Lost in thought, Rudra remained silent for a moment as he processed the vastness of the world she had just revealed. He eventually looked up at Naina, a soft expression of curiosity on his face. "Aunty, how do you know all this?" he asked softly.
A gentle, nostalgic smile graced Naina's face. "I traveled the outside world once," she explained. "With my master. And after seeing everything, I wanted nothing more than peace. That's why I came here, accepted a nurse request from the Adventurer Guild, and chose to live a quiet life."
"I see…" Rudra and Aarav muttered in unison, struck by the hidden depths of the woman who had raised them.
But Naina did not let them dwell on her past for long, quickly shifting the topic. "Now, Rudra," she asked, her tone turning practical, "can you make medicines?"
Rudra hesitated, his lack of experience glaring. "I've never tried before," he admitted, looking down slightly. "But… I was planning to try today."
Naina nodded in understanding. "Do you have a cauldron?"
Rudra blinked in confusion. "A cauldron? What's that?"
She tapped his head lightly, a mix of affection and exasperation in her eyes. "You fool. How will you make medicines without a cauldron?" She paused, her demeanor shifting to something much more serious. "Wait. I have one."
Rudra froze. "You do?"
"Yes," Naina replied calmly. A moment later, she raised her hand and glanced at the ring on her finger. In the next instant, a heavy metal cauldron shimmered into existence out of thin air and landed smoothly on the floor with a heavy thud.
Rudra's eyes widened in sheer shock. "Wow… that's a Space Ring, isn't it, aunty?"
Aarav stared in disbelief, his jaw practically hitting the floor. "Yes, it really is," he agreed, before adding quietly, "But aunty, aren't Space Rings incredibly expensive?"
Naina's expression turned remarkably serious, the gentle orphanage matron replaced by a woman who knew the harsh realities of the world. "This is something neither of you will tell anyone," she stated firmly. "This is not an ordinary Space Ring. Unless it is actively used, no one can sense the storage space inside it."
She looked back and forth between the two boys, making sure they understood the weight of her words. "This is our secret." Then, her serious expression melted back into a smile as she pointed to the heavy, beautifully designed pot. "Here. This pot is called the Surya Cauldron. It can easily create medicines up to Level 30."
Rudra was left speechless. "Aunty… how do you even have something like this? A Level 30 tool is unheard of in a place like this."
"It belonged to my master," Naina answered calmly, acting as if it were no big deal. "The ring did, too." She waved her hand to stop his questions. "That's enough of that. Now, show me what you can do. Make a medicine for me."
Rudra looked around the wide, open dining hall, then back at the heavy bag. "Wait... are we going to make the medicine right here? On the dinner table?"
Naina let out a short laugh and shook her head. "In the middle of the hall? Unless you want the whole orphanage to come watch you like a street performer, definitely not."
She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a playful whisper. "We're going to your room. If something blows up, I'll handle it. Besides, I know you're trying to keep this a secret. You don't want everyone knowing you're about to become a professional chemist and get a real job, do you?"
Rudra's eyes widened. "Aunty, keep it down! Not so loud!"
"Then stop standing around and move!" she teased, giving him a light shove toward the stairs.
Aarav chuckled, grabbing the other side of the bag. "Don't worry, Rudra. If your room explodes, I'll tell everyone you were just practicing a very loud magic trick."
"Ha ha not funny!" Rudra muttered.
With big grins and quiet steps, the three of them hurried down the hallway toward their room, trying their best to look like they weren't up to anything suspicious.
Taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart, Rudra nodded. "Alright, Aunty. I'll try."
He stepped forward and stood in front of the Surya Cauldron, clearing his mind as he prepared to enter a new world.
'Genesis…' he thought, reaching out to the ancient voice in his mind. 'Tell me what to do. How do I start?'
The reply came instantly, echoing with its usual heavy tone.
[Heat the cauldron first.]
Rudra paused, realizing a simple problem with that instruction. 'How? Do I just touch it?'
There was a brief silence.
[…Right. You don't have Divine Light yet,] Genesis noted, letting out a mental sigh. [Fine. Use a simple, primitive method. Use fire.]
Rudra nodded, feeling a bit silly but relieved there was a normal way to do it. "Okay," he muttered aloud.
