Episode 10
Undercover Job (Part6)
“Now, I have a separate task for you. Let’s start with that,” Lowell said.
He strode off and returned with a large iron cauldron. Inside it were various herbs. He turned to Temia.
> “Let’s make a simple potion. It’s not hard — I think even you can do it. There’s a well outside. Fetch some water and fill a third of the pot. Then toss in these herbs in a thick layer and boil them. It’s urgent, so move quickly.”
He rattled off instructions without a shred of concern for her.
Too many steps, and way too fast.
But Temia’s pride wouldn’t let her ask him to repeat anything. He’d already treated her like she was useless — she didn’t want to give him more reason.
> I’ll figure it out. Lerry’s here with me… it’ll be fine.
She just nodded vaguely.
> What a difficult man…
Lowell added, “When it’s done, knock on the second-floor door. I’ll be up there.”
Without waiting for a reply, he vanished up the stairs.
> Wait… if he’s upstairs, I can’t keep an eye on him!
Temia almost called out — but hesitated.
Chasing after him might get her fired. And she knew she needed to stay close to him in the least suspicious way possible.
Clenching her fists, she muttered under her breath:
> “Hope you stub your toe on a stair…”
And not long after — thud! — a loud crash echoed in the distance.
A cold sweat trickled down her temple.
She stared into the bubbling surface of the potion mixture. Her own reflection looked distorted and panicked.
But it wasn’t just the curse that had startled her. It was the realization that she meant it — that her hatred for him ran deep.
Even Lerry, the little blue bird, flapped nervously at her clenched jaw.
> “Miss Temia… are you okay?”
He looked at her with concern, but all he could do was flutter nearby.
Temia pulled the stirring ladle from the pot and stared at the concoction.
The liquid bubbling inside didn’t look right at all.
> He said just throw the herbs in and boil them. So why is it this weird color?
It should’ve turned out a clear, fresh green — instead, it looked murky and muddy.
> Great… I messed up something this simple?
It wasn’t even a potion — it looked like sludgy soup with floating bits. It gave off a strange smell, too.
> If someone drank this, they’d get sick instead of healed. I should label it poison.
Temia began retracing her steps.
Was it when she turned up the fire to finish faster?
Or when she told Lerry not to worry and just stirred like a maniac?
> It’s all my fault.
She rushed, ignored the proper steps, and caused a disaster.
> If I can’t even handle a simple task, how am I supposed to stay close to him?
She remembered boasting about graduating from the Magic Academy. Now she felt too embarrassed to lift her head.
But at the same time, she imagined a tearful Kaili begging for help.
Temia clenched her fists tighter.
> Why am I crying? I should be the one making HIM cry!
She had come here to make him regret everything. If he tried to kick her out, she’d make a scene and ruin his reputation.
> That’s why I came. That was the plan. Don’t forget it.
At first, her goal was to keep Lowell away from Kaili and stop the mages’ rebellion.
But now — after everything he put her through — it was personal.
Fueled by frustration, Temia grabbed the ladle again and stirred the potion with renewed determination.
> [Note: When boiling ingredients, make sure to cover with gentle heat. Let simmer for about 30 minutes without letting the contents burn.]
> Okay. At least I know what I did wrong now.
Had she let it burn any longer, the whole workshop would’ve filled with black smoke.
She shook her cheeks to refocus.
> “Lerry! Help!”
She called for the tiny familiar Lowell had assigned to her.
But Lerry was nowhere to be seen.
> Did he faint from the smell?
Temia bit her lip and picked up a bucket to get water from the well. She had to cool the potion before it got worse.
Then, just as she reached for the door—
—
> “Master! Over here! It’s urgent! Something’s wrong with Miss Temia — you need to hurry!”
> “Lerry, it’s not even a hard potion. You just boil the herbs. It’s ridiculously simple.”
> “But what if she fainted?!”
> “…Wait — what’s that smell?!”
Lowell had arrived. Lerry had clearly flown up to call for him.
He looked exhausted from the search, but he’d made it just in time.
Temia glanced between the two of them and forced a nervous smile. Her eyes met Roewell’s.
He looked surprised — then his brow furrowed.
Temia quickly looked away and mumbled in a tiny voice:
> “I-I was just going to get some water. I’ll fix the fire soon…”
He didn’t say anything.
That silence hit harder than an insult.
Lowell had understood the whole situation at a glance.
Even with the window open, the burnt smell and smoke filled the room. Anyone could tell something went wrong.
> “Are you… some kind of legendary alchemist? It’s pretty impressive to fail this badly on such a simple potion.”
> “I can explain! Just hear me out—”
> “Explain? There’s nothing to explain. You blew it. Honestly, now I really want to know — how did you mess this up?”
Temia’s face turned red, but she slowly raised her head and shouted:
> “Because you told me to hurry!”
> “What was that? Speak up — I didn’t catch that.”
> “You said to do it quickly… so I turned the heat up.”
That was something he had failed to clarify.
But Lowell just blinked, as if that excuse was absurd.
> “So your solution was to burn the whole building down? Wow.”
He shook his head and waved his hand.
With a flick, the fire went out.
He made another motion, and all the smoke gathered and rushed out the window like a magic vacuum.
Temia stared in awe.
> “Did you just do that… without casting a spell?”
> “What? You mean cleaning up your mess?”
> “No! That — that magic! You didn’t chant or use any spells!”
> “Didn’t I? Maybe you just didn’t hear.”
He didn’t even try to hide it.
Anyone with magical knowledge would know how impossible that was.
Casting without an incantation was like drawing power without a ritual — it broke the basic laws of magic.
It reminded her of a saying: To defeat a mage, aim for their mouth or hands — because without those, they couldn’t cast.
> Wait… if he’s that powerful, why is he hiding in this rundown shop? Didn’t he lead the rebellion later on?
Why was someone of his level hiding here with no clear motive?
What happened to him before the rebellion began?
Temia made up her mind — she would act clueless, but keep digging.
Then, she opened her mouth to ask her next question…
