Isekai Losers!

Chapter 8: The Loser Alchemist!

"...Lan??" Gabriel utters in shock.

"Gabriel!" Lan rushes to him, kneeling down. "Are you alright?"

"Y-yeah." Gabriel smiles weakly.

Lans eyes widen. "You're bleeding! Let me help you." She quickly takes some cloth and small bottles out of her waist bag, tending to Gabriels wound.

"You gotta be more careful... Jackalopes are very aggressive and will attack humans if they let their guard down or stand near places where they can sneak up on them." Lan tightens the knot. "There, all patched up."

"Thanks...But Lan you never told me-"

"We're not done!" Lan frowns, before taking out a small bottle of transparent liquid. "Here, drink this potion, it will prevent any infections and illnesses related to the jackalope bite."

"Okay..." Gabriel drinks the small potion. "Thank you, but that spell...I thought no one in town knew magic?"

Lan sighs, looking down. "It's a long story..."

"I am willing to listen. Please tell me, Lan." Gabriel looks her in the eyes.

"Gabriel...Okay, I will tell you. Since I was a child, Grandpa used to tell me tales of brave heroes and great archmages. I developed a fascination for such tales and magic early on and was aware of the talent our family had for magic so naturally I wanted to learn it. Grandpa always avoided that topic though and would get very mad whenever I mentioned wanting to become a mage, saying alchemy is what I should strive for."

"When I was around 12, I was searching grandpas bookshelves for more books to read and discovered some books on actual magic. I was very curious and started reading them. Soon after that, I started practicing the spells from those books in secret. I felt like I was quite good at magic and enjoyed practicing very much. I trained in the forest almost every day and mastered many spells before grandpa would discover what I was up to. It was the angriest he's ever been with me..."

Gabriel nods, listening carefully.

"He didn't even consider how I felt. He told me I should get that silly dream of becoming a mage out of my head. Soon after, all the books on magic in our house vanished and I gave up on magic.."

"But what you did just now is amazing! Why would he stop you from practicing magic? Where were your parents during all of that?" Gabriel seemed genuinely curious and moved by Lans story.

"I..." Lan sighs. "I never had parents. The only relatives I know are grandfather and his brother which I saw like, once anyway..."

"Oh- I am so sorry Lan, I didn't know-"

"It's fine." Lan smiles, stopping Gabriel. "Grandpa is the only family I have and he's always been kind to me. Even though I don't understand his hatred towards magic, I don't want to disappoint him, so if he doesn't want me to learn magic, I won't do it." Lan tried to hide her sadness behind a painfully faked smile.

Gabriel looks down, the only sound being tree branches and leaves dancing in the wind.

"No..." Gabriel mumbles.

"Huh?" Lan tilts her head.

"No. That's wrong. I won't allow you to suffer like that!" Gabriel shouts.

"Gabriel..."

"You are old enough to choose your own path in life, don't give up on your dreams just because someone told you to, no matter who they are!" Gabriel continues.

Lan smiles bashfully. "Gabriel I had no idea you could get so...passionate."

Gabriel looks at her in confusion, then blushes. "Oh..well ehehe, you know me-"