This is the story of a potion witch. Trying to follow my dreams In a remote rural town…

I have been away for a long time from writing novels. I've never finished writing a single story. But during this time there is time So I turned to try writing short stories. Sit and write for 2 days until one story is finished. I feel very happy. It's another small success...

P.S. What's bothering me right now is just one thing.

Blood of God

Which, no matter what, I want to continue writing until I see the ending. At least one volume of the epic that was sketched out for a long time. But will I ever come back to writing? I would like to ask everyone to help each other as well.

"hello! I'm a witch. I'm 280 years old. -- I'm a beginner potion master. Go out and explore the world with a book. After a long journey In searching for the place the book was written about... I found a house. It was an abandoned house on the edge of a town in the middle of nowhere.

The owner of the house disappeared a long time ago. Inside there are potion making equipment and an herb garden. It indicates that there used to be wizards and witches living there. And that person is an alchemist.

Thick dust And its old condition indicates that it has been abandoned for a long time... But don't worry, in the end I will be able to take care of it. Let's see!”

After spending several days sweeping and mopping. The witch picked up a deep, freshly cleaned pot and placed it on the table.

“Good as new,” she said.

Due to being busy with cleaning for a long time The witch who hadn't gone anywhere had only a handful of ingredients. But that didn't stop her from learning new recipes for potions –

She spread out the textbook. This was the only book she carried with her. It was a rather unusual book of potion making recipes. The potion recipes in each chapter would not be easily visible to her. Each chapter has many tests that she must pass. Or prove to him that you have enough talent. New potion recipes will then appear on the pages of the book.

On one page, a formula appeared. It's so fitting. Just right with the ingredients she had...

The witch picked up the shiny lotus root. and the kindred leaves thrown into the pot Then pick up a spatula and stir continuously in a circular motion until the mixture is a mess and the oil in the lotus roots slowly seeps out.

She simmered until all the ingredients in the pot turned into a viscous blue liquid.

Learning to concoct new potions makes the witch's special abilities grow. Even though the body is standing above the pot But inside the mind She's wandering around. according to the rhythm of stewing people

And then her special insight made her discover something she never knew before. To make this medicine even better Witch, you need to turn up the heat!

The witch carried the cauldron and placed it over a pile of burning coals. and hurried to prepare the inflatable chest

Fu... Fu... The air chest made a loud noise. It functions very well.

Soon the liquid that was in the process of boiling began to simmer. Its colors seemed strangely brighter.

And then she got her first bottle of a weak recovery potion... The witch raised her first bottle high. While happily praising Now it was in a clear, hand-sized glass bottle.

There are still raw materials left. Better try making another potion, she thought.

The witch prepared the equipment. This time, a mortar and pestle for grinding medicine was added.

She placed the shadow lotus root down and pounded hard! pound! pound!

until it becomes a fine powder The crushed herbs seem to have even more potency!

She crushed Kindred leaves as well. Then put all the ingredients into a deep pot.

Through heating and simmering… she soon obtained another bottle of mild recovery fluid. Her special perception grew. Every success or failure Make her talent blossom...this time when changing the process of making The ingredients you need There's only half left...

Ring... The bell at the door rang.

And then her first customer arrived.

“I just went fishing. And the big fish I just caught It almost bit my finger off... Do you have any solution that can help? Can you heal my finger?” the fisherman asked the witch. His torso was soaked. It was as if it had just come up from a stream.

“Yes,” she replied.

The witch disappeared into the kitchen and began concocting potions.

What do you need? It shouldn't be difficult, she thought.

Basic recovery medicine, you must have 1. Blood Lotus Root – what about 2.? ... Do I have to use a fire alarm? Ah! The grass hears the sound of the sound. It was great at stopping the bleeding and dressing the wound – Hmm... If you had the Taria of Youth. This fisherman's wound should be as good as new. It's as flexible as a baby's skin. Oh my gosh, I always do that.

The teachers in the academy must say it again...

The witch is always improving her potion recipes. And the results are often more than necessary.

open! I forgot to think about costs. This is for the first trade. She thought it was not a good idea to haggle.

The medicine bottle was placed on the scale.

All witches' sales of potions have the same general standards. With the scales of truth When placing the solution on one side of the scale It will weigh what the appropriate price of this liquid is... by having the customer place a coin on the other side of the scale. Until the potion bottles and gold coins are tied.

