Master Of None

"If you need arrow materials I will need to send you away. Everything here is for the alchemy guild and has already been factored in to the starting budget. We won't even sell anything yet since we need to properly place and store these things." Trish was very firm on this. The herbs were mostly hand picked for quality and right now they were in need of attention.

"Well…you see."

"Come on. Out with it. I swear you are acting like a lovesick puppy. Timid and slow. I know you are at that age but come on." The old master alchemist knew Gil's personality and didn't hold back at all. He didn't know that Gil was actually there for something like that but he had hit the nail on the head if only unintentionally. What he did know was that Gil would normally be more aloof and brash. Seeing Gil act timid was strange. 

Tris had caught on as well that Gil was not acting the same. From what she remembered, Gil was more driven and excited by arrows. She had spoken with many of the elves that helped him learn about his arrows and experiment. They had shared the same obsessive drive with high energy. "I don't need some materials. I have already worked with the enforcers to come up with a few arrows. I'm actually looking for seeds or a plant." The surprise that Trish and the old master alchemist had was all too clear on their faces. 

"I need one that can grow in the ocean. One that can grow fast and might be similar to a vine or ivy…" This was the factor that made Trish understand why Gil would be looking for such a thing. 

"We have a few options. I think Alma will be able to use them very well." She didn't even smirk when she spoke. She knew that Gil was trying to be as serious as possible and it must have been tougher for him to ask her. "I will help out with this. I can be back t keep counting in a few minutes." The old master alchemist threw his hands up in defeat as he was left to his own devices. 

"We could use the tanglewood kelp. It's strong but it is more of a rope than a vine. I would say that we should use it for capturing something instead of dealing damage. There's the razor whip weed. That's very dangerous since the small patches of ocean it grows in are devoid of fish due to the razor sharp leaves. And maybe I can give you some green barnacle. It looks like a living barnacle but it's actually a green kelp that stays small and dense." 

Gil was thinking about what he had to choose from. He knew that giving all three would be pointless. Alma wouldn't have much time to learn how to use them and giving her one was the best idea. "I don't think green barnacles would be useful. It could be a shield kind of but if it's small then it won't save her life. The tanglewood sounds good too but you said it is thick like a rope and could capture things. But Alma will need attack power instead. Razor whip weed it is. If fish avoid it then it could deter any ocean monsters." The decision was final and Trish started to show him up the stairs. 

"If you haven't been around the alchemy guild this is the best time to take a look. We are expecting more alchemists to come and interview for positions soon. Remey has already helped us make the tests for them." Trish appeared very excited as she opened a door to a large storage room. "This is my personal storage. The razor whip weed seeds need to be kept in saltwater or they will die. Add a little mana and they will start to grow. Just let her know that they need to be cleaned up. If the seeds get away they are invasive." 

The small vial with a few seeds in saltwater was carefully taken by Gil. He knew that this was more valuable than Trish was telling him. "You can take it, but when you go to the merfolk territories keep an eye out for pink clover. It's a rare herb that only grows in the ocean. It can be used for a personal potion of mine." For some reason, Gil had felt the condition coming but accepted it nonetheless. 

"I will keep an eye out for it. If Remey knows about it she will have an eye out too. Knowing her, sje will claim it before we even know it's there." The joke didn't go over well since Trish wanted to lay claim to is but she quickly shooed Gil out. 

"And before you leave, do me a favor. Tell Alma your intentions before you go to battle. Our queens will give up their names for their people. They struggle with such things and having someone around at that time gives them something to hold on to." Trish had softened her voice remembering when Reina the current forest elf queen had given up her name after her mother had stepped away from the position. It had changed her for a long time before she had grown in to the position. 

"I will. I just don't want to see things end like the nobles do in our city. They marry for status. Not who someone really is." The crux of the issue finally reared its head. This had been what Gil was worried about. 

"Humans are very odd. I will never understand how you all ended up that way. Elves just look for those who are closer to nature why do you think we don't get along with the dwarves who break things down to build instead of guiding nature?" Trish laughed while she pointed Gil out the front door of the guild so she could return to her work. 

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