"What the heck are you?" she blurted, simultaneously bewildered and amused.
Nero blinked, taken aback by her sudden outburst. "What do you mean?"
"You just performed transmutation spells without spell forms," she exclaimed. "That's not something people just do!"
"What's so strange about that?" Nero tilted his head slightly, his tone genuinely puzzled. "I gained alchemist as my optimal path during my Ascension. Isn't this... normal?"
"Normal?" Rafaella let out a sharp laugh, crossing her arms. "Do you think this is normal? Let me ask you something: do you think I could perfectly cast beginner spells when I got my Apothecary path?"
"You couldn't?" Nero asked, his brows furrowing in confusion.
"Of course not! Nobody I know can. It takes years of practice, Nero! And here you are, casually doing things most Adepts struggle with!"
Nero frowned, his tone steady but questioning. "I don't understand. Shouldn't those who've gained their optimal path naturally excel at its associated spells?"
Rafaella sighed in frustration and rubbed her forehead as she asked him, "Tell me, Nero, what is a spell form?"
"It's the template structure of runes that guides mana, instructing it on the desired effect and how it should interact," he recited smoothly, as though reading from a textbook.
"Exactly. Now, if I gave you the spell forms for every spell in existence, could you perform all of them?"
"Of course not," Nero replied matter-of-factly. "Spells require specific affinities and mana thresholds that I might not meet. And even if I could, I'd still need practice to perfect them. But look," he continued, his tone calm yet firm, "this is transmutation magic belonging to the path I was recognized as perfect for."
Rafaella shook her head, a mix of awe and exasperation in her expression. "Nero, I've never seen anyone, neither experts nor child prodigies, who can perform transmutation spells with the precision and control you just displayed. You're not using transmutation magic, you're commanding it. And that guided healing earlier? It might not have been as remarkable as your transmutation skills, but it was still leagues ahead of what most can manage. And the fact that you're doing all this without a core... That's unheard of. How long have you been practicing?"
Nero hesitated for a moment. "I've been practicing healing magic under Granny for years, but I only picked up transmutation spells eight months ago. Is that so unusual?"
"Unusual?" Rafaella scoffed. "It's downright absurd! Most people would struggle to cast even basic spells in that time frame. Yet, you're here performing it with this level of precision and no spell forms like it's second nature." She paused, her voice softening. "And we still need to figure out what's happening with your vessel."
"My vessel?" Nero echoed.
"I can't sense anything from you using these," Rafaella said, tapping her goggles, "but the moment your mana leaves your body, I can pick it up. Sigh. Guess I'll have to check you the old-fashioned way."
Setting the goggles aside, she dragged her chair closer to him.
"Relax," she instructed, placing a gentle but firm hand on his chest. "Only then can I check you properly."
On the other hand, Nero found himself increasingly getting flustered.
Up close, Rafaella seemed completely at ease. Her guard was down, and her focus was entirely on the task. The disgust and anger from earlier in the morning had vanished, replaced by curiosity and innocence that only heightened her natural beauty.
Seeing her eyes closed, Nero's gaze boldly traced her delicate features.
The high cheekbones, her slender nose, and the lush, rosy lips that parted slightly in thought. The concentration etched on that heart-shaped face, the faint lavender scent surrounding her, and the warmth of her hand on his chest. Everything about her was reigniting the impulses he had desperately tried to suppress.
"Trust me and relax," she murmured, her brows furrowing as her mana began to probe him.
"I... I am relaxed," Nero replied stiffly.
"Really?" Rafaella quirked an eyebrow, not opening her eyes. "Then why is your heart racing like it's trying to escape your chest?"
"I wonder why too," Nero muttered awkwardly, desperately trying to suppress the stirring within him.
Realizing nothing would get done if he kept appreciating her beauty, he closed his eyes, forcing himself to focus. Bit by bit, he calmed his breathing, pushing aside thoughts of her beauty and the warmth of her touch.
Slowly, he allowed Rafaella's mana to flow through his vessel, his focus now steady despite his earlier flustered state.