But as you know, in trading, price is something that can be negotiated. Inviting to talk about what customers like This will cause the weight of the scale to tilt downward. If they haven't noticed... It was one of the bargaining techniques she had learned.

“10 gold coins.”

“Thank you.” The fisherman accepted the medicine at a very low price and left.

that morning Her two other bottles of weak healing potion were completely bought up by anglers. In the afternoon, she went out the side door into the herb garden. At first it was abandoned and overgrown with weeds. for several days at once Until she restored it to its original order. She watered and tilled the soil as each herb needed.

and took some of them that were ready to use and dried them.

This garden also has another special feature. Often when you witch comes here She often came across new herbs that had never been planted before. It appears and grows on its own. At first it made her quite confused.

Cha...

The witch cried out, "Ouch!" While bending down to collect herbs Her finger touched an immature ylang-ylang tree. It's going to be a little hot. If you hold it with your bare hands... A lighthouse appeared in the garden without her knowledge.

You'll have to be even more careful from now on, thought the witch.

She went for her gloves and removed her long robe. Then continue working

The process of tending the garden and collecting herbs took an entire afternoon.

But she still has time...

In the evening she left the shabby oak house. Heading into the forest Walking around without paying attention to the direction Explore the river and jungle Find other herbs to prepare for the next day.

One day is over for you, witch. She climbed the monkey stairs leading up to the bedroom upstairs. with exhaustion She lay down and quickly fell asleep...

Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk! The sound of the locked chest under her bed moving softly. It would be a long time before she discovered its existence...

Exploration is still going well. This time, she received a new herb. The smell of man-shaped mushrooms and the pine needles of life

The open pages of the book still had new potion recipes appearing as usual. She was quite free this morning. and before having customers So she tried a few more formulas.

She has been in this city for a while now. But her fame was not enough. No one knows the witch yet!

Reputation is the most important thing for every witch. It determines how people view us. And it determines 'who' will come to our shop...

Add...

A disheveled-looking woman opened the shop door and walked in quietly. The bell on the door barely made a sound.

“Only two people know - I need rat poison! I want one that can be used on very large rats. They are so fierce and cunning that I want them to die. I want to get rid of it… Do you have any medicine that can help me?” she said in a whisper.

The witch has a recipe for making poison. But she immediately realized that this person in front of her wanted poison to kill people!

So she refused

The disheveled girl expressed her dissatisfaction. She walked over and slammed the door shut. Bang! strongly before leaving...

The witch doesn't want her reputation to suffer. Because whenever she is a witch who doesn't choose her customers Customers she doesn't want to choose will pop up...

She has come a long way and wants to start over. Therefore, we are very determined that this city...

Glorias is a small, remote town. Surrounding is only forest and mountains. People here live simply. It is full of small houses made of wood and straw. Most of the people here do agriculture. Find wild things and raise animals. There are some who do sewing and handicrafts. It doesn't have much progress...

Because the farther away from the capital, Rurality and lack of progress will become even more evident. But one thing has never changed for people. No matter where you are No matter how backward or modern a society is... Jealousy decadence These things coexist with humans. Every era --

Ding Dong... The bell on the door rang again.

“Hello sir! You're a new alchemist.” A loud and energetic voice spoke up. “I am the local herbalist. Collect plants and sell them.”

No, a young elf in a green cloak. Holding a leaf straight towards the witch. She brought out a woven basket full of herbs for the witch to look at.

There were many herbs that the witch needed, but right now, she didn't have enough Shadow Lotus Roots and Kindred Leaves. Therefore, I would like to purchase these two types of herbs. and select the kinked roots and additional hairy mushrooms to test in making potions.

When doing business with witches Pricing has always been a reliable and traditional method. Scales of Truth

The elf girl wrapped the herbs she wanted to sell into a bag and placed them on one side of the scale.

The scales tilted sharply. If there is no negotiation The witch had to pay her almost completely out of pocket.

The witch invites her to talk about the weather. I hope that when the person in front of me is in a good mood. Is it possible to lower the price for her?

“I like this season too -- ah! Yes, I remember. That year was a dry year. In the rainy season alternating with bright sunshine 7 times, that was the last time I saw her.”

“Who?”

“The witch who used to live in this house?”

It seems that this is the first clue of the missing former owner of this house, and that she is a witch.

