In a different, long-lost life, the Alchemy Elder would have faced the impossible problem with all the stubbornness and grumpiness that had made his figure famous, or infamous.
That was how Horace Rauret dealt with problems. He was a bull, always charging ahead, completely captivated by the noble art of alchemy, resorting to all kinds of ploys and sacrifices to obtain the resources needed to get to the bottom of the issue.
And the Elder knew what that bottom was. It was the same crossroads every problem arrived at. Either he found a solution, or he accepted that his skills weren't great enough to find it yet.
However, that wasn't Horace Rauret's issue. It was his disciple's, which complicated everything, adding genuine concern and anxiety, especially after the guilty expression he had witnessed.
The Elder had to find a solution there and now, and not just something temporary like a miraculous cure. After all, he had reached Liam's same conclusions far earlier than he did.
