded, he would finally be able to sell potions openly and earn magic crystals without fear. With the funds, he could start preparing for spell acquisition—an essential step before advancing to a level 2 acolyte.
Leylin's fingers unconsciously tightened around the test tube.
"After today, I can finally begin selling my potions in the open market," he murmured. "I'll need to gather magic crystals before my advancement… otherwise, I'll be unprepared."
With newfound determination, Leylin quickened his pace, heading straight for Kroft's experiment lab.
Inside the laboratory, Kroft was adjusting the flame beneath a bubbling cauldron when Leylin entered. The air was thick with the scent of brewing potions.
The elderly professor looked up, sensing something different about his apprentice today.
"Leylin, do you have more questions about the strength potion?" he asked.
Leylin took a deep breath. "No, Sir! I have already succeeded."
Kroft's hands trembled slightly, causing the beaker in his grip to shift.
"Already?" His eyes narrowed. "While your talent in potioneering has exceeded my expectations, the strength potion is not so easy to brew."
Merlin, who had been focused on his own experiment, stiffened. A sudden puff of black smoke erupted from his test tube, ruining his batch. Sighing in frustration, he turned to listen.
Bicky, on the other hand, immediately abandoned her work and leaned in closer, curiosity shining in her eyes.
"Did you bring the completed potion?" Kroft asked.
"Yes, Sir." Leylin took out a blue-colored test tube and carefully handed it to his mentor.
Kroft removed the wooden stopper, taking a deep sniff. His expression flickered with surprise.
He then poured a drop onto his fingertip. A fine, milky-white light extended from between his brows, piercing the droplet with concentrated energy. The liquid trembled under his analysis.
For a long moment, Kroft closed his eyes, his brows furrowing as he processed the results.
Then, he let out a soft chuckle.
"The purification of the Blood Vitality Fruit was commendable," he began, his tone thoughtful. "However, your control over the Silver Serpent Root was slightly off. You applied too much heat in the early stages, which slightly reduced the potion's potency. Additionally, your spiritual force infusion at the final stage was not as precise as it could have been. These small mistakes compromised the potion's stability."
Leylin listened intently, committing every word to memory.
"But despite these minor flaws, you have succeeded!" Kroft announced, smiling broadly.
Bicky cheered loudly, rushing forward to give Leylin a warm hug.
"Congratulations!" Merlin walked over as well, though his expression was neutral.
He had always viewed Leylin as an unremarkable acolyte, yet this accomplishment forced him to reconsider. Their talents were closer than he had initially thought.
Leylin, however, remained humble. "Compared to Senior Merlin, I still have much to learn."
"There's no need for excessive humility," Kroft interjected. "Given your limited resources, I'd say your achievement is even more impressive. If you had access to the same materials as Merlin, you could have succeeded in two months instead of four."
Leylin's heart swelled with pride.
"In the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy, this level of talent is already considered top-notch," Kroft continued. "Thinking back, I was truly fortunate. First, I accepted Merlin as my apprentice, and now, I have you."
"I will continue to work hard," Leylin vowed.
Bicky clenched her fists in determination. "Me too!"
Kroft shot her a skeptical look. "Finish preparing the Monkey-Headed Mushrooms before making bold declarations."
Bicky's face turned red, and she hurried back to her experiment table.
Kroft then turned back to Leylin, handing him the strength potion.
"This time, luck played a role in your success," he warned. "Your next step is to refine your technique. Remember the sensation of brewing correctly and replicate it. This test tube can be sold for magic crystals, which will help fund your future experiments."
He placed a firm hand on Leylin's shoulder. "But do not let this small success make you complacent. Different potions come with different challenges. Just because you can brew the strength potion does not mean you will succeed with a hemostatic potion. Keep practicing."
"I understand." Leylin nodded solemnly.
Pocketing the strength potion, he silently vowed—this was just the beginning. His path to true mastery had only just begun.
Afterwards when Leylin finished his tasks in the experiment lab, he left together with Bicky who insisted that he treated her in the second level dining hall to feast, to commemorate his first success.
Leylin with Bicky visited the second-level dining hall for the first time, where he tried Uni-horned Lizard meat—an expensive delicacy that mildly enhanced meditation.
Knowing full well he couldn't afford it regularly, he parted ways with Bicky and proceeded to the Trading Post, where he met the merchant Woox, from whom he had previously purchased potion ingredients.
Upon seeing Leylin's strength potion, Woox was astonished, noting that Leylin had only made around a hundred attempts before succeeding—an impressive feat only slightly inferior to Merlin's. Woox even tried to persuade Leylin to switch mentors to Wranke, a Potioneering professor, but Leylin firmly declined out of loyalty to Kroft.
After negotiating, Woox purchased the potion for four magic crystals, a fair price given the market value of five. They agreed on a long-term partnership, with Woox offering to buy all of Leylin's future potions at the same rate.
Before leaving the Trading Post, Leylin observed acolytes trying to sell various wares, including a supposed flamingo feather, which the A.I. Chip identified as a cheap fake. Recognizing the common scams in the market, Leylin chose to rely only on verified merchants in the wooden huts at the center of the Trading Post.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone