Wraithwood Botanist

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You have created an unrecorded elixir. As its creator, it is your duty to name your creation. What will you call it?

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"Void Helix," I whispered.

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You have chosen the name: "Void Helix." Are you sure this is the name you want to give your creation?

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"Absolutely not," Elana snapped the moment I said it. "Do you think you can name an elixir whatever you wish?"

I winced as Felio looked at me. "Please tell me there isn't some elaborate taxonomy."

"No," Elana said. "That is the Oracle's job. Your job is to create a name that attracts the gods. The more intriguing the name, the more valuable it becomes. That includes Oracle rewards, monetary success, and multiversal prestige. And I refuse to allow my pupil to give this elixir such a hideous and unbefitting name."

I sat down on the nearest stool, eyes drifting in frustration. "But it is fitting. Whatever this came from… connecting to it was like entering an endless void. That's the only way to describe it."

"No, you can describe it as a harmonizer," Elana said, "because that's what it is. You're staring at one of the most valuable categories of biota in the multiverse—and I refuse to let you label it by your crude interpretation."

I raised an eyebrow. "Harmonizer? What's that?"

Elana tried to answer but paused, searching for words. "There are five stages to soul assimilation, and this plant accomplishes four, placing it at the edge of where soul force breaks apart into mana. That is why it's able to bridge aura, neara, and mana—it's pure soul force."

"Woah…" I whispered. No wonder she's pissed, I added in my thoughts.

"Do you understand now?" Elana asked.

"Yes, I understand," I said. "Though… I'm still not sure what you want to name it. Putting 'harmonizer' in the name is boring."

"You needn't put the name into the title," she said. "You just can't name it crudely."

"I guess not…" My lips curved into a playful grin. "Then what about… Helix of Annihilation? It's flashy enough for the murderverse, right?"

I was joking, but the notification came up regardless.

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You have chosen the name: "Helix of Annihilation." Are you sure this is the name you want to give your creation? Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire

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To my surprise, Elana didn't chastise me for wasting my time nor demand I fix my hair and personality. She genuinely pondered it and mumbled to herself:

"It's still crude…"

"If I may," Lithco said, materializing from behind me. He captured Elana's full attention. "Mira has already garnered multiversal notoriety," he said, "so the name is less important than the lore. And between Areswood Forest and the nature of the ingredients, that name certainly tells a story. Helix of Annihilation has a seventy-six percent chance of capturing the interest of at least a hundred councils."

Elana must've been a numbers woman because she turned to me. "You have my blessing."

I turned to Felio. "Is Helix of Annihilation fine with you?"

For the first time, I noticed she was crying, giggling, and overwhelmed with emotions.

"What?" I asked panickedly.

"It's just… the reward… I just got this reward… and now you're asking me…." She laughed harder. "No… You name it."

I wasn't one for going back and forth with the whole, No, I insist, game, so I just sighed and accepted the name confirmation.

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Congratulations! You have created the elixir "Helix of Annihilation." Your name has been added to the annals of history as a pioneer crafter. Would you like to make a public announcement?

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"Should I announce it?" I asked.

"Absolutely not," Elana said. "It would be foolish to announce your expertise this early."

"I agree," Lithco said. "Nearn manipulation is highly regulated and limited primarily to the upper domains. If you announce your soul manipulation to the universe, it would immediately trigger a grieves investigation."

"Oh…" I whispered. "I was hoping to send you some as a thank you." There were over six liters of the elixir, and I only needed a dosage. This was a supply I could give to my entire village.

"Is that so?" Elana asked with a gentle smile.

"Niceties aside, you should send her some," Lithco said. "It's only a matter of time before the grieves organize an investigation. By then, it would be useful to have multiversal bargaining chips."

"Oh… nice!" I said. I looked at Elana, who shrugged and said:

"Send me half with your tribute. You and your…" She glanced at Felio strangely. "Friend… have impressed me. I can salvage these elixirs into something sellable."

"Just had to ruin the mood," I muttered.

"Did you say something?" Elana asked.

"No ma'am."

Elana developed a warm, amused smile and then turned to Felio. "I have aided you in obtaining a powerful reward. I expect you to teach my pupil in compensation."

Felio bowed further than I've ever seen anyone bow. "Thank you, Mistress!"

"At least one of you has manners," Elana muttered. Then she looked at me and said: "Train well this spring and winter. I expect you to be prepared to create our elixir on your own." She turned to Felio. "This one, while capable, lacks the heart for it."

With those words, Elana disappeared, souring my mood further. Yet Felio didn't even notice. She cried and hugged me, and I stumbled back, saying, "What?"

2.

Felio and I shared a very emotional dinner with her guards. She didn't stop crying for almost an hour, and Cassain and the guards thought that I hurt her and warned me off. Then, they turned pale, docile, and apologetic when they learned what happened.

"I still can't…" Cassain looked between Felio and me at the dinner table that night. "This isn't an elaborate prank, is it?"

I stopped cutting my steak and sighed. "Is it really that surprising? She created an unrecorded elixir… a first in the history of the multiverse. And it's promising to be a powerful one, too. Why wouldn't she get an epic for it?"

"It's just not fair!" Felio cried. "It was your ingredients. Your recipe. Your god."

"And you did all the alchemy," I said. "Do the Melhans deserve alchemy credit for supplying your resources? No. Besides… it's not like I didn't get anything. I got a diamond request and the elixir. Both are big deals."

That was a lie. I was staring at my notification, and it read:

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Congratulations! Scion Mira Hill is eligible for a legendary campaign.