Rafaella's brows furrowed as she examined him, her left palm pressing more firmly against his chest. Her concentration deepened as she pushed her mana further, searching for irregularities in his vessel. The silence between them stretched, broken only by the faint sound of their breathing. After what felt like an eternity, she withdrew her hand and handed him a small blue vial.
"Drink this," she instructed.
"A mana potion?" Nero asked.
She nodded. "A low dose. I need to confirm something."
Nero hesitated for a moment but complied, downing the potion without complaint. The cool liquid coursed down his throat, leaving a faint, minty aftertaste.
Rafaella placed her left hand back on his chest, her expression growing more puzzled with each passing minute.
"Well?" Nero prompted.
Rafaella leaned back in her chair, letting out a deep sigh. "Your vessel... it's strange. Unlike a normal civilian without a core, you don't leak any mana. Your vessel is acting like a locked safe, resisting anything from entering inside or leaving it."
"Isn't that a good thing?" Nero asked.
"It depends," Rafaella replied thoughtfully. "On one hand, having zero internal mana leakage means you can utilize every bit of mana you gather. It's why your internal mana flow is so efficient. But on the other hand, it is severely hindering you from manipulating mana outside it. Even if your mind has the mental capacity to process complex tasks, your vessel resists it."
She paused and said carefully. "But you've managed to compensate for this with raw affinity and practice. From your proficiency in guided healing, it's clear you can overcome your limitations by practice and increasing affinity. I'd recommend consulting higher ups of the temple to learn more about your vessel's peculiarities. Once you figure out how to unlock its full potential, you'll show your true talent."
She sighed again before adding, "As for your prowess in transmutation, I have no idea why you're so good. You're an anomaly, Nero. There's no other way to put it."
Nero creased his eyebrows as he slowly digested everything she shared.
He'd never considered that his vessel could be the source of his struggles with mana manipulation. And his talent in transmutation magic? He'd thought it was normal, especially since Granny had never treated it as nothing extraordinary.
He never made his practice sessions with transmutation spells into some secret, and she had witnessed him doing it. She never even remotely acted like he had done something unbelievable, rather than acting like his doing it was the most perfectly reasonable thing.
But why hadn't she mentioned it? As someone who likely had worked in a prominent position in the temple's hierarchy, couldn't she recognize his oddity? Did she forget to mention it? No, the thing she never lacked was shrewdness. Why did she intentionally leave out something huge from him? And about peculiarities about his vessel? Was this the side effect of the treatment she gave him, or was his condition the best she could salvage with her effort to bring him back to normal?
Damnit, I need answers. If I need to progress, I need more info from Granny.
A sharp cough snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Spacing out again, are we?" Rafaella said, her tone laced with mild amusement.
"I am sorry," Nero replied quickly. "What were you saying?"
She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I was saying that your proficiency in guided healing is clearly beyond mine. If you consistently perform and prove that your proficiency was not a one-time pony trick, I might let you handle patients here in the clinic. Thankfully casualties in Crafts Wood are few, but it isn't unnatural to have lumberjacks or woodworkers who end up getting injured during mishaps on the job. I believe I don't need to explain how valuable the experience of treating them as medics would be for you and remember, I can only base my reports on your performance. So it would be great for the patient and yourself if you always work at your best around the clinic."
Nero nodded, acknowledging her words without protest.
"Alright then, do you have any specific plans for healing the mind and spirit?" she asked.
"I've decided to focus on potion-based healing for both," Nero answered smoothly. "I lack the suitable path and affinity for direct healing in those areas. Currently, I can produce Serenity Draught and Calm Veil potions with about a seventy percent success rate."
"Potion-based healing is still the most popular method," Rafaella said, nodding in approval. "So don't feel inadequate if you think you are lackluster compared to healing vessels. But," she added, her tone turning serious, "a medic has the responsibility of improving their potions continuously to ensure they give a better outcome for the patient. The two you mentioned are outdated. The advanced versions—Brew of Harmonious Thought and Nectar of Tranquility—have replaced them. Along with Spirit Hitch Potion, you'll start practicing all three starting tomorrow."
