“Before we jump straight into potioneering, I will give you another quiz on foundational knowledge,” Vaan stated.
Cyrena Ashenborn’s eyes quickly lit up.
“Yes, Teacher!” Cyrena Ashenborn answered with eagerness and anticipation. She looked forward to more surprises.
“In the process of preparation and potioneering, what do we need to consider?” Vaan casually asked.
“In the process of preparation, we need to consider the accuracy of the potion recipe, the quantity of the ingredients required, the spotlessness of the cauldron, and the concentration of mana solution to use. In the process of potioneering, we need to consider the fire intensity, mixing technique, and the ingredient order.”
“That’s right,” Vaan acknowledged with a nod before continuing to quiz her, “Then, for the Rank 1 Pore Stimulation Potion, how much of each ingredient do we need to make it?”
“For the standard ingredients, we would need one Zapper Eel’s Eye, one Darkray’s Tail, seven stalks of Dragon Grass, three stalks of Summer Avens, six pieces of Pearl Ivies, five ounces of Wolf Seeds, and a one-year-old piece of Flaming Root,” Cyrena Ashenborn answered according to textbook knowledge, found in Maleficum’s Book of Potions.
“That is correct. But if we want to use Ruby Paprika instead of Summer Avens, how much Ruby Paprika would we need to balance out the ingredients?”
Once Vaan raised the question, Cyrena Ashenborn took slightly longer to think of an answer, allowing Vaan to understand the extent of her potioneering knowledge.
“We would need four ounces of dried Ruby Paprika in powdered form,” Cyrena Ashenborn answered after some thought.
Vaan waited a bit before confirming Cyrena Ashenborn had nothing else to add.
“Ruby Paprika is more common and easily obtainable compared to Summer Avens. Why, then, is Summer Avens used as the standard ingredient instead of Ruby Paprika?” Vaan asked.
“Because the adrenaline-like side effect is also slightly stronger,” Cyrena Ashenborn answered before adding further, “The standard recipe for the Pore Stimulation Potion is called standard because it is publicly accepted to produce the weakest side effect.”
“Publicly accepted to produce the weakest side effect, huh?” Vaan slightly smiled and said, “I suppose that is true as far as the public believes.”
“However, distinguished Potioneers have long created their own improved versions of the standard Pore Stimulation Potion, producing stronger stimulation with weaker side effects. People without a great understanding of potioneering wouldn’t know if rarer ingredients were used or there was just a simple adjustment in the ratio of the standard ingredients to produce such results.”
“Anyhow, it’s not my place to comment further on this topic. I just want to say that the current standard recipe isn’t the best recipe for making the Pore Stimulation Potion,” Vaan said, avoiding a sensitive topic regarding the pricing of potions and ingredients.
Human greed was insatiable regardless of the world he lived in; money controlled the advancement of civilization.
“I see…” Cyrena Ashenborn’s eyes flickered thoughtfully before moving on with the lesson. “If I want to reduce the side effects of using Ruby Paprika, what would be my best option, Teacher?”
“If you don’t want to substitute or add new ingredients to the recipe, you can simply increase the amount of Wolf Seeds from five ounces to six ounces. Of course, the result would be even better if you use half an ounce of Ocean Seeds instead,” Vaan answered.
“Half an ounce of Ocean Seeds…” Cyrena Ashenborn uttered contemplatingly.
Ocean Seeds were slightly less common, but they did seem plausible to use according to their properties.
In the next moment, Cyrena Ashenborn suddenly hurried over to the messy table in the corner to fetch a pen and paper to record the information down.
She wanted to take notes, lest she forgets.
Compared to earlier, Vaan could no longer see the young lady feigning indifference to everything from before. All he could see now was a young lady eager to learn.
“If I want to test the Equilibrium Principle and use a wood-attribute ingredient like the Sirre Root to substitute the Summer Avens, how much would I need, Teacher?” Cyrena Ashenborn asked shortly after.
“Just a single five-year-old piece of Sirre Root will do,” Vaan casually answered.
“Go and fetch the ingredients for it, Lady Cyrena. I will watch over your process of making the potion with the Sirre Root, from preparation to mixing the ingredients.”
“Yes, Teacher,” Cyrena Ashenborn complied excitedly.
If she could really produce a Pore Stimulation Potion with no side effects using the Equilibrium Principle, it would be an amazing feat!
Furthermore, Pore Stimulation Potions without side effects would sell for value.
After Cyrena Ashenborn quickly collected the ingredients, she laid them out on a stone table and used the mortar to grind five ounces of Wolf Seeds. As for the other ingredients, they didn’t need grinding.
Once the ingredients were prepared, Cyrena Ashenborn checked the clean black cauldron before starting the fire under it, which was a stone plate-like magic tool that produced fire like a stove.
Shortly after, Cyrena Ashenborn filled the cauldron halfway with clean water. But just as she was about to grab a flask of mana solution on the shelf to add to the cauldron of water, she suddenly paused.
“Teacher, do we still need to add mana solution to the pot if we are going to harmonize the ingredients with the Equilibrium Principle?” Cyrena Ashenborn wondered.
“Simply adding ingredients into the boiling cauldron of water and stirring them will make them mix; it won’t fuse their properties to generate the desired effect. That’s why Potioneers use mana solution; it’s an absolute requirement in potioneering,” Vaan stated.
“Right… I forgot about that,” Cyrena Ashenborn replied with an awkward smile.
No matter how amazing the Equilibrium Principle is, it’s a type of truth, not a method. It can’t change the fundamentals of potioneering.
…
Nevertheless, as Cyrena Ashenborn proceeded with the steps of potioneering, the door to the Brewing Chamber quietly creaked open as Helia Ashenborn visited out of curiosity.
Hester Thornton quickly noticed and went over to greet, while Vaan remained focused on Cyrena Ashenborn’s actions.
“Lord Helia,” Hester Thornton greeted.
“How is Vahn Cadieux’s teaching, Hester? Does he seem like a qualified teacher?” Helia Ashenborn quietly inquired without disturbing Vaan’s lesson.
“This… It’s easier if you watch Teacher Cadieux’s lesson, Lord Helia. All I can say is I have nothing but respect for Teacher Cadieux.”
“Oh?” Helia Ashenborn raised an eyebrow before replying with interest, “Then I better watch them.”
“Yes.”