First Commission

He leaned in, intrigued. The description was vague, but the implications were massive.

If he could transmute objects freely, then crafting might not be limited to just pre-set formulas.

At the bottom of the tab, another line of text appeared:

[Would you like to perform a test transmutation?]

A confirmation button hovered before him.

Cyril grinned and tapped it.

The system immediately highlighted a handful of objects in his vicinity — his bed, the wooden table by the wall, a small iron candlestick, and the plain chair in the corner.

Let's start small.

He focused on the chair.

[Select an object to transmute.]

[Wooden Chair] (Basic)

The Codex flared to life. Runes shimmered along its open pages, casting a soft glow against the walls. Cyril instinctively raised his Novice Alchemist Staff, channeling his focus into the experiment.

A translucent circular interface appeared over the chair, showing two main options:

🔹 Break Down – Reduce the object into raw materials.

🔹 Refine – Attempt to enhance the object into a higher-grade version.

Cyril hesitated for a second before selecting Break Down.

The moment he confirmed, the Codex reacted. A deep, resonant hum filled the air as the chair's structure shimmered.

In an instant, it dissolved into pure energy, breaking apart into floating alchemic symbols.

A new notification popped up.

[You have successfully transmuted [Wooden Chair].

[Acquired: [Basic Wood] x3, [Iron Nails] x2]

Cyril's eyebrows lifted.

So that's how it works.

Transmutation wasn't just about changing forms — it could also serve as a method of material extraction.

If he could break down common objects, then he had access to near-unlimited crafting components.

But that was just one side of it.

Now, let's try Refine.

Cyril turned his attention to the iron candlestick. This time, he selected Refine instead of Break Down.

A surge of energy pulsed from the Codex, its pages shifting as a complex alchemic circle formed beneath the object. The candlestick vibrated, glowing faintly before its texture began to change.

The dull, ordinary iron gained a sharper sheen, its surface smoothing into something far more polished.

[Refinement successful!]

[Iron Candlestick] has been upgraded to [Refined Iron Candlestick].

[+10% Durability, +5% Value Increase.]

Cyril let out a small chuckle.

'Now we're talking.'

This system wasn't just powerful — it was broken. If he could refine low-tier items into higher-quality versions, then he could essentially print money in the game.

Buy cheap, refine, sell high. It was a perfect loophole.

A knock at the door jolted him from his thoughts.

He quickly dismissed the interface, making sure everything looked normal before walking over.

When he opened the door, he was met with a young NPC — a teenage boy wearing a simple brown tunic, his hands nervously gripping a small pouch.

"Excuse me, sir," the boy said, eyes darting between Cyril's robe and the staff in his grip. "Are you an Alchemist?"

Cyril raised an eyebrow. Was this a random event?

"Yeah," he replied casually. "What's up?"

The boy swallowed, then held up the pouch. "I… I found these herbs outside the city walls, but I don't know what to do with them. The apothecary won't take them unless they're processed."

Cyril crossed his arms, considering.

If this was a hidden side quest, then it was a perfect opportunity to test his alchemy further.

"Alright," he said, stepping aside. "Come in."

The boy hesitated for a moment before entering, his eyes darting around the room. Cyril motioned for him to place the pouch on the table, and when he did, the system immediately recognized it.

[Quest Received: [An Alchemist's First Commission]

[Process the raw herbs into usable alchemic materials.]

Cyril untied the pouch and tipped the contents onto the wooden table.

A small pile of dried herbs spilled out — green and brittle, but faintly aromatic.

[Low-Quality Moonleaf]

A common herb used in basic healing salves. Must be refined to increase its potency.

[Duskroot]

A mildly poisonous plant, often used in weak paralytic agents or diluted for medicinal purposes.

[Wild Sage]

Used in stamina recovery potions. Has a bitter aftertaste but is highly sought after.

Cyril rubbed his chin.

These were basic materials, but they still had potential.

"You said the apothecary won't take them unless they're processed?" he asked, glancing at the boy.

The kid nodded quickly. "Yeah. They told me raw herbs spoil too fast and aren't worth much."

Cyril rolled up his sleeves. "Alright, let's fix that."

He pulled out his Novice Alchemy Set from his inventory, placing a small mortar and pestle onto the table.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he summoned the Grandmaster's Codex once more. The grimoire floated beside him, its pages glowing softly.

[Would you like to refine these materials?]

[Confirm] / [Decline]

Cyril smirked and tapped Confirm.

The Codex's runes flared to life, and an alchemic circle formed around the herbs. He picked up the Moonleaf first, dropping a few leaves into the mortar.

Step one: Pulverization.

He took the pestle and began grinding the leaves with steady pressure.

The Moonleaf crumbled, releasing a faintly sweet scent. As he worked, golden particles rose from the mixture, signaling that the refining process was taking effect.

A notification appeared.

[You have refined [Low-Quality Moonleaf] into [Refined Moonleaf].]

[Effectiveness increased by 30%.]

Cyril didn't pause. He grabbed the Duskroot, cutting it into thin slices before grinding it down.

The root was tougher, but as the alchemic energy surged, it softened into a fine powder.

[You have refined [Duskroot] into [Processed Duskroot].

[Poison effect stabilized. Now usable in controlled alchemy formulas.]

One by one, he processed the herbs, watching as their quality improved before his eyes.

By the time he was finished, he had a neat collection of refined alchemic ingredients, neatly arranged on the table.

The boy's eyes widened. "You… you did that so fast!"

Cyril wiped his hands on a cloth, smirking. "Alchemy's all about efficiency." He gestured at the processed herbs. "The apothecary should take them now. Their effects have been stabilized."

A system prompt appeared.

[Quest Complete: [An Alchemist's First Commission]

[Reward: 10 Silvers, Reputation +5]

The boy eagerly fished out a small pouch from his belt and handed it to Cyril. "Here's your payment! I-I don't know how much Alchemists usually charge, but I hope this is enough!"

Cyril opened it and counted the fifty gold coins inside. For a beginner quest, this wasn't bad. He tossed the pouch into his inventory.

"You got yourself a deal."

The boy's face lit up. "Thanks, mister! If I find more herbs, can I bring them to you?"

Cyril thought for a moment. This could be useful — a steady supply of raw materials without needing to harvest them himself.

"Sure," he said. "But next time, I'll charge extra."

The boy grinned and nodded before hurrying out the door, clearly excited.