When the conversation ends The witch received a discount for purchasing herbs for 33 gold coins.

The young elf is pleased with the trade. From now on every 1st and 15th of the month, she will always stop by again...

One day while learning a new potion, she felt too heavy-handed and put too much force into the inflatable chest. Until the liquid in the pot is simmering. A large bubble formed. When it breaks apart His force pushed the spatula off the edge of the pot. It fell into a small groove in the floor. The spatula fell into the crack of a small, perfectly sized piece of wood.

It fell beyond the deep groove and disappeared into the darkness --

gang! Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk ...

The witch tore through the wood on the floor to find her paddle. She found a hidden trapdoor. and when opened Instead, there was a secret passage down to the basement.

The witch lit a lantern before walking down the path. She picked up her own paddle. In front of him stood a metal machine, a stove, and air pipes connecting each device together. It was an ancient set of alchemy machinery. Now it's seriously damaged. Various glass tubes fell and broke, not in good condition.

Cobwebs and fungi grow all over the area. On the floor there were sticky stains of syrup and dissolving colorful candy all over the floor. difficult to clean

Even though it's ancient But you witch knows how to use it very well. Well, witch, if you change slowly you will die...

But her biggest problem was repairs. To repair them, she had to buy spare parts from an alchemy machine merchant. which is unlikely to exist in this area

The witch sighed. She went back up and sealed the entrance to this basement. Keep it as original...

Time passes

The witch is still the same. The witch's daily routine here is simple. She woke up in the morning, watered the herbs, and gathered as much of them as she could use. The changing seasons mean that she has to change her herbs to a whole new set. Until the garden is almost gone And some have started experimenting with breeding them. In the greenhouse inside the house

In the season when the leaves shed their leaves until the trunk has only branches. She has done what she left behind...

It took several days. It's finally finished... The musty basement has now been swept and mopped until it's spotless. The alchemy machinery was still there and could not be used. But for this matter, there seems to be good news. The witch learned from one customer that Every few years there would be a caravan of goblin merchants.

who transported tools and equipment to this city Maybe he has the parts she needs...

She continued to open the shop and make medicine from morning until noon, and in the afternoon she continued to go exploring. to collect many herbs Many times she met new people. Both the dwarf who collects strange materials (she got a usable part from this person) and the kind-hearted Grandpa Nom who is an avid mushroom breeder. They always brought rare materials to sell to her.

They talked about herbs, fishing, mushrooms, and cooking...

The witch has been selling potions like this for years. And she became famous People are starting to realize that there are drug stores or herbal shops that have opened again – because of their reputation. Causing the witch to increase the price of the potion by up to 1/10th...

Ding Ding... The bell at the door rang.

“The weather is so hot and dry. My straw roof and wooden walls are perfect bait for the fire. From the unexpected spark -- I need something to solve this problem. Can you help me?” said a herdsman from a farm in the city.

“Let it be my responsibility.”

At this time, the witch had many recipes for making potions in her memory. From the diligence that she has accumulated

She closed her eyes and quickly thought of a formula to use.

What do I need? yes! 1. Winter flower 2. Sindhu grass 3. Murdon root

The ingredients are ground into powder. Tossed it into a pot and stirred it quickly... This witch was diving deep into the realm of magic within. Go deeper and further than ever before...

Every witch has a unique path to their power. And only that witch can see that path. Various paths branched out according to the sciences they sought. It will allow you to discover mystical powers. and new knowledge that have never been encountered before

Witches call learning this meditation, a way to feel nature. and the magical power within one's body...

And then a bottle of fire-fighting moisturizer was finished.

She gave it to him before haggling over the price. By inviting to talk about his products But the results failed. A cattle farmer recalled images of hay fires because of the extreme heat that caused him to lose two barns earlier this year. His sad face tilted the symmetry of the scales. In the end, the witch had to lower the price. to console him

The witch's medicine was effective -- after this, the herdsman would be free of straw and stick fire problems for many years to come. Until he couldn't take that wood back to make firewood again...

Phew, wow, wow, wow, with a strong wind like a storm. The blow hit the glass in front of the door. until the bell bounced and bounced loudly for several minutes

“Sorry, my magic tends to be extraordinarily strong. At this time of year.”

A figure walked inside with a wand decorated with emeralds. He was a middle-aged man, somewhat older, with a bushy beard, although he looked old and grumpy. But the hair all over his body was not yet white. He was a wizard.

