Chapter 22 (part 2/2) - Preparations and Repercussions

  “Alright, enough chatter,” Lily said, dispelling her mental haze, which left Vincent confused since they had not been speaking. “It’s time for the magical part of alchemy.”

  “Is that something I can do? Or replace with chemical methods?”

  “There are spells that assist with filtration and extract distillation, but true alchemy is based on sympathetic links between what you want to connect, what serves as the base or vehicle, the property you wish to replicate, and the active compound that actually acts on the affected area. Many of the home remedies peasants prepare rely only on the first two principles, stumbling upon the vehicle almost by accident. The vehicle is what carries the compound to the affected area, the initial link. In this case, we’ll use an alcohol and salt base.”

  “Because alcohol is a vasodilator. If it affects veins, it should also affect meridians.”

  “Exactly. Next comes the property you want to transmit. In this case, we’ll use sage. It’s resinous, slightly elastic… and that’s something we want your meridians to absorb.”

  “Something someone with little knowledge could reach by simple analogy…”

  “Yes. That’s why home remedies based on sympathetic links work… to a point. For example, fever medicines often link elements associated with the head to cold properties to reduce temperature.”

  Vincent nodded, prompting the next step.

  “And finally, the active compound.”

  “Yes. That part requires real medical knowledge. Now we’ll link everything with magic, not just to create a homogeneous emulsion, but to specify what it should affect and what it shouldn’t. That’s also declared in the alchemical mantra. It’s crucial when the potion is potent and could otherwise interact poorly with other parts of the body.”

  Now that’s useful… if applied properly, it could save a tremendous amount of material by administering more concentrated, targeted doses.

  Vincent was convinced that his knowledge of chemistry would eventually allow him to surpass many of the Tower’s standard potions. Magic skipped processes science already understood, but it was not merely a shortcut. It was an additional tool. It could complement conventional medicine rather than replace it.

  Lily brought the alcohol-and-salt base to a warm temperature to ease the dissolution of the sage. It was then blended with the previously refined active compounds. Afterward, reciting the proper mantras, she linked the viscous mixture to the alcoholic base that would carry the compound to the meridians, fusing it with magic until it formed a single, stable potion.

  The result was a yellowish liquid, remarkably clear and with very little residual content.

  “Wow… it turned out much clearer than mine usually does.”

  “Is that good or bad?”

  “It’s good. I can even feel energy being drained from my hands when I hold it. That’s a good sign. It’s a valuable potion, and anything it absorbs will enhance its effects. Let me charge it with energy before you drink it.”

  The next part of the process required no mantra, only the direct transfer of energy into the potion. Spirits regarded that kind of preparation as something of high value, and its magical affinity increased when charged. It could be left on a shelf or in an accumulation array to charge gradually over time, but Vincent’s meridians were damaged and he needed to consume it soon.

  When she finished, the liquid emitted a faint yellow glow, almost solar, with violet reflections that fractured like a prism when it moved.

  “Wow… it looks expensive. How much do you think we could ask for it if we sold it?”

  “Mmm… it depends. To the right buyer, I’d say four times its value. Maybe five.”

  “Five? And here I am wasting my time making vaporizers.”

  “That’s if you find the right buyer. If you try to sell it quickly, you’d probably only be able to double the material cost. People don’t usually buy potions from unverified sellers. It’s hard for a common person to evaluate their quality. And besides, the audience for this type of preparation is limited. Here in the Tower, you wouldn’t have a massive market.”

  “Alright, you’re right. I need reputation and a broader audience before trying something like that. I’ll settle for the savings we got.”

  Once she finished charging it, Lily handed it over. Vincent uncorked the bottle. The aroma was intense, resinous, with a marked saline and alcoholic undertone. He drank it without hesitation.

  The effect was far gentler than the previous time. Slowly, he felt his meridians begin to repair themselves, as if tiny internal cracks were sealing one by one. The tension eased, the pain became bearable.

  “That’s more than enough. Drinking the rest would be wasteful.”

  “I know. I bought extra materials in case you hurt yourself again. It should be enough for three more uses.”

  “Hmmm… is it supposed to taste like this?”

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  “What do you mean?”

  “I know you used salt in the base, but it didn’t taste like this last time. Did you use a different base?”

  Vincent held the bottle out to her.

  “Here. Try a little.”

  Lily’s reaction was immediate. A blush climbed up her ears and across her cheeks at the mere thought of sharing the same bottle with him. Unlike Vincent, she had zero experience with men. Much of her life had been spent hospitalized and, after her reincarnation, under the tutelage of scholars five times her age.

  Her role as Vincent’s caretaker had driven away anyone who tried to approach her. So in her mind, that simple gesture felt like an act of disproportionate intimacy.

  “N-no need… the potion should be fine.”

  She refused the bottle without touching it. Their pseudo-sibling relationship was already confusing enough with the thoughts she had been having. She did not need to add more fuel to the fire.

  Of course, Vincent remained completely unaware of the internal turmoil. Lily had already seen him naked when assisting him, and something like an indirect kiss seemed far too innocent to even register. Vincent replaced the cork and tucked the potion back into his satchel, looking at her with sincere gratitude.

  “Thanks, Lily.”

  Then he picked up the book and pointed to a section.