She watched him closely, gauging his reaction. When he offered no objections, she continued, "I'll give you the recipes for all three. You can practice after breakfast in the clinic if you wish. I'll be teaching the children at the temple, but feel free to approach me if you have questions. After lunch, I'll join you like we did today. If any patients come in, I'll handle them. I will eventually permit you to administer the treatment when I feel you're ready to take over. Understood?"
"Yes," Nero replied.
Rafaella peered at him to see if he had any problem with her arrangements. Seeing he had no issue, she continued.
"Good. That's all for today's lesson." Rafaella paused, then gestured toward a box on the top shelf. "Could you hand me that?"
Nero followed her gaze to the small wooden box. It was closer to her than him. She could easily get it if she tried to grab it with both arms, but she still expected him to fetch it. Suppressing a sigh, he grabbed the box and held it out to her.
"Open it," she said.
He complied. Inside the little wooden box was a single red pill. Nero's eyes widened in recognition.
"A stamina pill?" he asked. "Did you make this?"
Rafaella tried to feign indifference, but the slight curve of her lips betrayed her pride.
Nero knew exactly how valuable the pill in his hand was. Compared to potions, their advanced versions of pills were far superior in certain aspects. While a stamina potion might lose its effectiveness within a month, a well-crafted stamina pill like this one could remain potent for up to six months, assuming Rafaella's skills were as sharp as her confidence suggested.
This won't seem like a big deal, but when transporting supplies between settlements or enduring prolonged battles, pills were a godsend. Not only that, they also provided a quicker and more effective boost than their liquid counterparts. In short, they were easier to transport, had a longer shelf life, and offered greater potency.
There were only a few scenarios where potions were preferable to pills. For example, because of having more concentrated potency in pills, they are usually sparsely used when attempting a breakthrough to the major Ascension stage because no sane person would want to add more strain when all three foundations will be under extreme burden.
Still, this limitation didn't diminish the value of pills because it was the incapability of the Ascender that held them back from handling the potency, not the pill itself.
Altering a potion into a pill wasn't just a matter of convenience, but also highlighted the expertise required to create them. It was a true testament to the creator's mastery of the craft, their ability to refine and enhance the recipe, and their sheer talent in the concoction.
Rafaella's voice broke through his thoughts.
"It's for you," she said, calm but measured. "You've been working hard all day, and this will come in handy for your training. I can make more of these for you and if you promise to keep behaving like you did in the clinic today, I might even teach you how to make one before you leave for the academy."
Nero's eyes narrowed slightly. Does this woman think I have no self-respect? After all the shade she threw at me this morning, she expects me to roll over for a pill.
But pragmatism quickly doused his irritation.
As much as her offer hurt his pride, he couldn't deny the value of what she was putting on the table. Learning how to make stamina pills was a skill worth swallowing a little pride for. If all it took was keeping himself in check around her, it was going to be the most lucrative deal he'd ever make.
Fine, let's play this smart. I'll stay ambiguous for now. If she's serious, I might even get her to sweeten the deal.
Nero didn't respond directly. He simply pocketed the box and turned to leave the clinic without a word.
Rafaella watched his retreating figure as he disappeared through the doorway.
Her mind was already unstable with enough tangled mess and the last thing she wanted was to feel like she was walking on eggshells with him under the same roof. If offering him a few incentives kept his more troublesome tendencies in check, it was a small price to pay. Besides, she'd always intended to share her recipes with him, eventually. Helping him was something she was genuinely happy to do. So in her mind, it was a win-win situation.
*****
Sweat trickled down Nero's temples, dripping onto the ground as he tightened his grip on the wooden spear. His chest rose and fell in sharp, rapid bursts. His muscles were burning from relentless exertion. Yet, despite the punishing pace, he was brimming with energy.
This was the incredible effect of the stamina pill.
Unlike a stamina potion, which provided a slow burst of energy, the pill's effects were immediate and sustained. It didn't just extend his stamina but also elevated his capacity for endurance altogether.
