This Ascent to Divinity is Lewder than Expected (A Futa LitRPG)

5.23 - Circles

Early next morning, like usual, Zoey showed up to Sabina's eager for her next quiz—and also simply excited to continue learning alchemy.

Before that, though, there were two other topics they needed to discuss.

"You've progressed to third advancement in your alchemy rune?" Sabina said in surprise. "Already?"

Sabina knew something strange was going on with Zoey and her class, and had seen her move to second advancement in her alchemy rune in a matter of days, but hitting third in just as short of a period was enough to make even the stoic woman incredulous.

"What can I say? I'm a hard worker."

"I would think you were lying," Sabina said, "simply for the absurdity, but I know you're not. And your speed of advancement is hardly the first unprecedented aspect of your class. Still, third advancement." She shook her head. "It's nearly unbelievable."

Zoey shrugged. It was unfair, she knew, and definitely undeserved. Then again, she'd been given a ridiculous task coming to this world, and her speedy advancement was all but a necessity.

"What is it?" Sabina asked. "Your new skill. I assume that's why you brought it up."

"It's something you told me I would get, actually."

That was all the hint Sabina needed. She was a sharp woman. "Something that helps with potion creation in less-than-ideal conditions?"

"Exactly." Since Zoey had spent so much time wayfaring, her alchemy skillset was morphing to accommodate that. "It's called Resourceful. Potions made inside a shard from ingredients found within that same shard are more likely to catalyze."

Sable hummed appreciatively. "Useful, of course, but it sounds like there's no bonus to potency. So they'll be weaker than what you could make in a proper lab."

"Yeah."

"An excellent trade-off nonetheless," Sabina said. "Improvisation is important fpr a wayfarer. Or so I've heard. I assume future skills will further close the gap, until perhaps you're as competent without a full lab as with one."

"That's the hope. Though, I was surprised the skill didn't have any kind of—well, inappropriate bent."

Sabina raised an eyebrow. "Even when a class has a theme, not every skill will follow it strictly. And you should be glad for that. Having practical abilities is important."

"True enough." Not everything should be sex-related. Having something that helped with potion creation inside of a shard would be useful. It would likely open avenues to solving all kinds of problems. Zoey could stockpile as many potions as she wanted, but having the ability to create something inside the shard, tailored to what she needed, could be a lifesaver. Literally.

Especially since it seemed shards cleared out her inventory, or parts of her inventory, with fair regularity. Bringing in a stockpile of useful potions wasn't something her brand of shards allowed. So being able to improvise new ones from items found inside the shard was useful twice over.

"Also," Zoey said, "Adrienne's running the tent today?"

"She is."

"I wonder how that'll go."

"I'm sure she'll handle herself. I'll stop by to check on her. Make sure nothing disastrous is happening. Though I can't imagine what."

Zoey could. But she didn't say so.

The lessons carried on from there. She lost herself in the usual business of assisting Sabina and being constantly quizzed and put on the spot. The two of them indulged in some ... less-than-professional activities, restocking Sabina's reagent supply. Before she knew it, their time was up, and Zoey bid her goodbye.