“Hello, I am a wandering alchemist. Travel the world to write books and record stories of various places. I just stopped by and came back to stay in this area not too long ago. Just saw that this shop has opened for business again. When you are not her... Then you are probably the new owner! – I stopped by to say hello -- As usual, I have ingredients and materials for alchemy on hand. But unfortunately...

Right now I haven't brought anything.”

Since living in this city for more than a year This was the first wizard the witch had ever met.

He is a book writer. Maybe he can answer her questions...

“Do you know the person who wrote this book?” The witch showed him the potions textbook she had always carried with her. On the first page, behind the inside cover There is a message written on it.

'To Glorius and the oak house The hometown that is the origin of everything'

Glorias is this city. The witch comes to the places in the book. to return this important book of hers to its owner

“Probably Griselda's. This is the owner of the house. But she disappeared,” the male wizard said after taking the book and considering it.

The wizard promised that the next time he came I'll bring you something you can use. He wished the opening of her shop well and left with a strong wind blowing like a storm.

That night, the witch lay on her bed with an important potions instruction book on each pillow. It was a book that had been with her long before. It helped her through difficult times. Help her not feel alone... It has to do with her rather dark past.

The witch fell asleep as images from the past slowly flashed through her dreams. Under the bed, something in a locked metal box moved slowly. As he always tried to do...

“I am the heir to the most famous witch family. That's why I'm called a witch..." The voice of a child witch reading an essay rang out in front of the class in the academy. In front of many other child witches

"My family tree She is the most famous cursed witch. It has been passed down like that for many generations. But I don't want to follow in your footsteps. I dream of becoming an alchemist.” The other child witches cheered softly at this announcement.

“We are a long-lived species and are at the pinnacle of politics. Witches don't like change. The progress of this kingdom is therefore slow... The more time passes The problems faced by each race gradually changed with the times. But we still use the same old methods to solve problems...

We lack new knowledge.

And creativity is the answer. I want to change!... I want the witches and this kingdom to move forward. I strive to explore new possibilities. From an experiment in improving the formula for making medicine. Without adhering to the old ways, for this reason, I became an alchemy witch!”

No witch would applaud her. The young witch began to lose her mind. But she continued to read the essay in hand – essay paper in hand. was gripped tighter and tighter

“In the beginning of becoming a witch After spending 100 years growing up and another 100 years learning knowledge in the Academy. Where we are about to graduate...to make my passion come true. Therefore, I set a goal that after graduation I'm going to start work at Miss Mathilda's One Hundred Cauldron Shop.

The number one alchemist right now and trying to invent solutions for new problems specific To solve the problems that each person has It's not just a temporary solution. But it is a cure – for better living and prosperity. Of all races!”

Reading the essay "My Future" ended badly. No applause will be heard...

She shattered everyone's expectations. The witch from the first witch family has many special qualities. From magical powers and curses Want to help people and walk a different path.

In the end, the witch fulfilled her dream. When she graduates, she goes to work at Mathilda's One Hundred Cauldron Shop as she intended -- but things don't turn out as she had hoped. Working there was strict. Full of obsolete rules You witch can't change anything.

No new medicinal formula has been invented. The ancient universal formula of Bitter Melon Potion is still being produced. No further attempts were ever made except to produce enormous quantities of the potion to meet demand.

Because the liquid is a solution that only makes things better temporarily. It didn't help completely. Soon people who were sick had to buy it again. Therefore, the demand keeps increasing.

The witch had been working in the medicinal herb sorting room and controlling the pressure meter of the alchemy machine for a long time. The witch never touched the art of potions again. Those days almost drove her crazy – but amidst the tiring days She found an old potions instruction book.

In the deep recesses of a former alchemy machine that was now a pile of scrap parts. That no one is paying attention...

In the book, it reveals the properties of the 16 elements and directions of herbs and teaches how to mix them. There were also many exotic potion recipes waiting to be discovered…

The author of this book wanted to innovate. same with you

The witch is fascinated by this book. She wants to meet someone who has the same ambitions as her... Soon after, she set off on a long journey until she reached the city where the book was written. and opened his own drug store...

Where have you disappeared to? Witch Griselda The witch thought it up in a dream.

Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!

The sound from under the bed was still pulsating – waking the witch!

