Chapter 81 Basilio'S Dream
It's been a few days since Elvira started her training. Since then, it has been decided that either Iris or Basilio-san will teach Elvira synthesis, while the other one will be guided by me.
The teaching duty for Elvira switches between morning and afternoon, and currently, Iris is in charge in the afternoon.
"Elvira, you're trying too hard."
"But it's not mixing at all!"
"You're so impatient."
While Elvira crushes herbs with force, Iris laughs out loud.
From the side, it seems like Elvira and Iris have something in common. Even though their fields are different -- alchemy and magic, both are young geniuses. Despite Elvira's high pride and difficult nature, Iris easily dodges it with an innocent smile.
While keeping an eye on the two who seem like sisters, I'm guiding Basilio-san on a different synthesis table.
"--Ah..."
I catch Basilio-san's voice that slipped out as if unintentionally. Peeking into Basilio-san's face, who is looking down, it's clear that he has turned pale.
"Basilio-san? Is something wrong?"
"Ah, no, it's nothing..."
Basilio-san hastily tries to cover up when spoken to. But soon after erasing his smile, he speaks in a strained voice as if choking.
"No, it's just... it seems like I made a mistake."
Basilio-san lightly laughs at himself. He reaches for the container he was shaking absentmindedly.
According to Basilio-san, this "failed" healing potion. Upon closer inspection, it does have a slightly cloudy color, but it would still be sellable in the royal capital market.
After smelling it and confirming the lack of a pungent smell, I take a sip. Instantly, a bitterness spreads in my mouth, but since this healing potion uses strong bitter herbs, the extra bitterness doesn't seem like a result of the synthesis.
Even with a critical eye, this wouldn't be considered a "failed" potion.
"Well, it's a bit bitter indeed, but since these herbs are naturally bitter, I don't think it's a complete failure. Maybe you just didn't cook it long enough."
Suddenly, a red fruit placed in the corner of the synthesis table catches my eye. While the fruit itself has no effect, it's very sweet and can help alleviate bitterness when mixed during synthesis. It's often used for children or those who dislike bitterness.
I reach out for the fruit that is usually neglected in the corner of the table and hand it to Basilio-san.
"If it still bothers you... you can mix in this fruit to mask it."
Haha, I laugh. Basilio-san widens his green eyes and then smiles gently. His appearance, squinting his eyes and smiling as if seeing something dazzling, overlaps with that of a childhood friend.
* * *
As soon as the bell signaling the end of the work hours rings, Iris takes Elvira and rushes out of the training room to guide her through the herb garden. Since Elvira's arrival, Iris has been unusually enthusiastic and diligent in her training, finding Elvira's presence to be a good motivation.
However, leaving without cleaning up properly is something they need to be cautious about, as Iris and the others smile wryly while peering into the synthesis table they used. I decide to teach the proper way to clean the synthesis tools tomorrow and start cleaning up.
Then,
"Laura-san, I'll help."
"Oh, thank you."
Basilio-san extends his hand from the side and starts washing the utensils with care.
Without much conversation, the two of us silently continue cleaning up. The comfortable silence is broken by Basilio-san's hesitant voice, sounding more reserved than usual.
"Um, I've been curious for a while... Elvira-chan is Arnold-san's sister, right?"
At the sudden question, there is a brief delay before an answer is given.
I don't remember telling Basilio-san and the others about Arnold, but he must have guessed from Elvira's last name. I paused and nodded.
"Yes, that's right. It seems she's staying at the royal castle now... Sorry for all the commotion."
"Oh, not at all. Ever since Elvira-chan came, every day has been fun."
"I'm relieved to hear you say that."
Iris looked like she was having a great time, while Basilio-san smiled kindly and watched over her. At first glance, his smile seemed to accept everything, but I couldn't help but feel anxious that his kindness might be holding back something he wanted to say.
The words he spoke now might also be out of concern from Basilio-san's kindness. Still, I was grateful that he expressed them clearly.
Reflecting on my interactions with family, seniors, juniors, and everyone around me, I realized how fortunate I was to be surrounded by such caring people.
"Um... I was thinking today, Laura doesn't get mad even if I make mistakes, right?"
I tilted my head at the sudden question.
I remembered Basilio-san's pale face when he made a mistake today. I couldn't understand why he suddenly brought it up.
Thinking about his comment that I don't get angry, I realized it was because both Iris and Basilio-san were very talented. It might sound pathetic, but I'm not good at scolding others -- or rather, I don't know how to scold someone properly.
"Is there a need to get angry? They say failure is the mother of success, but I think it's also important to learn from patterns of failure."
I recalled the day when my arrogance led to a painful lesson in the form of the Self-destruction disease synthesis. I still couldn't forget the burning sensation from within.
Basilio-san seemed to ponder my words for a few seconds before slowly opening his mouth.
"My mother used to get very angry at failures. So, I would spend the whole day preparing to avoid making mistakes."
Basilio-san spoke with a shadow cast over his profile.
I recounted the day I met Basilio-san's mother on the day of the exam results.
"But Laura-san, you have a practical approach, right? You provide a lot of reference materials, but instead of sitting down to read them, you progresses through training by focusing on the key points while synthesizing..."
Basilio-san's observation made me startle.
Indeed, there had been no days of purely theoretical study during the training so far. It was probably because of the guidance I had received. Although I hadn't consciously realized it, the idea of completing training with a full day of theoretical study had never crossed my mind until now.
"I-I'm sorry. That was too sudden, wasn't it, with everything."
"No, that's not it! I don't want to complain... but synthesizing so much in one day, I wouldn't have believed it a year ago."
Basilio-san gazed fondly at the neatly arranged synthesis tools.
A year ago, he was afraid of failure and couldn't synthesize as he wanted. Now, he repeated the process every day.
I didn't know which teaching method suited Basilio-san best. The method of carefully synthesizing each one based on solid knowledge was certainly not wrong.
However...
"So, I'm really enjoying it now."
--On the day of the exam results, Basilio-san had said that becoming a Royal Alchemist was his "parent's dream." Since that day, something had been smoldering deep within me after seeing his dark expression.
But now, seeing Basilio-san so happy and content, I couldn't help but wish that one day becoming a Royal Alchemist would be his own dream.
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