That is the spirit! Start your journey off with a bang; a slow going and prolonged one at that. The quest is going to be interesting, and worry not, because if you looked at Rays chara sheet you already know, Ray has no fighting abilities once so ever (but that is what makes it a challenge and that is what makes fighting fun. Not being a god or already knowing how to fight but to fight when everything is stacked against you. That, that my friend, will bring out and show a lot of character. Also I share somewhat in Rays personality as in I cant deny a challenge, and love the thrill of writing of such things.)
But he does have a couple things to help him in the quest!
One being his sharp personality and character quirks
The other being his obsession of Alchemy. Im sure with those two put together I can come up with some creative solution to any problem set before me.
And I hope you are creative enough to come up with some sort of payment if you accept the offer for Alchemy lessons. Otherwise you will get nothing
and I believe that it takes a good dose of creativity to work Alchemy effectively and efficiently; not only that but to have fun with it as well.
Hope to see you around