Chapter 3.47: Pills Here

Theo stared at the egg in his satchel. There were no cracks visible on its surface, just the same familiar sheen. He pressed his fingers against its surface and waited, but there was no movement. The egg had become such a fixture. The alchemist didnt know what hed do when it hatched. He didnt even know what was in it, despite Khahars statement that it was simply a mundane creature from Earth. He shrugged it all off and returned to the Newt and Demon. While he could feel Tresks tiredness from staying up all night with him, shed be fine. [Stamina Potions] didnt seem to have long-term negative effects.

We have our first order! Salire said, bouncing excitedly when Theo entered the shop. Orders, actually. Theres a few.

Theo nodded, taking a sheet of paper from the woman. It was more than just a few items, though. She followed him upstairs, watching as he made his daily sacrifice to the Drogramathi Shrine.

100 [Healing Pills], 200 [Mana Pills], 25 [Carapace Potions] with [Anti-Mage], 1,000 bombsWere not doing thosea lot of attribute potions, and a hell of a lot of restoration potions, Theo said, scratching his head. Ive never made a [Mana Pill].

Exciting, right? Salire asked. Did I do good, boss?

No, you did great. I like this format, Theo said, setting the paper down and assessing his stores. He had enough essences on hand to make everything except the [Carapace Potions]. The alchemist sent a mental message to his [Lesser Plant Golem]. The creation had already tended the garden for the day, depositing everything in the barrel. It also reported back that he was running low on [Mana Constructs].

Thank you, Salire said, grinning.

Theos new shopkeeper was leveling her unaligned merchant core quickly, giving her access to a general price of the items she was selling. She raised their prices, even for natives of the area, but maintained a deep discount for members of the Adventurers Guild. They were already paying a premium for the right to delve into the dungeons and would need the potions. People with healing cores seemed to be few. The alchemist got to work on his potions, inviting his shopkeeper to chat as he did.

I wonder if I should take a healing core, Theo said.

[Healing Pills] were some of the easiest items to make as far as potions went. He generated a flask for the purpose. The [Glassware Artifice] was a square flask that would have little purpose in other reactions. But since it was a square, he could cut the resulting solid mass into little cubes. The alchemist introduced the [Solidify] modifier, double-checking that the vent was open. It reacted immediately, turning the pale pink liquid opaque. With a few quick shakes of the flask, a blob of solid healing thumped onto the table.

Maybe, Salire said. Youd need to find a god willing to take you.

Theo grunted. Maybe that wasnt the answer. He rattled off the list of acceptable gods given by Drogramath. Glanthier, Parantheir, Zaul, Ulvoqor, UzXulven, Tworgnoth, Toruaun, and Khahar. Which of those would you pick to help the town?

Theo cut the pills into sections, using his [Drogramath Alchemy Knife] to create perfectly sized rectangular cubes. He planned to perform the action several times, creating a surplus stock for the store to sell. [Refined Healing Essence] was not in short supply.

Well, Glantheir is the healing one. Right? I doubt youd enjoy aligning with the duelist Parantheir, or Zaul. So, UzXulven, Tworgnoth, Toru, and Wait, Khahar isnt a god, Salire said, chuckling. Unless hes part of some weird pantheon.

UzXulven, Theo said, pausing his work. He shrugged and continued. What good would the Bridge of Shadows be to him?

Theo started his still to run some [Fade Carapaces]. It wasnt an essence he kept on hand, but seemed popular enough with adventures to run a batch of 500 units. He talked with Salire while he worked, exhausting her knowledge of aligned cores before summoning Zarali to his lab. The alchemist found that picking the brains of people not in the know was a great approach. Normal people like Salire had an untainted view of the world, and they usually provided vital information.

When Zarali arrived, she had dropped all of her previous reservations about knocking Theo out. The process worked, after all.

So glad to see you up and moving again, Zarali said.

Never thought Id see a Dronon Let alone two, Salire said, chuckling.

You should visit Slagrot, sometime, Zarali said, patting the woman on the shoulder. Your ancestors mingle openly with every manner of Demon.

Ill pass. Ogre food never worked for me.

Theo went back to work, finishing the [Healing Pill] order and moving on to the [Mana Pills]. While hed never crafted them, it was the same recipe as the last. His [Solidify] modifier stock grew thin, but he simply started another still and set the timer. The lab was growing hot with 3 bodies mingling and 2 stills running. The company was too good to dismiss either Salire or Zarali, and the pair seemed to get along.

A [Priest of UzXulven] core would be lovely, Zarali said.

Meh. Im not too interested in teleportation. Besides, Fenian had his carriage blessed to use the bridge, Theo said. Why couldnt I?

