Novel Square
Chapter 349
Nikolai slapped him atop the head with a playful yet firm gesture. “Keep those kinds of comments between us, alright? Don’t you dare say such things in front of her. She’s a pharmacist and her skills far surpass your brother’s, You best buckle down and learn from her.”
Asher dodged his father’s hand. The skepticism was etched across his face. “A pharmacist that’s just seventeen or eighteen, and yet better than my brother? That… doesn’t seem likely,*
After all, his brotherwas already an intermediate pharmacist. To surpass him would mean being at an advanced level?
“There’s nothing impossible about it. Don’t be prejudiced, boy. Once you see what she’s capable of, you’ll understand.” Nikolai huffed, adding, “Do you seriously think I’d let you assist her if it weren’t for the fact that James is here?”
Asher looked at Nikolai, thinking his old man had gone soft in the head, as his words were not making any sense.
“Enough chit–chat. Go on now, and learn. This is a one–time opportunity.” Nikolai didn’t linger on the subject; after all, some things could only be believed when seen with one’s own eyes.
Scratching his head, Asher made his way into the room. Nikolai glanced back once before striding off toward the main hall.
Stepping into the room, Asher initially held a dismissive attitude towards Mirabella. Her youth made it easy to overlook her abilities, but his condescension swiftly shifted as he observed her work.
“You… the medicine you’re making…” Asher struggled to find the words as he watched Mirabella in action.
Distraction was a pharmacist’s worst enemy. Mirabella didn’t glance up or respond; she simply continued her meticulous work.
The medicine was for Catherine, not as complex as the one she had crafted for James, and thus quicker to produce. In roughly an hour, she was done. Once she had carefully bottled the finished product, Mirabella let out a long, relieved breath.
Asher was not a pharmacist and didn’t have Nikolai’s breadth of experience. He was simply astonished by the girl’s precision. He couldn’t fully assess the quality of the finished medicine, but judging by the twenty or so pills she produced in one go, he assumed they were… average, at best.
After all, he remembered his brother mentioning that an ordinary pharmacist could at most produce two or three pills at a time, while only an advanced pharmacist could manage five or six. So, he could not agree with the idea that this little girl could outshine his brother. His
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brother was now a mid–level pharmacist with the Pharmacists‘ Guild, which was a distinguished position not easily rivaled by a young girl with less experience.
After Mirabella packed away her medicines, she turned to the ingredients and sandalwood prepared for teaching Nikolai incense–making and looked at Asher. “Do you know how to make incense?” she asked.
Asher blinked, then shook his head. “No, I don’t.”
Taking a deep breath, Mirabella, considering the favor she owed for the discounted medicine, picked up the nearby tools and offered, “Alright, I’ll teach you.”
Asher frowned slightly but declined, “No need, really.” He had no interest in incense–making.
Sensing his disinterest, Mirabella didn’t insist. After all, she had promised to teach Nikolai, not him. She put down her tools and left the room. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
Meanwhile, Nikolai was sipping tea with James. His gaze drifted towards the hall, clearly distracted.
Upon seeing Mirabella step in, he quickly rose and approached her. “Mirabella, you finished up for today already?”
Mirabella, looking a bit pale from exertion, nodded at Nikolai.