Early in the morning.
Rick woke up early in the morning to the sound of an alarm making weird noises.
"Boy, wake up. You have a class today. Wake up, wake up, wake up." Rick casually tried to shut it off.
But when his hand hit the alarm, it broke.
Rick's eyes widened. Then he sat up on the bed.
"Damn! I haven't even used Qi Refining Level 2 strength. Why are they so weak?"
"Anyway, I have a class to attend." Then he snapped his fingers.
A brush appeared with paste floating in front of him. He jumped out of bed and walked to the door. The brush floated toward him slowly as he took it in his hands.
The door opened by itself. Rick walked out and saw that Ben was sitting on the couch brushing his teeth.
Rick also walked toward him and sat opposite him.
Ben was looking at a book seriously, with interest. Rick didn't disturb him while he was studying.
After brushing, Rick sat beside him.
"Ben! What are you looking at?" He saw plant images and their uses.
"Ben! Why are you learning it right now? What is the use of it?"
Ben looked at him. "Rick! If the professor asks some questions while the class is running and we can successfully do the experiment, we'll get points."
"Really? Then give me the book."
Ben gave it to him. Rick closed his eyes and sensed the entire book. Then he opened his eyes. "Here! Take the book. There's nothing interesting in it." He stood up.
"Uhh! Have... have you learned it entirely?" Ben asked while Rick was walking to the door.
Rick stopped. "Well, you'll see in the class."
Ben grabbed some books beforehand and walked with Rick. After having their breakfast, they started walking downstairs to the ground floor.
Then they took a right turn and saw a big room. Junior students were walking to it, smiling at Rick.
Then Ben's sisters came from upstairs.
Lyra, with a book wrapped in her hands, said, "Rick! Is it good staying with Ben? I mean, he's a little annoying, but still, he's a good guy."
Ben showed an annoyed expression. "You've changed, just after seeing him. I won't help you if you're like this."
Rick just walked to the classroom. "He isn't annoying or anything. Let's go to class first."
When Rick walked to the door, a guy came from behind and bumped into his shoulder.
Rick looked back and saw the guy glance at him from top to bottom and then walk off without even apologizing.
Ben got angry instead of Rick, but he couldn't do anything. "Rick! Let's get into the class. Just leave him."
Rick smirked. A rabbit just angered a dragon.
Rick walked to an empty seat at the front of the class and looked at the boy who had bumped into him as he chatted with others.
Ben also went to sit beside him, but someone dragged him and pushed him back. Then Elina sat at the edge and scooted in next to Rick, her legs brushing against his. Like that, Elina and Lyra sat with him between both of them.
Ben just sat at a back table.
Then a woman came in—a tall figure with green skin, sharp eyes, and a strong presence.
Elina whispered, "Rick, she's an orc. She's been working here for many years. Even my dad studied under her teaching."
Lyra added, "Orcs can live for many years longer than humans, so they look young and beautiful even at a hundred."
The orc woman stood in front of everyone. "I think everyone's here. I'm Professor Seria Valen. I'll be your herbology teacher."
"Now, let's see how many of you know the basics of herbology." She looked at everyone and finally settled her eyes on Rick, her gaze becoming sharper.
"Let's see… does anyone know what happens if you eat a Silver Plant's leaves?" She looked around again, and a girl raised her hand.
She was from the Water Group, as indicated by the ocean waves badge on her.
"Silver Plant leaves are good for health and used to heal wounds. Not only that, they also increase stamina recovery."
Seria smiled. "Yeah! So now we're going to experiment with it." She took her wand and floated some grey-silver-colored leaves, distributing them to the students.
"Now, all you need to do is eat it raw, then observe the effects. Then crush them with a rock, extract the juice, and mix it with Sun Blossom plant leaves, which you have beside you."
Everyone looked at their pots, filled with orange and red-colored leaves, roots spreading out in all directions.
Rick took the leaves in his hands and crushed them in his mouth. They felt good—refreshing.
Now, he had another task. He looked around. All the students took out flasks from the side bench while Rick simply sat there with one hand resting on the back bench.
He smirked, then snapped.
The Sun Blossom plant leaves floated into the air and landed on his bench. The orc woman and some students saw it.
"Hey! Look, he can float things without a wand!"
"He's not even weaving the magic power. How can he control them?"
"I've seen my uncle do it once, but he had many years of experience practicing offensive spells with accuracy."
They slowly walked back to their places, watching Rick suspiciously. But he simply stretched his legs and rested his left hand on the back bench.
With the silver and blossom leaves on his bench, Seria placed her hands on the podium, staring at Rick with an intrigued look.
Elina and Lyra had their flasks, filled with crushed leaves. Then they mixed them in a different flask, trying to balance the power of magical herbs.
Rick lifted his hands and placed them on the bench. Some students were watching him with curiosity.
Then he tapped with his index finger, and the leaves floated again. Some students nudged others to watch Rick and see what he'd do.
The leaves separated and floated in the air. He tapped again—they spaced out, floating opposite each other.
Then he tapped once more, and the leaves slowly began turning into liquid. Only a little waste fell onto the bench.
Then, everyone saw silver-colored and orange-colored liquids forming into round shapes. The students were shocked—he could crush—
No, he could extract liquid from the leaves without wasting a drop. Then he tapped again.
From those two liquids, some of it started to flow out toward the center.
They began combining into one. Then he tapped again, and a small blue fire appeared beneath the liquid, heating it.
The combined liquid formed into a single ball and began to boil with such heat that everyone could feel it.
"Why is the fire so hot, man?"
"Don't know. Maybe it's one of the Eternal Fires."
"But Eternal Fires can't be controlled—they can burn your soul, right?"
"No idea… but we're watching a miracle in front of us right now."
After a while, Rick tapped again. The fire disappeared.
Then everyone saw a small round pill, silver and orange in color. It floated into Rick's hands.
He simply took it.
Then, "Who wants this pill, made by the so-called Eternal Fire?" His voice was filled with mockery.
Rick had done something no herbalist had ever done.
Let's see what happens next.
Is Rick going to auction the pill or something?