The Cara Rosewood Johan knew of graduated from the S.K. Hunter University last year as the valedictorian. The same honours Yuna Lee achieved before she went on to write history. However, things weren’t always good for this girl.

  She had joined the academy as one of the worst students. It was in her last year that her hard work paid off. She went on to top her class and even got scouted by the Agni Clan before graduating.

  The Cara he had seen in the interview was a friendly girl next door who would warm anyone’s heart with her cute smile and patient behaviour.

  “What did you want to gain from me?” However, the Cara in front of him was full of suspicion.

  But he understood her situation; the potion was worth 1.5 million, more on a good day. As someone who drank it, Cara understood its worth more than anyone else. It was an extra life for Hunters who danced with death on every mission. No one would give that away without hoping for something in return.

  “I have no backers, and I am not in a good relationship with my clan. I used my money to buy my own house and car. I can’t give you anything that might be useful.” She said, almost venting.

  I feel like I heard something I shouldn’t have. Johan grimaced, but he cleared his throat and signalled her to stop.

  “I did have something in mind, but it’s not money.” He assured her.

  “Are you after my body after all?” She shivered, stumbling back.

  “Put the brakes on, woman!” Johan huffed. “I have no thoughts about that, either.”

  “So, what is it?” His clear anger seemed to calm Cara; she leaned on the counter, looking at him with her doe-like eyes. “Since that potion was helpful… I am willing to listen.”

  “I wanted to get the potion checked with the Agni clan’s alchemists. I thought they’d come and inquire when they confirm that it is genuine. I didn’t expect you to use it yourself and slander me like this.” Johan sighed.

  “Why didn’t you take it to the Alchemist Association? They handle the certification, right?” Cara said, unsure of the whole debacle.

  “I would, if I were a member.” A headache arose when he thought of it again.

  “Are you a criminal or some mad scientist expelled cause of inhumane experiments?” Goosebumps rose on Cara’s body. “What did you make me drink? Was it made by draining human vitality? Or was it Magik Beasts?”

  “Drop the Hunter gig and join a news outlet.” Johan deadpanned.

  “The potion is as illegal as you.” He didn’t have any other way to explain his circumstances. “It’s just that I have my reasons.” He didn’t mention the fact that the association would blow him off, since he didn’t have an Alchemist class.

  He could see the gears turning in Cara’s head before she started nodding to herself. It didn’t take long before she looked at him with a big smile, patting his shoulder.

  “I understand your situation.”

  Understand what exactly? Johan’s lips pressed into a hard line, but he didn’t want to argue over it. And he felt glad he didn’t.

  “My team’s leader said he’d visit soon to ask about the potion,” Cara said.

  Start with that, then! Johan almost cried remembering the side eyes from the few customers that happened to hear Cara’s opening outburst, his reputation seemed to tank by the day.

  It was welcome news nonetheless. Although he expected to see someone from the Agni Clan at least. But beggars couldn’t be choosers.

  “Oh…” However, her expression changed after she checked something on her phone.

  “What happened?” Johan’s stomach twisted.

  Was it because he thought a raid team leader was too low in position that this happened? He didn’t know what he could do to repent.

  On the other hand, Cara seemed to have brightened up. “The team leader will visit tomorrow around noon. Is that time ok?” She asked.

  “…More than ok, tell him I’ll prepare some refreshments too.” Johan recovered, showing his service smile.

  Cara sent a text and looked back at him with a nonchalant look.

  “I will be going now.”

  “Ok.”

  “I am really going.” She turned around near the door.

  “…I heard you the first time.”

  “Bye.”

  It’s almost like she’s disappointed that I didn’t ask her for anything. Johan shook his head. Maybe he just overthought it?

  Regardless, he reached the first step of his plan. Though he wondered if he should continue the item, he wanted to show the Agni clan member.

  An apple appeared in his hand; however, unlike the usual red, this one was icy white, like fresh snow. A trail of white rose from the fruit the size of a shotput, but not because it was hot. A thin layer of frost formed over it in a matter of seconds. Johan had to juggle it between his hands. Even holding it was a chore.

  Name: Nefel’s Blessing

  Rank: D

  Details: Created by the Witch Nefel for her children. Consumption by humans is not advised; death is imminent.

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  He stumbled upon them while looking for more ruby berries and almost fainted.

  It’s so dangerous I don’t even want to hold it, but it’s important for the potion needed to hook the Agni Clan. Johan didn’t know if he should still make it; after all, he could only meet the team leader from the Red Bear guild.

  “Like grandma used to say, do tomorrow's work today, and today's work right now, or something like that.” The glint of curiosity shone in Johan’s eyes. This would mark his first attempt at said potion. “Let’s give it a spin.”

  With a new spring in his step, Johan entered the basement again.

  Unlike the basic healing potion, Johan had to adopt more caution with this new potion. Although rare, the potion’s recipe was readily available thanks to Morgan. Flipping through the pages of the Alchemist Compilation Vol III, Johan landed on the exact one.

  Basic Ice resistance potion, Van Fer Van Method.

  The process was rather basic, as the name suggested. He first crushed a quarter of the apple into paste and poured it on a black filter paper. With a careful hand, he used a glass spoon to press the paste. The clear juice dripped into the dish below the stand.

  Once he had all the juice, he placed the pulp in the dehydrator. Now, he needed water infused with magik. Usually, it cost around 500 for one litre, but he could create it for free with his skill.

  He poured a litre of water into the beaker and took a deep breath. Although the recipe asked for 20 ml of juice, he only took 10 ml in the dropper.

  For two reasons.

  First, the book said the juice would be cloudy, but this turned as clear as liquid glass.

