The escort continue walking towards the dukedom, Alex was invited in the carriage by the baron, which he agreed, he then reveal that he came in the forest to search for ingredients and he happened to be bumped into them, "Alex who are you, I mean you can't use magic them how you defeat that monster", Iris asked, "Through alchemy, I have an alchemical sword with rune enchantments and alchemical oils that is effective towards monsters", Alex replied, "Alchemy?", baron said, "Unlike magic which can be used to create various phenomena using one's mana, alchemy is a type of science that utilize the mana of surrounding usually in materials found in nature or sometimes in air to create extraordinary items that could rival magic spells, of course you don't have to be a mage to use alchemy as anyone can master it", Alex said, "Oh, no wonder you dismantled that dead bear monster and put it's remains in your magic pouch before entering the carriage", the baron said, "Yes, bear tissue is one of essential ingredient for antidote for common poison, it's skin is one of the material to create space pouch like the one I am carrying, not to mention it's blood, which is important ingredient for a potion that can cure common illness", Alex replied, "(Laughing) Looks like the poor late bear monster end up being an ingrediant for your potion", baron joked, Alex also began to laugh. "What is rune enchantment, I never heard about it", Iris asked, "It similar to the method of charming an object through spell to give it temporary buff or supernatural traits, except, it is permanent and as long as the runes are intact or the object is not severely damaged, have you heard about symbol in magic circles?", Alex said, "You mean the language that appear in magic circle when we cast a spell?", Iris replied, "Yes the same symbols, I happen to memorize them and used them as permanent enchantment, as well as the creating rune stones and writing magic scrolls", Alex replied, "Scrolls? Runestones?", Iris seemes more confused, Scrolls are the magical papers, which serves as alternative way to cast spells, normally a mage use their mana and imagination to cast spells but with scrolls even a normal person can craft spells, all they need to open an grab the scroll they want to use and pour their concentration on the scroll to activate it, then ta-da, you are able to cast spell without mana", alex said, "How these scroll are made?", Iris asked with ecitement, "Scroll is made using any paper made through organic materials, then wring runes on it using special ink made from extract of magic plants or magic creature's blood, you can also use the blood of a magician or someone with magic aptitude but I won't recommend it", Alex said, Iris and baron understand what Alex meant, "As for runestone, they are special stones made through alchemical process using magical material and common stone then carving a special runes known as sigil which is combination of several magic letters into on single symbol, the runestone, there are two types of runestone, one that nan be applied on object made through alchemical means, writing or carving runewords on it while other type of runestone generate a sigil tattoo on living being after it is applied on it", Alex told them, "This sigil tattoo seems like a buff or blessing", Iris said, "Something like that, there are two types of sigil tattoos, standard sigil and dark sigil, standard sigil apply two basic buff on individual while the dark sigil apply one powerful buff in exchange of also applying a curse, both sigil can be removed through use of a potion, however in contrast to painless removal of standard sigil, a dark sigil's removal is extremely painful process", Alex told them. Iris felt a shiver when she learn about the dark sigil and it's painfull removal. "What about potions", baron asked, "Potions are alchemical brews made through combining various magical materials and sometimes non magical materials which can be either a herb or a tissue of living beings. Potion have variety of purposes such as healing, curing, buffing and other purposes, for example, healing potion can heal a person, regeneration potion can not only heal but also regenerate the lost limbs, common antipoison can cure natural poisons while uncommon antipoison can cure unnatural poison, there is also bitter tincture that cure illness, nutrient infusion potion a special potion that grant all types of nutrients to drinker and erase their hunger, thus, serving as an alternative to eating food, just in a case that the user has run out of rations, not to mention mandrake tincture that can cure one from certain types of non-lethal curses such as petrification", Alex said. Baron seemed to be fascinated by what Alex said, "During your fight with bear monster you said about oils, what are those?", Iris asked, "The oil are basically a type of venom that is effective on creature, needing one to apply such oils on their blades. There are many types of oils, for example, beast oil, which is effective towards animals, cursed beast oil, that bring down a beast type monsters that is a monster that resembles animals, primate oils, that can used to kill primates, humans and demihumans, undead oil that be used to exorcise the undeads,, dragon oils that can be used to slay wyvern, dragons and other species related to dragons, as well as many other oils.", Alex explained it to them, "I have to admit, despite being not a magician you are talented enough to achieve so many things, your family would be proud of you", Baron said, "Nope, they don't even know about my skills", Alex said with sad expression, "Why? Aren't your talent impressive?", Iris said, "Because they won't believe even if told them, not to mention they don't have enough time to deal with me, the only people who cared and listened to me are my older brother and our personal maids", Alex said in sad tone. THe baron and Iris looked at each other and wondered why Alex's family couldn't bother to know him and his talents, is it because he is magicless, is it because they thought of alchemy as an ordinary practice of ordinary people that they didn't dare to look at it", Alex replied, causing both baron and Iris to feel bad for Alex. While they were discussing they finally reached the dukedom.
