I started eating as soon as Lucas left the room. Finally, something to ease the stress of this day.
The food was delicious; grilled meats wrapped in bread. After finishing, I immediately enjoyed the cold, sweet water. I took a very long breath, as the coldness eased the heat within me.
After I finished bathing, I prepared for sleep. Even though my plan was to wait for my father to get the chemistry books, I decided to sleep since the darkness was beginning to fade.
In our layer, there is no "day" in the traditional sense. Instead, there is pitch-black night, followed by a morning-like state—bright, but not like a real day, and it doesn't harm us. The light doesn't come from the sun at all and isn't considered true light. As soon as the deep darkness disappears, our sleeping hours begin.
Since my father is usually late, I decided to sleep. My neatly made bed welcomed me, and I threw myself onto it without a second thought. After a few minutes of trying, I finally managed to fall asleep.
Early the next morning, I couldn't even wait to finish my food; I was eagerly anticipating practising chemistry. Because of this chemistry, I might survive the upcoming Trials; it would provide me with a livelihood wherever I went.
Finally, I finished eating. I waited for my father for a few minutes, and as he was preparing to leave, I asked him: "Father, where are the chemistry books you promised me?"
Without turning around, he said: "I left them for you in the library."
I restrained myself until I said goodbye to him, then I rushed to the house library.
The library contained thousands of books, and the place was exceptionally beautiful, with the scent of books and paper permeating the air. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a large stack of books on the table.
As soon as I sat down, I opened the first book. Its title was: The Fundamentals of Chemistry.
I spent a long time reading. Despite my reading speed—being a supernatural being after all—I realised a lot. I understood that chemistry is divided into many strange types, but it is based on two primary paths:
Biochemistry and Specialised Chemistry.
Under Biochemistry, the main paths are:
* Potion Making
* Bloodline Merging
As for Specialised Chemistry, it includes:
* The Crafting of Supernatural Weapons
* Supernatural Rituals
There is a third branch of chemistry that doesn't fall under either path but is considered a part of it: Curses.
Curses are among the most evil and terrifying arts, but they are extremely complex, requiring precise and very difficult steps. I wanted to learn all the methods, except for one path I was hesitant about: the path of Curses.
Despite the power of this path, it was considered a constant danger. Most users of curses attract very powerful entities, and sudden, strange deaths are common among them—which is what terrified everyone who coveted it. However, if you reach a very high level in this path, you won't even need to enter battles yourself.
I continued reading immediately. As I flipped through the pages of chemistry, one after another, I couldn't help myself.
Chemistry was truly disgusting, especially potion-making, as it required organs from creatures, plants, and complex materials. Asking for the eye of a strange creature was considered perfectly normal.
I even read about Dark Chemistry, and it was the most terrifying and disgusting thing I had ever seen in my life. I found potions for longevity that required vampires as ingredients.
This was beyond my endurance, and I promised myself I would never practice this path, no matter what happened. That path was not suitable for stability or a long life; it conflicted with my own path. I wanted to live a long, peaceful life without facing psychological crises.
Ironically, despite being called "Demonic Chemistry," even demons avoided it because it contained potions that required the demons themselves.
But the path I liked most was Weapon Crafting. Although it required the blood of certain creatures and perhaps some of their organs, it was one of the least bloody paths. Its foundation relied on the quality of the metal, the energy infused into the weapon, and the energy circuits.