บท 24: The alchemist II
*A few minutes later*
"Is this it?" Damien asked, looking at the house in front of them.
It was a bit isolated from the other homes, tucked away in a corner.
"Yes, this is Derek's old house... Or rather, it was." Edward shook his head with a soft, nostalgic smile appearing on his face.
"Derek was a kind person, but he was also a recluse and a workaholic. He loved to bury himself in his research. Even to this day, we're still not quite sure how he managed to find the time to have a child..." Edward mused, his voice tinged with amusement.
"Just like him, his wife was a kind soul. Despite Derek being much older, things worked out between them," he added.
Troy, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke. "Enough talk. The past is long behind us. It's time for some action."
*Knock knock knock*
Edward rapped lightly on the door and then waited with Troy and Damien in tense silence.
"..."
*Silence*
After a moment, the awkward quiet stretched on, making Damien shift uneasily.
*Clonk Clonk*
The sound of a heavy chain dropping echoed from the other side, and the door creaked open slowly.
"M-My apologies... It takes quite a while to get down the stairs..." A sickly, tired voice greeted them from behind the door.
*Creeeak*
As the door opened, Damien's eyes scanned for a glimpse of the alchemist they had come to meet. He needed to assess her—her demeanor, her physical state—anything that could be relevant to completing his quest.
"??!!"
Damien was left slightly taken aback.
The woman before him wore simple clothes and had a frail, thin body, clearly malnourished.
Her complexion was pale, as though she hadn't seen sunlight in months.
"You guys don't have food, too?" Damien muttered under his breath, but both Edward and Troy heard him, though they didn't comment.
Damien continued his inspection: dark circles framed her eyes, and her fingers were stained with dirt—likely from working with alchemy supplies.
Yet, despite her condition, there was an undeniable beauty that shone through.
If not for her poor physical state, Damien wouldn't mind hitting.
Her skin was ghostly white, evidence that she rarely stepped outside.
"Lost for words, kid?" Edward teased with a smile. "Isn't she something?"
"Heh, your face is priceless..." Troy smirked. Their banter made the girl blush slightly, and she asked in a soft voice, "H-How can I help you three? Uncle Edward, Mr. Troy... and the kind outsider?"
Before Damien could respond, Edward stepped in.
"Little Yumi... it's time."
The girl, Yumi, looked confused. "Time for what?"
Troy placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You can't keep going like this, Yumi. It's time for a change."
But Yumi shook her head, her voice defiant but weary. "Thank you for your concern, but we've had this conversation many times. This is my choice, and—"
"We're not listening this time." Edward's voice was firm as he gently pushed her back inside the house. "If you want to help us, you first need to understand your condition."
With that, they entered her home. Damien followed quietly, observing the interaction.
*******
*Cough cough*
"This place is in dire need of cleaning..."
Edward remarked, running his hand over a dusty shelf.
They gathered around a table covered in a layer of dust. Edward dragged his fingers across its surface before turning to Yumi with a concerned expression.
"Look at this place, Yumi. You can't keep living like this. We appreciate everything you've done, but it's time to face reality."
Yumi looked away, refusing to engage, but the tension in the room was palpable.
Edward softened his tone, clearly conflicted. He cared deeply for Yumi, having watched her grow up.
He doted on her, but he knew he couldn't let her continue down this self-destructive path.
Now was the time to be the strict parent she needed, even if it pained him.
Yumi finally broke the silence. "How can I help you all?" she asked, ignoring Edward's concerns.
Troy took the lead this time. "We've found a solution to one of your problems. And maybe ours too, in time."
This piqued her interest. "Shouldn't you be discussing this with Sir Desmond? I'm not sure how I can be of help."
"No, this is something that involves you directly," Troy said, his tone serious. He turned to Damien, who felt slightly awkward being put in the spotlight.
"Well... it's a bit late for introductions, but... Damien Morningstar, a traveller from far away."
Yumi gave Damien a weak smile, coughing lightly as she spoke. "Yumi Emberhart. It's nice to make your acquaintance."
Damien could see just how worn out she was, and it only deepened his resolve. 'She's like the classic shut-in, but in her case, she's overworking herself every day...'
"I've heard about you," Yumi said softly.
"Thank you for what you've done. Truly, From the bottom of my heart." She gave him a small, respectful bow.
Feeling awkward under her gratitude, Damien returned the gesture with a smile. "It was the least I could do after the hospitality I received. But I do need your help... and first, I want to give you something."
Damien gestured to a set of boxes he'd brought with him and placed them on the table, surprising Yumi.
"This is my gift to you," Damien announced as he opened one of the boxes, revealing its contents.
"These... these are alchemy tools?!" Yumi's eyes widened.
"W-Where did you get these...?" she stammered before coughing harshly.
"You have everything in there," Troy joked, watching her reaction.
After letting her recover from the shock, Damien continued, "As I said, this is a gift. It solves one of your problems. And the request I have for you might help with more."
"These tools were part of the things I found during my exploration of the ancient city. I thought they'd end up rotting away if left unused, but then this opportunity came up. You're the perfect person to use them."
Yumi gulped, clearly trying to process the magnitude of the gift. After a few minutes of silence, she finally asked, "So... what do you want?"
Damien smiled as he stood up and walked over to a nearby shelf, grabbing a few potions and using on them.
______
[Name: Heavily Diluted Infection Treatment Potion]
[Item Type: Potion]
[Grade: Bronze]
[Rank: 1]
[Effects:
+5% healing efficacy
Heals minor infections]
[Side Effects:
Healing time varies depending on the injury
Prolonged use causes skin dryness
Overuse leads to prematurely aged skin.]
_______
[Name: Heavily Diluted Ointment]
[Item Type: Ointment]
[Grade: Bronze]
[Rank: 1]
[Effects:
+8% healing efficacy
Heals minor burns
Moisturizes skin and promotes cell growth
Can also treat simple wounds]
[Side Effects:
Skin rashes
Discoloration.]
_______
[Name: Weak Antidote]
[Item Type: Potion]
[Grade: Bronze]
[Rank: 1]
[Effects:
+12% antidote efficacy
Effective against common poisons]
[Side Effects:
Diarrhea.]
_______
Damien looked over the potions on the shelf, some clearly older than others, but all similarly crafted.
The side effects were concerning, but considering the lack of proper tools and materials, it was a miracle Yumi had managed to make them at all.
Her talent was undeniable, and despite her conditions, her skill in alchemy was impressive.
Now, he had to direct her talents toward the goal he had in mind.
After thinking over his next move, Damien turned to Yumi and asked, "What about these?"
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