Caden immediately understood what was happening and recognized that Mikayla did not appreciate him praising another woman in front of her, so he quickly switched tactics with a flattering grin.
“You’re absolutely right, Mikayla. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Maybe God opened one window for Luna but closed all the other doors. To be as exceptional as you are, mastering both alchemy and martial arts at the highest level… Well, girls like that are practically extinct.”
Mikayla’s vanity was clearly satisfied, though she kept her expression serious. “I wouldn’t say all that. General Phelan is definitely not your average person. Anyway, as hosts here, we should meet her. If she chooses to join us, that would be ideal.”
Caden beamed. “Absolutely! If General Phelan and you both end up studying under Mr. Orben, we would become the most talked-about section of Sovereign’s Apothecary. Two beautiful, exceptionally talented women in one group? Nobody could compete with that.”
Mikayla shook her head dismissively. “Don’t bother with that kind of thinking. She’s the type of woman who stays above everyone else, and you should just accept that. Don’t waste your energy fantasizing about it.”
Caden felt embarrassed by the rebuke. Mikayla certainly had a way of reading his thoughts accurately, he had to admit.
By midday, Andrew had finished his morning work crafting elixirs and headed to the cafeteria with Amari.
While it was called a cafeteria, it was actually the most upscale restaurant at Sovereign’s Apothecary. The profit margins in the alchemy business far exceeded those of gold, weapons manufacturing, or even some of the shadiest underground enterprises. In other words, the returns were almost incomprehensibly massive.
That was precisely why the Divine Alchemists were reputed to be the wealthiest faction in all of Holtrien, wealthy enough to rival entire nations.
Amari shook his head and said in awe, “Andrew, you’re absolutely incredible. You just made two ninth-grade supreme elixirs this morning. I’ve only ever seen Mr. Zeroual pull that off.”
Andrew smiled modestly. “I wouldn’t call it impressive, honestly. I’m nowhere near Mr. Zeroual’s level. Besides, the elixirs I made aren’t rare. They’re among the most common ninth-grade formulas, so they’re easier to refine.”
Amari sighed with genuine appreciation. “Even if they’re the most basic ones, ninth-grade is ninth-grade. That’s something few could even comprehend. Honestly, even if you stopped pursuing martial arts, your skill in alchemy alone could let you rule any corner of the world.”
Andrew replied flatly, “Alchemy is valuable, sure. It can save lives and preserve them. But it can’t address the root causes of suffering. Only martial strength can provide real solutions in this chaotic, mad world we live in.”
Amari looked puzzled. “What do you mean by real solutions?”
Andrew smiled slightly. “Using force to stop force.”
Amari’s eye twitched noticeably, and his expression became complicated. “Andrew, sometimes you’re honestly terrifying. No wonder so many people in Chetvine can’t stand you.”
Andrew waved his hand dismissively. “So what if they can’t stand me? Can they actually kill me?”
Amari laughed. “No way!”
Sovereign’s Apothecary’s dining hall had three floors, each divided by rank. In the alchemy world, hierarchy was absolute.
Low-tier alchemists could only dine on the first floor unless they were under the patronage of a higher-ranked mentor. Mid-tier alchemists, like Caden and Mikayla, were seated on the second floor. The third floor, however, was reserved for the highest authorities, like Brielle and masters like Amari and Theon.