?


    "Who are you?"


    Bell looked at me, his face painted with confusion.


    I extended my hand, helping him to get up.


    "It''s me, Zio Varrez."


    At that moment, I saw his eyes move left top, probably trying to recall who I was. Then, his eyes shed with recognition.


    "Oh. You''re that guy with ss and mask… Sorry, I can''t recognize you right away…"


    I forgot that I was using ss and a mask when I met him back in the entrance exam days. So, it was understandable that he didn''t recognize me.


    "It''s fine."


    He patted his uniform from dust. While he did so, I just observed him with my irvoyance.


    There was nothing special in his stats, he got an overall <F+> stats except for his Intelligence which was <C>. His hidden stats were varied; Perception <B>, Mental <C>, Health <E>, and low potential which was only <C->.


    I talked with him as we took a walk to the cafeteria. It was just a small chit-chat, an appetizer before the main dish, such as how did we fare with the academy''s life until now.


    When we arrived at the cafeteria, we ordered our lunch and sat at an empty table.


    I felt many eyes in my direction but I ignored them. Some whispered about a handsome guy this, handsome guy that. Some whispered about how could I hang out with a nerd and outcast like Bell.


    Unlike me, Bell was a bit overwhelmed by the intended raised voice of whispers. So, I assured him.


    "Don''t mind them."


    He nodded, though nervously.


    ''I guess it''s better to finish the lunch first before talking about the Tearfall…''


    So we did.


    After lunch was finished, and Bell started to calm down, I began to speak.


    "I heard the reason you''re attending Octagram is to get a schrship to help your sister, is that true?"


    Bell stared down at the floor, fidgeting his finger as he replied, "That''s true. But…"


    "There are no professors who are interested in alchemical."


    "Yes…"


    Even though Octagram Academy was touted as a prestigious and advanced school. In fact, there were ws that felt like plotholes. That was theck of professors in alchemy and magic tools.


    But, this world seemed to already fill that hole for me.


    The reason why theycked professors for alchemy, magic, and its tool was because of the Wizard Circle rules.


    Alchemy and magic, as well as magic tools, were expertise that only a wizard was allowed to teach the young generations of Octagram and the other academies.


    The Wizard Circle was fair, they only allowed one academy to have one magic specialization ss. In Octagram, they chose a magic specialization ss with the best wizard to teach the ss.


    Each academy may have a different magic-rted specialization ss.


    Talking about magic-rted or wizard-rted sses, there were five sses that the Wizard Circle offered to the academies.


    [Magic ss] for teaching magic; controlling mana, magic theory, and casting basic spells. This was what Octagram had for their wizard-rted ss for all their ss that was avable in the first year and second years.


    [Alchemy ss] for teaching alchemy; potion making, alchemy theory, and alchemy ingredients.


    [Magic tools ss] for teaching magic tools; theory, magic tools making, and magic tools usage.


    [Summoning ss] for teaching about summoning; theory, summoning magic, and nurturing summoned creatures.


    [Rune ss] for teaching about runes; theory, rune carving, and magic enchantment.


    And so I thought, ''Why did he evene here when there are other academies that have Alchemy sses?''


    This time, I didn''t hold myself to ask him that.


    "Uhh, because… I don''t have money. And this is the only academy that doesn''t require a fee for taking the entrance exam and enrolling…"


    That was true. It was information I didn''t aware of before I searched it up on the Inte.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Octagram Academy provided free entrance exams and first enrollment for their students. Though, once they finished their first year, they needed to pay the academic fee for the second year.


    Maybe, that was when Bell got dropped from the academy.


    He didn''t get the schrship, and he didn''t have money to continue his academic year.


    I had an extended small talk with him before finally I offered him the idea to make the Tearfall, his masterpiece.


    Taking out an old paper with a rough texture from my sleeve like a magician, I put it down on the table.


    "I found this while exploring the dungeon. It looks like a potion recipe of some sort but I''m not sure I understand the content, can you check it for me?"


    Nodding slowly, Bell took the paper and carefully read the content.


    "Oh my God… Where did you find this…?!"


    His eyes widened, as big as a tennis ball—not really, though. It was just a metaphor.


    "What? What is it?"


    I acted as if I was surprised, just following the mood. Because in reality, I already knew what that was. Of course I knew that, I was the one who made that note.


    "This… this is a heavenly medicine!"


    "Heavenly medicine?"


    His eyes shed with excitement as he looked at me.


    "Yes, a heavenly medicine!"


    Slowly, a mischievous grin yed at the corners of his lips. He sat down back, calming himself from the excitement but he couldn''t. Pulling out his own diary book, Bell started to copy, or rather reformte the content of the note.


    As expected of the genius, the owner of the title ''Immoral Alchemist'' in the future. With how everything unfolded this time, he might get known not as an ''Immoral Alchemist'' but as a ''Heavenly Alchemist''.


    "The ingredients stated here, I know them all. Most of them are herb nts often found in the Enhanced market with low prices. But, the problem is this one."


    He pointed at the ingredient list read as ''Phoenix''s Feather''.


    Phoenix''s Feather was a rare material or ingredient for alchemy. Just as the name told, it was a material that came from a fantasy, bird creature known for its immortality and me body, Phoenix.


    What made it rare was that the Phoenix itself was a rare monster found in a dungeon. They were usually found inside <B> rank dungeons or above that had valley or mountain environments. Sometimes, Phoenix could also be found on Earth, habited at the peak of the mountain, or high terrain altitude.


    I knew that one of them was habited at Zhangjiajie, at the highest summit of the towering pirs mountain soared into the sky. That Phoenix was protected by the CN government and local heroes.


    It wouldn''t be easy to reach and obtain Phoenix''s Feather from there.


    The other way was to find Phoenixes in the dungeon or maybe use another ingredient.


    "Is it possible to use another ingredient instead of Phoenix''s Feather?"


    Bell nodded solemnly, his eyes focused on his note.


    "Troll''s Blood. That is the only ingredient I know that has a simr regenerative effect as Phoenix''s Feather. It''s just that Troll''s Blood regenerative power is far inferior, making this potion less effective than it was intended to be."


    "Wait a minute. Can you tell me what this potion is?"


    "As I said, it''s a heavenly medicine. A superior elixir that could cure all illnesses and injuries! If—"


    He paused mid-sentence, realizing he was talking too much. He was probably talking about how this elixir could cure his sister''s illness but worried it might anger me.


    "Say, if I was to give you this. Will you be able to create it?"


    Silence engulfed him as I said that. He looked at me warily, probably thinking about what words he could say that wouldn''t anger me.


    "I…" Bell began, his voice nervous.


    Shaking his head, his expression now disyed strong determination. I could even see his eyes sparked with spirit.


    "I can do it!"


    I smiled. But soon faltered to a t face as he continued.


    "If I have money…"