Adrian walked slowly through the staff section of the Academy.
The air was quieter here, far from the bustling student quarters, with only the occasional rustle of leaves or distant murmur of instructors breaking the calm.
In Alchemy, he and Serena had been among the only five students to successfully complete the Stamina Recovery Potion, their shared cauldron yielding a flawless amber brew that earned a proud nod from Instructor Lira.
Most of the class had struggled. Some burned their Stallion Grass, others ground their Vigor Root too coarsely, and some proved stubborn and got the ingredients wrong. But the exercise had been a walk in a park for Adrian and Serena.
After class, he had lingered to ask Lira about pill making, hoping to learn about permanent solutions that outshone potions' temporary effects.
Her response showed she was still angry: "Don't ask me anything until you bring your cauldron, Adrian!"
