Sylvie headed home filled with excitement, yet more subdued than she had been initially when Haryk informed her that though she would be the youngest Wood Elf in Falamel history to achieve the status, the world was large. There were even more monstrous prodigies around who gained the title even younger.
Despite the advantages of her adult-like mind and varied talents, abilities, and traits, she had to remind herself that she was not invincible.
Ballen, now eighteen, had become a spitting image of her Father; he had grown into a strapping young lad who resembled an even bigger, sturdier version of Yorik.
At an age where you begin to gain autonomy over yourself, Barren followed in his father's footsteps, joining the Guards. Though in a social sense, Barren would not be considered a full adult until he reached a century old in Wood Elf society, he was at an age where he would begin to follow the path he had chosen where he would over the next century gain the worldly experience needed to be considered a full fledged Wood Elf.
As a guardsman in training, Barren was frequently tasked with patrolling the area around Haryk's shop. This allowed him to visit her often during his breaks, and he had been the one to accompany her home lately.
Barren remained cheerful over the years. He was as proud of her as her parents, gushing to everyone he met about how Sylvie was the future of alchemy in Falamel.
Sylvie felt herself going beet red every time over the dramatic praise from Barren and her Father, who each tried to outdo each other for how over the top they could be when praising her talents.
Her mother was equally proud but far more subdued about it, remaining the calm yet wonderfully kind woman she had been since she was reborn.
Though not everything was perfect, Sylvie felt lucky to be reborn with such a wonderful family.
Lanren was the odd one out of the family. At first, he was delighted to follow in her mother's footsteps. Still, since Sylvie had become Harykâs apprentice, he had become increasingly dissatisfied when comparing himself to her, so he constantly remarks about how he was irritated that her parents did not push him to have Haryk as his mentor.
An alchemist was among the most lucrative and respected crafting occupations in Falamel. Lanren envied Sylvie because of this; he felt he had been robbed of the opportunity as the older sibling.
With an adult-like mind, Sylvie was mature enough not to feel offended by it; instead, she felt partially sympathetic, though she knew Lanren would never have succeeded in being Haryk's apprentice, as he was rather mediocre as a crafter and had traits unsuited for being an alchemist, he was impatient, inflexible and never took accountability for anything.
It made Sylvie realise that Elves are born neither wiser nor superior to humans in regulating emotions; instead, they have far longer lives to grow emotionally and in worldly matters. It made sense to her why Wood Elves only considered those a century old full-fledged adults with such long life spans, as neither their general high emotional intelligence nor wisdom is inherent, but more a product of their long lives.
Sylvie knew that many years from now, Lanren may look back and find it ridiculous that he was so antagonistic to a sibling five years younger than him, yet for now, Sylvie had to deal with an irritated teenager who felt he deserved more.
Upon her arrival home, the announcement of her impending assessment to become an Apprentice Alchemist was ruined by Barren, who lasted a mere few seconds before he could not hold back from bursting into a raucous excitement about Haryk taking her for the assessment tomorrow.
Her parents were both delighted and shocked at the news. Never in their wildest dreams did they believe she would progress this rapidly. The average age of a newly qualified Apprentice Alchemist was in their twenties; the youngest before her was twelve, and he was a product of being a talent carefully cultivated by House Browman, a prodigy who had numerous adept and master alchemists who assisted in their tutelage.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Lanren was the only one who seemed completely disinterested in the news. He didnât even bother to look up from his seating position and rolled his eyes as if to say, âWho cares?â
Sylvie did not mind either way. She maintained her calmness.
A recommendation from Haryk to have an alchemy assessment to become an Apprentice was a big deal, yet it meant nothing if she did not pass.
Haryk was putting his reputation on the line for her. If she passed, he would have mentored a prodigy superior to House Browman; if she failed, he would be viewed unfavourably, a Journeyman Alchemist who was arrogant enough to believe he could mentor someone superior to House Browman.
Not to mention, the Alchemist Guild was strict on assessments. You needed an alchemist one rank above the one you will be assessed for; this applied for every subsequent rank, apart from Grandmaster and Emperor, which had a different method entirely.
The alchemist who recommended you had a quota for such recommendations. Haryk could only recommend a single prospective alchemist at a time. If that prospective alchemist failed, it would not only reflect poorly on his judgment and reputation, but he would also not be able to recommend a prospective alchemist for an additional year.
As a result, Sylvie felt incredibly pressured. She did not want to let Haryk down.
That night, she struggled to sleep from the bundles of nerves. Her family was celebratory and proud of her for even attending the assessment. They viewed it as a positive experience even if she failed, as even the Browman prodigy was not confident enough to attempt it at this age.
Though Sylvie felt it would be unacceptable if she could not pass despite her advantages, she was determined to become an Apprentice Alchemist.
With that, she finally fell asleep, and before she knew it, she woke to the bright light signalling that the day had just begun.
To attend the alchemy assessment, they must travel from their district, Neolune, to an upper district named Caelora.
Haryk was there early to take her, and only her Mother, Mryna, could take the time off to attend alongside her. Her Father, Yorik and Brother, Ballen, seemed miserable that they could not come with them, yet Wood Elves were diligent to a fault; they would not forsake their duties even if they felt a deep longing to attend.
Lanren? You can forget about him. He did not even wake up to bid her farewell and wish her luck.
Sylvie found themselves travelling along familiar streets for a while before things grew less familiar to her.
Falamel was a large city, and Sylvie had yet to explore every corner of her district, Neolune, let alone an additional district. It made the experience very novel to her.
Eventually, they reached a section that resembled a vast lift-like structure. It was covered in dense glyphs that glowed intensely, signalling potent magics at work.
Sylvie observed it work like an elevator on Earth. However, at a much grander scale, it was a huge circular platform covered in a beautiful dome made of a glittering, silvery metal, gleaming stunningly.
It had a gate-like door that opened automatically when it stopped.
The structure would fill with Elves before levitating, moving swiftly as it brought the occupants higher up the Tree, reaching the upper levels of the City.
Sylvie thought it was incredible since the elevator-like structure functioned entirely by magic without connecting to a power source like electricity.
Though the City is tens of thousands of years old, Sylvie wondered how the previous generation of Wood Elves would travel up the tree without such a contraption. She was soon answered, seeing that the contraption was not the only means to ascend the levels.
Wood Elves, wearing uniforms similar to her Father's, seemed to glide up the impossibly tall tree, as they performed acrobatic feats of insane proportions, making fifty-foot leaps with no momentum.
The wondrous sight left her slack-jawed as she was more awed by the acrobatic elves than by the elevator-like contraption.
âThose are Martial Practitioners, Sylvie,â Haryk said, noticing her curiosity.
âMartial Practitioners?â Sylvie thought she had heard her Father boast about being able to perform feats of insane strength, but like her brother, Ballen, she figured they were exaggerating.
Sylvie assumed magic and essence were the main fanatical elements of the world, yet it turned out there was a system that brought about a different type of ability. One she had yet to explore.
And as she waited in the queue, eventually reaching her turn as they began to travel up the lift towards the district where her alchemy assessment would be held, she found herself filled with another burning desire.
âThis will only be the beginning.â Sylvie thought with determination.