chapter 51 varian quest

Varian's gaze lingered on the glowing crimson vial in Raven's hand. Unlike before, when he had been merely curious, there was now a sharper glint in his eyes—satisfaction.

> "Good."

He stepped further into the room, the scent of crushed herbs and alchemical residue filling the air. His expression remained unreadable, but there was an unmistakable air of approval.

> "I asked you to test your abilities, and you did."

Raven's grip tightened slightly on the vial.

> So this was a test all along.

Varian had given him the freedom to experiment, but it wasn't just about mixing ingredients. It was about seeing how far Raven would go without guidance.

> Would he hesitate? Would he seek help? Would he take shortcuts?

Raven hadn't done any of those things. He had relied entirely on his own knowledge, instincts, and skills to create something entirely new.

> "You figured it out faster than I expected," Varian admitted. "Most alchemists would have spent weeks trying to balance that combination."

Raven simply shrugged.

> "I learn fast."

A small smirk tugged at the corner of Varian's lips, gone in an instant.

> "Then let's see if what you've created is truly worth something."

He extended a hand.

> "Give it to me."

Raven hesitated for a fraction of a second. This potion was his creation. If it worked, it could be incredibly valuable. But he wasn't stupid—he wasn't going to refuse Varian outright.

Instead, he placed the vial in Varian's palm.

---

The Evaluation

Varian held the potion up to the candlelight, watching the way the liquid shimmered inside the glass. He tilted it slightly, studying the viscosity. Then, without hesitation—

He uncorked it and took a small sip.

Raven's eyes narrowed.

> "You sure that's a good idea?"

Varian swallowed, his expression completely calm.

A few tense seconds passed. Then, a faint glow spread across his fingertips—brief but unmistakable. His smirk deepened.

> "Not bad."

Raven crossed his arms. "What does it do?"

Varian placed the vial back on the table.

> "You've created a Low-Tier Enhancement Draught. It temporarily strengthens physical reflexes and reaction speed. Not a groundbreaking potion, but considering the ingredients you used?"

His gaze flicked back to Raven.

> "It's an impressive first step."

Raven absorbed the information. The potion wasn't revolutionary, but it was proof of concept. More importantly, it confirmed that he could push the boundaries of conventional alchemy.

Varian leaned against the table, arms crossed.

> "Now that you've proven your ability, we move on to the real lessons."

A pause. Then—

> "Are you ready to learn the true secrets of alchemy?"

Raven's heart beat just a little faster at the words. The true secrets of alchemy? He had been experimenting for so long, but he knew there was much more to it—secrets that went beyond ingredients, formulas, and potions. It was about understanding the very nature of transmutation, about bending reality itself to your will.

"I'm ready."

His voice was steady, but inside, his mind raced. What would these "true secrets" entail? Was Varian speaking of something darker, more dangerous, or perhaps more refined than he had ever imagined?

Varian studied him for a moment, the silence stretching between them as if the weight of the question lingered in the air, pressing down on both of them. Then, with a small nod, he pushed himself away from the table.

"Good. But before we begin, you need to understand one thing," he said, walking slowly toward the far corner of the room, where an ancient, dusty tome sat on a pedestal. The book's cover was intricately embossed with gold and silver, symbols Raven did not recognize.

Varian's eyes never left Raven as he spoke.

"Alchemy isn't just about creating. It's about understanding. It's about stripping down the layers of reality, revealing what's beneath."

Raven shifted on his feet, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his mind. He had always been good at creating things—potions, concoctions, mixtures—but understanding the true essence of things? That was a different beast altogether.

Varian gestured to the book.

"This is where it begins. The true study of alchemy is a study of the world itself. And that, Raven, requires more than just skill. It requires sacrifice."

Raven's brow furrowed, the weight of the words sinking in. Sacrifice? What was Varian suggesting?

"Sacrifice?" Raven asked, the word tasting strange on his tongue.

Varian's gaze softened for a brief moment, as if weighing his next words carefully.

"You cannot alter the world without consequences. Alchemy... it's not just the manipulation of physical matter. It's the manipulation of life itself. When you change one thing, you change everything."

