The study of Herbalism was exceptionally challenging due to the intricate balance between magical theory and natural sciences. For a Magus to officially become a Herbalist, they had to overcome many hurdles.
For one, a Herbalist needed to have deep scientific knowledge of botany and biology. They must not only understand the magical properties of plants and magical beasts but also their physical characteristics and how they interact with each other.
A Herbalist had to learn to attune the mana to match the needs of each magical ingredient, which was a highly complex and time-consuming process.
To top it all off, a Herbalist not only needed to master the theoretical aspect of learning, but also have practical experience in identifying, harvesting, and preparing herbs.
This gave them a very keen eye that was able to glean information not just from an ingredient, but also from a magical potion.
BONUS CHAPTER!