[OP: ]
"Are you suggesting we do something like a competition, Uriel?" Mia asked, a look of interest painting her face.
"You can say it like that but if we are actually doing a competition, there would also be something like a prize for the winner right?" Rein smiled just like her, showing it wasn't her intention but a healthy competition was always welcomed.
But Eon knew very well she wanted this competition thing from the start and he also knew what the next words falling off her pretty lips would be.
"How about the ones losing following an order from the winner? They can decline if the thing asked of them is too difficult for them too so it would just be a 'friendly' thing."
She suggested that with a little thinking but the smile, no, the smirk she openly showed was enough hint for the lady before her.
"An order you say? I like that idea very much. Too much actually."
With an excited smirk on her pretty face, Mia looked at Eon up and down, and the way she checked him out didn't go well with Rein.
But she didn't say much here. She knew the attractive lady with pointed ears before her didn't have any weird thoughts about her darling… at least not now.
"Alright then~. Let's do it." Mia shouted cheerfully, but it wasn't loud enough for the voice to reach their teacher that was already looking at this group of four with a uniquely calm gaze.
He knew about the famous alchemy genius and as a matter of fact, he had already worked with her outside the academy so he was familiar with her prowess.
And he was also familiar with this special couple that was the talk of the entire academy right now.
He could tell both of them were special but, at the end of the day, they were also just young children compared to him so he was also looking forward to their little competition with anticipation of what cool things they would show him.
…
His body in this classroom, the homunculus that was only a shell with a part of his consciousness had a calm look with a plain expression, but his real body, his giant body present in the underground level of the academy, was smiling right now as he saw them, and the cute sparks of competition sparking between them.
"Do I have a say in this?"
"Of course not, darling."
But the poor little boy Eon didn't have a say in this. He had to participate in the two of their little competition and do well so that even if his dear darling fails by some cuts and inches, he can save her from their agreed 'command' rewards.
"A-umm… good luck you two!" Med cheered for her two friends and even though Mia's attractive aura was too much for her, she wanted her friends to win. And especially the person that fed her those amazing things during their lunch.
She wanted Eon to win more than Rein and Mia, and both girls could see that in her adorable eyes.
-Clap. Clap!
"It's time everyone. Start. Just raise your hand when you are finished."
"Yes sir!"
Everyone washed away their charmed look and got to work. They couldn't waste their time if they wanted to remain in this class as the third line on the big blackboard said, 'Those who don't finish one of the two potions by end of given time, won't be allowed in the rest of their class'.
For everyone else who knew making either a health potion or Mana potion without any automated equipment and specified method and ingredients, was a task one might not be able to finish even after they were given twice the amount of their current class, so they were afraid right now.
But for the three at the back right now, a unique opportunity to order around a famous person and their partner was on the line, something far more important than being able to attend one of their classes.
So there was something on the line for everyone here. And as soon as they started the preparations for their potion making, everyone was again surprised by what absurd things the three people they were looking at till a while ago, took out of their storage devices and spaces.
-Thadum!
The first thing, and the biggest thing present in this big classroom now, came from none other than the girl that defeated the house captain of the first-ranking house, our dear Uriel.
"Phew. Let's get started."
Behind her stood a giant cauldron, a black pot used in classic alchemy practice.
But there were few people in the current world that used something like this.
There were many easier ways and simple methods than using these pots, throwing in ingredients, and mixing them while maintaining perfect heat.
But they cannot deny their usability as their course also contained the learning of this classical way of producing potions.
Still, to see a cauldron this big…? It was new to them, and also questionable if creating potions in something of this caliber is even possible.
"Ohh? Your darling sure is quite a special person, it seems vice captain.
The enchantments on that pot look too amazing to be something a normal person's possession.
Still, it is nothing before that catalyst, dear captain.
Isn't it cheating to use an enchanted <Eye of Procession>?"
She was smirking while looking at the unique floating object on the table before him, a subtle look of surprise also present in her precious eyes.
But Eon maintained his calm and acted just like he had been in all this time.
"If we are talking about cheating, Miss Mia, then I believe anyone present in this class would consider that latest model of <Hyperactive gateway> present on your table the biggest cheat.
Not even renowned professional researchers get the chance to have the older versions of these mechanical masterpieces, and even the academy itself has only three of these, so the little things that we got by pure luck are as fair as this test, no?
Besides, isn't there a famous saying which goes as, "Everything is fair in love, war, and games?"
For her it's a war, for you, it's a game, and for me…" He glanced at Rein for a moment and smiled warmly, which was enough for her to know what he wished to express.
"A war and a game… alright then. You said it yourself, vice captain. Don't make excuses when you lose~." She warned cheerfully and looked at the girl beside him that was preparing pure water to clean up her pot.
She found Uriel charming, but Eon was more valuable to her than this little charming girl so the battle started.
"Of course. If it is within my power, I will do anything you wish, Miss Mia. If you win, that is."
And as he gave her a little smile, the competition truly begin for all three of them.
"Good luck darling~," Uriel said, and ran off towards the back of the class towards the shelves that contained all the materials needed to make most of the potions the world knew about.
And these ingredients were in an abundant quantity here so they can make nearly countless sets of common potions like the one for healing and restoring Mana.
"You too. Don't lose to her." He waved at her and also walked towards the shelves on the other side.
Rein and Med were going to make Mana potions while Eon and Mia were making health potions.
One side was focusing on quantity while the other was on quality.
But both things were equally difficult processes. After all, potion-making was an art that required not only experience and talent but also deep knowledge about the ingredients, insight into equilibrium, and ultimately, good enough luck to get the final product.
Still, the techniques one prepared their potions with also played a major role in all this.
And the techniques of the three people that surprised everyone here not once but twice till now were obviously going to be something equally shocking.
Seeing a giant cauldron like that was new to them and seeing that much of a large-scale making of a potion that they all found difficult to produce as a single batch, would be nothing less than mind-blowing to them.
Seeing someone use equipment that they had only ever heard about would also be breathtaking for them.
But, the most spectacular view they would get would definitely be seeing the refinement process, filtering process, and something they hadn't even heard about till this day, something that was even a rare sight for their teacher, something unique yet simple, but also something few could ever master.
In simple terms, it was called Mana-Aura infusion, but their astonished teacher, the person that knew about old alchemy the best in their classroom, could certainly tell the boy wasn't using his own Mana in his process.
He was using the Mana of the environment by using his own Aura… which was in itself an absurd display of his control over his body, as well as the unique Aura that he possessed.
In his eyes, the boy was doing something strangely exciting… and exciting someone like him, someone that belonged to a race known for their natural superiority to every other 'normal' creature, was a grand feat in itself.
So, he was smiling in his original body now, and the end result, the product of his long, tedious, and complex process, would widen his smile even further…