He turned his eyes back to the tome, his hand resting lightly on its cover.

"Are you prepared for that, Raven?"

Raven's throat went dry. The weight of the decision loomed over him—what was he truly willing to risk for this knowledge? For this power?

"I am," he said, almost before he fully understood the depth of his own words.

Varian's lips curled into a smile, but it was a smile that carried no warmth—only the cool, calculating approval of someone who had seen the path and knew the price it demanded.

"Good. Let's begin, then."

And with that, Varian opened the tome. As the pages turned, the air around them seemed to grow heavier, the room darker, as if the very act of unveiling these ancient secrets had begun to draw the shadows closer.

Raven could feel it—he could feel something shifting inside him, something stirring at the edge of his consciousness. Whatever lay ahead, it would change him. And in that moment, he was ready for it.

The Mission

Varian's gaze darkened, and his voice grew more serious. He walked toward Raven, his posture rigid, as though preparing to impart a final, crucial order.

"I'm not asking you to fight beasts this time," he said, his tone becoming more focused, "You need those plants for research."

Raven paused, confused. Poisonous plants? That didn't sound like the kind of mission Varian would normally assign—at least not in the way he had been expecting. But Varian's eyes, steady and unblinking, gave him no room to question further.

"What kind of research?" Raven asked, trying to keep his voice steady. The idea of facing the toxic flora of the cave had been daunting enough, but now there was an additional layer of complexity.

Varian's eyes flicked toward the mysterious alchemy book he had handed over earlier. His fingers drummed lightly on its cover before he spoke again, a certain satisfaction in his tone.

"These plants are unlike anything else in alchemical studies. They're not just dangerous—they are key to unlocking the next stage of alchemical advancement. Some of these plants contain properties that could help advance the understanding of transmutation, enhancement, and even regeneration. They are powerful, volatile, and extremely rare."

Raven's mind began to race. The cave was filled with poisonous plants—mutated and dangerous. Yet, Varian was asking him to retrieve them for some sort of groundbreaking research? That kind of knowledge could be more valuable than Raven had imagined. If he could harness their potential…

"So, you want me to go into the Poison Cave," Raven began, slowly piecing together the puzzle, "and gather plants?"

Varian nodded, his face serious.

"Not just gather. Destroy the plants safely, Raven. The toxins within them are volatile and deadly. They've begun to spread beyond the cave, slowly poisoning the land around it. If left unchecked, the contamination will only grow worse. The plants, however, can be harvested for their alchemical properties. That is why I'm sending you. You will use this book to guide your actions."

Raven turned the book over in his hands, feeling the weight of it. He could sense the power within it, the potential that came with knowledge so forbidden. The Poison Cave was already dangerous, with its overrun flora and the toxic air that filled it. But to destroy the plants without letting the toxins spread—or worse, explode—would take finesse, precision, and caution.

"What exactly am I supposed to do once I'm inside?" Raven asked, his voice steady, despite the lingering unease.

Varian's expression grew colder, his eyes narrowing.

"The plants within the cave are like no others. Many are alchemical creations—mutations that have thrived due to their environment. But they're unstable. Some are ancient, their roots tied to the very essence of the earth, and some were created with methods that went too far, too deep into forbidden knowledge."

He paused, his gaze piercing.

"You will need to extract the essence from these plants without triggering the toxins. The book will guide you, but you must follow it exactly. One wrong move, and the cave will turn against you, releasing a cascade of poison. And if the plants are destroyed improperly, the toxins could spread faster than you can imagine. If you fail, the contamination could spread across miles, rendering entire areas uninhabitable. You understand?"

Raven nodded slowly, feeling the weight of Varian's words. The Poison Cave wasn't just a place of danger—it was a ticking time bomb, and he was being sent to disarm it.

"I understand," Raven said, his voice grim.

Varian's eyes softened, just slightly, as he nodded.

"Good. Take what you need from the alchemy lab. I'll prepare a few things for you. And remember, Raven—the plants are the key to something bigger than you realize. Handle them carefully."

Raven turned to leave, the weight of the book in his hand, the mission clear before him. The Poison Cave awaited, and the fate of the plants—and perhaps alchemy itself—was now in his hands