The Glorious Evolution

At once, a glass struck the table with a sharp click... Pell’s gaze snapped toward the vial, while one of the masters took an involuntary step closer.

If the words hadn’t come from Crowglass herself, they would have laughed it off... but then she turned the examination result toward them.

Clarity: 100%.

The nearest master stared at the reading, and the conversation behind him broke off as the result spread.

”One hundred?”

”Let me see.”

Every alchemist present understood what that number meant.

Clarity measured how much of a potion’s final composition belonged to the intended elixir... any unwanted essence, unrefined residue, or damaged fraction lowered the reading and weakened its effects.

They spent years learning to reduce those flaws, sometimes laboring over a formula for months to gain a single percentage point.

And in the tonic before them, there were none.

Every fraction contributed to the formula’s intended effects, allowing it to deliver its full potency.

Even the masters approaching the table could find nothing left to refine.

Although this didn’t mean much for low-grade potions since their effects were tame to begin with, it still meant a lot for a mere Aspiring Alchemist to hit 100%, as not even Certified Alchemists could pull it off consistently.

Levi tried his best to concoct a potion he could be proud of as his first one in public... which was the reason he took so long, as he had already accepted that he could never beat Pell in this.

But he had no clue that the micro-changes he made following the notes from his Essence Appraisal would actually help him concoct a genuine Flawless Potion!

Across the room, Jasmine’s lips curved as she looked from the displayed result to Levi... she was clueless about how Levi had pulled it off, but at this point, she wasn’t as surprised as the others.

She knew that Levi never invested his time in things he wouldn’t be good at.

At another table, Drayven released a short, satisfied laugh. ”There... Now you have something to discuss over dinner.”

The nobles ignored the brazen Dracara and focused on the vial in Crowglass’s hand.

”Your control, your handling of the equipment... you still have much to learn.” Crowglass rested her chin on her wrist as she spoke to Levi. ”But every quantity you adjusted was correct, and every separation was exact... an Aspiring Alchemist shouldn’t be able to do this consciously.”

Her gaze shifted toward the samples he had left on the station... the ones he had licked.

”You kept tasting them... what were you testing for?”

”Their composition, Madam.”

Levi pointed at his tongue, not attempting to hide his ability. He hadn’t expected the potion’s Clarity to reach one hundred percent, but he wasn’t about to waste the opportunity to promote himself.

”Moisture? Essence concentration?” one of the masters asked.

”Those too... I can taste the properties of any material in the universe, along with the precise percentage of everything that makes it up.”

”Any material?” Crowglass asked.

Levi nodded, and her fingers tightened around the vial.

She knew of only one Aspect with such reach.

Composition Aspect!

She sought it herself, as did countless alchemists devoted to their craft... many relied on Aspects such as Transmutation to alter substances, Crystallization to concentrate and preserve extracted essences, Vitality to retain the life force within harvested ingredients... or other such useful Aspects.

Unfortunately, neither determination nor enlightenment alone could guarantee that they would unlock Composition.

The masters around her needed no explanation of its value... even their finest instruments left a margin of error, forcing them to account for uncertainties throughout the brewing process.

And this amateur could settle those uncertainties with a lick?

The Master Alchemists exchanged glances before crowding around Levi’s alchemy table, their earlier composure giving way to an eagerness that startled the nearby nobles.

”Baron Dark Sun... I am willing to take you in as my apprentice.”

”Under your senior apprentice, you mean?” another master interrupted, stepping beside him. ”Baron, I would oversee your lessons personally.”

”So would I.”

”Once a month, when you remember you have students?”

The first master’s expression darkened, but a third spoke before he could respond.

”My laboratory would be open to you, along with the ingredients required for your studies. You should concentrate on learning without worrying about the cost.”

”Access to a laboratory is hardly an exceptional offer,” the first master retorted. ”Of course I would provide the same.”

Levi barely opened his mouth before someone else offered him private lessons and access to an extensive collection of formulas.

The masters kept edging closer, each determined to finish speaking before another interrupted.

Levi maintained a polite smile, though he understood what had made their offers so generous... his tongue could give their research precise measurements that even their finest instruments failed to provide.

