After showing me the basics of alchemy, my mother settled into a chair nearby, her eyes observant and patient. "Now, try to replicate what I did. I'll be here to guide you and monitor your progress," she encouraged, her tone supportive yet expectant.
With a mix of excitement and nervousness, I began. Mimicking her earlier actions, I carefully ground the Silverleaf in the mortar. The herb released its essence, filling the air with a faint, earthy aroma. I then transferred the ground leaves into the crystal vial, my hands slightly trembling with the weight of the task.
I took a deep breath and started the incantation, trying to emulate the melody and rhythm of my mother's chant. As the words left my lips, the liquid in the vial began to swirl. However, instead of the gentle glow I had witnessed before, it turned a murky black. The potion was a failure, but amidst that failure, I felt something - a spark of clarity, an unexplainable sensation that seemed to connect me to the potion.
I tried and failed five more times, each attempt bringing me closer to understanding. With each failure, that sense of clarity grew stronger, guiding my hand and voice. Finally, on the sixth attempt, the potion shimmered with a soft light, indicating success.
Just then, my golden screen materialized before my eyes:
Alchemy: Level 1
"Congratulations, you've leveled up in alchemy!" the screen announced. My eyes widened in disbelief. It was indeed similar to "World of Warcraft." The realization that my progress was quantifiable, just like in the game, was both astounding and exhilarating.
Congratulations, son, on crafting your first successful potion. You truly are a prodigy at this. Most people would take weeks or even months to make their first potion," my mother said, her voice brimming with pride. "We'll continue practicing for another two hours."
I couldn't help but think to myself, 'Well, I did have a bit of an advantage using mathematics. It seems that it's not just useful in alchemy, but perhaps in other areas too. I'm not entirely sure yet, but it's an intriguing possibility.'
The application of mathematics in alchemy had opened a new perspective for me, one where logic and magical arts intertwined seamlessly. It dawned on me that this unique approach could potentially unlock new pathways in other disciplines as well. My journey in this world, armed with the knowledge from my past life, was proving to be an amalgamation of both worlds, each enhancing the other in unexpected ways.
I nodded, my determination renewed. The tools of alchemy, once mere objects, now held a deeper meaning. The mortar and pestle weren't just for grinding herbs; they were instruments of transformation. The crystal vials weren't merely containers; they were vessels that held magical potential. And the incantations were not just words; they were the key to unlocking the power within each ingredient.
As the hours passed, I delved deeper into the art of alchemy. Each potion I crafted, whether successful or not, added to my understanding. The failures taught me resilience, and the successes fueled my passion. Alchemy was no longer a mere subject to learn; it had become a part of my journey, a path to discovering the hidden potentials within myself and the world around me.
Congratulations, you've leveled up in alchemy
Congratulations, you've leveled up in alchemy
Congratulations, you've leveled up in alchemy
Congratulations, you've leveled up in alchemy
Congratulations, you've leveled up in alchemy
Congratulations, you've leveled up in alchemy
Congratulations, you've leveled up in alchemy.......
After two hours of diligent practice, I had impressively reached level five in alchemy. "If I keep at this pace, I might reach level 300 in a few years," I mused, recalling from the game that the higher the alchemy level, the more challenging it becomes to level up.
Remembering another skill I possessed, Learning Time, I focused intently on it. The skill's interface appeared on the screen only visible to me:
Learning Time: This function allows you to use energy to acquire new knowledge in any desired field. Each activation expends 100 units of energy and, in return, imparts an amount of knowledge comparable to what would be gained from an experience worth that much energy. The current available capacity for this function is 800 units of energy.".
I had only used it once before for mathematics. This time, I chose to invest 100 energy into blacksmithing, using World of Warcraft as a reference point. A wave of lightheadedness washed over me, but I managed to stay conscious. Unlike before, I didn't find myself in that mysterious room; perhaps it was accessible only in sleep or unconscious states.
800 units of energy = 700 units of energy.
Suddenly, a series of notifications bombarded my vision:
Congratulations, you've leveled up in blacksmithing.
Congratulations, you've leveled up in blacksmithing.
Congratulations, you've leveled up in blacksmithing.
Congratulations, you've leveled up in blacksmithing.
Congratulations, you've leveled up in blacksmithing......
This message repeated, rapidly increasing my skill level in blacksmithing. When the notifications ceased, I checked my stats:
Blacksmithing: Level 100
I contemplated the possibilities. "If I had practiced for ten years in real life, I might have reached level 200, but it's fine. I'm 'cheating' anyway," I mused with a slight chuckle. "I think I'll use all the remaining energy on my life skills. Might as well 'cheat' my way to the top, hehe."
The thought of accelerating my skills in such a manner was both exhilarating and a bit mischievous. The idea of bending the rules of learning and time in my favor was an intriguing and powerful tool at my disposal.
Astounded by the rapid progress, I barely noticed time passing. My mother stood up, breaking my reverie. "We're done for today," she announced. "Your teacher has been waiting for you for the past three hours. You need to go and join your sister for your classes."
Her words snapped me back to reality. I quickly gathered my thoughts, still marveling at the newfound knowledge and skills swirling in my mind. With a mix of excitement and a sense of urgency, I hurried out of the alchemy room to join my sister, my mind abuzz with the possibilities these new skills opened for me.
