I stood amidst the living paradise of herbs, still overwhelmed by its vastness. The golden light bathed everything in an ethereal glow, making each plant seem more vibrant than anything found in nature. I carefully selected herbs, taking only what I genuinely needed rather than grabbing everything valuable.
"You're showing remarkable restraint," Fifth Elder observed as I collected my hundredth herb. "Most alchemists in your position would take advantage."
"I only need what I can use," I replied, securing the precious plants in my storage pouch. "Taking more would be wasteful."
Fifth Elder nodded approvingly. "A true alchemist's mindset."
We exited the magnificent storage room, and I formally registered my withdrawals with the record keeper. The young apprentice carefully documented each herb, his eyes widening at some of the rarer specimens.
"These are worth a small fortune," he whispered.
"They're worth nothing if I can't use them properly," I said with a slight smile.
