"I'm surprised," Mamun's voice echoed from behind, causing Bruno to nearly jump in alarm—a potentially dangerous reaction considering he was standing at the table, holding two glass vials and engrossed in his work.

Slowly, Bruno turned around, composing himself and mustering a polite smile. Mamun stood at the open doorway, his hands clasped together on his stomach.

"I hope it's a pleasant surprise," the young alchemist replied, meeting the archmage's gaze.

"It is. The elixirs you crafted for me were of exceptional quality. I didn't expect such expertise from a mere novice. You see, during the past few days, I had ample time to put them to the test, and the effects were pleasantly surprising. A gift that keeps on giving, just as I said before. Good job, boy," Mamun complimented, a slight smile playing on his lips. He turned to leave but paused after taking a single step.

Then, with a deliberate motion, he slowly turned back towards the boy, his expression suggesting deep contemplation. Observing this, Bruno refrained from returning to his interrupted work.

"I'm glad my efforts have pleased you," the young alchemist replied, bowing slightly. "I would also like to apologize once again for the incident a few days ago. I became so caught up in the excitement of completing the task that I momentarily forgot my place."

"Don't concern yourself with that," the old man responded, his smile turning sour. "I'll find a way for you to make amends for your mistake. I'm going to assign you a different task now. You may cease working on those elixirs; I no longer require additional reagents. Instead, I want you to tackle something entirely different. If you fail, it's of no consequence. However, if you succeed... let's just say there may be a reward in store for you."

Once again, Bruno offered a respectful bow. His display of humility elicited a short chuckle from Mamun before he departed, making his way to his subterranean office.

Anticipating the archmage's imminent return, Bruno swiftly pivoted, utilizing the narrow window of time to attend to the abruptly halted work. Ongoing reactions required his vigilant supervision to ensure they did not spiral out of control. With utmost focus, he diligently resumed his duties, all while keeping an ear tuned for the telltale footsteps of the old man drawing near.

Despite his expertise and experience, the interruption disrupted the seamless flow of his work, ruining it completely. There wasn’t much he could do about it, only to make sure the reactions wouldn't go out of control in any way.

As Bruno had anticipated, Mamun returned, and the boy stood there waiting, poised and ready. The archmage held a stack of papers, at least a dozen pages thick, filled with small letters and occasional sketches scattered throughout.

"Here," the old man said, handing over the recipe to Bruno.

With both hands, the young alchemist accepted the papers, bowing slightly once again. The recognition of his efforts caused a fleeting smile to grace Mamun's lips, though it quickly dissipated, replaced by solemnity.

"Prove yourself, and you will be rewarded," he added after a moment, before taking his leave.

But at that point, Bruno's attention had already been drawn to the notes. He became engrossed, attempting to unravel the challenge that lay before him. His motivation was twofold: the promise of a reward and an insatiable curiosity.

While he doubted it would be a means of escape, he believed he could gain something valuable from it—a potential advantage in his precarious position. The notes proved complex, requiring careful study to decipher. Yet, the challenge wasn't merely following instructions; it involved comprehending the purpose of the concoction and improving upon it.

Though Mamun hadn't explicitly stated it, Bruno sensed the true objective of the task was to surprise the old man. That became the real goal he set his sights on.

After some time immersed in the text, the complexity of the project became apparent. Bruno realized he needed additional knowledge to tackle it effectively. Determined, he made a beeline for the library in search of answers to the questions he had accumulated.

The quest proved arduous as each answer led to more questions. Moreover, as he delved deeper into the papers, he discovered hidden enigmas interwoven within the letters and drawings. This marked the beginning of his relentless efforts to impress the old man.

Before he knew it, Bruno practically lived in the library, a fact even the maids eventually recognized. It took them a few days to stop insisting he comes out to eat. Finally, they started bringing him food, but even that was insufficient for Bruno to sustain himself properly.

In the end, the maids resorted to spoon-feeding him as he continued his voracious reading.

His only respites came in the form of brief bathroom breaks and short naps taken right on the library chair, as going to his bed felt like a wasteful expenditure of time.

Even Mamun became intrigued by Bruno's peculiar and obsessive behavior, occasionally peeking into the library to watch him.

The endeavor reached its culmination after over a week, when the young alchemist, with a wide smile adorning his face and deep circles under his sunken eyes, rushed out of the room straight to his makeshift laboratory. He carried a stack of papers—his own notes.

Though he was physically exhausted to the point where walking became a challenge, the good news infused him with renewed energy.

Entering the laboratory, he deposited the notes, selecting only one page from the stack. He fetched an item from the table, using it to secure the page to the door, on the outside. Only then did he commence his work, which demanded significant effort, surpassing the limits of his available resources.

That was the purpose of the page hanging behind him, on the door. It was a list of ingredients and equipment he lacked to fulfill the task bestowed upon him. A message to Mamun, that he was ready to tackle the problem, and emerge victorious from his endeavor.