"Only an alembic," he said. A fine one indeed, but he'd always had an eye for quality.

"I cannot continue my profession if I do not learn the art of making medicine in this world. And some of my tools are... outdated."

Ancient, really. There are historians back in his world who would pay a fortune to have a rummage in that pack of his if they knew the historical treasures it contained.

He craned his neck so that he could actually look Iskander in the eye.

"For that, I needed new equipment."