It Started with Slime - Part 1

Interlude XII - Haemish, Exploration Exhaustion

Marteen and Rion were close enough to hear and both chuckled softly under their breath. Both had gained a greater understanding of the old man and found that while he might portray a façade of the grumpy old man, underneath it all he did find Alchemy an incredibly exciting pursuit, his contagious energy while out in the field was feverish and could not be ignored, both Rion and Marteen's interest in Alchemy had grown as the days turned into weeks and they made new and interesting discoveries.

Taler was the most affected by it and Haemish had taken to him like a doting father, albeit not openly affectionate. A bond had already been forming between the two and now it was even more pronounced. Rion and Marteen had almost been side lined in favour of the slender man's voracious appetite for what Haemish was teaching him.

The vast knowledge that Haemish possessed for the forest's flora and fauna had left the three apprentices floored and glad to have been asked on the expedition. Just looking at a mundane item like the fronds of a tree and he would have a list of useful applications for the material, whether it was the soft fur like underside of the leaf (could be woven together to form a type of thatch but only by magic they were too short to do it manually) or the sap within (curing potions for health and trees if mixed with the right components) or the veins running along its length (again could be woven together into a light armour and could hold some minor magical enchantments depending on the tree species).

Maple for axe handles, Yew for bow and Oak for solid maces and batons and that was only weapons. Saying that the different types of woods available in Pleutr were impressive would not be doing it any justice. Not to mention the number of ferns and mushrooms and shrubs. They had encountered patches of marsh and bogs, quick sand (narrowly avoided thanks to some quick decisive movement on Rion's part.

"Master Haemish, um...we are running low on vials and jars and things to store our collections from each trip. We will need to go into the village and buy some more or..." Taler's voice faded away from Haemish's stare, another sigh erupted from his lungs.

"Yes, yes. I know M'boy. Let's get things together and head to the village. We will need to get back there. Flying...yes?" Haemish already knew what the man's answer would be, he had taken to flying like a fish to water, or more accurately...a bird to flight? "How's your air affinity, any improvement?"

"No, it hasn't..." Taler's eyes were downcast, as if he was slightly ashamed of something. His dragged his leather boot through the gravelly soil and his features darkened minutely. "Nothing perceptible anyway, I am not sure how long I need to keep at this."

"Taler, lad, it is a slow process. And I know that it can be frustrating at times, but the most reliable way to increase your affinity is going to be from getting to plateaus in your Air Magic. Each plateau you reach adds a percentage to your affinity, at least that I what I am lead to believe, not sure how reliable that information is but it was told to me a long time ago and by someone far wiser than me. I wouldn't know though...." At this Haemish's mind went back to his first attempt to learn magic...

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Haemish, at fourteen years of age was a late blower to be sure, he stood in front of Maxi Yrait, a hard woman with a rough laugh.

"Well, come on boy, show me something! Are you deaf? Get on with it I haven't got all day!" Yes, she was a very patient woman, Maxi Yrait. "Front and centre Grauff!"

Haemish timidly stepped forward, his knobbly knees shaking before the tyrant. Eyes downcast and hands wringing together with nervous energy, there was no resolve or determination here, only fear and anxiety. He wanted to get this embarrassment over with.