Master Of None

”Now, I know that was a lot but crime does happen. You two were pretty great there helping those two. I thought that things would end poorly when those others showed themselves. But you two managed things well. Let’s leave it to the guards.” The old man took a more gentle tone than he often used knowing that the two had not often been in such a situation, this was clear on their faces.

Walker looked at the spot the robber had been before for a few moments, ”Who is this stone gang and why are they running around here stealing from people?” He wanted to know what someone would need to go through to put themselves in a life or death situation like this. They had tried to kill others just for a pouch of gold and a valuable bag. It was unfathomable to him that this could happen.

”Gangs pop up all the time. There are always people who think they can get along better by taking from others. The guards are trained to find and detain these people, but sometimes they choose to fight until there’s nothing left. Come on let’s go get those herbs, making some potions will help clear your head. It’s a great meditating activity.” Walker only nodded wishing he could change the outcome. He had received experience points for defeating the gang member but that didn’t make him feel it was worth it. The monsters he beat were at least out there to kill and survive not to kill to steal. 

”You know, there were times I could have done exactly what they were doing when I was younger in the orphanage.” Remey spoke softly but Walker could hear her clearly. The three of them walked slowly toward the lower tier and the alchemist building. ” The orphanage was not as good as it is now. We had less food and worse conditions since there were less donations. My older sisters or I could have joined up with a gang like that and tried to make more money but we were always taught that doing that could harm the orphanage more. But there are always people who aren’t told how many people it can hurt.” Remey was sharing all the things she had been told growing up by her own older siblings. 

”Then we need to make a change so that there aren’t those people that end up doing this.” Walker wanted to help everyone but that wasn’t possible and he knew it.

”I want to fix it too, but being arrested by the guards and being put on trial could be the lesson they need to change their ways, so let them take care of it. We can only do so much, it will never be perfect.” Remey was speaking in a wise manner, surprising even the old man. But he had known about her life in the orphanage and had also worried she would join one of the many gangs that grew in the less fortunate areas of the kingdom. 

”Hmm there is no perfect kingdom where everyone is perfectly set up for life. Even if someone is perfectly taken care of they might choose to go off and do wrong. Would you have that hero title if there were no villain in the world.” The old man interjected making Walker think harder. He had a very good point that could not be argued. This was inevitable but it did not mean they had to like it.

Remey walked with her own frown, she had not been happy to see the experience gained from the death of the robber either. However she was more able to accept it due to the risks that came with growing up an orphan. ”How about you ask your father to look in to this? He is a guard and should be able to figure out how things ended right?” This idea seemed to bring light back to Walker’s eyes.

”I will, that sounds right. If they are having trouble we can work together with them to find the gang and capture them. We have plenty of time before we need to leave again.” Walker had another goal added to his long list of growing goals. 

With the stress alleviated to a degree the trio continued on their way. The old man led them through the normal entrance that Remey used. One of the apprentices was at the counter studying  a journal. ”Master alchemists you’re back. Welcome.” When he saw them enter his greeting was immediate.

”I will, be taking some herbs and training outside the building for a few weeks. I will return for some supplies through the weeks but I will not be filling orders. He ones I have are for low tier health and mana potions anyways. Since you are the lucky one here to hold down the members only side of the shop you may have the mana potion orders and you fellow apprentices can divide up the low tier health potion orders.” The Old man spoke clearly. 

”It would be my honor to help you in this way. Thank you so much for allowing me to fill orders as an apprentice.” The apprentice left the front desk to tell his fellow apprentices to start making some low tier health potions. 

”You know, he is the best apprentice we have right now. He practically lives in those journals he reads. He even copies them all again to memorize them since he doesn’t have the alchemists almanac skill yet. He will be a master in ten years or so.” The old man laughed a little liking the feeling of showing off the promising youths in the building. Remey found herself a fair bit jealous though. 

”If I had the right system I would crush them…” Remey mumble grumpily making the old man laugh just a little more. 

”If you had the right system I am sure you would have found a way to steal my position as a master alchemist.” The two went back and forth the entire time they climbed the stairs. ”Ah right, Walker stay close to Remey and I. You are our guest but the rules are strict not to allow those who are not members up on these floors.” The old man was not worried but also would hate to see another instance where a guest was being  kicked out while an alchemist waited in their lab for them.

”Got it, I will be stuck like glue.” Walker was staying in pace with them as they walked through the halls. The smells of different potions and herbs seemed to mix and change with every step. He even smelled familiar cooking ingredients like rosemary and mint. They must be for brewing healing teas or mixes of medicines for children.

”Enjoying  the smells I see. These really are the smells of home. I was born in this building you know.” The old man was feeling nostalgic seeing how Walker was taking in the various smells of herbs as they passed each door. He had been the same way when he was younger and inexperienced. ”My mother was the second master alchemist the building ever had. It was built to replace another that burned down due to an accident. She was known as the burned alchemist since she burned her eyebrows off more than once.” He laughed and thought back to the many times he helped his own mother replace her cloaks and gloves since she would push the temperatures higher and higher to purify tough herbs.

”So you have been learning since you were a baby. Does that mean you received your system when you were born?” This was a very rare occurrence for anyone in the world, it was normally just a story told to mothers waiting for their child to be born.

”That is correct. I have had my true alchemist system my entire life. I have never met anyone with the word true in front of their alchemist system. I have met master, high, blood, even monster alchemist systems. I have no idea what true alchemist means and to be honest I will never really care. I love what I am and I have always been happy to be what I am. It might be what the word true means but that’s beside the point. This is my home and I will always be here.” The old man had shown a lot of his true self here. 

”Why are you getting too emotional? You have told me this story so many times I can’t ever forget it. If we don’t stop him now he will drag us to the hall of master alchemists to show off her paintings. There are paintings of every master alchemist there along with a record of their breakthroughs in the world of alchemy.” Remey spoke like she had been there many times.

”You brat, I tell you the story because you like it. Why did I ever let you in here that first day.” The old man smiled while opening the door to his lab.

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