Way of the Knights

Chapter 104: Official Member

Richard read the contents of the recipe. His gaze first stopped at the recipe and procedure on how to make the External Healing Salve. The list went something like…10 sprigs of 10-year old Thyme, a thumb-sized red ginger, 1 liter of Green Honey, 3 Goblin Chilies and a glass of Sparkling Water.

Richard rubbed his eyes to check if it was deceiving him, but upon reading the contents yet again, he almost couldn't help but be astonished. But before he proceed to make any judgements, he decided to read the procedures first.

The instructions were extremely simple yet strict, Raven made sure that there is an emphasis on some words in order to make sure that the process will be correct. First, one 'MUST' have find a suitable location to refine the salve, ideally a lukewarm place. If one has to use a Firestone, then one must choose the appropriate grade of stone similar to the desired grade of end product. In short, if one wants to concoct a C-grade Healing Salve, then one must use a C-grade Firestone as well.

Firestones are a type of minerals that is highly flammable. Even a tiny spark is enough for it to catch fire. It works similarly as a charcoal, the only difference is that the heat released by Firestones are constant, which means that from the start of it's ignition, up until it was fully consumed, the temperature of the fire will remain the same throughout it's duration. Adding another firestone of a similar grade won't raise it's temperature at all, so it's better to use them one by one. Luckily, some stoves were modified for scenarios like this, where it could store up as many grades of firestone and hss a built in automatic replacement if one ever runs out to ensure a steady and uninterrupted concoction.

The next process were also simple. The sprigs Thyme, red ginger and chillies has to first steep with the sparkling water. This process has to take at least 30 minutes and the concoction 'MUST' never be touched during this or else it will become a failure. The next process is to stir it five times clockwise and four times counter-clockwise, one then has to immediately add the Green Honey and let it steep for another hour, then the External Healing Salve is done. It was also said that this recipe could make at least 3 batches of salves. As for higher grades, just doubling the amount and age of the thyme is enough, the rest of the ingredients are the same as well as the procedures.

'How could this be…' Richard's eyes couldn't leave the recipe in hand. He could feel himself shaking in excitement and joy. 'How come none of us found out about this? It is so simple! Steeping! An extremely simple process yet with the correct ingredients, it could produce wonders! We are truly getting old, to think that this simple process would escape our eyes.

'Steeping is a staple process in elixir concoction, this step allows the ingredients to infuse their essence with the medium to ensure a homogenous union. A thyme is a well known ingredient which often used as an aromatic, but older versions of thymes has a very mild properties which could hasten one's metabolism and blood circulation. A red ginger could only be planted and harvested in volcanic soil, unfortunately unlike regular gingers, red gingers are complete inedible because of it's polluted structure and it's awful smell but researchers say that it could boost one's immune system and is the favorite delicacy of salamanders.

Green Honey is also often referred to as Bees' Unwanted Honey. If it weren't for the fact that it was produced by bees, no one would even call this thing a honey at all. First and foremost, it's not sweet, it's bitter. Second, it doesn't behave like honey does and acts more of a slime or a gelatin instead. Despite this, Gree Honey has more nutrients compared to regular honey.

Goblin Chillies are smaller compared to regular gree chillies, but ten times spicier instead, many people called it as Goblin Chillies since they thought that it could make even the meanest goblin cry. This chillies numbs an individuals pain receptors for a brief period of time.

Sparkling Water is a natural product of nature, while it is not highly sought after, it has some mild healing properties, which is also why it could be found on other types of elixirs.

All of these ingredients aren't rare, in fact most people find these common items, which in turn cause their price to be on the more affordable side. 'Ten sprigs of 5 year old thyme would be at 3 gold coins at most. A stalk of Red Ginger costs 1 gold coin, a pail of Green Honey costs 3 gold coins, 15 chilies are at most three gold coins and the a pail of Sparkling Water would be 5 gold coins. In total, this would be 15 gold coins or 1 gold card and 5 gold coins. Considering it's potency, this is such a steal! And a batch of ingredients would make 3 portions? Selling each one for two gold cards is already profitable, Hell! Even if we raise it to 3 gold cards no one would raise a brow since it's extremely effective.

