HP: god of potions

Chapter 129

Two figures stood amidst the wreckage—a man and a woman.

The woman had a slender, statuesque figure, her skin a rich, warm brown tone. Her high cheekbones, full lips, and expressive eyes conveyed a blend of determination and vulnerability. Her intricate braids, adorned with gold accessories, cascaded elegantly down her back. She wore a white and gold ensemble, though it was tattered and singed from the explosion.

The man had a rugged demeanor, his muscular build and tan skin giving him a battle-hardened look. His dark brown hair, now longer and parted in the middle, framed a bearded, more mature face. His outfit was disheveled, his shirt unbuttoned to reveal a gray undershirt beneath.

Rachel saw them embrace, and for a brief moment, she paused, realization dawning on her. "Oh... this world."

Meanwhile, Gray had appeared elsewhere. He stood in a strange, dimly lit room, the air thick with raw, pulsing energy. The walls twisted unnaturally, shifting with an almost organic motion, as if the space itself was alive. In the center of the chamber, resting upon a metallic pedestal, was the core of his interest. A pulsating, geometric construct, shifting between crimson, violet, and eerie blue hues. The structure seemed to be both crystalline and liquid, defying physics as it floated, occasionally rippling as if responding to his presence.

Gray reached out, letting his fingers graze its surface. A smirk played on his lips as he thought: "Gosh, this feels like it was cut from my own domain." Rachel arrived just in time to see him holding the core. Her eyes widened in alarm. "That thing is dangerous, Gray!"

He waved her concern off. "It's fine. It's literally an external manifestation of my domain." Rachel blinked, shocked. "Your domain?"

Gray shrugged. "It's a domain of alchemy change. Well, more like alchemy, which is just change. But I still haven't figured all of it out."

With that, he took out his wand and began chanting fully in Latin. A vast time-stop spell expanded outward, locking everything in place. He sat down, pulling out his notebook, preparing to analyze the hexcore.

Rachel crossed her arms. "Are you going to tell me about the dream you just had?" Gray, now unnecessarily wearing a pair of glasses, turned to her. "The Order of Merlin finally attacked the dream Gray. It's actually quite nice—they only came after he had graduated."

Rachel raised an eyebrow as she observed him. Surrounding him were stacks of books, and with his robe and glasses, he exuded the exact aesthetic she was weak for. She pursed her lips, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. Gray smirked knowingly. "You really are extra sometimes," Rachel muttered. "You don't even need glasses." Gray simply chuckled, returning to his work while Rachel, despite herself, continued to feast her eyes on the sight before her.

-scene change-

Days should have passed if time weren't stopped. Gray could be seen holding two identical Hexcores as he smiled. "Are you finally finished?" Rachel asked as she got out of her chair. Although she sounded like she was complaining, she hadn't spoken once while he was concentrating, waiting until he was done. Only then did she finally voice her boredom, and by then, Gray was satisfied as he collected his mountain of notes.

"Yap, it's all done. Now I can produce mountains of them. I am really jealous of their intelligence, being able to come up with something so close to my domain." Rachel sighed as she got up to help him clean up the notes while saying, "Then why not make a potion that enhances your intelligence?" Gray sighed. "It's not that I won't, I'm just lacking something. Plus, I need to be careful when it comes to my brain. The last thing I want is to hastily turn myself into an idiot."

Rachel chuckled as she replied, "I thought you didn't make defective products? Is the resident potioneering prodigy afraid of making a mistake?" she asked teasingly, which made him groan. "Just shut up," he said as he finally finished packing. By then, Rachel was already excited as she said, "By the way, we are not going to pick a fight in this world. We are just going to look for materials and enjoy the scenery, okay?" Gray paused. "Looks like you have an idea of the world we are in. So, any notable materials in this world?" he asked.

Rachel replied, "Well, the most powerful one you have in your hand." Gray agreed before asking, "Is there another one?" Rachel nodded. "Yeah, it's called Shimmer. Anyways, let's go and watch the night sky of this world," she said as she dragged Gray out of the lab they were in. Of course, he left behind the original Hexcore. He might be stealing ideas in order to grow powerful, but he wouldn't be stealing products. He was a thief with professional etiquette, after all. The moment Gray left the lab, time resumed, and they appeared on the top side of the city—Piltover, where the rich and noble lived—while the undercity, Zaun, was where the poor resided.

Currently, Gray and Rachel were walking among the streets of Piltover, where everyone seemed tense, Enforcers everywhere. "Their council was just attacked. Some died, so they are tense. The people are scared," Rachel said as she looked around, seeming a bit sad. "You seem quite empathetic towards them despite knowing that they are just shows in your world," Gray spoke in a serious tone. Rachel looked at him. "I can't help it. Now that I'm here, knowing that they are nothing but fiction in my world doesn't mean they are any less real," she said. Gray sighed as they arrived at a bridge, where he leaned over. "I guess I knew that, seeing as I'm but a mob character in your world," he said with a smile that didn't convey happiness.

Rachel looked out over the bridge. "But you're right. Just because they are fiction doesn't mean they are less than us, given that we are here with them," she said. Gray then took out one of his books and glasses, starting to read while the wind blew his hair like wild grass. Rachel smiled. "You don't have to do that to cheer me up," she said. Gray sighed. "Good, because I don't like looking like a nerd," he chuckled as he put away the notebook and glasses.

Suddenly, it started to rain. "Let's go inside Pangea," Rachel sighed, only for Gray to grab her wrist as he ran. "Come on, I've always wanted to run in the rain while holding your hand," he said. Rachel smiled. "What a weird wish you have," she said as the rain poured over them, drenching them completely. "Come on, there are so many things I didn't get to enjoy since I was busy trying to grow stronger every day since the first year," he said. Rachel frowned slightly. "Is that all you've been thinking about since you were eleven? How to grow more powerful?" she asked, saddened by the thought.