The Extra's Rebellion
Chapter 49: Alchemist

Chapter 49: Alchemist

General Knowledge: Introduction to Aether (Quiz – 10 Minutes)

Instructor: Mr. Fisher

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Question 1:

What is the name of the construct that once held Aether in its original, undisturbed form?

A) Rift Core

B) Aether Nexus

C) Aether Womb

D) Aether Seed

’Easy, if it isn’t C I don’t know what it is’.

Question 2:

What is the primary cause of Riftspawn creation?

A) Excessive natural disasters

B) Imbalanced emotion

C) Reality fractures caused by Aether overload

D) Magical experiments gone wrong

’C, that definitely it’.

Question 3:

What characteristic defines a Shade?

A) They are made of metal and flame

B) They are the result of Aether draining from corpses

C) They are spirits given bodies by the world, formed from unresolved emotion

D) They originate from the Nether Realm

’why is it so simple, C’.

Question 4:

Which of the following would most likely become a Shade?

A) A soldier who died with no regrets

B) A powerful mage who died peacefully in sleep

C) A grieving widow who cursed the world as she passed

D) An Aether scientist who died testing clean energy

’does Mr fisher have a fatish for C’.

Question 5:

What symbolic lesson can be learned from the tearing of the Aether Womb?

A) That technological progress is inevitable

B) That Aether is inherently evil

C) That mortal ambition without restraint leads to disaster

D) That humanity must avoid nature at all costs

’he definitely have a fetish for C’

He typed the answer through an holographic keyboard that appeared when the quiz started.

"Now let’s head back to another subject of today. Hollow Arts". Mr. Fisher clapped his hand and his answers were automatically submitted, but the holographic screen didn’t disappear.

"You can take down note of you want". He said before the board magically changed and displayed a shield with the words ’Hollow Art’ on top of it.

"As you all know, same as we humans bear a birthdmark, so does riftsprawn. When killed the birthmark remains and is harvested by Alchemist to be either infused to weapons made out of their remains or turned to hollow Arts. And mind you". Mr. Fisher’s voice became heavy. "Although humans also leave behind their birthmark when killed, it is considered a sacrilege for it to be harvested or the remains tempered with in any form".

It wasn’t new information to him, Elden already explained what hollow Arts was so he wasn’t keen on listening to what he already knew. While the information of harvesting human birthmark on the other hand, he already knew that they will publicly shun it but deep down away from sight, they were running research related to it as even himself was part of the experiment.

Clan Demios went to the furtherest length just to make sure the lastborn of the lord was able to hold Aether, but it was was all in vain.

"Any questions". Mr. Fisher voice rang out in the class, a self-satisfied smile lit up on his face.

"Hmm i-i have a question". Zephyr turned to see a ash blond haired boy voice out his question.

"Ask on". Mr. Fisher replied with enthusiasm.

"What is Alchemist or who are Alchemist". It seems that the ash blond boy visibly relaxed at the jolly attitude of the teacher. "You have been saying it as if we were supposed to know". The boy concluded.

’A member of a vessel clan who is extremely ignorant or a commoner’. That was the conclusion Zephyr reached.

Mr. Fisher cleared his throat, straightened his posture, and adjusted the cuffs of his long coat as the nobles watched him with barely hidden boredom while the commoner’s eyes were practically shining.

"Alchemists," he began, voice regaining its confident rhythm, "are individuals—scholars, craftsmen, and researchers—who specialize in the manipulation and refinement of Aether-infused materials. They’re the bridge between what is left behind by the Riftspawn... and what we wield as Hollow Arts."

He tapped the holographic board, which now displayed several rotating diagrams: a twisted horn, a crystallized eye, a molten fang—all marked with glowing sigils. Zephyr was star-struck at the sight of the crystallized eye.

"They do not merely forge weapons or concoct medicines. They decipher the logic of our great unnatural evolution—what the world forces onto bodies— Aether. Every Riftspawn, every Shade, leaves behind a birthmark, an imprint of its final ’truth.’ Alchemists study these truths, break them down, and bind them into compatible vessels—be it armor, blade, or spell."

The board shifted again to show a blackened gauntlet exhaling steam, labeled Talon of Despair.

A hush settled over the class.

Then Mr. Fisher added, more quietly, "It is an ancient profession. Some believe it predates the tearing of the Aether Womb itself. Others say the first Alchemists were just desperate survivors trying to make use of the horror left behind."

His expression dimmed for just a breath of a second, then snapped back into his usual grin.

"Either way, the truth of the matter is that they are extremely valuable and the reason we do not fight with our bodies like the barbarians." He said with a cheeky smile.

As soon as his words fell the contenance of the members of Vermilion clan fell with it. Vermilion clan were people who fought with their body, they manipulated their flesh, their blood and their bone, at a higher rank they even gain ability to mutate their body to better survive the battle or environment they found themselves in.

Mr. Fisher seem to realize the effect his words had a moment later, with an embarrassed voice he spoke again.

"I didn’t mean the Vermilion clan members are barbarians. I was talking about how our ancestors fought in the old days, you know with crude weapons, their crude clothes and knowledge. They is no way Vermilion clan is not knowledgeable they built this school. And also I am not saying that the other clans are not knowledgeable but the Vermilion clan came up with the idea first. And not that they are at the same level of the other clans, but the other clan also specialize in their own aspects. Like UmbraFen with the best transportation, not like the rest clan can’t provide a means of transport bu—

"Damn it, all I am saying is that Vermilion clan are not barbarians. Peace". He moved faster then the students could process what their teacher had been rumbling about.

Zephyr stared at the empty space amazed at the character named Fisher— if that was his real name.

’They is no way he is not crazy". Zephyr was extra sure that their teacher was a crazy person. ’It seems that Lunethra knows him’. During Mr fisher rumbling he had caught sight of Lunethra’s expression. She kept shaking her head and even at a point rubbed her temples with an annoyed expression on her face.

’She probably knows him from her clan, he does have the same Lilac coloured hair’. Zephyr was certain they knew each other, apart from rubbing her temple she had a small smile on her face