If Swift represented explosive speed, then Shadow symbolized quietness and patience—essential elements for a perfect hunt.
They returned to base. Theo busily prepared food for the entire group, while Liam handled cleaning.
He used a sturdy rope section, clearing a spot for Shadow right beside Swift.
Shadow still hadn't removed its harness; it stood silent, probing the new environment. It needed time to get familiar with its master and learn to trust. Its personality was much more introverted than Swift.
Thanks to already knowing the entire group's tastes, Theo cooked very quickly: a pot of hot bear meat mushroom soup and porridge from pre-prepared rations.
- Al received a bowl full of lightly boiled bear meat, with some Pokémon-specialized rations—essential portions to maintain strength.
- Swift and Shadow received fresh reed grass Liam had gathered from around, mixed with Theo's specialized dried grain, ensuring sufficient nutrition and suitable taste.
The meal after a dangerous and exhausting week never disappointed anyone.
The rich flavor of Magical Beast bear meat brought feelings of satiety and safety.
Five members gathered together by the fire, enjoying the stars together.
Theo ate while appearing dazed, but actually he was reading books. The books scanned this afternoon had been summarized by G into main points, multiplying his reading efficiency many times. He chose "Classification and Distribution of Current Magical Beast Species," focusing intently on every line.
Sitting beside him, Al occasionally used its beak to pick up the best piece of bear meat, carefully placing it in Theo's bowl.
Theo smiled and patted its head, eating immediately—their coordination had reached perfect levels.
As for Liam, he played happily with the two new members.
He stroked Swift's neck, feeding it reed grass, then gently placed his hand on Shadow's neck, gradually building a trusting relationship.
Darkness and firelight enveloped the small base, creating a rare peaceful moment—before they'd have to plunge into upcoming tense research and hunting plans again.
The next morning, two full weeks had passed, including the Cyclops victory and Vesper transaction. Theo's plan was half-executed.
Liam already had ideas for the Zaravand Spear and hurriedly ran home to research with his father how to attach it to his spear tip. Though Al had progressed greatly, according to G's analysis its stamina still wasn't optimal—still able to develop another 50%. G also suggested Theo should exchange for "Basic Trainer" 75 ACP to train Al better. Theo thought for a while but felt it wasn't urgent yet; anyway, according to G's analysis Al still had capacity to progress, and he needed 75 ACP as reserve to perfect his own private plan, so he still arranged for Al to continue stamina training but more difficult, like carrying additional stones while flying at high speed, or continuing to optimize usable techniques, mainly still developing stamina.
As for himself, Theo needed to perfect Spike-Stepping training, while improving two important potions: Numbing Essence and Minor Potion.
Theo turned to his artificial intelligence: "G, I need to improve Numbing Essence and Minor Potion. I have preliminary ideas, but do you have suggestions based on existing data?"
G responded immediately, voice analytical and mechanical yet mischievous:
[G Analysis]: Boy, basic improvement right now is not feasible. Your current technology and formulas have reached optimal levels for these ingredient types. We can optimize effectiveness in two main ways:
First: Use extremely refined separation and purification technology to purify Numbing Essence and recovery essence from Alpha Oran Berry. This method requires high-level laboratory and alchemy knowledge far more complex than your current capabilities.
Second: We can improve Alpha Oran Berry plant quality through crossbreeding and genetic modification. This is the main trend our old world commonly used.
Both methods are very time-consuming, knowledge-intensive and labor-intensive, which your current conditions can hardly meet.
[G Recommendation]: Recommend seeking new superior ingredient sources to replace or upgrade, rather than trying to improve existing formulas and ingredients.
After G's suggestion about seeking new ingredients, Theo tapped his fingers on the wooden table. The knocking sound rang out steadily as he immersed himself in thoughts about ideas that flashed when reading books obtained last night.
"No, I have a better idea," Theo said, eyes lighting with determination.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Though both potions used this world's ingredients, in reality he only used Pokémon world technology. But remember, this world also had civilization, even not weak at all—diverse and complex. Why not learn this knowledge to supplement himself? The books he read last night stated very clearly: this world was extremely diverse in races and civilizations.
Theo even had two or three ideas that could improve his potions: the proficiency in natural potions of Beastkin Shamans in the South, or special ingredients from the Northeast of Sylvanius.
But ultimately, Theo focused on the simplest and most accessible idea. Right in Aethelgard there was also a profession that could help him improve these two products—that was Apothecary.
Theo decided he would both practice Spike-Stepping and go search the market to see if there were any Apothecaries. If so, this could be the simplest and most economical way to help him achieve his set goals.
Theo cleaned up the testing table, neatly storing everything in the leather bag. He quickly walked to the market. Amid noisy trading atmosphere and hot metal smell from the blacksmith area, Theo focused on seeking a different scent: the smell of herbs and bitter medicine.
After wandering through the Horizon Guild trading area and going deep into a quieter corner, under guidance from merchants he'd asked, Theo finally discovered a different stall. It wasn't a booth selling mass recovery potions for mercenaries. This stall was a rough green canvas tent, erected neatly.
