Reaching for the Stars

Chapter Twenty-Two

Professor Kresmir may have been a hardass, I'm sure many would rather he not be their teacher, much preferring a teacher who was fine with passing results of average results, instead of demanding perfection as Professor Kresmir did, but I for one was glad to have him as my teacher, as hard as he may to please, he gave me the skills to succeed more easily when one was a more successful herbalist than we really needed now.

But to learn the proper way first rather than be allowed to keep making mistakes and not succeed in the future as an herbalist because of substandard teaching, I would much rather learn the proper way first, even if it took more effort. It was only the third day of teaching but when Finnick and Elijah have only succeeded to make herbs with a level six purity, not much further than their original efforts, it felt like an eternity had gone by for me.

The ten days I spent in the spatial world made me become so much more proficient in herbalism, it felt bad to say when I knew they didn't have the same advantage as me, but they truly weren't nearly as good in herbalism as me, even before I spent that time in there, I had been better than them. Though Dante had put his time to good use yesterday, he was now finally able to extract liquid from herbs with a level ten purity, finally on par with me, though the look he gave me made it seem like he was trying to say he was better than me.

But who exactly reached the perfect level ten on all the herb processing first? Because that was me, so that was just his smug attitude for nothing, after all based on what Professor Kresmir had said, he had had all the best teacher's money could buy before coming here, already a step above me, with my books and no true teacher to instruct me.

Which didn't mean I would give up the books in exchange for teachers, no I valued the books Nero and Marcellus' had given me, but with my little understanding of herbalism, they hadn't been much help to me until I came here and started learning the basics. While studying herbs I had ensured that along with studying one book, I had also looked up the ingredients in the Qi Block pill. I think after a few more nights in the spatial world and I might very well be prepared to try making it again.

Professor Kresmir shows Dante the correct way to brew his antidote as well, like he had done for me a day earlier, after he comes over to look at my work and sees my flawless Snow Ink Mushroom poison antidote that I had successfully produced again, he gives me an appraising look. "The antidote for Snow Ink Mushroom poison is an intermediate level potion, it is quite impressive that you can brew one of level ten purity after only one demonstration and a single day of time. Keep up the good work, how about a Shield potion? Have you ever tried brewing one?" I shook my head, and he nods his head, before beckoning me over to his table.

He shows me how to brew it, I follow his process easily enough, observantly watching his every step, before he presents me a pale yellow potion that gives off a slight glow. "This potion will result in a barrier of energy surrounding the consumer and giving them a shield that protects them from most blows for thirty minutes. This is a Low-Grade Shield potion, not because it's purity level is low, it is at my standard level ten purity, but it is considered Low-Grade because there are Shield potions that are harder to brew that have a longer duration and can sustain against harder blows. But since you are still a Beginner Herbalist, I decided this would be the best one for you." After hearing his words, I begin my own work in making the Low-Grade Shield potion.

I was still relatively new with making potions but I thought I was beginning to get the hang of it, processing the ingredients was swift and easy for me, I mixed them all together and I thought I might even get it on the first try, when my potion bottle suddenly exploded, sending glass out everywhere. I managed to get a thin wall of spiritual energy up in time to block the glass from hitting me or the student behind me, but I couldn't help but stare at me potion in shock.