She fell sleepily under the bed. and found a mystery box It moved as if it were a living thing. is kept hidden within

The witch tried to open the box. But it was locked tightly...

This problem is only minor. She would use her knowledge in potions to deal with it.

The witch carried the box downstairs to the kitchen. When the contents of the box become aware of being discovered At this time, it didn't make any noise. It became quieter. It's like waiting...

A deep pot was placed over a lump of lit coals. For opening this lock Looks like she has to do it. Weak explosive solution

Let's see what you need to use.... 1. Ylang Ylang, this one for sure. 2. Human-face mushrooms to increase toxicity. 3. Curled roots to add a bit of zest to the liquid. What else should I wear? – Oh… if you have dragon fruit with horns. The explosions she makes will definitely have beautiful colorful fireworks flying out... She thought with regret.

Witch wears gloves All three ingredients must be handled with extreme care.

Ylang-fai is a herb that has heat. The bent roots have sharp thorns. and dried man-face mushrooms If you are not careful and accidentally inhale it, you may get poison that makes you dizzy.

The mixture is ground and slowly simmered. She wanted to make the medicine mildly so she didn't grind it very finely.

The witch stirs gently. There are some precautions when making this recipe. If a person is too strong The mixture will burst into flames. Ejected from the cauldron... The witch yawned as she calmly simmered. and in the final stage When you see that the ingredients mixed together are still too concentrated She slowly poured in water to dilute the mixture.

Soon, the weak explosive liquid was finished and ready to be bottled. The witch examined it with satisfaction before uncorking it. and drop a small drop of liquid into the key hole of the lock.

Sasssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss The reagent is corrosive for a short time. Before the spark and a small explosion followed.

The box lid and lock are blown apart! It immediately bounced off and fell to the ground.

Suddenly, a tiny sugar-coated cookie figure appeared boldly, standing upright, looking at the witch through round sugar eyes.

He tried to speak to the witch in a language that sounded so muffled that he couldn't understand the words...

The witch looked at the figure in front of her with interest... to be in this state. It must have been the result of a terrible curse, the witch thought.

When communicating by talking is not effective The sugar-coated cookie figure then changed its purpose. It tried to pick up the pen and write a message. It tried to lift the pen a few times, but alas… its body was fragile and powerless. result of effort causing his body to be filled with cracks, on the verge of breaking.

Sugar-coated cookies sat exhausted, looking sad as if about to cry next to an apothecary spatula.

“Don't be sad. Little Cookie, I believe we will find a way.” The witch held up a magic book for him to see.

“There are a lot of medicinal recipes in here. I think there must be two recipes. that can help you—or if there isn't…” she trailed off, “—I will invent it to help you myself!”

I don't know because of which sentence. So it raised its head. And when the sugar-coated cookies saw the book It was excited and jumping with joy.

Cookie joins the witch, eagerly flipping through the pages of the book to find a working potion recipe. But because it's very late The search was stopped.

That night, the witch initially found a way to help him. She tried to make a potion to increase her strength. From nymph sap and twin seaweed ash. They also extract oil from the hairball mushrooms for soaking. To repair cracks all over the body

The next morning, the witch was surprised. Because on the kitchen table There was a piece of paper that was written on a note. It's the handiwork of sugar-coated cookies. It says itself It's Griselda!

The witch read the message over and over in disbelief. The witch she had been searching for so long. Instead, she's been stuck under the bed since she got here.

She read every sentence, every line. The content is written like a story.

once upon a time... For so long I can't remember how long. There was an old witch named Griselda. Even though it is famous for concocting a universal cure. But she was bored with the monotonous work of the shop she had created herself. So she brought up a store of one hundred cauldrons and all the recipes for producing potions. to the next generation of heirs

and retreated to a distant city This is her hometown.

universal medicine It was still not a result she was satisfied with. She tried to improve the formula. By first correcting the bitter taste of the medicine. The method is very simple. She experimented with adding sweetness by using tree root sap syrup. To become something delicious like candy. But then, the new formula that is being tested. An error occurred.

With the wrong formula mixed with complicated alchemy, the results are beyond prediction...

The alchemy machine exploded that night. The liquid splashed all over the room until a strange-looking mold appeared… The room was so messy that Griselda gave up on cleaning it.

Let's do it first, she thought.

