Ignis' First Firesday of Harvestfall, 1442, city of Luminara.

Soft, rhythmic clinking of glass filled the room. Potions hissed and bubbled as they brewed over tiny flames. Shelves lined the walls, cluttered with jars of powdered minerals, dried herbs, and vials of viscous liquids shimmering in shades of blue, green, and gold. Kaelyn leaned over a workbench, her tail swaying in time with the delicate motions of her hands.

She adjusted the flame beneath the flask, watching as the liquid inside shifted from dull orange to a rich red.

Perfect.

With a flick of her ears, she carefully picked up the dangerously hot flask, utilising tongs to avoid direct contact. She tilted it slightly, carefully pouring its contents into three small crystal vials lined up on the bench.

For healing potions, surprisingly simple and common ingredients were required: mistletoe, prized for its regenerative properties; gold chanterelle mushrooms, reduced to a fine powder; and, naturally, the essential addition of carefully distilled water. The trick was in the temperature and the precise measurements. An excess of mistletoe would cause the potion to turn a deep, ominous black, like sticky tar, creating a highly toxic concoction with a pungent odour. An excess of chanterelle turned the potion into a chartreuse hue—an uncomfortable green-yellow reminiscent of rotting vegetation. Even a Sovereign dracan would quickly get inebriated drinking the stuff, and while it allegedly numbed pain to a degree, it did precious little for injuries and left behind a burning sensation.

Alchemy was an art, and Kaelyn found herself captivated by it. For the past hour, the world outside had faded away, her focus narrowing to the ingredients in front of her.

She corked the last of the crystal vials and set them aside, joining the neat rows she had already prepared. Her tail swished with satisfaction as she admired her work—six healing potions, glowing faintly in their bottles, and twelve mana potions, their deep sapphire hue glinting in the alchemy shop's lantern light. Enough to stock the group for their next outing, with a little left over for emergencies.

She wiped her hands on her leather apron, leaving faint smudges of green and gold on the worn material. The faint scent of the ingredients clung to her fingers—mistletoe, charred bat wings, and powdered mushroom.

Alchemy, she thought, was like a dance. It was all about noticing the changes in your concoctions as they happened and reacting accordingly. In a way, it was just like reading people. One would start with a goal, and as long as they were observant enough and had the right tools at hand, they just had to respond to how their partners reacted to their moves. Done right, Kaelyn felt she could get whatever she wanted out of anyone.

She plucked a mana potion from the neat rows she had assembled and held it up to the light. The liquid shimmered as it swirled inside the reflective crystal bottle. She tilted it back and forth, letting herself admire the flawless sapphire hue.

"Alchemy," she said, turning the bottle in her hand. "The art of turning scraps into miracles."

A small smile tugged at her lips. She liked the metaphor—it suited her. Break things down to their base components. Reassemble them. Create something better than the sum of its parts. This was what she was doing, was it not?

She let out a long, wistful sigh. "Maybe it works for people, too?"

Her tail shifted as she tucked the bottle into her satchel, the potion settling alongside the others. She gathered and packed all of her instruments, then stood up and stretched.

Kaelyn pulled off her leather apron and folded it over her arm before stuffing it in her bag. She smoothed her hair with one hand as she caught her reflection in a dusty mirror. The golden glow of Luminara's lanterns filtered through the shop's windows, giving her sharp, feline features an otherworldly sheen. A small part of her did not immediately recognise her own reflection. She felt overwhelmed by an uneasy feeling that this was not who she was supposed to be. She pushed the notion away and gave herself a quick once-over, brushing a stray wisp of blonde hair from her eyes and adjusting the strap of her satchel.

"Not bad," she said to her reflection, flashing a playful grin, trying to ease her nerves.

But behind her confident façade, she worried. Even the long trip back home for Zephyrdale had not been long enough for her to solve her current quandary.

Who am I, exactly?

The Kaelyn from yesterday—and even earlier today—felt like a different person.

One of the first things she checked after unlocking the Alchemist class was to see if there were any potions to cure whatever was going on inside her head. Unsurprisingly, the search had yielded no results. Alchemy seemed to care more about restoring health and mana, or providing temporary stats increase.

Out of curiosity, she had even tried using her Cleanse spell on herself earlier in the day. Apparently, Existential dread was not a status ailment. Or at least not one that you could erase with a simple, debuff-removing spell.