He gathered some wood from the corner and carefully lit a fire beneath the heavy metal base. The flames danced gently, casting flickering shadows across the small room. Slowly, the Surya Cauldron began to warm up, getting ready for his very first brew.
The fire beneath the cauldron continued to burn steadily, the thick metal surface slowly soaking up the heat.
Rudra stood before it, his breathing slow. Sweat formed on his forehead from the heat of the flames. His arms felt heavy, a dull ache reminding him that his body was still weak, even if his mind was ready.
"Are You okay, Rudra?" Aarav whispered from the side, watching the flames. "You look a bit pale."
"I'm fine," Rudra replied, not taking his eyes off the pot. "Just focusing."
This wasn't just making medicine. This was a test of his future.
Aunty Naina watched from a short distance, her sharp eyes missing nothing. Aarav stood close to him, unusually quiet, his gaze fixed on the cauldron as if expecting it to explode.
Rudra took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the scent of burning wood and raw herbs.
[Genesis…] he thought, steadying his hands. [I'm ready.]
This was his first real step.
The voice answered instantly calm, profound, and resonating deep within his skull.
[Remember this, Rudra. Alchemy is not just about ingredients. It is a battle. A war of heat, timing, and control.]
Rudra nodded silently.
The Brewing Process
"First step is Base Activation**, we must prepare the base,"** Genesis instructed, her voice steady in Rudra's mind. "Start with the Clearwater Leaf."
Rudra reached into his bag and picked up a single leaf. It was beautiful—nearly transparent and shimmering like a thin piece of frozen water. With a steady hand, he gently dropped it into the center of the Surya Cauldron.
Ssssshhhhh—
The moment the leaf touched the liquid, a thin, wispy line of steam rose into the air. Rudra stiffened, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the edge of the table. "Is the heat too high?" he whispered, glancing nervously at the dancing flames.
[Not yet,] Genesis replied calmly. [Keep the fire low for now. The Clearwater Leaf only dissolves properly when the heat is steady and medium. Don't rush it.]
Rudra carefully adjusted the wood beneath the pot, reducing the flame. He watched in awe as the leaf began to melt slowly, turning into a clear, thick liquid that blended perfectly into the base.
Aunty Naina, who had been watching every movement like a hawk, let out a small breath. "Good control, Rudra," she said softly. For the first time, even Aarav didn't have a joke ready; he just watched the pot with wide, curious eyes.
[Now second step mana binding, the Blueleaf Grass,] Genesis commanded. [This is the most important part. It will act as the glue that binds the mana together.]
Rudra grabbed a bundle of the vibrant Blueleaf Grass. His heart was racing, and in his excitement to succeed, he made a critical mistake. Instead of taking his time, he dropped the entire bundle into the bubbling liquid all at once.
BOOM—
The cauldron didn't explode, but the liquid inside began to spin violently, splashing against the metal walls. Within seconds, the beautiful blue color shifted into a dull, muddy brown.
[RUDRA!] Genesis shouted, her voice echoing painfully in his skull. [You were supposed to add one stalk at a time! You overloaded the balance!]
Rudra panicked, his hands hovering uselessly over the pot. "What should I do Now ?! How do I fix it?!"
[Nothing,] Genesis said, her tone flat and cold as she regained her composure. [It's over. Turn off the heat before the pot cracks.]
Rudra quickly extinguished the flames. A bitter, burnt smell filled the small room, stinging their noses.
Aunty Naina leaned over the pot and inhaled deeply. She looked at the brown sludge and sighed. "...It failed."
Rudra closed his eyes, a heavy weight settling in his chest. He felt like he had let everyone down.
"It was just the first try," Aarav muttered, placing a hand on Rudra's shoulder to comfort him. "It happens to everyone, right?"
Second Attempt
Rudra cleaned the cauldron, his hands trembling slightly as the cold water splashed against the metal. The silence in the room felt heavy after the first failure.
[Do not fear failure,] Genesis said, her voice steady and grounding. [Every great chemist produces a thousand poisons before they ever create a single medicine. Start again.]
Rudra took a deep breath and began the process once more.
First, the Clearwater Leaf, it dissolved perfectly, turning the water into a shimmering, clear base.
