Master Of None



"Agora root. Able to remedy the many sap based poisons within our homes. Especially the sickening vines that grow in rotting still water." The green scaled echidna in half serpent half humanoid form was sure that Remey was the most energetic child she had ever seen. 

For Remey to be seen as a child would not be an understatement. The woman echidna was certainly older by at least fifty years. Yet, she saw that Remey had not begun to grasp the flow of nature and how the herbs reacted to that flow. Instead, she identified Remey as a child for missing that. 

For the echidna, grasping nature was a step towards becoming a true adult. Therefore, since Remey did not follow this, along with most of the party, she and they were children in the eyes of the older echidna. 

"You say it's best for sap based poisons, is that because it is an oil based sap or because it is a water based sap? What are the other benefits and downsides? Is this a potion for the skin or outside of the body? Or does it need to be swallowed and take longer to be effective? I know some potions need to be put on open wounds or right in to the blood but those are rare and harder to use. Not that I want to avoid them. I need to learn every potion." 

The flurry of questions was more than the echidna needed to hear. She had seen right in to the fact that Remey was planning to fully delve in to the herbs and potions of their tribe. Of their home jungle. "You are unlike the warriors we send to hunt. Why is that?" 

It wasn't what Remey expected to be asked in return. She had hoped that the echidna she spoke to would just be as alchemy focused as she was. Unfortunately, she was wrong. "I have a unique system, I am an alchemical brawler. So I can get stronger fighting and making potions. But I have always wanted to be an alchemist. It's pretty useful to help a few people out." 

It wasn't a lie at all to say that Remey would have gladly been just an alchemist if she had chosen her path. But the brawler system had taken root first. That Was what the world had seen for her and where Remey had gone. The only reason she had deviated was her pursuit of more heroic endeavors. Because she had become part of the party that literally founded a brand new alliance. 

"You have not… I see. You can learn from me for the time being. I will show you the path of one who wishes to become nature's alchemist. Just as all in our family have become." The odd way that the echidna hesitated to speak on her first thought made Remey confused. But when she heard that she would learn about alchemy that was all she needed. 

"Nature's alchemists are a, it is a way of life, you will venture in to nature and find what it gifts you. What those responsible for caring for the life out there nurture. You will take only what you need and nothing more. Using the manas around you, using nature, you will create a potion. A salve. A cure. A poison. Whatever it is that nature guides you to create." 

While the odd interruptions as the echidna changes how she would say things put Remey off, she was very interested to know the difference between a regular alchemist and a nature's alchemist. "So you focus more on how the herbs grow and need to be harvested to create your potions than just having them brought and following a formula?" 

This seemed to be the difference that Remey grasped. A nature's alchemist appeared to focus on the fact that the herbs were there waiting for them instead of purchasing or sending those to find them. It was a more renewable way to alchemy. One that puts nature first. 

"You may not use flames to create our brews. You must trust the flow of mana to naturally create them. To welcome the herbs to meld. You will learn."

As Remey watched in awe, the natural alchemist picked up herbs from around her. Slowly but surely, they floated from her hands. A slight film of water elemental mana carried them toward each other. 

Some started to tear themselves up and bleed their sap in to the water while others were crushed. Some of the herbs were then coated by these oils or crushed herbs slowly making a dense ball. It didn't require a cauldron or anything to heat and mix them.

Yet as Remey watched, heat grew as fire elemental mana was added. Small gusts of wind went through the hit as well bringing a cooling effect over the heated water ball of herbs. It was off yet it felt better than what Remey had imagined.

She would never have considered trying alchemy without a cauldron and her fire. The flames she had purified herbs and left only what was needed. But as the water separated and the remnant herbs fell to the ground, the earth pulled them in to become fertilizer. 

Normally Remey would have remnants left over from alchemy. They could be used elsewhere but needed to be purified or submitted so that they were not toxic. Hence why some aliens were kept to dispose of them. But natural alchemy didn't need that. It was like watching a world wonder happen before her eyes.

" a small pill made of dense herbs on the shell and a liquid potion within. It is basic and simple but is exactly what is needed while returning waste to nature. It does not harm anything and will allow the herb to return to the flow. Even seeds can be exempt from This process to allow their future growth." 

The natural alchemist handed the whaling potion pill to her. Remey had seen different healing potions. Many using different herbs or techniques. Yet she had never imagined this sort of process.

"I have to learn this. I can use fire to purify the herbs because of my partner and the alchemy flames I learned to use. But that's too little…" from what Remey said, she noticed that the natural alchemist didn't react. It was clear that Remey's method was already clear to such a master at natural alchemy.

"I helped create an alchemy guild. Master alchemists that use different forms to make potions are joining along with herbalists to grow herbs. We could use a master natural alchemist to show us things we have never learned or considered. You could help change the history of alchemy. Join us and you can have whatever benefits you might want."

The sudden change had been something. Remey had started to think the moment she had realized just how different alchemy was for each race. Especially the echidna race. 

The natural alchemist remained silent while looking at Remey. She appeared to be searching for greed or any negative reason that Remey would offer such a thing. It was the elders that taught the children how dangerous the world was. What evils their ancestors had fled.

"I will take a journey and see nature. That journey will I close your home. The mana will guide us there as the world returns to a state that it should have been in many years ago before it was halted by fate." 

As Remey smiled she realized that this wasn't a direct yes. However, it was enough to not be shot down. "Can I show you some of the potions I have made? They are called affinity potions and I promised Walker I would try to make a nature affinity potion and even other affinities. I lack everything to do it though." 

The natural alchemist was clearly holding unknown knowledge back. But from what she saw Remey pulling out from her satchel, she knew that Remey was willingly trusting her. That the hero titles the elder had told her about was not a false hero. A kind heart was right before her just as some of the children she had taught before.

"I will see how you have failed and guide you to learn. Fire may not be wrong. You just need to grasp the real flow of flames and you will not need to create things that are only half of what they can be." 

Simply hearing that the high affinity potions Remey had made were only half of what they could be was hard but what the echidna said next really stuck her. "The ancient flame knowledge you have started to learn is a good start. Remain close to it and you could discover the origins of fire." 

 ….

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