Description: Wow. In a bizarre twist of fate, you, the woman who asked to be isolated in a forest, are about to enter the multiversal stage. Upon becoming a multiversal figure, you are eligible for a legendary campaign. By accepting the call, all levels and rewards you would receive for actions related to the campaign will be foregone until the completion of your campaign. If you finish the campaign with significant standing, you can receive a legendary reward.

Campaign: Become a Multiversal Alchemist

Description: Your access to exclusive resources, competence in obtaining ingredients, and your relationship with a famed multiversal alchemist puts you in a unique position to enter the multiversal stage. To accomplish this campaign, you must establish yourself as a multiversal figure through your alchemic actions.

Requirements: Any actions that relate to gathering, processing, using, or creating alchemic creations. Examples of your actions include:

Learning soul manipulation

Creating a soul pact with plants

Performing alchemy

Managing Felio

Creating and naming an unidentified creation

Future developments:

Taking the Helix of Annihilation

Using its effects to create a god's tribute request

Selling the elixir on the multiversal stage

All alchemy-related actions will contribute to the quest until you give up or the Oracle determines that you're unwilling or incapable of contributing to the campaign.

Would you like to accept the legendary quest?

Note: You will still obtain levels and rewards for any actions that are unrelated to alchemy and resource gathering.

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This is what I obtained for completing the Helix of Annihilation, so shrugging it off as if I only got "A diamond request and the elixir" was disingenuous, and saying that Felio did all the work was absurd—and she told me so.

"Yeah, I get that," Felio said. "But I couldn't have unraveled the neara. I don't even know what you did."

Cassain and the guards locked up.

"Relax," I said. "I didn't unthread the neara. This plant already had pure neara, so I just unthreaded the aura, and it released. It's not like I turned water to wine."

"It would be nice if you could," Aiden quipped, taking a drink from his flask.

"You sure? 'Cause if I could, I'd turn whatever's in that flask to water."

Aiden smirked. "It's already water."

I rolled my eyes.

"Seriously, though," Aiden said. "What does that elixir do? Explain it like I'm five."

"It synchronizes your mind, magic, and soul," I said. "Literally. It upgrades your brain with magic. Beyond that, I don't know. My god doesn't know. No one knows."

I ended the conversation because I didn't want to share with anyone but Felio, so I didn't want to entice the guards. Unfortunately, they already knew.

"Well, we sort of know," Felio said. "We can't make them because we don't have the resources, but Hadrian and Brexton have had them imported."

"What does it help them with?" I asked, suddenly curious.

"I'm not sure," Felio said.

"I'm not sure, but I can guess," Cassain said. "The elixirs help with magical processing. With Brexton, it extends the range of his spells and allows him to multitask. Same for Hadrian. It allows him to use his ice spears in multiple directions without losing focus."

"So that's why he could keep up…" I whispered. I had Moxle Dilation, yet Brexton could keep up. It didn't make sense—but now it did. "It'll be a boon to take it."

"You know…" said Maine, one of the guards. "I didn't think it was possible for you to catch up to the legacies, but I'm starting to think it's possible."

Asail studied me as if she was appraising me for the first time. "Actually… now that I think of it. If this is as powerful as it says, you actually might."

"Especially with Kira," Cassain said.

I blushed as the group dogpiled me with praise.

Aiden rested his chin on his palm and looked at me. "You know what I think we should do?"

I glanced at him tepidly.

"I think we should start a fire…" he said, "get cozy… and then write Hadrian a message telling him that he's not God's gift anymore."

Cassain almost spat out her tea, and her cheeks puffed out to keep it in. Felio giggled at her reaction, and most of the table turned boisterous.

"Why not?" Aiden asked. "Do you understand how nonchalant you were about not getting an epic reward? Who cares if I didn't get an epic reward! Why are you so hysterical?"

Felio giggled uncontrollably, falling onto Cassain's shoulder for support. It didn't do much good because the guards were also laughing.

"Could you imagine if Reasan heard you say that?" Aiden asked. "That guy would fall on his sword in shame."

I smiled wryly when I was reminded of the outside world.

"Come on," Felio said. "Lighten up!"

My smile got wryer. When did I become the no-nonsense party pooper? I wondered. It wasn't a good trait. So I smiled.

"Don't force it," Aiden said. Asail snorted, and I blushed and pointed to the door. "Out."

"Hey! Hey!" Aiden threw up his hands. "I'll be good. I promise."

I smiled helplessly and then looked at the others. "Can we just… screw it. There's booze right? This girl just got an epic request! Why aren't we celebrating! Wait…"

I ran outside and into the conference tree, where I had stacked up two years' worth of unsorted treasures and gifts from harvesters, and pulled out a box that contained bottles of what appeared to be wine. I returned victorious, presenting the bottles.

"Can I see that?" Cassain said.

She grabbed one, and her eyes widened.

"I don't care how much it's worth," I said. "It was a gift from… God I can't even remember who."

Felio started giggling again, and Aiden extended his hand. I passed him a bottle, and he laughed. "This thing's like… one hundred percent poison."

The table went silent.

"The good kind," Aiden said. Apparently, the wine riselmore wine a random family member gave me was like a sixty thousand hawk bottle of poison meant for those whose bodies, like mine, cleansed booze too fast. So, as one progressed, people just stopped drinking wine and took to drinking literal poison. He explained that I said:

"Fuck yes… Let's get it."

An hour later, I was tripping and puking my guts out as Asail rubbed my back. I treated it like normal alcohol, which I could drink like spicy water, and ended up tripping before puking. But I had zero regrets. I missed my poisons. I really needed to make some this year…

I put it onto my to-do list, right next to learning soulmancy, telling a killer mushroom to fuck off, and creating an elixir of Immortality. But first, I had a Helix of Annihilation elixir to chug down. I had a feeling that it was going to be an unpleasant experience—but I was excited for the results.