Students who had failed early began to appear in the classroom. Likely due to poor dosage control or improper heat management, a foul stench started wafting from some of their cauldrons.
But as the saying goes, without battle, there is no defeat. Since Li Yue hadn't even started yet, she couldn't fail.
She added a bit of water to her nearly dry cauldron to keep it from burning out, which finally made her feel like she was actually doing something.
She turned her gaze toward Clo, who was making her rounds, her eyes pleading for help.
"Excuse me, student, do you need some guidance?" Clo walked over slowly, a hint of a smile in her eyes.
Li Yue nodded, her eyes filled with a desperate longing for academic credits. Clo approached and leaned in beside her, looking at the untouched tabletop, momentarily unsure where to even begin.
"You don't know anything... How did you even become a Great Mage...?" Clo sighed softly.
"The Association never taught me this... I only had one month of systematic study, and after that, it was just one fight after another," Li Yue replied, equally exasperated.
"But if I do this, it’ll be like the teacher doing your homework for you," Clo said, feigning a troubled expression.
"Then what else can I do?"
"Agree to one condition, and I'll give you a perfect score," Clo said, stifling the urge to smirk.
"What condition?"
"Skip your part-time job this weekend and come to the theater with me." Clo’s lips curled into a smile; it seemed she had planned this for a while and just hadn't found the right way to bring it up.
"I agree," Li Yue answered decisively, seemingly no longer caring whether this was a so-called date or not.
"There's an additional condition: you have to wear the beautiful dress I pick out for you."
"............" Li Yue sighed.
"If you don't decide soon, the first half of the class will be over."
"It doesn't... matter anymore... Just start." Li Yue sat down. Though she felt a sense of relief that the crisis was averted, it was coupled with the frustration of knowing she had fallen right into someone's trap.
"I can't just do it for you, of course. I'll teach you by guiding your hands." Clo leaned down and grasped Li Yue's slightly stiff arm.
"Use this pestle to mash this piece into a paste. Before that, add one hundred grams of water and put the water berries in—remember to peel them first."
"Sprinkle a handful of Sky-Glow Powder and adjust the heat to turn the flame red."
"Does that help control the intensity of the fire?"
"No. The person who researched this potion thought it was boring that both the liquid and the flame were green, so they added Sky-Glow Powder to turn the flame red."
"So it's just for aesthetics?" Li Yue was speechless.
"The professional explanation is to prevent misjudging the size of the flame." Clo held Li Yue's small hand, mashing the mixture stroke by stroke.
"If you like it sweet, you can add more berries, but too many will make it rot in the cauldron." Clo chuckled. "And if you don't clean it properly, you might just become the 'lucky' student who causes the next person's cauldron to explode."
"..........."
Why did this potions class feel so unprofessional... Could she really learn anything useful here?
"Draw this magic circle around the cauldron; it will protect the freshly made liquid." Clo guided Li Yue's finger across the table. She drew a hexagram first, then added numerous intricate patterns around it.
A Yue's fingers were slender and long, like silver fish—so beautiful... The back of her hand was pale and smooth, with her veins and bones not too prominent... Clo’s drawing speed slowed down, her eyes sparkling with delight.
Is this woman even paying attention? Li Yue wondered.
"Alright, since I taught you personally, I'm giving you a perfect score." Clo patted Li Yue on the back. "Don't tell anyone else, okay?"
"That's it?"
"Yeah. Just put that jelly-like stuff into a bottle and you're done."
"Didn't you say it wouldn't be in time if I didn't start soon?" Li Yue's face clouded with annoyance.
"It's just a basic potion; it's a breeze to make."
"You jerk..."
If she had known, she would have hesitated a bit more and tried to haggle when she agreed...
"If there's anything else you don't understand, you can come to me for tutoring. It's free." Clo looked at Li Yue with a mischievous grin. Fortunately, because she was late, Li Yue was sitting in a corner in the back rows, so no one noticed their overly intimate conversation.
Or rather, Clo had already discreetly set up a small magic circle, similar to the one she used when talking to Stephenson and Albert.
"Maybe I should just pay instead..." Li Yue felt as if she had sold herself.
"Heh heh."
"I'll choose self-study."
"There's another potions class the day after tomorrow." Clo's face practically screamed, "You have no choice."
"Isn't it still just practicing with basic potions?"
"It'll be like this until the week after next. The syllabus says these few days are for students to get used to the equipment."
"Can I just pay...?"
"No need. I can even provide personal door-to-door service. How's that for being considerate?" Clo gripped Li Yue's shoulders from behind and leaned down, whispering softly into her ear.
Li Yue's expression slowly froze.
"Waaah... please, nooo...!"
Rate on N.U.