  “That mantra you used to link the properties… is that something I could learn?”

  “Of course. Look at this part. It explains how to cast it. You probably don’t have enough energy to execute it directly the way I did, but you could use your magic circles or gems to supplement the required charge.”

  With the means to restore his meridians secured, other preparations moved to the forefront. In particular, those related to a potential confrontation with Takkio, the other hand threatening his operations. A warrior far more dangerous than the scholarly resurrects who had attacked him.

  Lily left shortly afterward, somewhat hurried. Her cheeks were still red, and she refused when Vincent tried to touch her forehead.

  “I’m fine!” she said before leaving.

  Vincent watched her go, confused, and returned his focus to his vaporizers.

  The next batch sold just as easily. The chases had ceased, and Edgar’s accomplices appeared noticeably more cautious. By the second day, it was clear that not only had they left him alone, but they were actively trying to avoid him. The rumor had spread.

  “It’s because he atrophied their meridians… he must have learned something when he touched the artery.”

  “His victims still can’t use magic. They’re even saying they’re losing memories…”

  The whispers traveled through the corridors.

  That period of calm was enough for Vincent to accumulate around three hundred silver towers. More than enough to cover debts and complete his gauntlet.

  The design was already decided. Now he had the resources to materialize it.

  Confident that he could use the forge without too many obstacles for the time being, he purchased the remaining materials. Before that, however, he fulfilled his part of the deal with Phil, handing him a vaporizer and explaining how it worked, just as they had agreed.

  Using the glove as a base, he began shaping the brass pieces, separating them for later attachment to the leather. Before securing them, he needed to weave the silver wires inside the glove itself, creating an internal framework that would serve as an external channel for the energy... The piece was beginning to take shape.

  Imitating the meridian system as described in the manual, Vincent guided the thin silver wires through the interior of the glove, distributing them along paths parallel to the natural channels of his hand. At the fingertips he formed small spirals, designed to dissipate energy and prevent direct contact with the skin.

  At the center of the palm he installed a removable mount for jade discs, meant to quickly swap simple utility spells. At the wrist he left space for a large accumulation crystal, and at the base of the palm he reserved sockets for interchangeable gems of different properties. The double ring encircling his fingers also housed auxiliary gems intended to improve energy control.

  The design was aesthetically restrained and faithful in its mimicry of natural meridians, yet complex in its modular system of gems and magic circles. It clearly leaned toward utility. He had no time for ornamentation. What mattered was that it worked.

  Alright… moment of truth.

  With extreme care, Vincent slid the gauntlet onto his hand. He inserted his fingers first, making sure not to displace the internal silver conduits. The reinforced leather was rigid, and the disc mount in the palm prevented him from fully closing his fist, but it retained enough mobility to manipulate delicate pieces.

  Even without placing the jade disc into the socket yet, he could already feel the system activating. If he had to describe it, it was like opening an alternate lane in the middle of a traffic jam. If he had relied solely on absorption gems, his natural meridians would have saturated instantly. But thanks to the artificial conduits, he could redistribute the flow.

  He tried drawing in spiritual energy with intention, and in parallel the silver channel responded. He tested simple tricks: generating light, small sparks, pushing air between his fingers. Everything became smoother the more energy he mobilized. More stable… The experiment had been a success.

  Now he had to complete the interchangeable discs.

  The ideal system would be configurable by rotation, like a rotary interface that altered internal parameters, similar to how the calculation circle he had built operated. But miniaturization was still beyond his reach. For now, he would have to settle for three independent discs.

  The first was the most practical: the temperature disc. It allowed him to fire ceramics, melt small metals, and also lower temperature to the point of freezing. He achieved this by combining two types of special stones, linking the circle to water through a marine pearl to facilitate heating and cooling. For metals, he used a small magnetic stone that enhanced directed thermal conduction.

  The second was a control disc. Designed to manipulate with greater precision the small sphere of silvered steel he used as a lathe. The disc contained mathematical formulas, vector coordinates, automated speed and rotational limits that assisted movement. It also allowed him to manipulate small objects with greater stability, enabling fine, controlled telekinesis. It would be essential for future delicate projects.

  The third was the most important: an absorption disc. Its primary function was to act as a buffer upon contact with an artery. It incorporated multiple high-capacity sedimentary gems that functioned as energetic resistances. The engraved circle acted as a transformer, regulating intensity and flow, diverting excess into an accumulation crystal that operated as a battery. Part of the surplus would dissipate as heat. In addition to absorbing, it stabilized the flow, facilitating the execution of basic spells once he finally mastered them.

  It took several hours of work and another twenty-five silver towers in additional materials, but the gauntlet was complete.

  With it, he would not only expand his manufacturing capabilities. He could prototype almost as quickly as with a fabrication circle. Carve and fire ceramics directly in his hand. Melt brass. Manipulate tiny components for new inventions… but the gauntlet was not a weapon. It was a means.

  A means to grow. To build. To acquire what he needed and defend himself when necessary. He knew he could not win a direct confrontation against Takkio. He had no way to defeat someone who made a living hunting monsters. To beat him, he would have to use his head.

  He would have to set a trap.

  I'm back now, so the next chapter will be available on Tuesday. I hope you're enjoying the story!