Chapter 42: Making Potion

Arlo strode purposefully along the white futuristic path of the shopping district, his thoughts preoccupied with the checklist of tasks he'd meticulously compiled in his BrainLink. 

Ahead, the ornate sign for Fantastic Alchemy swung lightly in the breeze. The alchemical symbol etched onto the wooden plaque seemed to glow faintly in the sunlight, a fitting marker for Maria's shop.

As Arlo pushed open the creaky door, the familiar jingle of the shop bell rang out, echoing through the cozy interior. Shelves lined with vials, herbs, and otherworldly trinkets greeted him, filling the room with the scent of lavender and something faintly metallic. He approached the desk and rang the call bell a few times, its chime crisp and sharp.

"Hold your horses! I'm coming!" Maria's familiar voice called out from the back.

Moments later, she emerged, brushing off her hands on her apron. Her dark auburn hair was tied in a loose bun, and her eyes lit up when she saw Arlo.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite customer," she said with a warm smile. "What brings you here today?"

Arlo grinned. "Just thought I'd stop by. I was at Hidden Junk earlier and figured I'd check in to see if my order was ready."

Maria nodded and gestured for him to wait a moment as she walked behind the counter to retrieve something. "You've got good timing. I was just about to send everything over to you. But since you're here, we can handle this face-to-face."

"That works for me," Arlo replied, leaning casually against the counter.

Maria returned, holding a sturdy leather satchel. She set it down with a satisfying thud. "Alright, let's see. I managed to track down everything you asked for. Most of it was easy enough, but the crystal of a matured Hornacis Gray Mountain Goat Horn? That was a challenge. Luckily, one of my more… eccentric suppliers had it in stock." 

Arlo's eyebrows raised. "You mean the type of supplier who probably doubles as a pioneer explorer?"

Maria smirked. "Let's just say he has connections in places you wouldn't want to vacation."

Arlo opened the satchel, inspecting its contents. The glittering crystal caught his eye immediately, its surface refracting light into a spectrum of colors. The Human-Faced Rose Complete Stalk was bundled delicately in protective wrapping, its eerie visage more unsettling up close. The supplementary ingredients were neatly labeled in smaller compartments.

"This looks perfect," Arlo said, nodding appreciatively. "You really went above and beyond."

"Complimentary nightmare fuel," Maria deadpanned.

Maria waved him off. "Don't flatter me yet. Let's talk numbers. The two main ingredients alone cost 600 credits,the supplementary ingredients, and the service fee that brings the total amount to 875. Plus, you wanted five low mana potions, which adds another 250 credits. Grand total: 1175 credits."

Arlo winced but quickly composed himself. 

"Right. Just let me…" He opened his BrainLink screen and initiated the payment transfer. "Done."

[Credits Transferred: 1175]

[Current Balance: 307 Credits]

Maria checked her terminal and nodded. "Confirmed. Pleasure doing business with you, as always."

Arlo secured the satchel in his inventory and extended a hand to Maria. "Thanks for everything. I mean it." 

She shook his hand firmly. "You're welcome, Arlo. And hey, don't forget to come back alive from this crazy quest you're prepping for."

"Alive and victorious," Arlo quipped, flashing a confident grin.

As he exited Fantastic Alchemy and stepped into the bustling streets of the shopping district, Arlo felt the weight of the ingredients—both literal and metaphorical. The pieces for his next advancement and upcoming quest were falling into place. Now, all he had to do was figure out how to use them wisely

=================================================

The following two days were a blur of battles and training for Arlo and Link. Determined to push Link's abilities further, Arlo sought out trainers with Pokémon that presented unique challenges. Each battle provided valuable experience, sharpening both Link's skills and his resolve.

By the end of the second day, Link stood at [Level 12], stronger and more confident than ever.

"Alright, buddy," Arlo said, crouching beside Link after their final match of the day. "You've earned it."

He patted Link's head, his fingers brushing over the rough, spiked fur that seemed even tougher now. Link barked happily, wagging his tail in short, quick bursts.

The biggest payoff came when Link learned a new move [Rock Throw]. Arlo watched in awe during training as a pale white glow shimmered around Link's neck, solidifying into a jagged, rocky projectile before being hurled at a training dummy. The force sent the dummy sprawling, its surface riddled with cracks.

"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Arlo exclaimed, giving Link a thumbs-up. "With a move like that, you're finally adding some long-range firepower to your arsenal."

Link puffed out his chest with pride, but his next attempt sent the rock sailing wide, missing the dummy completely and crashing into a tree. Arlo winced.

"Okay, maybe let's work on accuracy next," he muttered.

The duo spent hours honing Rock Throw. Arlo noticed that the longer Link held the energy, the more powerful the move became. He knelt by the training dummy, gesturing with his hands.

"Link, listen. When you feel the energy building, don't rush it. Let it grow, focus on the target, and then release."

Link tilted his head, his ears twitching as he processed the instructions. Barking once in affirmation, he crouched low and began channeling the energy again. This time, he held the shimmering white glow for a few extra seconds, his body tensing before he launched the rock.

The projectile struck the dummy with explosive force, completely shredding its top half. Arlo had to shield his face from the splinters.

"Whoa!" Arlo exclaimed, blinking at the devastation. "Okay, note to self: don't get hit by that. Good job, Link!"

He ruffled Link's fur as the Rockruff barked enthusiastically. The next few attempts went smoother, with Link showing more control over the timing and trajectory of the move. By the end of the session, Arlo was confident that Rock Throw would be a reliable tool in their arsenal.

