Arcane Innovator

Myra's response arrived early the next day, and she happily accepted our invitation. I then suggested to Helga that she could showcase all that she has learned about etiquette until now by hosting a tea party for Myra as a practice.

She was extremely reluctant at first, afraid that she would screw it up, but with a bit of convincing, she embraced this opportunity in the end. I couldn't help but smile seeing her meticulously check every little detail over and over again, much to the dismay of our maids who were there assisting her.

Today I had intentionally sent Bernadette on an errand to the city so that Helga would be the one in charge of all the preparations, allowing her to gain some confidence and also so that she wouldn't be stressed out by Bernadette's presence.

Soon, there was a loud knock on the doors, and Myra arrived at last, accompanied by her family's loyal butler, Sebastian.

I was just dealing with my own little "project," and I couldn't meet with her right away, so when I finally came down to one of the saloons on the ground floor, I found both Helga and Myra laughing together as each of them enjoyed a steaming cup of tea.

I smiled at Myra. "Be welcomed in our humble abode..." I said the customary greeting, only to see both girls bursting with laughter.

"Darian! Here you are... I was just saying to Helga what an amazing home you have. I can't believe you haven't invited me here sooner!" Myra exclaimed.

"Well, we only finished renovating it a short while ago, and you are in fact the very first person we invited here..." I replied with a smile.

Helga then looked at me reproachfully and said, "Myra was also telling me about the upcoming Harvest Festival and how you took her there last year and how wonderful a time you had there together..."

Myra also looked at me with an expectant gaze. 'Oh, crap...' With everything that was going on, I completely forgot about the festival. I then chuckled amusingly at the expressions they were making.

"Then what about if we went there all together this year?" I said jovially, trying to placate the girls.

"Really?" Helga blurted out, stars forming in her eyes.

"How splendid!" Myra exclaimed happily soon afterward.

I smiled as I saw them both enjoying each other's company. It would be good if Helga managed to make some more friends in the city, as I won't be here forever to protect her, and she needs to learn how to take care of herself.

But then my smile froze on my lips as I realized Helga didn't have any proper dress for such an occasion. I bought her some new clothes when she first arrived here, but they were totally inadequate for something like the Harvest Festival.

I sighed as I imagined how much it would all cost me. Since Helga would be making her debut in the city's society, she needed to look splendid so that nobody would look down on her.

At that moment, while I was lost in my thoughts, a servant came to me and whispered to my ear that my other guest had arrived. 'Perfect...' I smiled, quite pleased with the timing. 'Hopefully, all my money troubles will soon be only a distant, unpleasant memory...'

I promptly stood up and said to the merry girls, "Please excuse me, something important just came up and it requires my immediate attention..."

Then I left the girls to their own shenanigans and quickly headed to the parlor, where I found no one other than my good friend Theo.

His piercing gaze landed on me the moment I entered the room. "Why did you call me here on such short notice?" Theo asked me with raised eyebrows.

"I know you are not the type of person who would invite me just to boast about your new house..." He added with a smirk.

I chuckled as I greeted him. "You're right. I have something I believe you might find interesting." I winked at him before guiding him through the hallway, leading him toward a particular door in the basement.

Theo silently followed me. It was evident he had many questions on his lips he wanted to ask me, yet he decided to keep his curiosity to himself for the time being.

We soon arrived in front of the heavy iron doors, and I, with some effort, opened them and led him into a spacious room on the other side.

"What's all of this?" Theo asked me with clear confusion etched on his face as he couldn't seem to hold his curiosity off any longer.

I simply smiled at him as I pointed my hand across the room with a glint in my eyes. "This, my friend, will make us a fortune..."

"Us?" He furrowed his brows in confusion as he looked at me.

"Didn't you write in your last letter that you recently passed your trial and became adept at alchemy? Congratulations on that, by the way..." I smiled at him.

"Hmm? Yes, I did. Thank you, but what does this have to do with anything?"

He then realized something and widened his eyes. "Wait, you couldn't possibly be thinking..."

My smile broadened as I nodded, confirming his suspicion.

"Wait, wait, wait..." Theo raised his hands in the air. "We can't open an alchemy workshop together! I still need to study under my Master for many years, and besides, I don't have the necessary funds or experience to open my own shop." Theo exclaimed while waving his hands dismissively.

"Well, although that might be true..." I looked him straight in the eyes, a subtle smile playing on my lips. "But you now have your own mark, don't you? You can still formally remain under your Master while at the same time making and selling your own potions..."

"Hmm, that's technically true, but still..." He scratched the back of his head.

'I think I cracked him, but he still needs a small nudge...' I thought briefly before I continued trying to persuade him: "I will, of course, provide all the necessary funds, and you, with your expertise and alchemist license, shall make us a fortune..."

Theo simply stared at me for a long time, seemingly thinking about it, before finally replying.

"Is that so? I won't deny that your proposal is quite intriguing, yet I think you are forgetting one small detail... I'm still only a single, inexperienced alchemist, and I can't make more than two low-tier potions a day. Without any apprentices, whom I still can't take on until I'm a master, there is no way to make a living out of it, not to mention any kind of fortune..."

Theo then paused before smirking at me. "But I'm sure you must know all of that... So would you mind telling me your real plan?"

I couldn't help but chuckle a little. 'He is pretty clever...' I tried to collect my thoughts while Theo continued to stare at me, his piercing gaze boring holes in my soul.

I released a sigh. He was still not convinced. Well, I didn't expect anything else. In fact, if anyone tried to recruit me for any "get rich quick scheme," I wouldn't trust them either...

But I wasn't trying to scam Theo or anything; I knew this would work as I had already been doing it for a long, long time.

I smiled confidently as I moved closer to the work table. "We don't need anyone else. Just you and I will be fine..."

"Yeah, that's right. I wanted to also ask you, what's the deal with all this stuff?" He squinted his eyes while pointing at the various pieces of equipment I had installed here. "This doesn't look like any Alchemist's workshop I have ever been to..."

"Well, of course not, as it is not meant to be an Alchemist workshop at all..." I replied to him matter-of-factly.

Theo was already opening his mouth to say something, but I signaled for him to stop. "Before you ask... this will be a semi-automatic, high-output potion manufacturing facility," I said proudly.

"Is that so...?" Theo looked at me strangely. "Excuse me, but I have no idea what any of those words mean..."

"Ehm..." I cleared my throat. 'Well, how could he know? It's not like they have any of those here...' I thought briefly before showing an awkward smile. "Never mind... All you need to know is that we will be making the potions here en masse." I stepped closer to the large cauldron in the middle of the room, caressing it tenderly. "You see, I found a way to make potions without an alchemy formation."

Theo looked at me like I was crazy. "Without a formation? That's impossible!" He exclaimed.

Well, maybe I was a little bit crazy to do any of this, as it had never been tried before. But I don't care what everyone else thinks. My heart beats faster just thinking about the mountain of coins this will bring me.

"Look at this then," I said with a chuckle as I passed him one of my potions.