Often called a “magical science,” alchemy is considered one of the easier magics to learn as one does not need magical blood to be able to learn to create potions and medicines, and can learn the technical skills from books and tutors like any non-magical skill.
Most studies of medicinal chemistry are considered a type of alchemy, and healers who make their own medicines may sometimes be called “medical alchemists,” though the term is mostly used in the Rendi.
It’s also argued whether brewing alcohol is a form of alchemy. The divide is mainly between Northern and Southern countries; most Northern countries allow the brewing and selling of alcohol under an alchemy licence, while most Southern countries consider it a form of food handling.
Though alchemy can be learnt by anyone, there are those who are naturally inclined to the magic and are able to enhance the effects of their potions using inherited passive magic. Not many details of these magic users are known, and often aura sensors have a hard time detecting them, but the influence their magic has on their potions is obvious and rarely able to be denied. It’s because of this that alchemy is still considered a form of magic.
Though alchemy is one of the better-known magics, there are a lot of misconceptions about how it works. Not all potions are edible. Some are used on the skin, such as antiseptic salves; some are used as household cleaners; while others are used as animal repellents. The versatility of potions is extremely underestimated, with most Sentients not even realising that things they use in their day-to-day lives were created using alchemy. Herbal beverages such as tea are one of the most common forms of everyday alchemy.
Alchemy also still adheres to the common magical states of passive, active, and triggered. With alchemy, the magical states refer to how the potions effect people:
- Passive potions are slow-acting potions that must be taken over time before any effect is seen, such as the preparation potions in Kazani’s elixir. Often, passive potions are used to make the effects of active-state potions permanent.
- Active potions are temporary potions that show immediate (or near-immediate) effects upon consumption of the potion. These effects wear off over time unless the user has prepared for the effects to become permanent with passive potions. Someone who uses too many active potions can build up an immunity to their effects.
- Triggered potions are a lot less common. They are potions that only take effect if the user is met with certain stimuli after drinking the potion. Such as a poison only killing its victim if they consume a certain food, or a sleeping potion taking effect only after the user steps into sunlight. Most of these potions with pass through the system within 3 days if not triggered.
It is also well-known that not all forms of alchemy are legal, and many alchemists choose to create drugs, and potions with inhumane effects.
One example of an illegal substance is chino flore, a liquid poison that inflicts searing burn-like pain on any body part it touches. Chino flore is one of the most common illegal poisons because it comes from the vine of the chino flower; one of the most varied medicinal plants available that can’t be banned because of it being a base in a large chunk of medicines.
There are also the illegal emotional modification potions, which forcefully change the emotional state of the taker.
Demrefor 