Agafari City, Mond's Alchemy Workshop.
Noel had gradually adapted to life here and had begun learning bits and pieces about alchemy, although he had yet to receive any formal instruction from Mond.
For now, he was reading through various alchemy notes, collections of firsthand experiences written by beginner alchemists themselves. They were proving quite helpful in understanding the basics.
"How is it? Can you understand it?" Mond asked, handing Noel a piece of fresh cream bread.
"It's not too hard, but it's not exactly simple either. These notes are pretty useful, though. I think I mostly get it." Noel replied while eating, his words muffled.
He then grabbed a glass of milk from the table and took big gulps.
Mond was so shocked that he nearly choked on his own bread. "Ahem—!"
Back when Mond himself had been learning alchemy, he had needed a teacher by his side to explain these kinds of notes. For a beginner, these materials were far too complex and difficult to grasp alone.
"Actually, there are some things I wanted to ask you, Master." Noel said, gathering a stack of alchemy notes, ready for a discussion at the table.
Mond was curious about what kinds of questions Noel might ask. In truth, he hadn't expected much; if the boy could learn, great, and if not, it was no big deal. He would explain what he could and let Noel figure out the rest.
"Alchemy is complicated, but at its core, it's about equivalent exchange. But I'm not clear on what exactly defines equivalent exchange." Noel said, holding up a book on alchemical principles.
He knew it was a basic question, but it was also an abstract one, and he couldn't figure it out alone.
Noel understood that equivalent exchange was the heart of alchemy, and it was a question he needed answered as soon as possible.
"That question is simple, but also complicated. It's not something I can explain in just a few words."
"It covers a wide range of topics, and researching this subject is something for advanced alchemists. At your current level, you don't need to dive that deeply just yet." Mond explained patiently.
"I see…" Noel said, a bit disappointed.
But inside, Mond was stunned. It had only been six days since he had given Noel these alchemy notes, and the boy was already asking questions like this.
Could it be that this child was a genius, born for alchemy?
If only he had found this child sooner… But would his body last long enough to teach him everything he needed to know? If possible, he wanted to show Noel the wider world one day.
"Master, could you give me an alchemy lesson today? I want to compare what I've learned from these notes with what you've taught me so far." Noel suggested.
"That's a great idea." Mond praised him without hesitation.
It was about time he fulfilled his duties as a teacher. Taking on a student without teaching him was irresponsible.
Besides, he didn't want other alchemists saying he couldn't even teach his own apprentice.
"So, you're saying… you'll teach me?" Noel's eyes lit up, and he practically jumped for joy. Reading books wasn't boring, but there were always parts that left him with questions.
It was clear the boy truly loved alchemy, which was why he was progressing so quickly.
Seeing Noel's excitement made Mond genuinely happy. It was wonderful to see the boy finding joy in alchemy.
"We'll start right now. Pay close attention, and take notes if you need to. Just so you know, my private lessons are usually very expensive. You're getting a great deal, kid." Mond joked.
Noel nodded, grabbing a notebook and picking up a quill, ready to record everything.
"First, the four main elements are Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire. Earth is sometimes called Soil, and Wind is sometimes referred to as Air, but the meanings are the same. In addition, there is a fifth element above the sky: Aether."
"Many people think the five-pointed star is made of four elements, but that's incorrect. A true pentagram is made from five elements."
"But alchemy is different from ordinary magic. In alchemy, spiritual power is also considered an essential element."
"Alchemy is a branch of magic, but it is far more precise in many ways. It also requires consideration of direction, color, and guardian spirits."
"For direction: Wind represents the front, Fire the right, Earth the left, and Water the back. For colors: Wind is green, Fire is red, Earth is brown, and Water is blue."
"The guardian spirits are: Sylph for Wind, Salamander for Fire, Undine for Water, and Gnome for Earth."
"Most ordinary mages are fixed in what they can use, typically limited to one element. Alchemy is different. We must draw different magic circles according to the conditions we need. That is the true secret of alchemy."
"It's precisely because of these many variables that alchemy is one of the hardest forms of magic to learn."
Listening to Mond's explanation, Noel felt that he understood most of it. The lesson mainly covered the composition and application of elements, but there was a clear difference between theoretical knowledge and real-world experience.
"Can you follow what I've explained so far about the elemental principles?" Mond asked, concerned that he might have gone too fast for Noel to keep up.
"It's not too difficult. The key is whether the alchemist can understand the essence of materials and how to reconstruct and compose them." Noel summarized confidently—and accurately.
"It seems you have a solid grasp of magic fundamentals already. Next, let's talk about the branches of alchemy."
"Alchemy is a broad term, and within it are many branches. Most people think alchemists simply turn cheap metals like iron and copper into more valuable ones like silver and gold."
"That's a shallow and inaccurate view. Turning base metals into precious metals is just an entry-level skill, and a real alchemist would never be satisfied just because they made gold."
"It's as basic for us as homework at a magic academy—simple, unremarkable."
"Alchemy's true goals are far higher. Every alchemist pursues challenges that are incredibly difficult to conquer."
"Among these are some of the most famous pursuits: the Gate of Truth, the Philosopher's Stone, and the Elixir of Life. You might not recognize these terms now, but if you ever begin studying them, you will have stepped into a completely different realm."
"Master, what level are you at right now?" Noel asked curiously.
"I'm researching all three. As for the Gate of Truth, I'm close to a breakthrough. The Philosopher's Stone… I've studied countless texts and performed many experiments, but what I've produced so far is nothing but ordinary stones."
"And the Elixir of Life…" Mond paused for a moment, "If I could create that, it would cure any illness."
"It could have saved my wife. But why couldn't I do it back then? Maybe I was just too foolish."
"Master, I'm sorry for bringing up painful memories." Noel said softly, apologizing.
Author note: Agafari City is an original location in this fanfic, not from the official Fairy Tail series. It is where Noel currently lives and starts learning alchemy at Mond's Alchemy Workshop. This city and Mond's workshop serve as the setting for Noel's growth and the introduction of alchemy elements in the story.
PS: Access advance chapters at
https://www.patreon.com/c/NanamiTL