Author's note; I have edited some of the chapter involving Teacher Pitre as he met Leon during a previous 'prank' then failed to recognise him when Leon 'enchanted' his mount!
As the rest days ended, the school days recommenced and two youths who inwardly felt a little physically frustrated and unfulfilled returned to their respective classes.
For Leon that meant paying his respects to his Teacher and following whatever plan his Teacher had for him. On this day, it was a review of his learnings the week before as well as a conversation about the events of the previous week. Leon quietly related what had occurred from his perspective, the mistake with the false nettle herb and the firepit having been compromised with indigo hearth shade herb. He did not mention his theory of bullying as there was no proof of it and neither did the other 'accidents' happen to come up in conversation.
Teacher Sagi listened quietly and honestly as Leon stuttered through his version of events. Of course he was not stupid, direct apprentices often became the targets of jealousy and there were always questionable events like these occurring after students had been named. Plus the former could have been coincidental and a complete accident and the latter was a childish prank, but there was no evidence to pinpoint just who was the culprit. He did not think Leon was the sort to sabotage his own working space and ruin the lesson.
He could only sigh and warn Leon to be more careful next time. There would be no punishment coming from him and besides, Leon had had to clean out the firepit, despite him likely being blameless. That was more than enough.
Teacher Sagi asked Leon to take care of the herbs in his (Sagi's) garden that morning, before allowing him the afternoon to do as he pleased.
The following day had Leon creating batches of Spring Willow Salve potion for Fox Bandages, but despite Leon sealing the barrels with spiritual energy, one of the barrels was compromised and the contents spoiled. Before the potion was settled into the barrels, it was unpleasant in odour enough, the spoiled batch was absolutely vile and its smell contaminated the whole of the Lecture Hall as well as several metres beyond. Those visiting the Herb Hall complained loudly and as Leon was responsible for the potion, all blame fell upon him.
There was little he could say in his defence. He had, he thought, sealed the battles and as far as he was aware, they could then only be unsealed by himself. It was just that he was certain that before he left the room to wash away the remnants of the herbs upon his hands, that he had checked that each barrel was tightly sealed, so how had it come to be that one was not at all?
He was tripped and pushed to the ground three times following that, but the third time, the overconfident student, a young man who was about his age whom he did not recall ever interacting with before, was caught by a very angry Teacher, who happened to pass by. Thus the following day, those targeting him quietened down and Leon breathed a sigh of relief.
He would later think that he had relaxed too soon.
Midweek, Leon came to the Herb Hall as usual, to be told by his senior, Hue, who had been accepted as Teacher Sagi's direct student two years prior, that their Master was currently at the Scholars Enlightened Mountain giving lectures. Leon accepted the explanation and the given task that Teacher Sagi had left him, which according to the note was to make a White Lotus Pill.
Leon frowned. According to the diaries, the White Lotus Pill was a cosmetic pill, a beauty pill that had no practical use, just was popular amongst the women of wealthy houses. Leo had been a little disgusted with cosmetic pills, considering them a waste of his time and effort. Did not even write down recipes or decent descriptions for them, just wrote down a list naming them and what they looked and smelled like so he could identify them later on. Leon's interest in them had been a little higher when he had first considered ways of making money, but after deciding to focus on healing pills, he had forgotten about them.
What he didn't understand was why Teacher Sagi wished for him to make them. He sighed and pushed his question to one side. It was still a pill that alchemists could make and he was still in learning. So he took the note with the recipe instructions and the pro-offered herbs and headed for the Lecture Hall.
The odour from the spoiled potion was finally minimal, though it still lingered in the room where Leon went to work. He felt that right now it was not a bad thing, at least he should be left alone to concentrate.
Leon placed his cauldron upon the fixed fireplace after reassuring himself that there was nothing but a bit of ash in the pit, added wood and lit the fire. Nothing but a bit of heat and flames came from the pit, so Leon lowered his guard and began to deal with the herbs. It required the delicate pink leaves of the Sakura Fennel Herb, the roots of Weeping Grass, the whole of the cotton-tailed river reed and the flowers of the three season flowering wild mountain roses.
Leon could not help but frown for none of these herbs could be considered common. While only the Sakura Fennel was rare, the others were either slow-growing or preferred specific habitats so they were still considered uncommon amongst herbs. He felt that it was a complete waste to turn these into a pill that was only for beautifying. Still, this was his assignment, so he placed the herbs into his cauldron bit at a time as each would dissolve into liquid or powder while influenced by a high, but constant heat.
When all four had broken down inside the cauldron, he used his spiritual energy to try combine them, only, the herbs seemed to repel each other, refusing his will. With half a mind on his cauldron, he reread the instructions, but saw nothing wrong and tried once more, pouring more of himself into completing the task. The herbs came together finally, while sweat poured from his forehead, but it was only for a brief moment.
The contents of the cauldron exploded and Leon's unprepared body flew back from the shockwave and smacked against the wall. He gasped as almost every nerve ending screamed in pain, before collapsing to the floor in an unconscious heap.