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This is my theory, so don't take it too seriously: I don't think the reason why Varabus enter the alchemy academy just to get closer to his crush, I think the main reason is to make a deal with... Idk the headmaster of the alchemist academy (maybe) so they'll alow the poor commoner Ennid to graduate asap, forged his certificate and ID so Ennid live ine a "fantasy world" that he's actually acknowledged by the academy as a genius, and took all of his credit and hard work
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Actually, the reason why they had the water purifying stuff was because Ennid sold bottles of it. His formula wasn’t stolen, he still pays the patent for it. If he doesn’t pay for that then he would have to disclose the formula. Meaning the formula is still only known by him. And as shown prior, other alchemists and sorcerers have been unable to break its seal to see what’s in it.
What was stolen from him was the credit and the profit gained from reselling and distributing it.
So unless they force the info out of him or he stops paying for the patent, it’s impossible for them to discover the formula.
did the guy really only took alchemy lessons so he could grow closer to his crush, but instead he fucked up everything and became a bullie AND stole his formula