In the middle of the night after receiving the experimental solution from the explosion. While you sleep Its effect worked -- she herself gradually shrunk. The surface of the cookie coated with sweet, crisp sugar slowly appeared. She transformed into a living sugar-coated cookie. She panicked and fell out of bed. Lost in a big box

In the end, it was locked in a box to store the equipment. Since then...

'You must help me return to my original form,' wrote Cookie who appeared out of nowhere.

The witch nodded. She must make it work.

It has been many days since then. Cookie joins hands with books To find a formula to help fix yourself

And then a method appeared. There are two steps to do: 1. repair the alchemy machine to reverse the process at that time, and 2. concoct a potion to break up the process. But it must be concentrated.

For the first step They are already hopeful because it won't be long. The goblin caravan and the parts she needs will arrive. Even if it takes many years But in the end The required parts will be complete. But for the second step It was directly related to the witch's potion making skills.

Even though you can make a variety of medicines But it is still not a specially concentrated solution. Cooking requires precision in both ingredients and methods. It was still too difficult for her.

Even though Ms. Witch's path as an alchemist still has a long way to go, But Griselda, upon discovering this truth, doesn't appear to be discouraged or bothered -- the witch's perception of time is similar to that of other long-living races. They are not too stressed about time...

And then there's the coexistence of the witch and the sugar-coated cookies. The Alchemy Assistant, who both comforted and helped, began. The two of them were able to communicate with each other quite a bit. From concocting a potion that made Griselda speak... The two had been helping each other for years. Until now, the witch's reputation has spread throughout the city and nearby areas.

that there were alchemists who made medicines that actually worked Stay here...

“A drug that makes you agile. Medicine that makes you strong, right? Ashton” List of potions for regular demon hunters. Now he has his son come and buy it instead.

Because I've been trading for a long time. The witch can immediately recite the items that each customer wants to order.

boy nods Even though I've been here many times But he still couldn't help but look around excitedly at the smell of herbs and the magic of the witch's potions. Everything in this little oak house filled him with wonder.

“Can you make a potion that will help me become a knight?” the boy asked with innocent eyes as he waited for the witch at the counter.

“Probably,” the witch replied from the kitchen. She was currently concocting the medicine that the customer wanted in front of a large cauldron.

The power-enhancing potion has been completed. Now she is making another recipe. By adding herbs such as fairy dance, crow's fork, and hairy banana, both in finely ground form. Alternate with the dried type.

By dilution by adding water. and people coming in and going out Artfully accurate Every step must be like this every inch. Otherwise, if there is a mistake The resulting solution will become a normal formula. It wasn't an extremely concentrated formula... and another bottle of agility potion was finished.

“But if you don't have it, I'll try concocting it myself.” The witch's sweet voice answered as she walked out with the bottle of medicine the boy needed in her hand.

'Later, you witch must make a potion for me first.' The sugar-coated cookie jumped up and slapped the boy on the table. He stood with his feet hips and an annoyed expression on his face.

Both the sound and the existence of the sugar-coated cookies were strange. His voice came out muffled, but the boy finally understood.

“That's strange. Why is your name called Witch?” said the young kid who aspired to become a knight.

At what moment I don't know. The two bottles of potion were back on the scale, ready. And as the conversation progressed The tilt of the scale on the liquid side gradually increased.

“It's a witch.” The witch smiled.

She doesn't seem very good at talking about herself.

Ashton took the potion to his father and left. This trade The witch only made a profit of 19 gold coins.

Now, with the reputation The price of her potion increased by another 4/10ths. And it wasn't just the price of the medicine that increased.

So are her skills. With the art of diluting ingredients by adding water. and the art of entering and exiting people These are skills that have increased greatly in the years since. From training with the witch Griselda in the form of a sugar-coated cookie. In the end, she completed the level 2 and 3 concentrated potion recipes without any glitches… but that wasn't good enough.

One night, the witch successfully concocted a strong curse-solving potion. When the cookies are coated with sugar, drink it. Soon, she slowly returned to her human form. But that state only lasted for a short time. She gradually shrank. Back to being sugar-coated cookies again... There's nothing wrong with the ingredients and the method of concocting the potion.

You witch did everything perfectly...

But it had taken too long to free Griselda, who had been turned into a cookie. To be perfect like that It will take more than this. She had to concoct a potion with a combination of properties. And it still has to be the highest level...

