Professor Kresmir may have been a hardass, I'm sure many would rather he not be their teacher, much preferring a teacher who was fine with passing results of average results, instead of demanding perfection as Professor Kresmir did, but I for one was glad to have him as my teacher, as hard as he may to please, he gave me the skills to succeed more easily when one was a more successful herbalist than we really needed now.
But to learn the proper way first rather than be allowed to keep making mistakes and not succeed in the future as an herbalist because of substandard teaching, I would much rather learn the proper way first, even if it took more effort. It was only the third day of teaching but when Finnick and Elijah have only succeeded to make herbs with a level six purity, not much further than their original efforts, it felt like an eternity had gone by for me.
The ten days I spent in the spatial world made me become so much more proficient in herbalism, it felt bad to say when I knew they didn't have the same advantage as me, but they truly weren't nearly as good in herbalism as me, even before I spent that time in there, I had been better than them. Though Dante had put his time to good use yesterday, he was now finally able to extract liquid from herbs with a level ten purity, finally on par with me, though the look he gave me made it seem like he was trying to say he was better than me.
But who exactly reached the perfect level ten on all the herb processing first? Because that was me, so that was just his smug attitude for nothing, after all based on what Professor Kresmir had said, he had had all the best teacher's money could buy before coming here, already a step above me, with my books and no true teacher to instruct me.
Which didn't mean I would give up the books in exchange for teachers, no I valued the books Nero and Marcellus' had given me, but with my little understanding of herbalism, they hadn't been much help to me until I came here and started learning the basics. While studying herbs I had ensured that along with studying one book, I had also looked up the ingredients in the Qi Block pill. I think after a few more nights in the spatial world and I might very well be prepared to try making it again.
Professor Kresmir shows Dante the correct way to brew his antidote as well, like he had done for me a day earlier, after he comes over to look at my work and sees my flawless Snow Ink Mushroom poison antidote that I had successfully produced again, he gives me an appraising look. "The antidote for Snow Ink Mushroom poison is an intermediate level potion, it is quite impressive that you can brew one of level ten purity after only one demonstration and a single day of time. Keep up the good work, how about a Shield potion? Have you ever tried brewing one?" I shook my head, and he nods his head, before beckoning me over to his table.
He shows me how to brew it, I follow his process easily enough, observantly watching his every step, before he presents me a pale yellow potion that gives off a slight glow. "This potion will result in a barrier of energy surrounding the consumer and giving them a shield that protects them from most blows for thirty minutes. This is a Low-Grade Shield potion, not because it's purity level is low, it is at my standard level ten purity, but it is considered Low-Grade because there are Shield potions that are harder to brew that have a longer duration and can sustain against harder blows. But since you are still a Beginner Herbalist, I decided this would be the best one for you." After hearing his words, I begin my own work in making the Low-Grade Shield potion.
I was still relatively new with making potions but I thought I was beginning to get the hang of it, processing the ingredients was swift and easy for me, I mixed them all together and I thought I might even get it on the first try, when my potion bottle suddenly exploded, sending glass out everywhere. I managed to get a thin wall of spiritual energy up in time to block the glass from hitting me or the student behind me, but I couldn't help but stare at me potion in shock.
I had done everything right, what had happened? "Elianna! What happened!" I could only helplessly shake my head, not knowing why on earth the potion reacted that way.
"I'm not sure, I added in everything correctly, I can't think of anything that would cause this to happen." Professor Kresmir walked over and examined the spilled remains of the potion, using a fallen piece of glass, he scooped up some remnants and smelled it, a thunderous expression taking over his face.
"Tampering with another student's work, is grounds for expulsion, if I figure out which one of you did it, you will be expelled, regardless of your background. As for you Elianna, it is the responsibility of an herbalist to monitor the state of their potion, you should have been able to realize when a catalyst was added to your potion. You are dismissed from class so you can go to the market to buy a new set of equipment, or you may sign one out for your use for the year from the academy." I couldn't believe someone had tampered with my work, it made me livid, because I had put in the work to be knowledgeable in herbalism, none of it came easily to me, but as I see the smirks on the faces of my fellow first years, I knew none of that mattered to them.
They just saw me as a weak cultivator, from another country, showing them up in a class that they should be destroying me in. Of course, they would get revenge, I shouldn't have been surprised, I had seen my cousins do the same thing to others before. After cleaning up the exploded mess of my potion, I leave the classroom feeling more determined than ever to show them up, their attempt to intimidate me only made me want to show them up even more. My trip to the market didn't take long, but I didn't feel like going back to class, instead after grabbing some food, I went back to my room, and after going into the spatial world, proceeded in making the Low-Grade Shield potion with ease.
I made this potion easily even if it was a beginner's potion still, after seeing how I made the Snow Ink Mushroom poison antidote, which was an intermediate level potion, I wasn't sure why Professor Kresmir then proceeded to show me a beginner level potion, but I am sure he had his reasons. However, my ease at which I made the beginner level potion, made me try dozens of other beginner level potions and after making sure to read up on all the herbs in the potions to understand their properties I made each potion with ease. Even moving up to intermediate level potions, I usually failed three to four times before making a successful potion, and then it only took me one or two more tries to brew the potion of level ten purity.
