Todd could imagine the man's displeasure at his casual question.

The old man didn't blame him, but patiently explained: "The sage Sutherland was the greatest alchemist of the millennia. He laid the three fundamental principles of alchemy and proposed the theory of origins. Later, he was burned at the stake by fanatics, and his remains were divided into several pieces and preserved in various parts of the world..."

Todd's face grew increasingly dark. Had he just been sprayed in the face with a dead man's ashes?!

Master Myria continued, “It is said that Sutherland’s remains possess incredible power, but over the years, those who have tried to touch the relics have all met untimely deaths and turned to dust.”

With a tentative tone, Huggins asked the old man in a low voice, "So, will this boy become one of us?"

Master Miriam's tone was uncertain: "I don't know, after all, there's no precedent to follow. First, let me try to heal his eyes..."

Completely bewildered, Todd listened to their conversation as if it were gibberish, his face filled with confusion.

The old man placed his hand on the boy's eyes.

Todd immediately felt a warm force stimulating the nerves around his eyes.

A moment later, Master Myria removed his hand and untied the gauze wrapped around the boy's eyes.

Slowly opening his eyes and adjusting to the changing light, Todd, regaining his sight, was astonished to find that the scene before him was completely different from what he had seen before. Through people's clothes, he could see the flesh and bones beneath their skin; through the wooden planks of a cabinet, he could see the folded bedding inside; through the brick roof above him, he could see the sun hanging in the sky.

Tilting his head, Todd spotted the half-eaten ham hidden in Hudgens's pocket and pointed at it resentfully, saying, "Didn't you say this morning that there was no meat, only bread?"

Seeing the man sheepishly pull out a ham from his pocket, Master Miriah laughed heartily: "That's right, he's one of us!"