It was something she had never tried before.

The medicine she needs In addition to having the property of dissolving level 3 concentrated magic, there must be two other properties in the solution, namely restoring and restoring the body, which can be said to be the process of making this bottle of liquid. It will be like making a solution over and over by adding additional ingredients from the other two formulas. And it must be done perfectly at the same time in one pot. Without making any mistakes at all.

A cure with such properties had never been made before. The witch had to invent a new formula. Trial and error by yourself

“The pine leaves of life The Taria of Youth should be able to help with this,” the witch said one morning. While consulting a recipe for making a solution and sugar-coated cookies She now had a concentrated magic dissolving formula that worked. Lack of recovery with the return of the body

So she looked for herbs that had the qualities of life and the earth element.

'Taria of Youth Cannot be used with Nymph Yang. The evaporated oil will form a layer on the surface of the pot. causing too many bad air bubbles It couldn't be extracted with an alchemy machine – otherwise, she would have to stir the liquid and scoop out the air bubbles herself. which takes more than 8 hours and must not make mistakes'

The two continued to discuss and debate each other's proposals throughout the afternoon...

The days have passed. The witch received news from the townspeople... after the goblin caravan that hadn't been here in a long time arrived. She received some of the parts she needed.

The bargaining was intense. Talking with goblins is not easy. No race in the world values ​​money as much as goblins. Their eyes never strayed from the needle of the scale...

But a miracle happened. The tiny figure of the sugar-coated cookie caught the attention of the caravan. When talking about the history The goblin caravan happily promised.

“This time in the next year We will find the remaining parts for you Witch.” The goblin caravan leader bowed slightly before leaving.

And then four winters later All the parts were complete. The alchemy machinery was now gradually being repaired. With the witch's efforts and a little advice from Griselda, and the wandering apothecary wizard who happen to stop by from time to time

“His story will be recorded in a new book I am writing. I haven't decided on a name yet. But I hope I can figure it out. Before I finish writing…” he said, giving instructions for using the Alchemy Machine one last time.

He introduced her to new methods. To solve the problem that she couldn't think of

“Use the alchemy machine to concoct only a portion of the medicine. Is that good?” he suggested.

The witch and Griselda considered that possibility. and agree... Finally, a remedy that has never been seen before. It's possible now...

Everyone is looking forward to the great results.

“I wish you success,” the wizard greeted.

Completed Alchemy Machine It is a tool that connects equipment from many parts together, including a stove, boiler, pressure regulator, lamp, goatskin air bag, test tube, and various shaped glass bottles through cords that connect each part together.

The medicinal herbs have been carefully prepared as expected for a long time... The witch's grand potion making is about to begin.

Naga dregs, human-face mushrooms, nymph sap, aromatic odors, and annoying vegetables were all ground into powder. before slowly putting it into glass bottles in different parts of the alchemy machine.

Smoldering coals were poured into the stove. It had already been prepared. Then the witch switched the lever. to start working

The various lanterns were lit at the same time. Hot air rises upwards and pushes on the goatskin air sacs, causing them to bulge from within. The pistons from the Alchemy Machine's process began to move slowly.

The herbs that were ground into powder in each tube slowly spit out the oils inside to form a thick, viscous liquid of various colors.

All the liquids were distilled at the same time. before being extracted until it becomes small droplets Flow transported through various pipes They meet in the pressure cooker above the stove. Inside, the water droplets were gradually distilled down, drop by drop, piling up together until it turned into a black stone crystal, the size of a hand.

The witch looked intently at the pressure meter. Everything is still normal.

And with the help of the Alchemy Machine One step in making this solution It means standing and simmering with people for more than 8 hours and must not make a mistake. has been cut off

The rattling sound from the operation of machinery and the popping sound from the boiling of liquids. continuously louder

Soon enough, the witch received the essential refining ingredient for Part 1 of the formula that she wanted… It was an herbal extract crystal. that has the property of being extremely soluble

The sorceress's intuition expanded, deep within, she slowly descended into the depths of her mind. Floating away to a very distant place. More than she herself could have ever imagined. Countless possibilities are waiting for you to discover. New potion recipes and ingredients They flowed into my head. Those things are calling out to you

You can definitely do it. The voice in your witch's heart Loud and full of confidence

Without any further delay, the shiny lotus roots and crushed Kindred leaves were thrown into the cauldron by the witch. Slowly but expertly, she stirred clockwise. When simmered until Blood Lotus Roots and Grass Listened to the Live Chime A handful of each was added.