Movements that once felt hard to pull off now came with ease. Combos that would have left him drained could now be chained together with fluid precision. Even more remarkable was its long-term benefit. This heightened activity would condition his body to improve his stamina permanently over time.
Dropping the spear to the ground, Nero inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. He replayed Alvin's movements from their sparring match in the morning. Every feint, every calculated strike, and every unexpected burst of offense unfolded in his mind with vivid clarity.
Suddenly, he sprang forward, closing the distance between himself and the wooden puppet. Its buckler-clad arm snapped into motion, delivering a heavy overhand punch aimed squarely at his head. But Nero had anticipated it. Rather than step back, he ducked beneath the attack and countered with a sharp elbow strike to its jaw.
The wooden puppet staggered but didn't falter. But Nero didn't cease his assault and pressed his advantage by delivering a flurry of precise blows. Jabs to its torso, sharp elbows, and finally a swift low sweep to its legs that sent it crashing to the ground.
Breathing heavily, Nero stepped back, watching the wooden puppet with comical movements picking itself up and returning to its fighting stance. Its blank wooden face betrayed no emotion, yet its mechanical readiness to continue was welcoming.
The puppet's design was deceptively simple, with a humanoid frame reinforced at its joints and a buckler mounted on one arm.
A wood essence installed inside acted as the energy source for the animated puppet, allowing it to mimic human movements and execute preset combat routines.
Nero had studied its movements, noting how its actions mirrored Alvin's offensive and defensive moves. It was clear Alvin had set up the puppet with a repertoire of moves based on his fighting style.
While this made it an invaluable tool for drilling against Alvin's specific combat style, its lack of adaptability was glaring.
Unlike a human opponent, the puppet couldn't improvise. Its attacks were mechanical and predictable after only a few minutes of observation. It couldn't adapt or switch tactics like a human opponent. Each movement felt mechanical, rigid, and formulaic.
Yet Nero couldn't deny its utility.
The puppet didn't tire, waver, or slack. It kept up with him, even under the stamina pill's effects, and would continue to function until its wood essence was consumed.
"Not bad," Nero muttered, circling the puppet. His voice carried a faint note of disappointment, though he knew it was unjustified. His recent experience with the flesh puppet in the clinic had skewed his expectations. That construct was in a league of its own, eerily mimicking human anatomy and behavior to a degree that left a lasting impression on him.
The wooden puppet wasn't comparable, but it didn't need to be. Its simplicity was its strength. It was durable, and efficient, and required nothing more than a new wood essence to continue operating again. For training, it was way better to have it than practicing alone.
Nero picked up his spear again, adjusting his grip as he faced the puppet once more.
"All right," he said with a smile. "Let's see if you've got anything else for me."
He charged forward, and the puppet snapped back into motion. He moved to meet it head-on, his movements under the effects of the stamina pill becoming sharper, faster, and more relentless.
His training session stretched until the evening, the amber glow of the setting sun casting long shadows over the clearing. Nero finally stopped, drenched in sweat, his chest heaving, but his lips curled into a satisfied smile. The wooden puppet, battered and scuffed from hours of relentless combat, stood motionless before him, its wood essence depleted.
With a deep breath, Nero placed the spear aside, wiping the sweat from his brow. Just as he was placing the wooden puppet aside, Rafaella's voice called out from a distance.
"Nero!" she shouted. "It's time for the milk deliveries. Lissy will be here soon, and we need your help!"
Nero froze for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly at the mention of Lissy's name. The image of the lively, carefree woman flashed through his mind. She seemed very easygoing during their brief interactions. Because of Rafaella's earlier uproar, he had ignored her when she approached him.
"Maybe it's time to fix that," he muttered, picking up the spear and slinging it over his shoulder.
Now, with a calmer setting and the evening's work ahead, he had the perfect opportunity to test the waters with her. His incubi bloodline had told him he had a chance with her and he felt she'd be receptive to his advances if he played his cards right.
As he walked, his thoughts drifted to how he'd approach the playful woman. This was his opportunity to return to grinding for SP and advancing his bloodline.
#####
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