The alchemy shop's door creaked faintly as she stepped out into the evening air. Outside, the city buzzed with life, its streets crowded with merchants, adventurers, and townsfolk alike. A delicious scent—salty sea air and the nutty warmth of roasting chestnuts—drifted around her. Laughter and conversation hummed through the streets. She tried not to be bothered by the skimpily clad catgirls still crowding all over the market plaza.

Kaelyn allowed herself a moment to savour it—the warmth, the energy, the feeling of being at the centre of something vast and alive. Luminara was a city of light, of possibilities. The Kaelyn who came from this world had spent most of her teenage years and all of her adult life in here, and she considered it a second home.

Memories of when she had discovered Vaelith in the market yesterday flooded her mind. Things had seemed so much simpler, then. Did she want things to go back that way? To see everyone as either a predator, a tool, or a prey? She wondered how Elyssia would treat her today. Leoric and Vaelith had convinced her to give Kaelyn a chance, but she had yet to stumble on the sylvani today, so she worried about how their encounter would go.

A silent command opened her party interface, the crisp digital display showcasing the online members. Her eyes instantly finding the sylvani's name and status. Logged in, and in Luminara, just like herself.

She exhaled, shaking her head. Dwelling on it would not help. She would apologise when she saw her—hopefully after she figured out how to do it without tripping over her own pride. But for now, she needed to find her party member. Kaelyn hefted the satchel onto her shoulder, letting its reassuring weight settle against her side. The gear inside clinked faintly to the rhythm of her footsteps as she navigated the city's streets.

This part of the market was alive with its usual hum of energy. Lamps, already lit up despite the sun still setting, cast pools of light across the cobblestones. The air carried the mingling scents of sizzled meat and hot spices. Kaelyn allowed herself a moment to breathe it in, her steps slowing.

But she halted, and her tail twitched nervously behind her. Ahead of her, beyond a majestic fountain, she noticed Elyssia standing, talking to someone she did not recognise. The stranger, a Kindred dracan woman, was the same height as the green-haired sylvani. She was striking, with porcelain skin, short black hair, and dark-blue scales. Her tail swayed lazily behind her. She wore a full set of iron armour, but the design focused on mobility and still showed a lot of skin and scales. Her movements were fluid, her expression open and mischievous, like someone who had never met a situation she could not handle.

Elyssia looked less than pleased. She was crossing her arms tightly over her chest. She wore a frowning expression in a way Kaelyn recognised all too well.

Well, no time like the present.

The stranger was the first to notice Kaelyn's approach. Her icy-blue eyes lit up, and a grin spread across her face.

"Oh, you must be Kaelyn," the woman said, stepping forward before Elyssia could so much as turn around. "The clothes are a new style, but I'd recognise that face anywhere."

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Kaelyn blinked. "I—"

"Would you believe it, Em? She's even more gorgeous in person." The stranger's grin widened. "Like, distractingly so. I'm Kohana, by the way. Elyssia's friend, and hopefully yours, too."

In person, she says? She must have seen my video… I'd rather not open that can of worm right now…

A slight tilt of her head accompanied the perfectly placed smile Kaelyn offered; it felt both practiced and genuine, a polished performance. "A pleasure. Kohana, is it? We just met, and yet you shower me with praise. I'm intrigued; what precisely have I done to deserve this?"

"Existing seems to be enough," Kohana said, her tone teasing but light.

Elyssia groaned, finally stepping forward. "Kohana, do you mind?"

"Not even a little." Kohana's grin did not falter.

Kaelyn chuckled softly, her gaze flicking to the sylvani. "Oh. Hey there, Elyssia… Your new friend's a bit of a motín."

"Don't encourage her," Elyssia said with a mutter, though there was a faint flush in her cheeks.

Kaelyn's smile softened. "For what it's worth, I was hoping to run into you. I... wanted to talk."

Elyssia's expression tightened, her shoulders stiffening. "About?"

"Yesterday." Kaelyn hesitated, glancing briefly at Kohana before continuing. "I think I owe Vaelith and everyone an apology."

Elyssia raised an eyebrow and gestured for her to continue.

"I went too far with her," Kaelyn said. "And I didn't expect to go viral like that. I didn't mean to cause trouble, but I should have been more... aware. I got carried away, and I didn't consider how it might affect everyone."

Elyssia studied her for a long moment, her blue eyes searching Kaelyn's face. The tension between them hung thick in the air, heavy and unspoken.

