The Third Realm
The Third Realm
Ten Realms Book 3
By: Michael Chatfield
Chapter: Alchemist Association Contest
“Buy your tickets here to see the Alchemy masters of Girus go head to head to compete for the right to join the Alchemist Association’s membership contest! Only fifteen gold a ticket!”
Erik and Rugrat looked at each other at the price.
“Worse than beers at a sports stadium,” Rugrat complained.
They moved to the gates into the city.
“Five gold,” a guard said.
Erik and Rugrat passed the man the money and he let them pass into the city.
Erik took in a deep breath. The city was cleaner than Kaeju and Taeman. No, that’s not right. There are more medicinal scents in the air. This kind of density, it can only come from a place where alchemy is carried out every day and alchemy ingredients can be found in abundance.
Erik looked around as they walked into the city.
The stalls in Taeman city had been focused on jewels and items to show off one’s wealth. The ones in Kaeju had been focused on ores, smithing tools and the like as they were closer to several mining towns.
In Girus, people were selling all manner of apothecary items, Alchemy tools and ingredients.
“Solution of concentration! Increase your concentration when working on your Alchemy skills, your tailor skills and others! No longer have your mind wander! One pot for seventy silver!” a merchant called out.
“Magical Adderall.” Rugrat snorted.
“I know people said that the Third Realm was dominated by alchemists but this is a bit crazy,” Erik said.
“Well, the Fourth Realm looks like it won’t be a walk in the park either,” Rugrat said.
Erik nodded. “The war realm, where heroes are born, strive and die.”
They moved through the crowds, taking in the city. Merchants tried to pull them over to their stalls, selling ingredients and food. Weapons and armor were on sale as well.
Rugrat stopped in front of a large weapon store and looked at Erik. “Might as well see what people are fighting with.”
They entered the store, finding walls of weapons, swords, shields, daggers, bows, arrows and pikes. Helmets, armor, and boots could be seen as well.
“Leather and light armors.” Rugrat dismissed the armors in one shot.
He squinted, looking at the arrows and bows. He wandered over to a counter with different arrow types. He pointed at them. “See that hollow space there, the lining on the arrowhead? It’s meant to hold poison. That blade there, in the hilt there is a pressure sac that will push poison out of a hidden bladder in the hilt and push it into the carved channels of the blade. That weapon there has been made with an enhancer mixed with a poison. The entire metal is poisonous, if one coated it with poison as well. Two poisons in one hit.”
Erik didn’t say anything, looking over the weapons.
“Enchantments can only yield one result, but we have dozens of poisons that will affect your opponent in different ways. All of our weapons are made to make it easier to poison your target.” The stall merchant’s eyes glowed as she heard Rugrat’s praises.
“The detail and craftsmanship—how were you able to get such fine channels without degrading the overall strength of the weapon?” Rugrat asked, interested.
“Mortal-grade iron chisels and blades were needed to lay out the designs and then passed over with Mana Blades. The slightest deviation and the channels would have been ruined, the weapon turned useless and losing its strength.”
Erik, who was just listening in on the conversation, was stunned by her knowledge. You’re not in the Second Realm anymore.
“Mana Blade?” Rugrat looked thoughtful.
The woman looked him over. “Are you a blacksmith as well?”
“Yes, but I haven’t seen someone use this Mana Blade on weapons before. Do you have any for sale?”
The woman smiled, as if looking at an adorable puppy. “We have them for sale but they are spells, not items. They are used by formation masters to carve into different materials easier. They can also be used to shape a weapon and add in finer details.”
“Do you have smithing items?” Rugrat asked, getting excited.
“We have a small selection of items that can be used in smithing as well. Do you want me to show you?”
“Please!”
She took them away from the arrows and down a hall with more walls of weapons and armors. They reached a simpler-looking wall that showed different enhancers on the walls as well as different types of woods, ores, animal tendons and so on. All the supplies one could need for smithing were on display. Off to the side, there was another table taking in weapons and items to be repaired.
A woman manning the counter looked up from the items she was putting away and smiled to the attendant who guided them over here.
“We are looking for a Mana Blade spell book. Does anything else take your fancy? We have a large array of enhancers, as well as iron and a limited amount of Mortal-grade iron ingots,” the attendant said.
Rugrat looked over the items on the wall, his eyes shining as if he were looking at the holy land.
After a few moments, Erik coughed and nudged Rugrat, returning him to the present.
“I’m sorry. What was that?”
The attendant and the woman behind the counter both laughed at his actions.
“Would you like to look at the different enhancers?” the woman behind the counter offered, pulling out a book.
“Please!” Rugrat said.
She put the book on the counter and opened it to the page with all of the enhancers that she had in stock.
Underneath each of them was a small description of what the enhancer did, and a small number off to the side, almost hidden.
