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sernoudenet
He had only himself to blame? Noudenet couldn’t help but wince at the bluntness of Lucien’s words, although it wasn’t exactly something he could argue with, given the way he had been living after all that had happened. But, any signs of discomfort were quickly hidden away with a nod and a half-smile. Why bother dwelling on such a depressing subject when he was in good company? It was silly of him, bringing it up in the first place, and it was definitely time to change the subject to something that wasn’t so petty.
“I suppose you have a valid point there, and I thank you for not sugar-coating it,” he spoke quietly, his gaze falling upon the concoction the other Elezen had been working on– Now, that was a far more worthy subject of conversation than any of his frivolous personal issues. “I do hope I am not being too much of a distraction, but would you care to tell me what that is going to be for?”
Lucien snorted. “Sugar coating is for sweets, not truths.” Nevertheless, he was perfectly content to allow the subject to drop, and turn to more fruitful matters. He did not answer immediately, giving his full attention to the careful addition of a single drop of a viscous, clear liquid. Once added, the potion gave a brief hiss, and turned a brilliant lime green.
“You will recall my comments of working with the tears shed by the local fopers, and their prospective uses in substitution within tinctures requiring deepeye tears, I trust? This is the practical test of just such a theory. If my calculations and theoretical aetherochemistry are sound, what I should have here once all is said and done is a vial of eye drops of much increased potency to the normal found on any old alchemist’s shelves. While I would not be so bold as to propose it might be a cure for the blind, I am confident that it will lead to a much more broadly available treatment for cataracts in the elderly, at the very least.”