Is This Chemistry or Physics?

Ryan had a peaceful sleep, though it wasn't as comfortable as his mattress back on Earth, the haystack was still soft enough. What bothered him, however, was the issue of using the toilet. Back in the town, he noticed that some people used grass, stones, or wooden pieces, while others didn't use anything at all, which disgusted Ryan to no end. With no choice, he had to resort to using large leaves, drying them out for a rough equivalent of toilet paper. Once Ryan became a mage, he figured things would be easier. He could just use the Water Ball spell to clean himself, which was much more hygienic.

Ryan put aside his dilemma of whether to stay or leave because there was still a month of winter left. He figured that people from below the mountain couldn't make it up, but he could go down. The real problem was what to do after that—should he go adventuring alone and focus on his training, or should he submit to a larger power? From his reading, he learned that most people choose between these two paths. Adventuring offered greater freedom but was also dangerous and required significant investment, without any formal education. On the other hand, submitting to a large force meant following orders, though one would have all their needs provided and face little danger. Ryan was particularly curious about the profession of an alchemist. Although he had been working hard on mastering magic, encountering something related to Western mythology from Earth was a rare opportunity, and he wasn't about to pass it up.

Ryan picked up a book titled The Basics of Alchemy, which included introductory magic circles and the solutions for drawing them. His task now was to practice inscribing magic circles.

"Beginner magic circles are essentially derived from a basic pattern," Ryan read, "The basic circles are divided into two categories: defense and attack. There are only two basic circles, one for damage and one for defense." He flipped through the pages, realizing that it wasn't too complicated. The beginner magic circles were relatively simple, and the only differences were the solutions used to inscribe them. A solution made from a Fire-type magic core could be used to inscribe a basic attack magic circle, such as a Fireball spell, while a Wind-type core could be used for a Wind Blade. These solutions only required slight adjustments. This meant that a novice alchemist only needed to master two magic circles—everything else could be learned through practice. Magic circles were one thing, but magic power and mental strength were far more critical. Typically, the alchemy items created by an alchemist would be two or three levels below their own magic rank. For example, an alchemist would need to be at least level 3 to start learning the basics of alchemy. Another factor was compatibility—most alchemists were Fire-type mages, so if they tried to create Water-type items, the results wouldn't be as effective. This issue could be resolved using an alchemy pen, which could switch out the magic core or gem to channel different types of magic. However, this process required a huge amount of mental strength, and a Fire-type mage would need twice as much mental energy to create a Water-type item.

"Okay, that's better. If each element has its own magic circle, I'll be dead trying to handle all twelve elements," Ryan thought, feeling relieved. But then, he recalled how much magic power was needed to level up, especially for higher levels. Reaching level one was easy, but level two and nine? That would be much more challenging, and the realization made him feel a bit overwhelmed.

Looking at Ryan's frustrated expression, Niu Niu, who had been quietly observing, raised an eyebrow. She turned her head, pulled out a copper mirror, and checked her own reflection, not finding anything wrong. "Huh, what's wrong with me? I'm just a grass spirit," she muttered, but then, noticing Ryan's lackluster demeanor, she mumbled, "You're sick!" before going back to her own business.

"Alright, time to start drawing the magic circle." Ryan flipped to the pages in the book that introduced the two basic magic circles and grabbed a flat stone slab. He picked up a stick and began preparing to inscribe the magic circle.

Carefully following the instructions, Ryan started to draw the pattern. While it was labeled a beginner magic circle, he quickly realized that it was more complex than any circuit diagram he had ever seen. Fortunately, Ryan had a family skill—micro-carving, a technique he used to etch tiny text on a grain of rice or carve intricate designs on a pea. Despite this skill, Ryan couldn't help but think about his past life. In his previous world, he had often found himself avoiding troublesome situations and awkward encounters with women online. He had once been nervous about getting caught in scandals, and though his courage grew over time, he always felt more comfortable avoiding the messier aspects of life.

His mind wandered back to his current predicament. Despite his past knowledge, he was still learning how to adapt to this world, one step at a time.

Ryan was sketching on the stone slab with a branch, making sporadic marks, preparing to dip his brush in water to begin drawing a magic circle.

"What are you doing?" A sudden voice startled him. He looked up to find Niu Niu staring at him with confusion.

Rolling his eyes at her, Ryan responded, "Practicing magic circles."

"You don't know about glowstones? Or alchemy pens?" Niu Niu said with a look of disdain.

"Uh, uh, I'm just practicing first," Ryan replied, almost dropping the bowl in his hands. Although he managed to keep it from falling, the water inside splashed all over his pants, and Ryan nearly fainted from frustration. He twisted his mouth in annoyance and responded.

"Hehe! I thought you were sick," Niu Niu teased, covering her mouth and laughing.

"Hmph!" Ryan quickly got up and began searching for the glowstone. Glowstones were an alchemical material that glowed when activated by magic. The intensity of the glow depended on the amount of magic used.

"Is this physics or chemistry?" Ryan wondered aloud, holding a palm-sized glowstone in his left hand and an alchemy pen made of purple crystal and secret silver in his right. The alchemy pen resembled a thick chopstick with an egg-like structure at the top, made entirely of purple crystal, with a layer of secret silver wrapped around the base for magic transmission. This was a standard alchemy pen; if a fire-type alchemist used it to draw a water-type magic circle, it would be a highly valuable item. Ryan continued to fiddle with the pen and stone, marveling at their properties.

At higher levels, alchemists had another method for inscribing magic circles—using highly corrosive substances to etch the pattern, then filling it with the necessary materials. However, this was only applicable for large alchemical works or specialized magic circles. It wasn't practical for small objects like bracers or greatswords.

Ryan quickly realized that the glowstone was a useful tool. It allowed him to see if the magic energy was being transmitted evenly, could be reused, and helped verify if the magic circle was complete. He found the process far more engaging than staying up late playing games on his computer. Although his patience could be short and his company small, at least he had someone to talk to. As for Niu Niu being a girl, Ryan knew because of the soul contract, otherwise, he wouldn't have dared ask directly.

Ryan spent the next two days drawing magic circles and felt he was becoming quite proficient. He also began to notice patterns between the magic circles of different elements. This was something the book had mentioned, as all that was needed were minor adjustments to the basic designs. However, despite his growing skill, Ryan still didn't understand the principles behind the circles, nor did he care to. The book only contained two magic circles, and the rest of it focused on an alchemical recipe and its preparation method. With the monster skins still being processed, Ryan decided he needed a break, so he went outside for a walk.

"It's a beautiful day!" Ryan said as he let the horses out of the stable. The horses were still skittish from earlier scares and were in poor spirits. However, Ryan wasn't the type to neglect them just because he was a mage. He lived alone on this mountain and wasn't about to let his elevated status make him forget about the animals' well-being.

As the horses wandered, their spirits improved. The sun shone brightly, with no wind, and the sky was a perfect shade of blue, like an endless expanse of glass. The distant mountains created a peaceful and tranquil view. Yet, Ryan's thoughts were on the two massive planets in the sky, which he had gazed at countless times without ever tiring of their grandeur. He couldn't help but marvel at the wonders of the universe.

"Who's there? Who?" Suddenly, the horses, which had been scattered, rushed back to the stable in panic. Ryan knew something was wrong—horses had much sharper hearing than humans.

"What's going on?" Ryan listened closely and heard some movement near the fence leading up the mountain. A small fireball appeared in his hand as he discreetly tucked one hand behind his back, opening the small gate in the fence. What he saw shocked him completely.