CHAPTER 1343: CHAPTER 1343: PURE WATER AND DUST

Elf’s purified water is a new alchemical material created by the elves of the Sixth Era. This liquid can serve as an exceptional "stabilizer" during the alchemical process. It can also neutralize some overly potent herbal materials during magic potion preparation. It is said that the invention of this material is one of the results of studying the Philosopher’s Stone, which is currently known as the most excellent enhancer for magic potions.

Since the annual production of "Elf’s Purified Water" is limited, it is monopolized by Saint Byrons, which has the largest elf population in the material world, and it mainly circulates among the Three Major Academies, with even the Church getting supplies only through special channels.

"I can get the Elf’s Purified Water. The ingredients in the formula are not many, and there’s no need to bother Miss Danester. I happened to recently meet a classmate from Saint Byrons, asking her for help should be no problem."

Shard said.

"A female classmate?"

Dorothy casually asked, and Shard nodded, starting to tell the story of the woodland unicorn. By the time the story ended, Dorothy’s focus had long shifted from the elf girl of Saint Byrons to Luvia.

Her beautiful green eyes looked at Shard:

"You mean, you encountered a young unicorn, and you even got her a hairband made of pure unicorn hair?!"

Shard hesitantly nodded:

"She also said that when she comes back, she wants to show it off to you... Don’t say I told you in advance."

Miss Writer pursed her lips, not commenting on it. Seeing Shard didn’t speak further and was instead trying to hold back Mia to prevent it from jumping onto her bed, she added:

"I thought you would immediately say that you will get a hairband for me and Lecia too."

"If I really thought you and Lecia were the types to get jealous over such things, then Mia and I would have about the same intelligence."

"Meow?"

The cat, whose paw Shard was holding, turned to look at him.

Shard said seriously:

"You and Lecia are not the kind of girls who get jealous easily. Besides, I’ll definitely have the opportunity to give gifts to us separately in the future, without giving her anything. We are all family; I understand such matters well."

"Family..."

Since she hadn’t gone out yet, she hadn’t applied lipstick, but her lip lines were still clearly visible as she smiled:

"I indeed don’t envy you giving gifts to Luvia; she deserves it. But saying I don’t envy her getting a unicorn hairband, that’s impossible... Truly lucky."

"Actually, unicorn hair, I also have special channels to get some more. The amount needed for a hairband might be difficult to obtain, but a small amount should be manageable."

"That’s for you to say. When you give it to my Lecia, don’t say it’s because I asked for it."

Miss Writer’s face lit up with a bright smile, just as Luvia said, no girl could resist the charm of a unicorn.

Since Shard already knew about "Elf’s Purified Water," the last precious alchemical material missing was "Twilight Dust."

This pigment actually also belongs to mineral pigments, and the minerals in the material list are the main sources of color. As for Twilight Dust, it is a critical adhesive that allows color to "stick" in the nightfall. This material usually needs to be prepared by taking dust from the surface soil layer one foot below from areas with rare extreme night phenomena.

"City of Eternal Night" is where extreme night phenomena occur.

"If the materials are complete, how long will it take to make the paint?"

Shard thought, if there was enough time, he could take these materials to Fiona for alchemy, only this week he needed to learn some alchemical craftsmanship, as his alchemical skills are currently only at the third to fourth-grade level.

"Quite long, the grinding and heating process of the minerals is complex."

Dorothy said.

"Are there any other channels to obtain this dust besides the environment you mentioned?"

Miss Writer thought carefully for a moment:

"Let Lecia answer this."

After saying so, she didn’t give Shard time to react, closing her eyes while leaning on the desk next to her. After a brief pause, her eyes opened again, and it was Lecia:

"Good morning, Shard."

Their exchange allows them to share a brief memory of the moments before the switch, and even on special "Day of the Red Butterfly" can share emotions before the switch. Therefore, Lecia also knows why Shard came to see Dorothy so early:

"Twilight Dust is not frequently used as an alchemical material, but you should be able to find it."