Erik gulped as he saw the prices of the different enhancers.
Between them, Erik and Rugrat had two hundred gold. They had left the rest of their wealth in the Alva treasury for Alva’s expansion and to upgrade the different workshops and parts of the academy.
There were tens of enhancers but their prices went from sixty silver to two gold.
Seeing that Rugrat was absorbed in the list of enhancers and would be for some time, Erik cleared his throat to get the attendant’s attention.
“Is there anything that you would like to look at as well?” the attendant asked.
“I heard something about an Alchemy contest?” Erik asked, remembering the person yelling at the Ten Realms totem.
“There is a contest held once every six months. First-tiered cities allow all applicants to go through an Alchemy test. If they succeed the initial tests, then they will be allowed to enter into the entry-level contest held by the tier-one cities.
“They will have to create an Alchemy concoction. The top five pass, and must go to the second-tier cities. Another contest will be held there. The top two from that contest will be allowed to visit one of the Alchemist Association’s testing grounds. They will have to walk the path of Alchemy. Those who reach the end will become candidates of the Alchemist Association. Based on their ability, they can directly join the Alchemist Association. Some will remain candidates for the rest of their lives as they were able to walk the path but their ability isn’t high enough to be officially recognized by the Alchemist Association,” the woman said.
“What kind of level of concoction would one need to make in the tier-one runnings?”
The attendant turned thoughtful. “Last year, the lowest someone used was mid-Apprentice-level concoction, with the highest a high-Apprentice concoction, reaching high Apprentice.” She nodded, confirming her thoughts.
“Only Apprentice?” Erik muttered to himself and looked back to Rugr
at.
He missed the attendant’s apprehensive look.
The Minor Healing powder that I learned from Old Hei was a mid-Apprentice-level concoction. If I was to increase the efficacy, wouldn’t that be enough?
Erik paused, thinking on it. Am I thinking too small? This is a city with a lot of ingredients. Surely there are a few formulas that I can buy from the different vendors, right?
“When is the contest being held?”
“One needs to sign up and pass the preliminary tests within the next three days.”
“Are there any places that sell Alchemy formulas nearby?” Erik asked rapidly.
“There are several large establishments that sell Alchemy formulas,” she said quickly.
“Is there a Blue Lotus location here?”
“Those can only be found in tier-three cities and larger.” She looked at Erik in a new light.
“What are you going on about back there?” Rugrat turned around.
“I’m going to enter this Alchemy contest. Old Man Hei taught me all I know and he said that he would be returning to the Third Realm to pursue Alchemy once again. I want to see if I can find him again. I owe him a lot,” Erik said.
“What do you win from the contest?” Rugrat looked to the attendant.
“You can gain the pass to the second-tier city.”
“No money or anything else? That’s kind of cheap,” Rugrat complained.
The attendant coughed and the woman behind the counter looked shocked at his words.
“What? Isn’t it only entry into the Alchemist Association?” Rugrat shrugged.
“Each contest is different but first place can get Mortal Mana stones and a formula. The second will get Mana stones as well but a lower-grade formula. Third place will only get Mana stones. Fourth and fifth will just get a Mortal Mana stone or something of similar value,” the attendant said.
“It’s worth giving it a shot to see what these contests are like. Those places that sell formulas—would you be able to tell me where they are? Also, where could I do the test to qualify for the contest held here in Girus?”
***
Erik and Rugrat made plans to meet up later, with Rugrat buying a few different types of enhancers when Erik left for the few stores the attendant had listed out.
He made it to the first store. There were two sections. One had people gathering different kinds of ingredients and selling them to the people standing below. Then there was another section, with people taking out manuals and books that were secured in boxes that one could look through but had alarm formations engraved into them.
So many people browsing. Truly the Third Realm is a place of alchemists.
The place was packed asshole to elbow with those trying to get more ingredients or books.
Erik stepped into the line that went to the book counters.
“Have you heard? The lord’s son and daughter are both joining in on this year’s contest,” one of the people in line said to his friends.
The others all groaned.
“We only have five spots and they’ll take up two of the spots, leaving only three more spots for the rest of us. This second Alchemist Association application isn’t going to be simple to earn, that’s for sure,” another replied.
“Why do you think there are so many people coming to get ingredients? They’re all trying to increase the strength of their concoctions through practice so they pass the first round.”
“There are still the other rounds in the other cities and then the Path of Alchemy trial. It is not enough to just have the ability to make a Journeyman-level concoction. One needs to also know Alchemy ingredients, and mutations, to list them out in the books of ingredients!”
“If one knows an ingredient well enough, then it will be imprinted in their mind you know. If one has the Mana stones to burn, then they can buy Alchemy ingredient technique books.”
