Chapter 91: I need an alchemist!
I calmly made my way back to the alchemy shop.
I tied my horse’s reins to a wooden post near the entrance and quickly surveyed the surroundings before stepping inside.
The moment I crossed the threshold, I was greeted by the strong smell of herbs, alcohol, blood, and alchemical reagents.
The hall was much larger than it appeared from the outside.
Several chairs were arranged throughout the room, nearly all of them occupied.
My first thought was that it looked like a waiting room.
But a closer look made me realize it was far worse.
The people seated there bore none of the refined appearance of academy Acolytes.
Their clothes were old.
Patched.
Many were stained with dried blood.
Some had bandaged limbs.
Others suffered from strange burns or wounds pulsing with contaminated mana.
Their poverty was unmistakable.
It didn’t take long before I overheard an argument a few meters to my right.
A thin man, whose entire arm had turned black from magical necrosis, was practically begging an alchemist.
— Please...
His voice trembled.
— I only managed to gather three crystals...
The alchemist didn’t even look up from the bottles he was organizing.
— The treatment costs eight.
— I... I’ll sell my basic breathing technique...
— Not interested.
— My body... I can work as a slave.
— Not interested in that either.
The man dropped to his knees.
— Then I’m going to die!
The alchemist shrugged.
— That’s your problem.
The man tried to say something else.
Suddenly, his body convulsed violently.
Dark foam spilled from his mouth.
He collapsed onto his side.
He didn’t move again.
No one rushed to help him.
A few customers merely glanced over for a moment before returning to their own negotiations.
Two employees calmly appeared, covered the corpse with a cloth, and dragged it through a side door.
As though it were nothing more than part of the daily routine.
I continued watching in silence.
A few meters away, another negotiation was taking place.
A middle-aged woman was breathing with difficulty while presenting a leather pouch full of magic crystals.
— Thirty crystals.
The alchemist counted them quickly.
He smiled immediately.
— Now we’re talking like civilized people.
He set aside two vials and handed them to her.
— Drink one now.
— The second one six hours from now.
She paid without arguing.
In less than a minute, she was already receiving treatment.
The contrast between the two cases was brutal.
Compassion had a price here.
Those who could pay lived.
Those who couldn’t...
Became just another body dragged to the back. Most of them were obviously extremely poor and miserable Acolytes who had the misfortune of contracting illnesses that ordinary healing potions couldn’t cure.
I continued walking until I reached the main counter.
Behind it stood countless shelves filled with bottles of every color imaginable.
A young man wearing a pointed hat sat calmly reading a book.
Judging by my perception...
He was a Level III Acolyte.
I approached him.
Before saying anything, I slowly dispelled my transformation spell.
My appearance changed before his eyes.
My armor became visible once more.
Along with it...
My real wounds.
The infected lesions covering my body.
Patches of blackened flesh.
Inflammation caused by the magical disease I carried.
The young man finally looked up from his book.
His gaze traveled across every wound.
Then...
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
He calmly closed the book.
— It’s been a while since I’ve seen someone arrive in this condition.
I crossed my arms.
— I need treatment.
— I figured.
He stepped out from behind the counter.
His gaze became much more attentive.
— I assume a man wearing armor like yours didn’t come here looking for charity, did he?
— I came to solve a problem.
He gestured toward a private room.
We entered.
As soon as the door closed, he began examining my injuries without touching them.
— Tell me everything from the beginning.
I briefly explained the origin of the disease, the symptoms, how it had progressed, and the fact that antiviral potions only slowed its advance.
I also mentioned another concern.
I pointed to an area near my chest.
— I have a parasitic magical organism growing inside my body.
— I want it removed before it gets any worse.
The alchemist remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he crossed his arms.
— From what you’ve described, you’ll need two separate treatments.
He raised two fingers.
— First, a specialized alchemical treatment to contain and eliminate this magical infection.
— Second...
His expression turned serious.
— A procedure to extract that parasite.
I nodded.
That was exactly what I had expected to hear.
He looked me over again.
Then...
He smiled oddly.
He discreetly glanced around to make sure we were alone.
Then he leaned close to my ear.
In a conspiratorial whisper, he said,
— I won’t lie...
I took a step back, confused.
He chuckled quietly.
