Chapter 235

Slowly but surely, the gathered crowd began to disperse in a slow, deliberate motion. Each individual, whether an anxious novice or a seasoned alchemist, made their way carefully towards the side courtyard. Among them were masters donned in intricate robes, and apprentices, barely youths, clutching their leather-bound notebooks with hands that trembled slightly.

The pathway towards the side courtyard wound through elegantly manicured gardens, with ancient trees casting dappled shadows on the cobblestone path. The historical significance of this place was palpable; it whispered of generations of alchemists who had walked the same path, breathing the same air, contributing to a legacy that had endured and grown with each passing milleniums.

As the participants approached the side courtyard, an entire new world unfolded before their eyes. It was a broad, open space, almost unnaturally pristine, bordered by stone walls embedded with alchemical runes that glowed faintly in the afternoon li