Finally, Elyssia sighed, running a hand through her short, green hair. "Vaelith already explained what you did for her yesterday. So, I'm going to do my best to leave all of that behind. But..." She paused, her voice softening. "First. I appreciate you saying all that. I know it couldn't be easy. But you seem different today. It takes a lot for someone to change. Did something happen?"

"Different how? Well, the robe is a clear upgrade from the top in yesterday's video, if you ask me?" Kohana said, winking at Kaelyn.

Kaelyn blushed as she scratched the back of her head. "Hmm… Can we maybe skip talking about that part for now? It's complicated…"

Kohana simply shrugged, and Elyssia considered Kaelyn for a moment. "Alright. Sure. Sorry for being nosy. I suppose we can leave it at that for now."

Kaelyn's ears twitched, relief washing over her. "Good. I'd rather not have bad blood between us. It doesn't suit either of us, don't you think?"

Elyssia's lips twitched, almost forming a smile. "No, I suppose it doesn't."

"Group hug?" Kohana offered, holding her arms out wide.

Elyssia rolled her eyes, but Kaelyn chuckled, shaking her head. "Let's save that for after the others arrive," Kaelyn said. "For now, how about we grab a drink? My treat."

"Now that," Kohana said, "is an offer I won't refuse."

Elyssia hesitated, then nodded. "Fine. But don't get too drunk. I want you at your best later."

"You wound me, cariño. I'm always at my best," Kaelyn said, flashing her a grin.

As the three of them headed off toward the nearest tavern, the weight in Kaelyn's chest eased just a little. As they approached, she heard a symphony of noise and life through the door. She could picture laughter from a table of sailors near the back, a group of merchants debating heatedly over a map spread across their table. A bard playing a lively tune on a lute near the fireplace.

Kaelyn pushed open the heavy oak door, the warm glow of lanterns spilling over her as she stepped inside. She inhaled deeply. The scents of grilled fish, sharp spices, distilled spirits and something faintly citrusy filled the air. Her tail flicked lazily behind her as she glanced around, taking in the bustling scene.

"Cosy," Kohana said, stepping in behind her. The dracan woman's gaze swept the room, her grin widening as she took in the lively crowd. "I like it. Feels alive."

Elyssia followed last, her green hair catching the firelight in a way that made it shimmer like sunlit leaves. "Alive is one word for it," she said with a mutter, her tone dry as her sharp eyes scanned for an open table.

Kaelyn smirked. "Relax, Elyssia. It's a tavern, not a war zone."

"You've clearly never been in the wrong tavern." Elyssia's lips quirked upward ever so slightly.

Kaelyn and the others wove their way through the crowd while a bard near the hearth strummed the tail end of a song. Her ears twitched when she found a table tucked near a window, away from the rowdier patrons, but close enough to the bar for convenience. The three of them slid into their seats, and Kaelyn let her satchel settle against the side of the table.

A server appeared almost instantly—a Kindred dracan with pale lavender skin, red scales, and serpentine eyes. Her hair was dark brown, and she had it braided up in a complex swirl that made Kaelyn's gaze linger. Memories of her mother braiding her hair flooded her mind for a fleeting moment.

"What'll it be?" the server asked, bringing Kaelyn out of her memories. The server's voice was brisk, but not unkind.

Kaelyn did not hesitate. "Something light, refreshing, and red. You know—fizzy, maybe with citrus? Whatever's closest to that."

The server tilted her head, then nodded. "We've got Scarlet Breeze. Red fruit base, a hint of lemon, and a bit of fizz from starfruit fermentation. That work?"

Kaelyn's lips curved into a pleased smile. "That'll do."

Elyssia leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms as she spoke. "Double cinnamon chai latte. Spicy. The stronger, the better."

Having freed herself from her iron gauntlets, Kohana grinned as she rested her elbows on the table. "And I'll take whatever the local specialty is—you got the alchemist guild here. I'm sure you have the best stuff. Something that got a kick to it."

The server's brow arched, clearly not surprised by the mix of orders. "For you? Dockfire. It's distilled from green kelp and seaweed, finished with citrus peels. Strong as a sailor's curse."

"Now that," Kohana said with a delighted laugh, "sounds perfect."

The server gave a quick nod before slipping away into the crowd.

Kaelyn leaned back in her seat, her gaze flicking between her companions. "So," she said, propping her chin on one hand. "How did you meet the boss here, Kohana?"

"Oh, Em? We're coworkers. We're both on the same floor in one of those giant VR businesses. Being stuck in our in-game avatars made it pretty easy to tell who else plays the game, ya?"

