Immortal Mage - Chapter 12 Tier 11

“The meal was pretty decent.” Iledoya said. They have just finished having lunch.

“Glad you like it” Sinov said while smiling. “So do you have any plans now?” the sun was still up so there was still time for some activities.

“Hmm I think I would want to ask around. Say Sinov, with you being a B-rank adventurer, how did you get caught by those bandits?” Iledoya wanted to ask Sinov a few questions so they just ended up wandering around town.

“It was in a moment of carelessness that they successfully ambushed me. After that they just tied me up and then you came some few moments later” Sinov answered with a sorrowful expression.

“Can you use magic? What attribute can you use?” Iledoya asked again.

While shaking her head, Sinov said “Sadly, I can’t use magic. I don’t have an attribute. I’m a B-rank adventurer by completing alchemy related requests.”

Hearing that answer, Iledoya turned to Sinov and looked at her through a circle he made with his fingers. He stared at her for a few moments before saying “I see Alchemy you say? If you made a healing potion, What tier will it be?” Iledoya asked.

Tiers in Alchemy was something that was created during the death of Iledoya. With tier 1 as the lowest all the way to tier 10 the highest. Tier 10 potions are so precious that some regard as a secret weapon for war. For healing potions, tier 1-3 can heal minor wounds like scratches, tier 4-6 can heal major wounds like wounds due to burn, acid, corrosion, poison, and so on. Tier 7-9 can heal severe wounds like stab wounds or deep cuts. Tier 10 can regrow limbs.

“I don’t make healing potions often but even so, Tier 6 is the highest I can make” Sinov said proudly. “Do you also study alchemy?” Sinov asked with gleaming eyes.

“Well, I do But I haven’t made a potion in so long, I don’t know what tier it is. Anyway, have you heard about the healing potions from Kara village?” Iledoya asked. He was actually curious about this. Before Kara village was buried, he was able to finish a batch containing 64 of his healing potions which were sent to the capital back then. He does know that the kingdom is long gone but he never heard about his potions.

When Sinov heard Iledoya mention the healing potions of Kara village, her face instantly became solemn. “You mean the 49 healing potions that caused the creation of tiers for potions? The 49 healing potions that are deemed as the only tier 11 potions that exist right now? Of course I’ve heard about them! Ever since the Alchemy association revealed the existence of those potions, no Alchemist has not heard about it.”

The Alchemy association was where Alchemist that wants to devote their life for alchemy would gather. It is them that also decides the systems for Alchemist like the tiers.

The tiers that they created was actually the idea of a single man, and that person didn’t tell anyone about the 49 potions and just kept it for himself for thousands of years. It was only in the recent years that they somehow stumbled upon the the man’s secret stash where they found the potions and a notebook detailing about it. Iledoya didn’t know about this because the man’s soul was severed by Death instead.

Hearing how exaggerated his potions was described, Iledoya can’t help but twitch and blush at the same time. After composing himself for a moment, he continued asking “What do you mean by the only tier 11? Isn’t the highest tier for potions tier 10?”

“It was because of the 49 healing potions that the association decided to create the tiers. By making the maximum tier as 10, they hoped that it will show the people how precious something they deemed tier 11 is.” Sinov answered with passion. Tier 11 is just something that is so unbelievable to her.

Even after calming himself down, Iledoya still has slight blush as he continued asking “Is the potions really that amazing? How do they know it’s that amazing? What if it’s just an exaggeration?”

“They tested one themself”

“What?”

“There was actually 50 of them but they tested the effects of one of them to see if it has the effect as described in a very weathered notebook that was found along side the potions. It is also from that notebook that they found out that the potions were from a place called Kara village. But both Kara village and the name of the alchemist that created the potions couldn’t be found” With the last sentence, the expression of sadness came back to Sinov’s face.

Hearing that no one know that the one who created the potions goes by the name Iledoya, Iledoya felt relieved. His questions does not end yet “How did they tested it the effect of the potions?”

Sinov’s face of sadness changed to a grin as she explained “They got themselves a criminal that was given the death sentence. They removed all of his organs and limbs leaving only the lungs and head. They sustained his life using Life magic. Right before they gave the criminal the potion, they released the Life magic sustaining his life to put him on the brink of death. Afterwards they pushed the potion down his throat”

Iledoya gulped as he imagined how painful it is to be only left with his lungs. But then he remembered ‘Oh yeah I can just disable my pain senses when I want to’ so he continued listening.

“Everything missing from the criminal was regenerated. His limbs, his heart, his digestive organs, all of them regenerated. In fact, even when he was only left with his lungs and head, he was still shouting how he will kill all that has hurt him but after drinking the potion, even his mentality was changed. That criminal later on became the current Head of the Association still enlightened from the potion he drank” Sinov finished explaining.

Iledoya shuddered hearing how ridiculous the effect is.

After hearing the effects, he was able to confirm his theory. ‘Not only did my Immortal magic gave the potions ridiculous effects, it also made the potion semi-‘alive’, which caused it to keep absorbing magic for thousand of years, further making the already ridiculous effects even more outrageous’ and then he remembered that his batch contained 64 but there was now only 49 left which meant that 14 not including the potion used for testing; has either been used by the King back then, or someone was able to find it first.

Unknowingly while they were talking, they ended up in front of the Alchemy association Egner town branch. “Hey look. We’re in front of the Alchemy association building. How about an alchemy duel?”

“An Alchemy duel?” Iledoya hesitated. “Are you sure?”

“Of course! What could possibly go wrong?” Sinov said proudly. She was very confident in her ability as an Alchemist.