  Second, with his experience from the basic recovery potion, he understood that the ingredients he got were too potent because of where they grew.

  The healing potion wouldn’t have damaged me, but this one might freeze me to death if it explodes. If it fails, I have enough fruit to try a dozen times. With trembling hands, he dropped the apple juice, drop by drop.

  The first drop gave no change.

  The second gave birth to a snow crystal on the water’s surface.

  The fourth expanded the crystal.

  The seventh broke the crystal, and grey bled into the water.

  The ninth drop turned the water cloudy.

  The tenth made it shine in an icy hue.

  Seeing the sign of success, Johan grabbed the glass spoon and inserted it into the beaker. Frost covered his gloved fingers, and the spoon struggled to move through the crushed ice like liquid.

  This one had a golden pattern running down from the stem all the way to the lip. The archaic lines and symbols shimmered in the water. But they truly came to life when he used his skill [Basic Brewing].

  The spoon, now empowered with magik, facilitated the bonding between the magik water and apple juice. Turning the cloudy water into an icy blue from the spoon’s tip. The stirring became much easier each second as the blue colour soon filled the beaker.

  Johan looked at the shimmering liquid before him in awe, almost forgetting to breathe. Liquefied aquamarine, that’s what it looked like. It flowed like that as well. Particles of silver dropped to the bottom like gentle rain.

  Succeeding on the first try was good. But the completed potion alone filled him with satisfaction. The sound of money jangled in his ears.

  Name: Basic Ice Resistance Potion

  Rank: D+

  Description: A potion made by the careful hands and strong curiosity of a novice potion maker.

  Effects:

  1] 40% increase in ice resistance for one hour.

  2] All damage from the ice element magik is reduced by 30% for one hour

  Note: Effects are not stackable.

  “Holy hell!” Johan jumped around like a bull possessed. He only stopped out of fear of dropping the potion, after placing it on the table with utmost care, his legs moved faster than any dancer he had seen.

  “Too bad that I can’t sell this to the Agni clan right now.” He pouted; the possible profit made him drool. But he had to wipe it off. “I promise you, Basic ice resistance potion-Chan, you will see the light of day. I won’t let you rot away in this dark place.”

  “The world will see your true worth one day!”

  Johan’s theatrics continued until midnight before he finally decided to hit the bed.

  I hope it doesn’t take long to meet my fat shee—people from the Agni clan, I can’t wait to see them.

  ***

  Johan had closed the store early and went to the meeting spot on the roof.

  Why?

  His room was too cramped. The storeroom was no place to meet important guests. There was no employee common room. And the potion workshop? Too messy.

  In a last-ditch effort, he threw chairs and a table on the rooftop under the shade of a nearby towering building and called it a day. It wasn’t a bad meeting spot, all things considered; they could get their sunlight and enjoy refreshing drinks with the fresh, purified air by the pots of vibrant vegetables and leafy greens he hadn’t cared for in a few days, or so Johan had thought.

  Along with Cara and the tall, stone-faced man, whom Johan assumed to be her team leader, Adrian, a third guest popped up.

  “Sorry for dropping by unannounced.” It was none other than Lucas White, adjusting his red Tom Ford leather jacket like he was in a photoshoot. “You don’t mind lil ol’ me, do you?”

  “… It's ok. You can come anytime.” What else was Johan supposed to say?

  This was an S Rank, a fucking monster. There were only seven of them in the country, and they could go anywhere without a heads up, even the Blue House if they damn wanted.

  Johan’s stomach twisted. He did want to meet someone from the Agni clan, but Lucas White? The literal top dog wasn’t on his bingo card. He wondered why Cara didn’t say anything to him. But the thought only lasted for a moment.

  Her condition isn’t any better than mine. Cara had become as pale as a sheet of paper. Hang in there, Cara. He couldn’t help but cheer for her, and for himself.

  “Damn, this is good stuff.” Lucas smacked his lips after taking a sip of iced tea Johan had prepared. He turned and gave a glass to Adrian. “Try it. This shit is way better than the horsepiss those S.M. bastards sell.”

  “Please mind your language, sir.” Adrian’s face turned icy, but when he took a sip of dark red tea, his face softened considerably. “This is calming, I have to agree, but still, language.”

  Cara drank the glass of tea in one shot and kept spamming thumbs up; the tea had a much stronger effect than he knew of.

  “I’m glad you liked it, sir.” Johan felt relieved to know that he wasn’t the only one who liked the taste of oolong tea mixed with Sherry leaf extract, with the dehydrated pulp from last night, for a subtle sweetness.

  “No need for sir, just call me Lucas.” Lucas licked his lips and crossed his right leg over the left, magik coursing through his body like blood. “So, shall we get to the real part?”

  Seated face-to-face with an S-rank, Johan could feel the heat. Although the temperature should’ve been on the colder side today, Lucas’ magik spread out of him like a red haze. The aura alone made one tremble, but Johan had a mission today.

  Since he cast the die, he had to move the piece.

  “A tough guy, I like that.” Lucas nodded, then leaned forward to place a golden cauldron on the wooden table. There was nothing special about the cauldron itself, but the pale blue flame inside it was a different story.

  “I won’t beat around the bush with you, bro. I will only ask you one question, and you have to answer it truthfully.” Lucas passed a folded piece of parchment that contained said question to Johan. “However, if you lie, it will cost you your life for wasting my time. Fair, isn’t it?”

  Like hell it is! Johan could only cry and take the piece of paper.

  Although Lucas didn’t explain it, he understood with the setup alone. The Trial of Agni, that’s what Johan had to face.

  However, the moment he unfolded the parchment, his pupils dilated.

  This guy… he’s a madman. Johan looked at the smiling Lucas, chills climbing up his spine.

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