— Last week, a fellow came in here in a situation similar to yours.
He paused dramatically.
— He decided to force a fairy to do some very bad things...
He shook his head, still amused by the memory.
— He spent days cursing himself for letting himself be seduced instead of killing her and walking away.
Then he returned to his professional demeanor.
— Anyway, jokes aside, your situation is serious.
He pointed at my wounds again.
— If there really is a magical parasite associated with this infection, the sooner we begin treatment, the greater your chances of making a full recovery.
I scratched the back of my neck lightly before looking at him.
— Before we talk about the price...
— Is it really that common for Acolytes to come here... with these exact same symptoms?
The alchemist stared at me for a few seconds.
— With those specific symptoms?
He shrugged.
— Yes.
He picked up a small empty vial and began spinning it between his fingers.
— But you’re asking the wrong question.
— You’ve certainly never needed treatment from a specialist for diseases like these, just like most wandering Acolytes.
Then he discreetly pointed toward the waiting room outside.
— You have no idea how many Acolytes come here carrying diseases, parasites, exotic poisons, or infections.
He rested his elbows on the table.
— What you saw today...
— Is only a drop in an ocean that is completely depraved and chaotic.
I shook my head.
— Interesting. This really changes my perspective of the world.
— Right.
— Now, let’s talk business.
He immediately nodded.
He took out a small notebook and began writing down some notes.
— You need to eliminate the magical infection.
— Then completely remove the parasitic organism.
— I can do all of that.
I looked directly at him.
— How much?
He remained silent for a few seconds.
— If you only want to survive...
He raised one finger.
— Fifty crystals.
— If you want a partial recovery...
He raised a second.
— Eighty.
Then he raised a third.
— Now... If you wish to completely eliminate the infection, remove the parasite without leaving any residue, and restore your body with the highest efficiency possible...
— One hundred and fifty magic crystals.
I remained silent for a few moments.
It was a high amount for someone who had to earn magic crystals without a profession.
But for me, it still represented only a small fraction of the resources I carried.
My own life was worth far more.
I extended my hand.
— Deal.
The alchemist smiled with satisfaction.
— I like straightforward clients.
He walked toward a massive shelf filled with bottles.
He began selecting several potions.
Some were green.
Others were dark blue.
One contained an extremely viscous red liquid.
Another shone with a golden hue.
A short while later, he returned carrying everything carefully.
He arranged the bottles on a table beside me.
Each one in a specific position.
When he finished...
There were nearly a dozen potions lined up.
He pointed at all of them.
— You will drink them exactly in the order I tell you.
His tone became extremely serious.
— Do not switch any of them.
— Do not skip any.
— And do not try to interrupt the process.
I nodded.
He continued.
— These formulas will force your body to violently reject everything that does not naturally belong inside it.
He looked at my wounds again.
— Contaminated mana.
— Compromised tissues.
— Infection residues.
— And most importantly, the parasite.
— I’ll warn you beforehand.
— It will hurt.
I smiled faintly.
— I have the impression that this phrase has been following me around lately.
He laughed.
He picked up the first vial.
Slowly removed the stopper.
A strong herbal aroma filled the room.
He handed the potion to me.
— We begin with this one.
I accepted the vial.
Before bringing it to my mouth, I focused my attention.
— Biochip.
My vision immediately analyzed the liquid.
[Bip!]
[Analysis complete.]
[Composition compatible with alchemical purification treatment.]
[No lethal compounds detected.]
[Estimated risk: low.]
[Predicted side effects: intense pain, muscle spasms, temporary fever, and elevated inflammatory response.]
I smiled faintly.
Without hesitating any further, I drank the entire contents.
The taste was horrible.
It felt like I had swallowed molten copper mixed with rotten herbs.
I barely had time to breathe.
A wave of heat exploded inside my abdomen.
My stomach seemed to twist violently.
The veins in my arms began pulsing.
I gritted my teeth.
The sensation quickly spread throughout the rest of my body.
I watched, almost fascinated, as small drops of dark secretion began emerging from the wounds scattered across my skin.
The alchemist simply crossed his arms.
Without showing the slightest surprise.
— Very good...
— Your body has begun reacting.
— This is only the first step.
— The truly unpleasant part hasn’t even started yet.
....
1598 Words