“It’s just that” Iledoya was considering if he should tell her that the 49 potions was made by him. But after considering it for a moment he said “Fine, let’s do it”. While entering the building Iledoya mumbled “Just don’t have a mental breakdown”

“What?”

“Nothing”

The Alchemy association has many branches in most towns and cities. Egner town being a place where a lot of adventurer would go to, there was also a branch built here. Inside, there are many rooms where people can brew some potions or do Alchemy duels.

Alchemy duels are pretty simple. Two alchemist will brew a potion and then the association will judge the tier of the potions.

They walked up to the receptionist and Sinov said “We’d like to have an Alchemy duel. Is there a room we can use?”

The receptionist answered “Yes, we do. Would you like to use your own ingredients or would you like to buy some from the association?”

Iledoya knowing that he doesn’t have the ingredients on him, asked “How much would the ingredients for a healing potion be?”

“one gold coin”

“Mother of cupcakes why is it so expensive?” Iledoya remembered that back in the days he could get the ingredients for the healing potion for a tenth of that price, for only 10 silvers!

The receptionist frowned hearing Iledoya’s protest. With a look of mockery she said “why does it sound like you don’t know that there is a shortage of ingredients for healing potions due to many Alchemist wanting to make another tier 11 healing potion. Did you live under a rock all these times?”

“As a matter of fact, I did.” Answered Iledoya. Being buried should count as living under a rock right? He put a gold coin in front of the receptionist

The receptionist wanted to say more but hearing Iledoya confirmed that he lived under a rock and that he already placed a gold coin, she couldn’t say anything else. She took the gold coin and said “follow me”

They arrived at a wide room with 2 cauldrons and tables. “Please wait as your ingredients are prepared” After the receptionist lead them to the room, she left to get Iledoya’s ingredients.

“Why is that it seems that you are so into healing potions? You asked about the legendary healing potion and now even in the duel you want to make a healing potion? It’s as if you’re obsessed with it.” From before, Iledoya has only been mentioning about healing potions. This made Sinov curious as to why.

“That’s not it. It’s the first potion I have ever made and it was pretty good. I almost got kill because of it” Iledoya can’t help but smile to the last sentence. If it wasn’t because the healing potion he made, he wouldn’t have died and met Death and learn so many things from the souls in Death’s plane.

Sinov thought that Iledoya must be boasting when he said the last sentence. But she didn’t ask more. After a while, the receptionist brought the ingredients for the healing potions.

“Alright, let’s begin!” With Sinov’s cue, they started making their potions.

Over the years, both Alchemy and Magic has progressed. For Magic, Runes and Magic tools became a thing. In Alchemy, it broaden from just the simple making of potions, to the enhancement of materials and more ways to making the potions.

While for this duel both will be making potions, Iledoya used the simple old ways of making potions, which looked more like an old man making soup. Which when compared to Sinov who is using the more new ways, she looked like a witch making a poisonous apple with fireworks coming out of the cauldron.

Soon they were done with their potions. The judge which is someone from the association had come just before they finished their potions. When she looked at the potions the two has made, the first thing that came into her mind was ‘It’s like comparing a gem with a rock’. “Explain to me what you have made” She told the two.

Sinov started first. Her potion was placed into a beautiful potion glass which paired with the green liquid inside, made it look mythical. “I call it Flying Strength, it boosts the consumer’s stamina and strength allowing them to work harder for longer periods of time. The effects can last 24 hours” She proudly explained. This is potion is one of her specialty and she has full confidence in it.

On the other hand, Iledoya’s potion looked like some strawberry juice one can buy from the market. It was murky red, while the bottle was made from the wood of the flying tree on his backpack. He had to grow a branch and formed it into a bottle with Life magic since he also didn’t have any potion glasses to store the potions. “There isn’t much to be explained about my potion. It’s a healing potion that heals people” Iledoya just casually explained his potion as if he didn’t care about it at all. In fact, he knew that after this, the judge will just put it in a magic tool to determine it’s tier so he didn’t bother explaining much.

The judge didn’t quite like Iledoya’s attitude. But she can’t say much about it. After hearing the explanation, she snapped her fingers and two people entered through the door bringing in a magic tool. In earth, the magic tool that will be used to determine the tier of the potions looked like a coffee machine. Instead of pouring out coffee, it will absorb a sample of the potion that is placed in it.

The judge started with Sinov’s potion as she prefered Sinov’s attitude over Iledoya. She placed in the Flying Strength into the magic tool. The tool shaked a bit before words made from light like a hologram appeared in the air above it.

‘Tier 7’

The judge was impressed and so was the two people that brought in the magic tool. “Very impressive Miss Sinov. You must be very talented” the judge smiled as she praised Sinov.

“Hehe, it’s nothing much” Sinov was very satisfied with her work. She didn’t expect it to be able to reach tier 7 so she was feeling very proud right now.

The judge then placed in Iledoya’s healing potion into the magic tool. While holding, she had a look of disgust. She was a proud alchemist, with every potions she made being of tier 6 at least but now, she had to hold a potion that looks like it came out of the common shop. She was sure the magic tool won’t even consider it a tier 1 potion.

Iledoya could see how see the judge was handling his potion, but he didn’t care. Even though when he explained his potion he looked as if he didn’t care, inside, he was wondering what tier his potion will be after his knowledge increased.

After the magic tool took in a sample of the potion, it started trembling like crazy. It trembled so hard, that everyone in the room could feel it through the floor. After a while, words started appearing in the air above it and when the judge saw it, she instantly fell to her knees with the disgust on her face being replaced with utter regret.

‘Tier 12!’