The Glorious Evolution

Levi almost admired how neatly she cornered him... she offered everything a desperate relative could want.

Refusing her help would make his little performance difficult to defend... although she had put him in a difficult position where he had to bring his A-game to bullshitting, there was a silver lining.

He had invented only the sick relative.

The illness and its remedy came from Alzhukar’s book of ancient restorative potions... Levi had studied them while searching for uses of Thousandflavor Orchid Nectar, hoping one might lead him to a hidden location before the Myriad Treasures Exchange.

He knew better than to invent an illness and a potion inside a den of established alchemists.

”Tantalus’ Release,” he answered with a deep sigh. ”His body rejects nourishment as though it were poison... he’s starving while we keep trying to feed him.”

”Oh?”

Madam Crowglass stopped her hand above the pond.

She recognized the illness, though modern alchemists favored a remedy that used refined nectar, not the unprocessed one Levi sought... her interest sharpened when Levi explained that the modern version had already been tested and had failed to cure him, forcing him to seek out different alternatives.

According to Alzhukar’s notes, advanced cases couldn’t tolerate the stronger medicines... the original concoction first restored the patient’s ability to accept nourishment... replenishing what he had lost came afterward.

Unrefined nectar made that possible... its many flavors remained distinct without overpowering one another, allowing the medicine to introduce different nourishing essences together.

”Refining it into a uniform extract destroyed the very property the old potion needed.”

Levi explained this in his own words, noting how Crowglass’s amusement gave way to keen interest.

”Then you would add it to the restorative base before the final heating?” she asked, already analyzing the unfamiliar ancient concoction method.

”After the base cools... just before administration.” Levi nodded.

”What an interesting approach...”

She studied him for a moment, knowing that such a concoction had an ancient vibe to it... she could tell neither he nor any alchemist from modern times had created it.

As expected, when she asked where he had learned the distinction, Levi mentioned an old alchemist’s collection and the notes accompanying its failed preparations.

Naturally, he left out the owner’s name.

”To go this far for a sick relative... you seem quite attached to the field,” Crowglass mused. ”Is it something that interests you?”

Levi admitted that he hoped to become an alchemist, though he still had much to learn before attempting his first concoction.

”I decided I wouldn’t concoct a Grade C Potion or above until I’d read a thousand books and understood each one... if I blow up a cauldron afterward, I’d at least like to know which mistake did it.”

Ash’Kral rolled his eyes in Levi’s spiritual leywell while the Titan chuckled.

’Your decision? I thought I was a lazy bastard using books as an excuse not to teach you.’

Levi completely ignored him.

”Good, good.”

Crowglass, however, clearly approved... she knew too many beginners mistook a successful brew for understanding, then wasted years repeating the same mistakes whenever their memorized steps failed them.

That’s why Levi chose Grade C potions... he knew they corresponded to Warden rank Perfect evolutionary formula’s concoction difficulty and marked the threshold for a an Aspiring Alchemist getting promoted to a Certified Alchemist.

”A sound foundation is going to help you learn far more once you begin practicing difficult concoctions... taking the boring path already puts you ahead of many Aspiring Alchemists,” she said, moving closer to Levi’s table... finally interested enough to join them.

”That’s exactly what I thought, Madam.”

’Shameless prick.’ Ash’Kral cursed under his breath.

Levi accepted both assessments with the same serene, polite smile.

Crowglass beckoned to an attendant and ordered a sealed measure of unprocessed Thousandflavor Orchid Nectar from her private vaults... after realizing that Levi knew what he was talking about, she retracted the offer to concoct the potion for him.

She had tried to catch him in a lie earlier, but now... it would be in poor taste to pressure him to hand over the potion’s recipe so she could concoct it.

After all, he might have explained some of the ancient recipe’s details, but she knew he hadn’t given her everything yet... and if she were to try to recreate the potion, it wasn’t going to be a pleasant task.

”Thank you.”

Not expecting such generosity, Levi bowed his head slightly in appreciation, believing that it might be a reward for entertaining her with genuine knowledge instead of lies as she had anticipated.

After a brief conversation about alchemy, Madam Crowglass excused herself after noticing many nobles were slowly surrounding their lounge.

”I will let you be... enjoy the Exchange, and I shall see you later.” She smiled in his direction, then turned to Drayven. ”Behave.”

A single word, and yet her tone left nothing to the imagination... Drayven and his girlfriend understood that if they were to make such a ruckus again, it wasn’t going to end as pleasantly as it had this time.

They nodded without a response and watched her walk away with the attendants carrying the gown’s train behind her, akin to a heavenly Empress.

Just as Levi was about to wonder what she meant about seeing him again, another attendant approached their table and gently handed him and Viscount Rusk a sealed crimson letter each.

’Is this it?’

Levi opened the invitation’s details, and a faint smile emerged on his face.

[Official invitation to Crowglass’s Dinner after the Exchange... for Baron Dark Sun and his companion.]

