Although Helia Ashenborn tried to be quiet and not disturb the lesson, her presence still caught everyone's attention.
Cyrena Ashenborn tried to play it cool and feign indifference, but Vaan quickly noticed the weight on her mind, which caused her to be distracted and her movements to be rigid.
"Focus, Lady Cyrena. Potioneering is a delicate process that requires your full concentration. Otherwise, even with all the knowledge in your mind, you will still fail the potion production if you don't follow the practical steps properly," Vaan lectured.
Cyrena Ashenborn's mind quickly snapped back to the task at hand.
The useless and distracting thoughts in her mind quickly disappeared like dispersing mist, allowing her mind to become clear again.
Cyrena Ashenborn didn't need to consider Helia Ashenborn's presence or place importance on impressing the person with her potioneering feats. She didn't need to prove her accomplishment to her mother; she only needed to satisfy herself.
"Sorry, Teacher," Cyrena Ashenborn apologized before resuming the potioneering procedure.
First, Cyrena Ashenborn poured the flask of mana solution into the black cauldron, causing the boiling water to take on a light blue color, which was overwhelmed by the rising white steam.
Once the mana solution thoroughly spread across the water in the cauldron, Cyrena Ashenborn added all the supplementary ingredients next, leaving the two primary ingredients for last.
"Why do you need to add the supplementary ingredients first? Why can't the primary ingredients be added first instead?" Vaan quizzed her.
"Because the primary ingredients are too potent. They will react to other ingredients strongly. On the other hand, the supplementary ingredients are mild. As such, the supplementary ingredients are mixed first to create the base before welcoming the primary ingredients," Cyrena Ashenborn answered.
"Correct. You answered very well, Lady Cyrena," Vaan acknowledged with a nod, purposely praising her in Helia Ashenborn's presence,
"Your answer was exactly as recorded in Maleficum's Book of Potions. It's not easy to memorize everything recorded in the Maleficum's Book of Potions. Your talents for potioneering cannot be doubted."
"Is there a specific order in which I should add the supplementary ingredients, Teacher?" Cyrena Ashenborn asked while holding back her strange feeling of joy from being praised.
Being praised for her accomplishment in potioneering by her potioneering teacher back at the academy was nothing new.
However, Vahn Cadieux's praises seemed to hit differently.
'Is it because Mother is here?'
As Cyrena Ashenborn wondered, Vaan replied to her question, "There is indeed specific order in which the supplementary ingredients for the Pore Stimulation Potion should be added."
"However, you can add all the supplementary ingredients into the cauldron at once if you use a mixing technique. Have you mastered the Whirlpool Technique, Lady Cyrena?"
"Yes, it's one of the basic mixing techniques taught in potioneering classes. It is used to help conflicting ingredients mix better if the concentration of mana solution is found lacking," Cyrena Ashenborn answered before furrowing her brows in doubt.
"However, I've never heard of the Whirlpool Technique being used to add all the supplementary ingredients into the cauldron at once."
"Oh? Yeah, I supposed not," Vaan agreed after a slight pause before saying, "Well, now you have, Lady Cyrena. Please use the Whirlpool Technique, and introduce supplementary ingredients into the eye."
"Yes, Teacher."
Shortly after receiving Vaan's instruction, Cyrena Ashenborn used the long mixing spoon to stir boiling water in the black cauldron accordingly.
Once the whirlpool was created in the center of the cauldron, Cyrena Ashenborn picked up the bowl containing all the supplementary ingredients and poured them into the center at once.
A magical scene unfolded in the next instance.
The supplementary ingredient reacted with the mana solution-mixed water, causing them to glow with colors as the whirling water spun them together. In a way, it was similar to cracking an egg in a whirlpool of hot water.
…
On one side of the Brewing Chamber, Helia Ashenborn narrowed her eyes and used Observation Magic to get a better view of the situation unfolding inside of the black cauldron.
What Helia Ashenborn saw immediately stunned her.
The multi-colored supplementary ingredients spun according to the rotational force of the whirlpool. Its scattered glow of different colors was slowly pulled back towards the center in layers like weaving a rainbow cocoon.
The pretty sight looked like a piece of art.
Hester Thornton noticed Helia Ashenborn's expression before she also used Observation Magic to see what was happening. Without exception, she was quickly awed by the pretty scene.
"Can this still be called the Whirlpool Technique? Using the Whirlpool Technique to add all the supplementary ingredients like this… This should be called the Cocoon-Weaving Technique if it hasn't been named," Helia Ashenborn sighed with amazement.
"As expected of the Delarosa Household. They certainly command more advanced techniques as befitting of their prestigious household."
Vaan overheard Helia Ashenborn's heartfelt praise and admiration and inwardly smiled.
As expected, Helia Ashenborn regarded him as a person of the Delarosa Household, thanks to Linetta's claim, which was used to give him a layer of protection.
However, even Linetta would not have thought her reckless claim made Helia Ashenborn believe Vaan was more than just her betrothed, but someone specifically picked and trained since a young age to be her husband.
Nevertheless, the whirlpool gradually lost all its rotational force and disappeared entirely, leaving behind the cocoon-like lump of supplementary ingredients, which continued to revolve for some time.
Eventually, the mana solution-mixed boiling water dissolved everything solid into liquid and dispersed throughout the cauldron, causing the mana solution-mixed boiling water to undergo another change of color, turning whitish-violet.
Cyrena Ashenborn understood the base was finished and proceeded to add the two primary ingredients, the Zapper Eel's Eye and Darkray's Tail, simultaneously.
Shortly after, she used a basic mixing technique to slowly stir the cauldron with consistent strength until the boiling solution extracted the properties of the Zapper Eel's Eye and Darkray's Tail and fused with them.
In the end, the solution in the black cauldron settled on a light pinkish color, the color of the Pore Stimulation Potion, and exuded a pleasant scent that stimulates one's senses.
"I did it…!" Cyrena Ashenborn confirmed the process was a huge success.
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