'Richard also glanced at the recipe for the Internal Healing Salve and noticed that the only difference is that during the mixing process, one has to stir it counter-clockwise 5 times first, and then clockwise for 4 times. Completely opposite from the external version. Needless to say, both of this elixirs could be refined even by Level 1 Alchemists! And with him personally overseeing the process, that would minimize any potential loss, not that it would have any deterrence anyway.

'The heavens smiled upon my Pill Saint Pavilion! With this, we could start bringing back our golden age.

'Richard almost wept in happiness, he didn't notice that his whole body was badly shaking due to his emotional outburst.

"Calm down, old man. You might die from excitement.

" Raven smirked as reminded. If it weren't for this timely warning, Richard might've truly kicked the bucket. He forcefully calmed himself down and suppressed the excitement in his heart. "While we are on the matter, I might as well demonstrate the process to you so that you could get a better feel about it. Is there any room that we could use?" Richard was astonished by this young man's generosity, he immediately nodded, expressed his thanks and gestured him to follow.

"Oh yeah, that fellow, I believe his name is Jacob? Let him watch the process as well, consider it as thanks for bringing me to you.

"Upon hearing this, Richard immediately summoned the clueless Jacob. Upon his arrival, the old man gave him a general gist of the situation which caused him to feel a deep reverence and gratitude towards Raven.

"Thank you for gracing me with such fortune. I will make sure to learn as much as I could.

""Don't be so stiff, I'll be a part of this organization from now, which makes us comrades. I'll help you out as much as I could.

"Raven smiled and summoned the a batch of ingredients out from his spatial ring. He closed the door and made sure to lock it since he didn't want any interruptions during the procedure, Richard also made sure to have someone guarding outside for similar purpose. Raven went towards the cauldron and checked if there is any available Firestones of proper grade in it. Seeing that there is enough, he lit up the stove and checked the cauldron for any remnants from it's previous use first. After making sure that it was clean, he gave it one last wipe with a towel and placed it back to the roaring stove. Richard and Jacob witnessed Raven's meticulous preparations and both of them were convinced, this guy truly knows his stuff, his actions were fluid and unhurried. Every alchemist knows that the preparation is as important as the concoction process itself.

Raven then wiped his hand cleanly and felt the current temperature of the sparkling water. After making sure that it's neither cold nor warm, he nodded and gently placed it on the cauldron. Using chopsticks, he picked up one sprig of thyme and submerged it into the bottom of the cauldron, he did this until all ten sprigs were submerged, then he picked up the Red Ginger and placed on top of thyme bed, the chillies were next and after that, he left it to steep for thirty minutes.

Richard and Jacob watched closely, even though nothing much was happening they knew that they can't afford to miss anything during the process. This is to ensure that once it was their turn to concoct it, the chanced of failure would lessen.

"Do you smell it?" Raven suddenly asked.

Richard and Jacob immediately sniffed and smelt something…spicy. They both nodded and waited until Raven explained it for them.

"Remember that scent, if you suddenly forget how much time had passed, just wait until you smell the spice, that would be the cue to stir. I'll make the External Healing Salve, this is how you stir, watch closely.

"After saying this, Raven took out a mixing rod. He placed it in the mixture and used two hands to stir it clockwise.

Richard and Jacob saw that he was only mixing the liquid, and the force behind his stirring isn't enough to disrupt the placement of the ingredients at the bottom. Despite that, they saw how the previously clear water turn into a green murky liquid upon his fifth clockwise stir. Without pausing, he stirred the other way around using the same force, and afterwards, they discovered the viscosity of the water changed.

Raven took out the rod and immediately mixed the Green Honey in. After emptying the whole liter, he then left it to do it's own thing and after an hour, the liquid inside the cauldron flashed with light, and the External Healing Salve was made.

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