Even Rusk appeared excited, completely forgetting that he wasn’t getting the scarlet scale anymore... it made sense: the invitation to the private dinner was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to network with some High Nobles and reputable Master Alchemists.

Receiving it as an apology for the inconvenience was greatly appreciated.

’They’re all looking at your invitations.’ Jasmine messaged him.

Nearby conversations faltered as nobles recognized the invitations... some had spent the evening trying to attract Crowglass’s attention, yet this unfamiliar Baron had secured an invitation after discussing a potion with her.

Counts, higher nobles, and established alchemists would attend that gathering... some had even heard rumors that the Dinner was being used by the nobility to get into the Sovereignty of Seven Hearths as apprentices under the Cauldron-Fey Master Alchemists!

Drayven glanced from the invitation to the retreating Crowglass.

He didn’t know why she had invited Levi to the dinner, but he didn’t particularly care... in fact, if she hadn’t, he would have requested it himself.

’Dark Sun, huh... I should bring him into my camp. With my backing in the Eighth Sky, that little company of his could become quite useful.’

When his attention returned to Levi, he gave him a small, acknowledging nod.

Levi returned it.

Sparing the dragon a public apology already seemed like the right decision.

The attendant returned with the sealed nectar, which Levi accepted and carefully stored.

”Dark Sun... shall we start our exchange again?”

This time, Drayven approached Levi without trying to loom over him... even the collection he shared came with a different attitude.

”It would be an honor.”

Levi gave a sincere-looking smile.

Drayven’s grin widened a little after having his ego stroked... without hesitation, he manifested the whole Serra Sailheart, followed by the Six-Gate Trapiche.

Levi recognized them as the two most valuable treasures on his list, which made the dragon’s next words quite pleasant to hear.

”These should settle our exchange.”

”Both? That’s too much...” Levi hesitated, letting a little embarrassment enter his voice. ”I already received the Nectar. After learning what the scale means to your people, I intended to offer it as a gift.”

He made no move to accept the treasures, giving Drayven a moment to enjoy the gesture... and the nearby nobles enough time to hear it.

A little respect for his ancestry, a little care for his pride... befriending the dragon hardly required another treasure.

”Then consider these my gift in return.” Drayven pushed both treasures toward him, his voice louder than necessary. ”You showed respect for my people... allow me to return the courtesy.”

Levi smirked inwardly... he could tell Drayven was attempting to repair his reputation in the gathering through lavish generosity.

So, he accepted with a smile, allowing Drayven to have the gracious final word... if the man insisted on robbing himself, refusing him would only make things awkward.

They examined the treasures and completed the exchange.

Drayven checked the scale’s root one final time before sealing its case, treating the remnant with a care absent from his earlier handling of the heart.

That alone told Levi that despite Drayven’s shitty persona, he genuinely cared about his Kin’s history and culture.

Ding!

When the attendant rang the silver bell, Drayven offered his contact details instead of leaving.

”If someone gives your company and territories trouble in the Eighth Sky, contact me. You have a friend there now.” He smiled, shaking Levi’s hand.

’Well... this is convenient.’

Levi remembered his Sun swallowing Drayven’s ancestral technique... and the dragon still threatening a rematch after shrinking into a shriveled lizard, cursing him and swearing an eternal grudge.

Now, that same dragon wanted to protect his business from arrogant nobles who threw their weight around.

The irony was almost too much... Levi accepted his protection before a laugh could ruin it.

He started by producing two invitations and explaining that Dark Sun would soon welcome guests to its Leviathan’s Wonderland and hold a separate gathering for collectors. Each invitation admitted Drayven and his companion.

Drayven showed more interest in the second, especially after hearing that the scarlet scale represented only part of Levi’s collection.

”Leviathan’s Wonderland? Sounds fun.”

His girlfriend claimed the Wonderland invitation before he could put both away. Levi saw them off politely, then received a message from Jasmine.

’You’re like a magician...’

She kept looking between him and the departing couple, still trying to understand how he had managed to start with a lie and end up taking everything.

Every time she thought the situation would explode, Levi somehow talked his way through it without missing a beat... and walked away with the nectar, a dinner invitation, two expensive Leviathan treasures, and the friendship of the same dragon who hated his guts a few minutes ago.

’I watched everything... and I still don’t know how you did that.’

Her genuine amazement brought a helpless smile to his face, as if he were being praised for being a weasel... though he wasn’t going to change.

’He stroked his ego and charged him for it... beautiful.’ N’ibby shared her appreciation.

Levi understood when to flatter, when to insist, and when someone’s pride mattered more than winning an argument.

’Learn from him,’ she told Jasmine. ’You don’t have to let everyone know exactly what you’re thinking.’

’Nope... it looks like too much work.’

Alas, Jasmine resembled the black and white of her Aspect a little too closely... one or zero, with nothing in between.

If she liked someone, she showed it.

If she didn’t... well, she showed that too.