After an eventful night, the party officially weed its two new members around breakfast, unaware that Morgane''s return had already reached Thorian''s ears.


    However, after the college issued wide-scale recruitment, offering enviable positions in the teachers'' houses as alchemists prompted him to alter his ns. The effects already showed up as their potions and magic weapons productions severely diminished.


    Thus, despite his anger, he stayed his hand, waiting for the perfect opportunity to get rid of the girl without further endangering his nation''s interests.


    "Those two traitors joined the college," he muttered, seated on his golden throne, his voice echoing in the empty room. "Something is wrong," he added with a deep frown. He knew he wasn''t the sharpest knife in the drawer when it came to wits and calctions. Yet, the situation''s evolution was too bizarre to be ignored.


    After several months, he realised Shepard''s swift intervention and insistence were unusual. After all, the only arcanist present during the king''s summit was Elisabeth. So, he shouldn''t know about the summoned, and the ones in his city-state should be running free.


    But Shepard''s actions weren''t the reason for his suspicions. It was his cousins''. He knew they rallied his faction with how closely he monitored Gabriel''s movement. "Why did he send them to the college?" he pondered, tapping on his armrest with his finger.


    Even if they told his uncle about Morgane''s potential, a crucial piece linking everything was missing, obscured in a veil he failed to pierce for months until he remembered their discussion. "Shepard moved to save the boy!" He eximed, pping his throne before adding, "He sent them to retrieve him after his return. He doesn''t care about Morgane at all!"


    Finallypleting the puzzle, he rose from his seat, unveiling more information he missed, "That old fox said the boy scammed his daughter. I remember signing a document for her husband''s family four years ago!" He said, trying to remember what it was about but failed.


    Giving up after five minutes of unsessful attempts, he channelled mana to ry his orders, "Investigate the Riverwood barony. Interrogate the citizens and exhume the corpses if needed. I want to know what transpired in the vige and mansion four years ago."


    As his words lingered, promising toplexify Julius'' situation, the boy walked to Shepard''s tower, eager to see his big brother improve his alchemical skills after so long.


    After scanning Shepard''s seals, the arcanist''s quarters unlocked for them, revealing the yfully smiling man.


    "Let''s not waste time with empty words and jump directly into potion making," said Shepard, pointing his finger at an alchemist station. Bizarre minerals and nts carefully chosen lined the working space, their properties and potent odours exuding in the surroundings.


    "We''ll brew a tier four potion called Cognizance Concoction. It has two incredible effects, making it one of the most expensive in its tier," Shepard added, catching the duo''s attention before continuing, "The first grants the consumer fifty mana strands. The second enhances cognitive abilities and mental acuity."


    Shocked by the effects, Adam''s pupils constricted as he asked, "Is the second effect unique or do all tier-four potions boost certain parameters?"


    "It''s not unique but notmon either. Potion recipes with such potent effects are rare andplex to develop," answered the dean. A pensive frown formed on his forehead as he remembered something. "I''ve read some simr improvements could ur after consuming multiple potions. Unfortunately, we lost this marvellous method and its recipes to time."


    ''Is this what happened after I consumed the three potions from Theodor''s book?'' Adam pondered. Despite his hardship in procuring the materials, objectively, they weren''t that rare, not to mention the easy brewing process. ''Well, it was hard in the past,'' he added, a wry smile tugging at his lips.


    As he pondered, Shepard continued, "Don''t overthink it. Even if they are harder to brew, we developed outstanding and less dangerous potions with simr effects."


    With a nod, Adam said, "Let''s start."


    However, the arcanist closed his eyes, shaking his head as he said simultaneously, "You must swear a magical oath not to share the college''s recipes first. If go against your promise, you''ll lose half your mana."


    "Show me the method," answered Adam with a shrug. He knew how reluctant alchemists were to share their recipes and that every student would eventually take the same oath a few yearster.


    ''I can always get rid of it after bing an arcanist myself,'' he thought, unbothered by the rules.


    Five minutester, surrounded by shimmering symbols, he swore not to share any potion concoction he learned in the college. As his words lingered, the inscriptions covering the ground came to life, crawling on his ethereal body until they condensed and settled around his heart.


    With a satisfied nod, Shepard walked to the lined ingredients, saying, "I''ll demonstrate the process first. Pay attention to the exnations because you''ll brew it right after!"


    Under Adam''s attentive eyes, Shepard lightened an exquisite cauldron before manipting the tier-four auxiliary materials. Then, he retrieved an enormous brain, exining, "This is the principal ingredient: the brain of a Sapientis Arcanum. It is a legendary maritime creature hard to deal with."


    Without waiting, the arcanist delicately used mana to separate the cerebrum, taking precautions not to damage it. Next, he divided it into smaller parts, masterfully avoiding critical areas or external contamination.


    Finally, he gradually threw them into the boiling water, taking time to meld the potent material with the mixture after each addition.


    An hourter, he said, "This is thest step. I''ll use mana to boost the potion''s potency while it cools. Thanks to my water affinity, this step is the easiest for me, but not for you."


    Adam understood the dean hinted at hisck of affinity, realising they could help with alchemy. However, the two strongest people he ever heard about were also affinityless magic users. Yet, they created the most incredible rituals, causing his lips to curl into a smirk.


    ''I can be the best alchemist, even without affinities,'' he thought, his luminous eyes burning with passion.