Then came the Blueleaf Grass. This time, Rudra didn't rush. He dropped in one stick... paused... added another... paused... and then a third. He watched the liquid closely, his heart in his throat, but the mixture remained stable.
A faint spark of hope appeared in Rudra's eyes.
[Now flow enhancement is to be done with the Mistflower,] Genesis instructed. [Be careful. This is a morning bloom. If it gets too hot, the medicinal power dies instantly.]
Rudra picked up the Mistflower. It was delicate, and its petals had already begun to wilt slightly from the heat in the room. Following the instructions, he crushed the flower directly above the cauldron.
The glowing essence dripped in—
The liquid inside instantly turned foggy, swirling like a storm cloud. The mana waves became wild and unstable, shaking the pot.
[Lower the heat! Now!] Genesis ordered.
Rudra panicked and scrambled to reduce the flame, but he turned it down too much. The liquid cooled too fast, and the smooth flow of mana snapped like a dry twig.
Crack—
The mixture split into two ugly layers, the energy dying out right before their eyes.
Silence filled the room. Aarav shut his eyes tight, unable to look at his friend's disappointed face.
"...That's the second failure," Aunty Naina said quietly, her voice echoing in room.
Rudra lowered his hands, his shoulders slumping. His breathing felt heavy, and a dark thought began to cloud his mind.
'Am I really capable of this?' he wondered, looking at his shaking palms. 'Am I actually worthy of becoming a chemist, or am I just dreaming?'
Genesis's voice changed. For the first time, the biting sarcasm was gone, replaced by sharp discipline.
[Rudra.]
[In this world, weak people do not die because they work too hard.]
[They die because after falling twice, they choose not to stand back up.]
Rudra's eyes filled with emotion as the words hit him.
[Your talent is rare, boy. But without the courage to continue, talent is worthless.]
Rudra clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white. The doubt that had been clouding his mind began to clear, replaced by a new, quiet fire.
"I won't stop," he said firmly, his voice no longer shaking. "I'm not finished yet."
Third Attempt
The room fell silent. The only sound left was the faint, steady crackling of the fire beneath the pot. This time, Rudra did not rush. He closed his eyes for a second, feeling everything around him. The heat of the flames, the hum of the mana, and the flow of the liquid.
First, the Clearwater Leaf. It dissolved perfectly, creating a crystal-clear base.
Then, the Blueleaf Grass. One stick... a long pause... then the second. The liquid remained a beautiful, stable blue.
[Add the Softmana Moss for the storage layer,] Genesis instructed. [This is what will hold the mana inside the medicine so it doesn't leak out.]
Rudra pressed the moss gently between his fingers before placing it into the liquid. The mixture thickened slightly, turning a deeper shade. He could feel the mana finally settling into place, no longer wild and splashing.
"...Perfect layering," Aunty Naina whispered, her eyes fixed on the swirling colors.
This time, Rudra did things differently. Instead of rushing to the pot, he used his own body heat to activate the flower away from the cauldron's direct flames. Once the essence was ready, he let it fall into the mix, drop by drop.
The liquid began to glow with a soft, pulsing light. This was the Mistflower Activation.
The room fell silent. The only sound left was the faint, steady crackling of the fire beneath the pot. This time, Rudra did not rush. He closed his eyes for a second, feeling everything around him. The heat of the flames, the hum of the mana, and the flow of the liquid.
First, the Clearwater Leaf. It dissolved perfectly, creating a crystal-clear base.
Then, the Blueleaf Grass. One stick... a long pause... then the second. The liquid remained a beautiful, stable blue.
[Add the Softmana Moss for the storage layer,] Genesis instructed. [This is what will hold the mana inside the medicine so it doesn't leak out.]
Rudra pressed the moss gently between his fingers before placing it into the liquid. The mixture thickened slightly, turning a deeper shade. He could feel the mana finally settling into place, no longer wild and splashing.
"...Perfect layering," Aunty Naina whispered, her eyes fixed on the swirling colors.
This time, Rudra did things differently. Instead of rushing to the pot, he used his own body heat to activate the flower away from the cauldron's direct flames. Once the essence was ready, he let it fall into the mix, drop by drop.
The liquid began to glow with a soft, pulsing light. This was the Mistflower Activation