"In today's enlightened time alchemist is a scientist who studies both physical and spiritual worlds, to understand laws behind the transition of matter and energy from one state to another. Scientific method leaves little room for the old occult practices and rituals - the alchemist looks for patterns both in "natural" world and net of magical energy, trying to standardize knowledge, understand the essence of things and to explain how world around them works. Not that old practices died off completely - many still put magical signs on protective clothing or pray to deities or spirits for protection - after all experiments are quite dangerous, and it is not uncommon for alchemist to have minor mutations or missing limbs."