Here emanated the thick fragrance of various herbs being dried and fermenting liquids. This showed the owner wasn't just a seller but also a formulator.
Inside the tent was a middle-aged woman with very special temperament: youthful yet ancient—full of temporal contradictions. She had salt-and-pepper hair, but the gray strands were healthy and shiny, neatly braided. Her face was kind, with smooth skin and not many deep wrinkles, but her eyes were sharp and shrewd. Her body was slender, agile. She wore a rough green canvas cloak over her shoulders, embroidered with stylized plant patterns—both dust-resistant and occupational symbol. She always wore an old leather pouch at her side.
She was Apothecary Lyra, famous for secret folk remedies and antiseptic medicines. She was carefully grinding a large root in a stone mortar.
Theo approached, bowing in greeting:
"Greetings, Lady Lyra. I heard you are the best Apothecary in this area."
Apothecary Lyra looked up, lips curving in a smile:
"There's no 'best' here, only different methods. I make medicine based on slow fire formulation and patience, not magic or synthetic formulas. Young man, what do you want to buy?"
"I want to buy one of your regular Heal Potions, ma'am."
Lady Lyra sold him a vial for 150 Copper.
Theo held the potion vial, sensing. Lady Lyra's medicine seemed thicker and had a light pink color. He silently asked G:
[G Analysis]: This potion uses Frost Leaf and Golden Thistle as base. However, it contains a small amount of Stone Moss Extract, acting as a binding agent, increasing thickness and helping recovery essence stabilize better in solution. Purification method uses special technology making them blend and react with each other. Insufficient data to separate clearly. This is new technology—recommend collecting method to enrich database.
Theo pondered. Indeed not wrong—very likely G wouldn't be able to analyze completely. Various magical medicines in this world were all related to magic. G could be very clear with scientific components, even cellular structure, but when involving magic it was completely blind. Perhaps G could use data to summarize magic, but now without foundation data, G had to admit defeat too.
So, would learning magical medicine help him? This was mandatory. G's impasse was proof that Theo couldn't rely only on Pokémon world knowledge.
Theo stored the potion vial in his bag, eyes lighting with determination. He changed attitude from buyer to learner.
"Thank you, ma'am. Now may I ask you something?"
Theo took a deep breath, voice full of sincerity:
"I'm currently self-studying as an Apothecary. I want to ask, how can I learn knowledge comprehensively?"
Lady Lyra propped her hand on the mortar, staring intently at Theo. Her face paused a moment then broke into an understanding smile.
"Well, this isn't an ordinary hunter boy. You're very ambitious indeed."
"If you want to learn comprehensively, there's no shortcut." She pointed at her nomadic tent. "You're in the borderlands, where knowledge is fragmented. You have three main choices to obtain comprehensive knowledge about Apothecary and Magical Medicine:"
- Academy System: Go to large cities. Like here is Veridia, there's only one magic academy—Veridian Soulwood Academy. Register at the Academy or Apothecary Guild. You'll learn magical theory, component analysis and safety rules. However, fees are very high and the process takes many years.
- Grand Master: Find a renowned Apothecary (usually a Mage) and request to become a disciple. You'll learn secret purification techniques (like my cold extraction technique) and rare ingredients. However, they usually only accept students with solid foundations.
- Nomadic Learning—also called Border Mages, sometimes also Border Witches. This is my path. Travel through territories, collect folk knowledge from Beastkin Shamans in Zaravand, herbal formulas from Elf tribes in Sylvanius, exchange with mages you can meet. This is a dangerous path, unsystematic, but will give you the most unique ingredients and formulas.
Lady Lyra took a sip of herbal tea.
"So, you're standing at a crossroads. Which path do you choose?"
WORLD MAP AROUND AETHELGARD
East: The mysterious Sylva-Tauris Forest. This forest bordered two major races:
North Sylva-Tauris (Elves): Kingdom of Sylvanius, under the rule of King E?rendil (Legendary Elf King) for 400 years. They lived separately, mysteriously and were famous for extremely special magical civilization. They traded mainly selling magical wood or magical weapons through Half-Elves.
South Sylva-Tauris (Dwarfs): Kingdom of Grimbarak, under the rule of King Thorekh Stonehammer for 110 years. They specialized in weapons, armor, gems and minerals. Their powerful smithing techniques made weapons always sought after by adventurers or warriors.
South: Zaravand Desert—mysterious land, wealthy with abundant gold mines, ruled by wealthy Shahs. This was a mixed area between Humans and Beastkin/Beastfolk, famous for rare Spices (Saffron, Cinnamon), Gold, Oil and valuable Desert Horses.
West: Aquitaineia—coastal region with many islands, commercial and maritime power, mixed dwelling of Half-Elves, Humans, Merfolk and Harpies.
North: The Wildlands—cold and savage region, home to nomadic Barbarian tribes. They traded fur, rare pelts and special metals only found in this land.