Three Hours, Three Potions

For the past week, Gilgamel had buried himself in the art of potion-making.

Day and night, he repeated the same motions — crushing herbs, adjusting flame runes, stirring essences at precise intervals. He only paused to snatch quick meals or answer the call of nature. Even then, his mind lingered on ratios and mana flow.

The only time he left his brewing table was to step into the Verdant Garden for an hour each day — but that wasn't rest. That was work. Mapping, marking, taming magical beasts, and tending new elixirs.

Rest, in the true sense, simply didn't exist for him this past week.

But thanks to that relentless effort, Gilgamel had grown completely familiar with the brewing processes of the potions he needed.

The steps, the timing, the subtle signs of mana synchrony — they had all become second nature.

Standing now at his assigned workbench in the Advancement Test Room, Gilgamel set aside all stray thoughts.