Elyssia gave a noncommittal hum, her attention seemingly elsewhere. Kaelyn caught the subtle shift in her posture, the way her hand moved to the bag at her hip. She wondered what was up—Elyssia was about to make some sort of move?

"I made something for you," Elyssia said suddenly, breaking the silence. Her tone was matter-of-fact, but there was an edge of hesitation in it, as if she was not sure how Kaelyn would respond.

Kaelyn arched a brow. "Oh? I'm intrigued."

Elyssia pulled a small velvet-lined box from her bag and set it on the table. She slid it toward Kaelyn with a steady hand, her blue eyes watching intently.

Kaelyn blinked, surprised, as she reached for the box. Her fingers brushed the cool surface, and she opened it slowly.

Inside was a set of silver jewellery—rings, earrings, a necklace, and bracelets—all fitted with polished pearls that gleamed like captured moonlight. The craftsmanship was flawless, each piece delicate yet sturdy, clearly designed with an adventurer's needs in mind.

"Pearls," Elyssia said simply. "They increase both offensive and healing magic potency. I figured it suited you better than emeralds or aquamarines, which only boosts healing."

Kaelyn glanced up, her ears perking in surprise. "You made these for me?"

Elyssia shrugged, a faint flush colouring her cheeks. "I made a set for everyone in the group. To commemorate our first dungeon run. I made a garnet set for Kohana, too. It's not a big deal."

"Not a big deal?" Kaelyn asked, repeating the words, her voice soft with awe as she lifted the necklace from the box. The pearl caught the light, glowing faintly in her palm. "Elyssia… I didn't expect anything like this…"

Kohana leaned over the table to get a better look. "She's very good. Look at those cuts—they're perfect."

Elyssia shifted in her seat, clearly uncomfortable with the praise. "They're functional, not decorative. I just thought... you could use the attribute boost."

Kaelyn set the necklace down carefully, her gaze softening as she looked at Elyssia. "Thank you. Really. This will help a lot."

Elyssia shrugged again, though she could not quite hide the small, pleased smile tugging at her lips.

Kaelyn glanced at the satchel leaning against one of the table's leg. She bent down and lifted it to her knees. "Actually, I made something for the group too…"

She fished out three healing potions from the satchel and lined them up on the table in front of her. Elyssia looked at the small crystal vials and raised an eyebrow.

"Just a few emergency healing potions. I made one for each of us, and a couple of extras. As the tank, you should hold on to them? You know, to err on the safe side."

The sylvani snickered. "What, planning to slack off on healing, are you?"

Kohana frowned at Elyssia. "I think what she's trying to say is thank you."

Kaelyn pushed the three vials closer to Elyssia. "No need for thanks. Keeping you lot alive is my job. And as much as I want to say I'm confident I can do it, it doesn't hurt to have a safety net."

Elyssia nodded in agreement. She tucked the vials into her own bag, then shook her head and let out a sigh. "Kohana's right, though. Thank you, Kaelyn. I'll keep these handy."

Kaelyn blinked in surprise, a flicker of something warm and unexpected sparking in her chest. "I think this might be the first time you ever said my name out loud."

Elyssia's eyes blinked in surprise twice, as if she doubted what she had just heard. After a moment, she arched an eyebrow and shrugged. "Today is a day of many firsts, it looks like."

Kohana grinned. "Oh, you can say that again, girl! And the evening is still young, too."

The server returned then, setting their drinks on the table with practiced efficiency.

Kaelyn's Scarlet Breeze sparkled in its glass, the faint fizz rising to the surface in lazy bubbles. She took a sip, the tangy sweetness of red fruit and lemon washing over her tongue.

"Now this is nice," she said, her tail swaying lazily as she set the glass down.

Elyssia wrapped her hands around her steaming chai latte, the spicy aroma of cinnamon filling the air. She took a small sip, her expression softening as the warmth spread through her.

Kohana, meanwhile, took a hearty swig of her Dockfire. She slammed the tankard down with a satisfied grin, the faintest hint of green lingering on her lips. "Wow, that packs a punch. Love it!"

Kaelyn chuckled, her gaze flicking between the two of them. "Well, mis chicas, I think we're off to a good start. Here's to teamwork."

She raised her glass, and Kohana immediately followed suit with her tankard. Elyssia hesitated for a moment, then sighed and lifted her latte.

"To teamwork," Elyssia echoed, though there was a faint smile playing at her lips.

They clinked their drinks together, the sound ringing softly through the warm air of the tavern.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.