That same motivation encouraged me to start making pills again, though this time I didn't start with the Qi Block pill which was an intermediate pill formula, but the beginner ones, so that I could know the basics before moving onto the harder ones, I managed to refine only a few successful pills after much failure because the process was so different from potion brewing, because the intent was to keep it a solid and as small as possible, rather than into a liquid that could be rather large in volume.
But this was done in the two hours I had before I had to wake up in the real world, meaning I only had two and a half days to begin reassessing my pill refining skills. When I wake up I am starving, I quickly go to the mess hall and take a large tray of food, I ignore the snickers of the first year students who must think I stayed in my room and cried all afternoon or something based on their attitude.
I was still the first to class after lunch, because I had to set up my newly bought herbalism equipment, and place my prepared potion on the table for Professor Kresmir to assess. They walked in seeming all smug but I ignored them, when Professor Kresmir walked into the room and seen my prepared potion, he walked over and picked up the dark yellow potion, opening it he took a sniff and raised his eyebrow at me. "This isn't what I asked you to make." Though his words weren't angry, the fools behind me seemed to think he was lecturing me because I could hear them muttering to each other.
"Yes, I know, Professor, I had that potion as well if you would like to see it, but I thought I would show you what I am capable of." He tilts his head at me, clearly interested in where I was going with this.
"Very well, let's see the Low-Grade Shield potion." I take out the potion from my spatial tattoo, though I am sure it looked like my spatial ring was doing it, he assesses the potion and nods approvingly. "Excellent work, a perfect example of a Low-Grade Shield potion. Now as to this Medium-Grade Shield potion you have also presented me, I'm afraid I can't just take your word for it, there is all the chance you bought this off the street, I've had students try to do that before, so here is your chance to showcase exactly what you are capable of, brew it for me now." I had figured he would ask me to prepare it, and I had no problem doing so, I ignored how silent the fools behind me had gotten.
I head over to the herb storage and quickly grab the herbs I need, quickly processing them, and then mixing the potion, I had done it so many times that the process came to me with ease, and it wasn't long before I had a flawlessly brewed level ten Medium-Grade Shield potion before me. Professor Kresmir gave me a wide smile, looking extremely pleased with me. "Well done, Elianna, very well done. I know you must have stayed up much of the night working on that, though I recommend coming to the lab to work instead of working in your rooms, this room was built to have proper ventilation and safeguards in case of explosion. Pack up your things." I look at him with confusion, unsure how my showcasing that I can do intermediate level potions meant I should pack up all my equipment.
"It is evident to me that your skillset is above that of a Beginner Herbalist, I am moving you to the intermediate level class, I would like to see how long you last in that class before you advance again." I could only blink at him in surprise before I quickly packed up my things and followed behind him as he walked me over to a room on the other side of the hall. Opening the door he interrupts the class to walk me inside.
Professor Takeshi is teaching this class, though he stops to stare at Professor Kresmir in surprise, seeming equally surprised as I trail in shyly after Professor Kresmir. "Sorry for the interruption, Kai, but I have a new student for you." He gestures to me, and Professor Takeshi looks at him in surprise.
"Surely you must be joking, Finius, it is only the fourth day since classes have begun, no one can assess someone that quickly." Professor Kresmir looks at him expectantly, as if daring him to question his ability to judge a student's skills again.
"I asked her to brew me a Low-Grade Shield potion, she has never made one before." Professor Takeshi looks very confused as all of his students mutter and gossip, waiting to see if I will be accepted to their class or not.
"What does that prove? She is a beginner level herbalist and that is a beginner level potion." Professor Kresmir pulls out my Low-Grade Shield potion from somewhere, I am sure he had put them in his spatial ring when I wasn't looking.
"I asked her to produce a Low-Grade Shield potion, and while she did, that isn't what she presented to me this morning, though she made one with a purity level of ten after one demonstration and a single night to practice. Instead she presented me this, I doubted her, but I had her brew it again in front of me and she did so flawlessly." He pulls out my Medium-Grade Shield potion and presents it to Professor Takeshi, he takes a sniff and looks at me in surprise.
"Did you truly not give her a demonstration first?" Professor Kresmir shakes his head and Professor Takeshi looks at me with intrigue. "Have you made a healing potion before?" I look at him shyly before nodding my head hesitantly. "When?" I shift uneasily, not sure how they would take this.
"Last night, I only messed up a few times before I was able to successfully produce one, and then it only took me one or two more times to maintain the purity level." Professor Takeshi holds his hand out expectantly and I pull it out from my spatial tattoo, handing over the bottle of deep green liquid.
He takes a sniff and looks at me with curiosity. "You made this last night? With no one demonstrating it for you? This is a Medium-Grade Healing potion, most can't just brew one without a demonstration." I feel pressured under his stare, and I can see his students talking about me and looking curious as well.
"Well, I have books with potions in them, when I made the Low-Grade one with ease, I thought I'd try the Medium-Grade one, again it only took me a few tries to get it right and then a few more to get a perfect purity level." Professor Takeshi seems shocked by his words, but I can see doubt in his eyes, I am expecting the words before I even hear them.
"You said all you had was books? Show me, prepare one in front of me." So, after hearing his words, I head to one of the empty tables and begin setting myself up, preparing to brew a potion with the entire class watching me.