The next herb is the pine needle of life. It was pounded until fine and added, but before stirring, the witch didn't forget to add water gradually to dilute the mixture. Little by little with concentration In such a delicate process She could never allow herself to make mistakes.

Even though taking action little by little is daunting And she was almost too heavy-handed. But everything was finished. She slowly stirred the current ingredients together. When people are halfway through A handful of uncrushed Taria of Youth was poured in...

The witch slowly turned up the fire with her inflatable chest.

Puff, puff, puff! White and green smoke erupted above the boiler due to the pressure of the air blowing. At this time, the medicine in the pot was almost ready.

The witch stood up straight. Prepare to enter the final step.

The witch gradually relaxed the force used to control the inflatable chest. Wait for the liquid in the pot to cool. The heat must not be too little and not too much. With the changing temperature The solution gradually changes color. From dark, thick, viscous Gradually it became clearer and became a mixed color. between white and green

The black extracted crystal was gently dropped into the cauldron at just the right moment. It slowly melted together with the rest of the ingredients easily. In this last step You just have to simmer slowly. in the correct degree It's a gentle rhythm...

The witch thought back to the day of the beginning. Until the first day of coming to this oak house. Cleaning time The time when the first bottle of liquid can be made Pictures of the many people she met and helped her. Every success and failure has helped push her to this right path. And the last image she was thinking of is a picture of the future

Of the old witch who smiled softly at her...

“I have succeeded! Giselda!” the witch shouted happily. His face was covered with beads of sweat from the heat and exertion.

In her hand, there was a glass bottle containing three brightly colored liquids that changed in color. The sugar-coated cookie quickly took it and poured it on himself.

Changes occur gradually and...

"I did it... I did it..." Giselda in human form Turn around and look at yourself. astonished before turning around and smiling happily

The witch meets the person she has been waiting for for a long time. The two hugged each other.

“Thank you for writing this book,” the witch said what was hidden in her heart.

Ging...

At the door, a wizard appeared. He stepped forward to congratulate...

“I thought of a name for this book! Witch -- it records the story of your endeavors with this place - hence the name! Witch's convenience medicine store."

The townspeople immediately heard the news. They all came together to congratulate the witch and Griselda for being cured from the curse. The greetings spoken to each other for a long time without interruption.

The two have lived together ever since. The witch is in charge of making potions and cleaning. Griselda tends the garden and gathers herbs. The two had a habit of discussing and debating each other's proposals for improving drug formulas. and since then This oak house was never lonely again...

Later, a wizard's book told this amazing story. Has traveled far This made the witch's reputation even more famous. Now, even people from nearby towns I have to stop by her shop regularly to buy medicine. People are aware of this place.

There is a witch who concocts a potion that solves every problem. As they want...

These stories are famous all the way back to the witch's family -

wad!

a letter It was left in front of the door.

“Whose is it?” Griselda sat back comfortably in a newly made rocking chair. After finishing his work taking care of the garden, he spoke up.

The witch picked it up and looked at it before answering.

“It's mine.”

The content inside is simple. The family was aware of her success and wanted her to return immediately.

She started writing a letter and gave a short reply. She still won't go back...

The witch will not return to her own home for a very long time. She avoided going back because she didn't like her family very much. Family fame and fame It was a curse that bound her. Far from the path you dreamed of And another thing that she was worried about...after graduating from the academy.

The witch's mother always pressed her hard. "You can get married" regularly

She doesn't seem to understand the necessity of marriage. Making potions with Griselda like this was nice... Her parents didn't even have her when she was this age. Until you open your eyes and see the world Her mother is 330 years old...

The witch thought absentmindedly – ​​far away, a figure in armor appeared. He slowly walked closer.

The witch has looked up to him since he was a child. So there is no way to remember wrongly.

He is Ashton, the son of a demon hunter. that now through their own efforts He became a knight. Time has passed He turned from a boy into a young man. He was in his early 20s and had a handsome, eloquent face. Eyes mesmerized and dreamy He still came to the store to buy potions on behalf of his father...

But I don't know since when. He seemed to have a lot of excuses. Just to stop by More often and more often The witch remarked.

And for many years to come He asked her to marry him...