Teaching him was a small price for keeping that ability within reach.

If he accepted carelessly, every lesson would somehow involve another tray of materials they needed examined.

They would call it practical experience, praise his contribution, and bring out the next batch... until he spent more time licking ingredients for their research than learning how to concoct anything himself.

Despite knowing this, Levi had shared the ability’s details... it was for a simple reason.

”Baron... are you interested in an apprenticeship under my wing?”

Crowglass’s pleasant voice echoed across the dining hall, silencing the Master Alchemists.

The master nearest Levi closed his mouth, leaving his improved offer unfinished. Around him, the others exchanged helpless glances... every advantage they had promised suddenly seemed too small to mention.

A Grandmaster had entered the competition.

They could offer their entire laboratories and still struggle to match the value of studying under Crowglass herself.

The nobles stared between them in disbelief.

They had expected her to settle the commotion, perhaps recommend one of the masters... yet she had offered the unfamiliar Baron a place under her own wing!

’The hell is going on...’

Beside her, Pell stood motionless.

He had demonstrated all three functions of his Kettleheart, completed the concoction in remarkable time, and earned her praise.

He was even one of her kin... yet she had only asked him to stand beside her.

The offer he had spent so long hoping to hear had gone to someone else before she even addressed his intentions.

His fingers tightened around his sleeve, but Levi’s voice broke the silence before he could collect his thoughts.

”It would be an honor, Madam.”

He bowed his head without the slightest hesitation... this was exactly what he had aimed for.

The masters’ generous offers had never been his goal.

If Ash’Kral refused to teach him, Levi would attract the attention of a Grandmaster willing to do so.

Crowglass already knew about his studies, and the test had allowed him to show her both his foundation and what his tongue could contribute.

But Levi wasn’t arrogant enough to believe that she had picked him over Pell because he was better... not by a mile.

Pell was a hundred times better than him in alchemy at the moment... no mistake in that. He even had the potential to become a Grandmaster Alchemist.

And yet... Crowglass chose Levi.

Why?

Clearly, for selfish reasons.

Pell’s potential to become a Grandmaster meant little to her own personal research.

Someone else could train him for the sake of their nation, and she planned on using her network to get him a Grandmaster teacher as he wished... though whether they could spare the time was a different story, as other Grandmasters were more or less similar to her.

All they cared about was their research... as for apprentices? Most of them already had dozens, if not more.

So, Pell’s attempt was respectful... but it was never going to interest Crowglass as he had assumed... especially when she also possessed the same Kettleheart, if not one of better quality than his.

Meanwhile, Levi offered a useful skill... no, a cheat code of an Aspect to assist her stagnant research!

She understood the value of precise measurements better than anyone here.

Her work with S- and SS-grade potions demanded precision comparable to measuring the concentration of a single drop of poison diluted throughout an entire lake!

So, Levi fully expected trays of unfamiliar materials to appear during his lessons. But that was an arrangement he could accept if it meant a beneficial relationship.

His ability could help her research, while her guidance would give him access to knowledge, formulas, rare materials, and potions far beyond what the competing masters could offer.

More importantly... becoming her apprentice gave him something he had never truly possessed.

A powerful backer in the Boundless Expanse!

Crowglass stood before the nobles openly, with a reputation none of them dared dismiss.

Her name alone carried enough weight to shake mountains... and she had just invited him under its protection in front of the entire gathering!

”Then we shall discuss the arrangements after dinner, my dear,” Crowglass replied pleasantly.

Levi thanked her and returned to Jasmine’s side, his serene smile unchanged... beneath the table, however, her fist was already waiting.

He bumped it with his own, and they exchanged a small, satisfied grin.

Arthur had spent enough time with Jasmine to teach her the brothers’ little ways of celebrating... after all, he had accepted her as his future sister-in-law without waiting for Levi’s opinion on the matter.

Before Levi could withdraw his hand, a dimensional message from Crowglass appeared before him.

’After dinner, my dear, I shall explain what I need from you.’

A second line followed before he could reply.

’Then you can decide whether you still wish to call me Master or not... no pressure, dear.’