“I heard that there was an information book of fifty Alchemy ingredients—went for three Mana stones!”
The others clicked their tongues or shook their heads.
“Only the large clans have that kind of wealth. Isn’t it cheating to get all of that knowledge from information books?”
“If you had that kind of money, would you be saying the same thing?” another shot back.
They all fell silent, clearly unhappy with the matter.
Seems it’s not all that easy to compete with the clans here either.
If he was able to understand all of the effects of the ingredient, then it was as if it would be imprinted upon his mind. Much like how Rugrat was able to imprint different items into his mind. If Rugrat knew the design to an intimate degree, how to form it, the strength, the way to make it, then it was burned into his brain.
If he scanned it and really understood it, he could rely on his own memory to craft it.
If Erik knew more ingredients, then it was possible for him to substitute them for others as he already demonstrated. He still hadn’t given up his idea of making an Alchemy concoction from simple herbs and resources that could be found in a market in a hope to reduce the cost of practicing Alchemy.
He waited his turn when he was called up to the counter.
“Hello. What might I be able to help you with?” The man smiled.
“Can I see a list of the formulas that you have for sale?”
“Certainly.”
A book was produced and Erik went through them all like a fat kid at a bakery.
An Apprentice-grade powder formula could cost one hundred gold to nearly two hundred depending on effects, ease to make, and the cost of the concoctions produced. A potion could reach up to four hundred gold; a pill, one Mana stone. The actual concoctions could be tens or hundreds of times cheaper, but if they were easier to make, then it wouldn’t be long till the alchemist made their money back and then some.
The more expensive the formula, the stronger the effects, the rarer it was and the greater return that the alchemist could expect.
If the formula was hard to make, then the price decreased, normal supply and demand at work here as well, some things are just universal.
To make money, first you need to spend it.
Erik gritted his teeth, looking through the book. He simply didn’t have the funds to buy these formulas. “Thank you.” Erik turned to leave.
The man’s smile at the counter dimmed as he snorted. “If you don’t have the money, then there is no need to waste my time as well.”
I can only rely on the formulas that I have to pass this test. I think I just need to get more ingredients so I can increase my knowledge of them. I won’t be able to beat anyone with just my Stamina, Mana, and healing powders. If I want to win, I will need to increase the efficacy to increase my score. I could recreate the Age Rejuvenation potions but I want to keep those a secret. I won’t be safe if people figure out I’m the creator of the potion. Even the Blue Lotus was moved and is interested in them.
Erik looked up. While he had been thinking on his plan of action, he had arrived at one of the registration booths for the qualification tests.
“Place your concoction on the testing square and your hand beside it,” a bored and tired-looking woman said, as if she had repeated the process over and over again till it was imprinted on her mind.
Erik took out a healing powder vial and placed some of it on the testing area. He placed his hand next to it.
A green light appeared on the upright machine and a medallion came out of the side.
“Passed. Here is your participation medallion. Next!”
They really are efficient. Erik left the testing area. Now I need to get some more ingredients so I can try to increase the efficacy of my concoctions.
Chapter: Trial and Error
Rugrat had purchased some fifty different enhancers, spending eighty or so gold on them all.
The most expensive purchase had been the thirty-five gold spell book.
He had taken his purchases and went to an inn, booking a
room for three nights. He sent Erik the location and headed up to the room. He locked the door and took out the spell book.
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Technique Book: Mana Blade
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Do you wish to activate this Technique book? Doing so will destroy this Technique book.
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YES/NO
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You have learned the spell: Mana Blade. Your spell book has been updated.
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Mana Blade
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Apprentice
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Create a Blade formed of Mana
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Consumption of Mana based on area and effect
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Rugrat held out his hand. Mana started to light up in his hand, threads of it wrapping together to create a simple blade in his hand.
Rugrat moved it around, feeling the substance of it.
He altered the knife, changing its appearance. He opened his hand, letting the knife drop. As it left his hand, it turned into motes of Mana, dissipating into the world.
He created another in his hand and pulled out a block of iron. Taking the knife, he cut into the block. It was hard but it worked.
He pulled the blade out and looked at the jagged line. “Well, ain’t pretty but it works.” He looked at the blade and focused on it.
Like he had done nearly a dozen times before, he focused on the Mana in his body, compressing it, sharpening it. He focused on that and then looked to replicate it in the blade.
After a few failures, he felt as if it worked and took the blade to the iron block. There was still resistance but it was less. As though he were carving with wood with a sharpened knife instead of trying to carve with a butter knife.
Rugrat worked with the blade, cutting into the iron. He cut out a metal hilt and then started to add details and smooth it out.
Then he pulled out a Mortal-grade iron ingot and started to carve into it. Metal shavings were all over the table he was working on. The blade changed in his hand, allowing him to easily carve through the metal.