Rynella smiled faintly, though a trace of concern lingered in her emerald eyes.
"Well then… I should be heading back to the Rune Magic archives. There are still several matters I must sort through before nightfall."
She adjusted her glasses, her tone brisk once more. "It was nice meeting you, Klyde. Thank you again for your help."
Klyde gave a slight nod and smiled. "Likewise."
Without another word, Rynella turned and strode away. Her green hair shimmered under the corridor's ambient light as her figure gradually vanished from sight.
After saying farewell to Rynella, Klyde decided to go to his first field of magic.
His gaze fell back onto the dark stone in his palm.
'This thing... it should be a low-grade artifact at Tier 1. It utilizes dark mana that's stored within to summon a skeleton helper. It likely doesn't require much resources to mass produce for students, and since it's summoning only a skeleton, less mana is involved compared to summoning something with skin, organs and abilities for example.'
Artifacts, in general, were creations made by Magi through intricate methods, rituals and even raw parts from magical monsters. They could range from enchanted tools to powerful weapons.
Each artifact has unique abilities, some as utility like the summoning stone in Klyde's hand, while others can even have passive abilities such as granting a Magus faster mana recovery.
There were many factors which contributed to a Magus's strength, and Artifacts were undeniably one of them.
Klyde crouched and tapped the stone against the ground.
Tap.
The stone shimmered faintly, and the ground beneath began to ripple like water being disturbed.
With a faint blue light, a skeletal figure no taller than a small child crawled out.
Its bone joints clicked softly as it straightened.
After observing it for a moment, Klyde quickly gave an order, "Lead me to the Potioneering area."
The tiny skeleton nodded obediently, then immediately turned and began jogging down the corridor.
With some satisfaction at the handyness of magic, Klyde quickly followed behind.
The Academy corridors twisted and stretched like a labyrinth. After a few minutes, Klyde picked up the faint scent of crushed herbs and alchemy in the distance.
Eventually, he arrived in front of the Potioneering room.
As they had arrived at the destination, with its job complete, the skeleton did an exaggerated pose before evaporating into dark smoke.
"The person who made this artifact definitely has some character," Klyde said inwardly with some amusement.
Klyde soon stepped inside the room.
The interior was thick with the fragrance of rare plants.
Standing in the center of the room was a middle-aged man with long purple hair and a thin frame, garbed in a pale coat that resembled a scholar's robe combined with the austerity of a lab coat.
He was currently holding a pipette above a simmering vial, his lips moving as he muttered magical incantations.
Klyde wisely refrained from taking another step, not daring to break the man's concentration. He was aware of the unspoken rules of Magi, and frankly, he did not have a death wish by breaking them!
'That should be my Potioneering professor. He seems to be in the midst of concocting a potion. Judging by the clarity of his incantations and the precision of his movements… his skill is considerable. I might be able to learn something by watching,' Klyde muttered inwardly with interest.
With the eidetic memory of the Scholar Constellation, Klyde knew any form of learning which required memorisation was something he wouldn't lose to anyone at!
He would essentially always be able to replay back any old memories, learning with half the effort yet producing twice the results!
Although it was a shame Klyde couldn't watch from beginning to end, he could still see a few of this man's techniques before he finishes.
With that thought, Klyde stood patiently and watched.
Twenty minutes swiftly passed.
After twenty minutes, the man finally turned and sealed the vial with a stopper. The concoction inside shimmered. The base color was a rich scarlet, yet it occasionally shifted into orange or dark crimson like blood every few seconds.
How magical!
Eventually, the man's gaze landed on Klyde.
An unfamiliar face. But then, he recalled that there had been a message about a new student.
"You must be the one who recently enrolled in the Potioneering field," he said evenly, his voice calm but carried by latent authority.
"I apologize for the delay. I tend to lose myself when refining potions."
Klyde bowed his head slightly.
"To observe a master alchemist at work is no hardship. On the contrary, I consider it a privilege."
The man gave a faint smile at Klyde's words.
"Haha, I'm still far from the title of master. As Magi, there are countless secrets and mysteries to unravel about the arcane arts. While Potioneering is merely one path of a Magus, even I have only scratched the surface of it."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"Come. Formalities can wait."
He straightened slightly and added, "I am Professor Ciel. I oversee the instruction of Potioneering and Alchemy within the Academy."
Klyde inclined his head respectfully.
"A pleasure to meet you, Professor."
Ciel looked him over, eyes briefly scanning as though probing his soul.
"My lectures will take place later in the day," he began, his tone turning slightly more direct. "Tell me, do you have any experience in Potioneering?"
Klyde shook his head honestly.
"No. I'm unfamiliar with the field."
Ciel nodded, as though expecting the answer.
"In that case, you'll be behind most of your peers."
He turned and walked slowly to one of the side counters.
"Potioneering isn't… welcoming to newcomers. It's a field burdened with tradition, and unfortunately, that often attracts elitists. Resources, talent, inherited techniques... all of these are barriers."
He stopped and turned halfway toward Klyde.
"The first few lectures will be elementary, reviewing knowledge most of your peers already know. Beyond that, we'll progress into real alchemical theory. If you lack a solid foundation, you'll be left behind."
Klyde's expression remained calm, his silence speaking for itself.
Ciel regarded him for a moment longer, then spoke with faint approval.
"I don't discriminate against those who seek knowledge. Your resolve to pursue Potioneering, despite lacking background or experience… it is admirable."
He reached into a drawer and retrieved a small slip of paper, writing several titles onto it with a flick of his quill.
"These books should be in the library. Review them before my next lecture tomorrow."
Klyde stepped forward and accepted the list with both hands.
"Thank you."
Ciel nodded faintly.
"After today's lesson, I'll have my personal disciple assist you. She'll help you identify areas in Potioneering which would help you grow effectively as an alchemist."
A flicker of surprise crossed Klyde's eyes, quickly replaced by gratitude.
'This professor… he's not bad at all.'
A genuine teacher who doesn't discriminate.
Whether Klyde was a commoner, or overly ambitious for picking something like potioneering despite having no prior experience, didn't matter in his eyes!
It felt like Klyde had gotten employed to a respectable boss.
Truly not bad at all!
"Thank you, Professor!" Klyde said respectfully.
Ciel nodded.
"Now then, I still have preparations to complete. You're dismissed for the time being. My lecture will be in three hours."
After those words, Klyde offered another bow before leaving.