Selecting practical reagents is a task normally done by understudies or University staff, but I approached this task with someone even more competent: my correspondent. From the moment I sat down at my transmutation engine, I was prepared to test all sorts of triples of air, vitae, and salt, when my correspondent casually suggested a two-atom molecule--Living Air--before leaving me to my work. The same gas that we use to ripen fruits. Commercially available. Wouldn't generate waste. The bonding network would be challenging, and we'd require a calcifier. But...

Why use lot atom, when few atom do trick? 

Here is my most maintainable machine. I'm pleased that this tonic exists, but if this gendered fluid is as powerful as the story claims, then it will not, in fact, be used with gender in mind. It will almost exclusively be used to transform into an anthropomorphic animal.

- Alchemist Kazyan, in correspondence with Alchemist Jasper