Chapter 4

As I started jogging, I felt a sense of refreshment wash over me. The road—Kings Ride—stretched ahead, leading straight into town. The fresh morning air filled my lungs, and for a brief moment, it felt like everything was just right. The quiet countryside surrounded me, and the rhythm of my feet hitting the pavement was almost calming.

But my thoughts wandered to something more pressing—the powers I got from Stan Lee. It still felt strange, like something out of a story. I wondered how they would work in practice. I was sure that Alchemist's Prodigy would come into play once I started using alchemy, and the same went for my ability to create artifacts. That part made sense.

Then there was the skill that allowed me to understand any written language. Omnilingualism. It didn't matter if it was ancient runes, modern coding, or a language I'd never seen before—I'd understand it. I hadn't fully tested it yet, but the concept was amazing. I just hoped it would prove as useful as it sounded.

As I ran, another thought struck me. Where is my Alchemist's Gaze? Just as I was wondering about it, I felt something shift inside me. My vision blurred for a moment, and then, suddenly, I could see... everything. Colors danced before my eyes—mists of gold, blue, green, and red—swirling around me, almost too vivid to be real. It was like I could see the energy or essence of everything around me, layers of information I'd never even imagined. But the longer I looked, the more my head started to pound. It was too much, and I quickly tried to stop using the skill.

With some effort, the colors faded, and the headache began to subside. I exhaled, relieved. But something had changed—I could feel the power at the edge of my consciousness. I had control over it now. I could turn it on and off whenever I wanted.

Curiosity got the better of me. I slowed down and glanced at the grass along the roadside. This time, I carefully activated Alchemist's Gaze, focusing only on the grass.

Instantly, knowledge flooded my mind. I knew everything about the grass—its molecular structure, the nutrients it needed to grow, and its role in the environment. I even understood the way its cells functioned, and how it interacted with the soil and the air. It was overwhelming, nearly too much information to process all at once. I blinked hard, trying to keep from being completely swamped by the sheer volume of data.

It was a lot to handle, but I could already tell... this was going to be powerful.

As I tried to control Alchemist's Gaze, I focused on limiting the flow of information to something manageable—just the basic alchemy data, nothing more. The last time I used it, it had been overwhelming, like trying to process an entire library's worth of knowledge at once. I wasn't ready for that. Not yet. Once I mastered Occlumency, maybe then I'd have the mental capacity to retain it all. For now, though, I needed something simple.

What I got was... unexpected.

The information my gaze provided transformed into something more structured, like a system analysis from a game. It didn't give me all the answers outright, like some kind of cheat code, but rather a rough overview of the object I was looking at—what it was made of, and how it might be useful in alchemy. Not a full recipe, but hints and clues that would point me in the right direction once I actually started working with the ingredients. It felt like the ability was nudging me toward understanding rather than handing me everything on a silver platter.

It was a bit of a relief. I didn't want to rely on this power too much—it would feel like a handicap if I used it as a crutch. Alchemy was something I wanted to learn properly, through experience, through trial and error. But for analysis? Alchemist's Gaze could be a powerful tool. I'd just have to be careful with it.

My gaze settled on a patch of grass, and instantly, a detailed breakdown filled my vision:

[Grass]

{Grass is a type of plant belonging to the Poaceae family (also called Gramineae), found in various environments worldwide. It plays a crucial role in ecosystems, agriculture, and landscaping. Grass can be used to create potent nutrients for animals, providing them with increased energy.}

Ingredients:

Powdered Grass

Water

Oil

Brown Sugar

By combining these ingredients through an alchemical process, the resulting potion can enhance energy levels in animals, improving their vitality and endurance.

I blinked, my mind whirling with the new information. It seemed like my eyes were giving me just what I needed to know, nothing more. This would definitely make finding ingredients and putting them to use easier.

I pulled my focus away from the grass, letting my gaze return to normal, and continued running. The wind cooled the sweat on my face, and the familiar rhythm of my feet hitting the ground kept me grounded, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Alchemist's Gaze. I wondered—do my eyes change when I use it?

As I ran, I spotted a small pond up ahead. Curious, I made my way over to it, slowing to a stop near the water's edge. The surface was still, reflecting the morning sky, and I couldn't help but wonder what my eyes looked like when I activated the skill.

I leaned forward, looking at my reflection. As I activated Alchemist's Gaze, the world shifted again, and I saw the colors of energy swirling in the water. But my reflection—my eyes—captured my attention.

They had changed.

A faint, intricate glow pulsed within them, almost mechanical in nature. Thin lines of golden light traced through the iris, like a clockwork mechanism hidden beneath the surface. The center of my eye glowed faintly, almost like the light from a forge, shifting and turning as if the very essence of alchemy was alive within me.

It was mesmerizing. Powerful. But a bit unsettling, too.

I blinked, the golden glow fading as I deactivated the skill. My eyes returned to normal. The pond reflected my usual face once more, but I knew now—whenever I used Alchemist's Gaze, my eyes became something otherworldly.

With that thought in mind, I turned away from the pond and resumed my run, the morning still stretching out ahead of me.

After about 45 minutes, I finally made it back to the orphanage, legs aching from the run but feeling that satisfying burn that comes after a good workout. I headed straight for the showers, eager to scrub away the sweat and clear my head. The warm water was a relief as it washed over me, rinsing off the grime and leaving me feeling fresh. At noon, I'd be catching the night bus to Diagon Alley, but before that, I had a lot to think about.

I needed money—at least 4,000 to 20,000 pounds to get my plans off the ground. It felt like a huge sum, but way more achievable here in the 1970s than if it were 2022. Prices were lower, and opportunities felt more accessible. I just needed to figure out how to get started. Maybe there were a few odd jobs I could pick up, or I could take advantage of my alchemy skills somehow. Either way, I knew I couldn't waste time.

After the shower, I dried off and slipped into a clean pair of jeans and a black shirt. I ran some oil through my hair, slicking it back just the way I liked it, making sure I looked somewhat presentable. No point in walking around like a mess. Once I was dressed, I stepped out of the bathroom and made my way to the dining hall.

Most of the kids had already finished eating by the time I got there. Only a few were left, their small voices filling the otherwise quiet room. I grabbed a couple of pieces of toast and a cup of tea from the kitchen, the familiar smells grounding me as I prepared for the day ahead. I wasn't in the mood for a big meal, but the toast and tea would do the trick.

With breakfast in hand, I headed outside to the courtyard. The younger kids were already out, playing games and running around. Their laughter filled the air, light and carefree. It was hard not to smile watching them. I took a seat on a nearby bench, sipping my tea and chewing on the toast as I watched them play. The morning sun was soft on my skin, not too hot yet, just warm enough to make sitting there feel comfortable.

I couldn't help but think about how different things would be soon. In just a few years, most of us would be out of here, either starting new lives or figuring out where we fit in the world. 

Taking another sip of my tea, I glanced at the clear blue sky and smiled to myself. Everything was about to change, but for this brief moment, things were calm, and I was at peace with that.