Fair enough, Zarali said, watching as Theo poured his [Refined Mana Essence] into the square flask. He mixed in the [Solidify] modifier and they watched as it hardened. Oh, how Id love to see a Toruaun Dronon. From what I understand, she doesnt hand out priest cores.

Interesting. Theo checked his still running the [Fade Carapace]. That reagent wasnt as picky as others, happily running at full heat for the entire distillation cycle. He swished the flask of distilled essence, finding it to his high expectations. What does she stand for?

Mystery, Zarali said, doing something suspiciously like jazz-hands. They say not even the other Demonic Gods know what she stands for.

That was a lot to think about. Not only that, but if Theo wanted a core from any of these gods, hed need to contact them or their representatives. After asking Zarali, even she admitted she couldnt generate a new Drogramath core. The resulting thought the alchemist had was obvious. There was another Drogramathi Priest out there that could do it. They werent alone in the wide world, just confined to their little continent.

As expected, the [Mana PIlls] were simple to craft. Theo cut them into cubes, setting them aside as he did so. After finishing his first square flask, he inspected a sample.

[Mana Pill]

[Alchemy Pill]

Epic

Created by: Belgar

Grade: Perfect Quality

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

A mana pill. Swallow to restore mana.

Effect:

Epic

Created by: Belgar

Grade: Excellent Quality

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Drink to enhance dexterity.

Drink to increase speed scaling.

Effect:

+13 Dexterity for 1.75 hours.

For 1 hour, your physical speed scales 1.25 times better than normal.

Without wasting essence, and without a base sample to compare to, he created another [Dexterity Potion] using the [Refined Elemental Wind] modifier and his new shavings.

[Dexterity Potion]

[Refined Elemental Wind]

[Potion] [Modified Potion]

Epic

Created by: Belgar

Grade: Excellent Quality

Alignment:

Drogramath (Middling Bond)

Drink to enhance dexterity.

Drink to increase speed scaling.

Effect:

+14 Dexterity for 1.75 hours.

For 1.25 hour, your physical speed scales 1.30 times better than normal.

Shavings were described in books as catalysts. Theo had observed that they were better described as binding elements. Not binding agents, but elemental things that brought a potion together. Whether it was a bond between the water and the essence, or a potion and a modifier, the catalyst served as a way to bring those things together. Something twinged in his mind as he considered the idea, but he had to push it away for now. The base effect of the potion had barely changed, but the effects added from the modifier were enhanced slightly. The reasoning behind this was that the potency of the catalyst also increased the potency of alignment effects, which were bound through the catalyst.

Once again, Theo found himself the foremost expert on the topic in his realm. But it wasnt easy to forget that there were other followers of Drogramath out there. Someone in some far corner of the world could have all these secrets tucked away, either in their mind or a tome. Anything to show up the alchemists in Qavell was worth it, though. And it wasnt as though Drogramathi Iron was in low supply. All these thoughts led to more experimentation while potions were brewed and the stills were run.

Interesting effect about the demon iron, Theo said, producing another [Drogramathi Iron Ingot] from his inventory. I realized a reactivity test is in order.

Without waiting for Zaralis approval, Theo let a drop of essence fall on the iron. The normal reaction would have been a horrible hissing and popping, often resulting in a small explosion. Hed been treating the Drogramathi Iron as though it were a normal metal, but a grin spread across his face when he realized. Drogramathi Iron was naturally alchemically inert. That only made sense. It was a metal aligned with the master of potions himself, so it tracked. While this was a nice bonus, it added little to the alchemists needs. He could already treat metals with a solution.

No big gain there, Theo said, shrugging. But Zarali went on about how amazing it was.

This is the power of our Lord Drogramath, she said proudly. Isnt it amazing?

She turned to Xolsa, who stammered for a moment. Absolutely amazing.

The [Lesser Copper Golems] sent a signal through the lodestone network that they were engaging something in combat. But as soon as it came through, they sent the all-clear. Those were the golems working the mines, meaning something had spawned in the dying hours of the day. Gridgen and his people must have finished work for the day, forcing the monsters to spawn.

Can we upgrade the lodestones? Theo asked. I want more golems.

You can upgrade your willpower, Zarali scoffed. Look inward before you rely on tools, dear brother.

Youve been neglecting your mana control, too, Xolsa said. Thatll become important if you take a mage-type core.

Ive been practicing, Theo said, half-lying. He practiced in the Dreamwalk, where he felt most safe.

Zarali nodded. We can upgrade them, but Id rather see you grow your will first. Then worry about getting more fancy toys.

Ill work on both, Theo said, finishing his work for the day. He delivered the items to Salire, his stomach grumbling. He missed dinner last night and breakfast that morning. And his bath. That was Zaralis worst crime against him. No one should be deprived of Xams amazing cooking, or her amazing bathhouse.

The alchemist left his lab, intent on eating until he puked.