"The final decision still rests with Master," Noel said, glancing at Mond. "I only provided my suggestions, and they might have many flaws. You don't need to adopt them."
"Your suggestions were very good," Mond replied, "and we'll basically use the materials you mentioned. However, if I were to improve it, I would substitute the high-priced ingredients for more affordable ones. Sometimes, that's the wiser choice, reducing the difficulty of procurement by several levels."
Mond's evaluation was fair. He truly admired this apprentice, but he also knew that proper criticism was part of teaching.
"The advantage of this approach is that it's more convenient and quicker. Sometimes, it's not just about how good a potion is; speed is just as important. One potion may be more effective but takes longer to brew, while another may be slightly less potent but can be prepared faster. More often than not, people will choose the latter."
He was right, Noel thought. When it came to saving lives, time was often more critical than perfection. Noel understood this deeply.
And in that moment, he felt he had gained a new understanding of what it meant to be an alchemist. It wasn't about relentlessly chasing personal goals but about having enough patience to guide clients toward what was best for them.
In the end, it was a warm profession, one that could bring hope to others, and along the way, he would gain so much in return.
"Should we brew the potion using Noel's formula, or should I adjust it?" Mond turned to Makarov.
"It's better if you adjust it," Makarov sighed. "Those rare materials Noel mentioned would be too hard to find, even for me. I really wanted to use his formula to give him a sense of accomplishment, but it's just not practical."
"Alright, I'll adjust it," Mond agreed, "but once I've finalized it, no objections will be entertained."
Mond took out a sheet of paper, dipped a feather quill into magical ink, and began writing. The feather glided across the paper, leaving black marks that soon faded away.
Noel widened his eyes in curiosity. "This is the first time I've seen a magical tool like that. Ink can be a magical tool too?"
"Of course," Makarov explained. "This kind of ink has been around for a while, but it's not widely used. Only certain families that need to keep correspondence secret tend to use it."
"Alchemists excluded, of course," he added with a chuckle. "Some alchemists love tinkering with these small inventions. They're not very useful for most people, but they do have commercial value."
Mond folded the paper, placed it in an envelope, and sealed it with a magical imprint that would only unlock at its intended destination and would self-destruct if tampered with or lost.
"Don't lose this. It's your personal formula." Mond handed the envelope to Makarov.
Makarov tucked it into the inner pocket of his coat. "As expected from you, old friend. Fast and efficient. If I had gone to another alchemist, it would have taken three or four days just to get an appointment."
"Of all the people I know, you're the most troublesome, but also the one who still has the energy of youth. We're all getting old, but you still act like a youngster," Mond teased.
"Well, if I don't stay young at heart, how can I keep up with all the kids in the guild?" Makarov shot back, glancing at Noel. "Kids are interesting, aren't they?"
Mond agreed, smiling warmly. "Having a kid around really isn't so bad."
"Well, I'll get going now," Makarov said as he prepared to leave.
Mond walked him to the door, as was proper for a host. Noel followed them outside, and together they watched Makarov depart before going back inside.
The house, which had felt lively with a guest, now seemed quiet again.
"You did very well today," Mond said suddenly. "You're now a qualified alchemist. Here, this is your badge." He pulled a small, gold-colored medal from his pocket.
"What is this? Does it have a special meaning?" Noel asked curiously.
"This is the apprentice badge of Mond's Alchemy Workshop, and you're one of the very few to receive it. The alchemist guild knows that I rarely take on apprentices, so they also know that anyone who has my badge is worth their weight in gold."
"With this, when you go to buy materials, shop owners will give you discounts. Pretty good, huh?" Mond fastened the small badge to Noel's clothes.
Noel hurried to the mirror, checking his reflection. To his surprise, it suited him well, and he even looked a bit cool with it.
"Do you like it?" Mond asked.
"I like it," Noel replied honestly.
"Is there any other reward you'd like? I'm willing to grant it today, as long as it's not too outrageous."
"Then… I want to eat grilled meat." Noel's eyes sparkled, and he practically drooled at the thought.
He had once stood outside restaurant windows, watching others eat grilled meat with longing, but he had never tasted it himself. Back then, he knew his place; there was no way he could afford something like grilled meat. It simply wasn't realistic.
But now, he could finally act spoiled, knowing there was someone who would take care of him. That feeling was nice.
"Grilled meat, huh? Sure, let's have grilled meat," Mond replied. "I heard the barbecue place just launched an Earth Dragon Special. Kid, you've got good timing."
Though Mond's tone carried a hint of mock annoyance, it was clearly a joke.
Noel, however, took it seriously and began to worry. Was my request too much? Is Master upset because I damaged something important during my experiments?
"What's wrong? You don't seem happy about having grilled meat. Is there something else you want?" Mond asked, puzzled.
"I'm really happy about the grilled meat, Master, truly. I'm just feeling a bit guilty. I used up so many tools during the experiment today. Did I ruin something important?"
"No, nothing like that." Mond suddenly understood. "Don't worry about the wear and tear on equipment. For an alchemist, as long as you're safe, that's what matters most. We can always buy more materials or remake tools, but if something happens to you, there's no fixing that."
"So remember this rule: Of the many roads of alchemy, safety is the first. That's what my master told me, and now I'm telling you."
"I understand, Master. I won't forget."
Warmth filled Noel's heart. Was this what it felt like to be cared for? He felt a little sly, letting himself be comforted when he was the one who had made mistakes.
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