...

Back at their apartment, Arlo slumped onto the couch, Link curling up at his feet. He tapped the side of his head, activating his BrainLink to place a call to Aria.

Her image appeared in the holographic screen a moment later, her expression softening when she saw him. "Arlo. How's the preparation going?"

"I think we're ready," he replied. "Link's stronger than ever, and I've got all the materials I need."

Aria nodded, her tone shifting to something more serious. "Good. Tomorrow's an important day—not just for this quest, but for you as a Pioneer. This is your chance to prove yourself, Arlo."

"I know," he said, his voice steady despite the weight of her words. "I won't let this opportunity slip by."

She offered him a faint smile. "Good. I'll pick you up in the morning. Make sure you get some rest tonight."

After ending the call, Arlo leaned back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. The anticipation of what lay ahead gnawed at him, but the steady rise and fall of Link's breathing grounded him.

"We've got this, buddy," Arlo murmured, his hand resting on Link's head. The Rockruff stirred slightly, letting out a soft growl before settling back into sleep.

As the apartment grew quiet and the evening turned to night, Arlo began preparing the ingredients he had gathered for the Clown Potion. The idea of advancing during the quest was risky but strategic, and he wasn't about to leave anything to chance.

"Just one more hurdle," he whispered to himself, grinding the ingredients with careful precision. "And then we'll see what we're really made of."

=================================================

Arlo rose from the couch, a determined look crossing his face as he moved toward the neatly organized shelves where he stored his inventory. If there was a chance he could advance to Sequence 8 mid-quest, he needed to be ready. The brewing of the Clown Potion was no small task, but with his recent acquisition of ingredients and his growing confidence, he felt prepared to tackle it.

From his inventory, he retrieved the Crystal of a Matured Hornacis Gray Mountain Goat Horn and the Complete Stalk of a Human-Faced Rose—the two main ingredients required for the potion. Alongside these, he placed the supplementary ingredients: 80 milliliters of Purified Water, 5 drops of Tornapple (Jimsonweed) Juice, 7 grams of Black-Rimmed Sunflower Powder, 10 grams of Golden Cloak Grass Powder. and 3 drops of Poison Hemlock.

Arlo laid the ingredients neatly on the table, his fingers brushing lightly over the protective wrapping of the Human-Faced Rose. Its grotesque visage felt unnerving, even under the sterile lighting of his workspace.

"Well, this is a far cry from the chemistry experiments we did in the Laboratory hospital," Arlo muttered, a half-smirk tugging at his lips as he recalled the countless flasks of chemicals and reagents. "Except this time, I might end up with a potion instead of a science fair ribbon."

He grabbed the pot and placed it carefully over the portable flame. The liquid hissed as he added 80 milliliters of purified water. One by one, the supplementary ingredients followed: the sharp tang of Tornapple juice, the earthy aroma of Black-Rimmed Sunflower powder, the subtle sweetness of Golden Cloak Grass, and finally, the acrid scent of Poison Hemlock. Each step was meticulous, guided by a recipe in his mind. 

The mixture began to bubble ominously. Arlo leaned back, letting out a slow breath.

"Okay, that's the easy part," he muttered, eyeing the two main ingredients.

The Human-Faced Rose seemed almost alive, its petals twitching faintly under his gaze. The Hornacis Gray Mountain Goat crystal shimmered with an ethereal glow, refracting the light like a kaleidoscope. 

He picked up the rose stalk first, its faint, mocking laughter reverberating in his ears as it touched the liquid. The sound made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. 

"You've got to be kidding me," he said aloud, glancing nervously at Link. The Rockruff perked up but didn't seem alarmed. "If you start hearing creepy voices too, we're leaving."

The laughter stopped abruptly as the crystal followed the rose into the pot. A soft hum replaced the unsettling sound, and gray halos began to swirl above the concoction. Arlo leaned in cautiously, his curiosity overtaking his apprehension. 

The liquid beneath the halos shimmered in distinct bands of gold, yellow, and red, each color refusing to blend with the others. It fizzed like soda, with bubbles bursting violently against the surface. 

"This would probably sell out at a Halloween party," Arlo joked, but his hands moved with care as he transferred the liquid into a sterilized glass bottle. The potion's colors swirled hypnotically, and he used his Observe skill to confirm its properties.

[Sequence 8: Clown Potion]

Description: A liquid displaying a mix of gold, yellow, and red, with distinctly separate colors at their boundaries. Bubbles churn and fizz within the liquid

Stats: Dex +10, Str +5, Wis +5, Charisma +2

Effects: Grants the Job (Clown) upon consumption.

Arlo exhaled sharply, feeling a weight lift off his chest. 

"That's one problem solved," he said, placing the bottle in his inventory.

The relief was short-lived as the reality of his upcoming quest loomed over him again. He glanced at the clock. It was late, but not too late to reward himself.

Reaching into the fridge, he pulled out a small tub of chocolate pudding. "Alright, chef's treat," he muttered, grabbing a spoon and plopping down on the couch.

As he ate, Arlo's mind wandered to the intricacies of the potion. The Fool Pathway was fraught with challenges, but it offered an unparalleled combination of versatility and chaos.

It's a fitting title,he thought. Walking this path really does make you feel like a clown sometimes.

He glanced at Link, whose steady breathing signaled he'd already drifted to sleep. The sight brought a rare sense of calm.

"Whatever happens tomorrow, we're ready," he whispered, setting the pudding aside. "We've come too far to fail now."