Sitting directly on Dorothy’s bed, the Golden-haired Girl squinted slightly, bringing her nose close to Shard, sniffing gently with a satisfied expression:

"Aside from the special scenes of Eternal Night, the dust from the temple that once worshipped the ’Veil of Eternal Night’ of the Old God can also work."

She had heard from Dorothy about Shard’s recent activities, so she knew where Shard had been:

"Although the book doesn’t say, since the temple of the God of the Night works, the Night Shrine you visited should also work. In the Night Shrine, take a foot-deep of underground dust, dissolve it in clear river water, then stir to form a wet gel. Let it sit at room temperature for three hours and configure it into an ointment using the ’Prayer Ointment’ technique, then store it in a low-temperature setting. The entire process needs to be completed in a light-free environment."

She spoke softly, her nose nearly touching Shard’s cheek.

Those emerald eyes were just before him, the expression somewhat shy, looking at Shard, yet flickering as if embarrassed.

Shard attempted to kiss her, but the girl’s finger was raised again, placed in front of Shard’s lips, with a shy smile appearing on her illuminated side face. This look made Shard’s heart skip a beat again, but Lecia immediately closed her eyes, and when those emerald eyes reopened, Dorothy was back.

"You two shouldn’t exchange so frequently."

Shard immediately spoke, and a flushed Dorothy said with a smile:

"With the Red Butterfly pendant, occasionally exchanging like this is no big deal. Lecia is having breakfast with Queen Diana, and I don’t quite understand what was initially discussed, so I must switch back quickly; otherwise, it will raise suspicions."

She tapped Shard’s lips with her finger:

"Early in the morning, let’s not... I’ll come to your house tonight."

She kissed Shard’s cheek:

"Luviya will be back soon, so we must cherish the last moments of her absence from your home."

After seeing Dorothy, who planned to visit Miss Galina, off on a carriage, Shard returned home and headed back to the Randall Valley. Mia was cared for by Dorothy since she would be going to Saint Delan Square tonight.

On Sunday evening, in the "Bygone Era: Sixth Era" viewed at the Night Shrine, the conversation between Miss Lathis and Long-Haired Luviya contained many topics. Among them was The Chosen One, which involved the key content of "Luviya killing Miss Lathis," further confirming for Shard the identity of the Chosen of the Earth. However, since he couldn’t let the current Luviya know about the past, Shard couldn’t discuss this with her.

That land holds much significance: gold mines, the "Tomb of the Butterfly," the entrance to the "Spatial Labyrinth," the Gate of the Unknown, and another significant matter: the land under the Night Shrine that holds memories associated with a special Time Key. If Shard wants to obtain that withered black Time Key, he must extract those memories, which only Miss Lathis can accomplish.

After all, in a certain sense, the formation of those memories is related to her death and her corpse.

Arriving at the Randall Valley with Priest Augustus’ briefcase, Shard first went to the Wilder Opera House. Despite the Rain-Prayer Golem’s effects having already ended last week, the southern river valley city still experienced heavy snow today.

When he jumped down from the carriage in the snow, the opera house servants were clearing the snow from the steps and laying anti-slip carpets. Everyone recognized Shard; as he entered the opera house, a Maid quickly handed him a towel and guided him to the third-floor study, where he met Miss Benanis and Miss Lathis, who were talking by the fireplace with their mugs in hand.

"Good morning, oh, how is your injury?"

The Witch hadn’t forgotten that slap Shard received last night.

"It’s fine now, just the marks remain."

Shard said, sighing at the bad weather today, then sat down on the sofa in front of the fireplace:

"Miss Lathis, do you have time to go out of town with me? To the Night Shrine that Miss Benanis and I went to yesterday. I want you to help me extract the memories of the land."

[The Cult of the Forgotten]’s many mysterious Sublimation Incantations were obtained by such means.

Miss Lathis glanced at Miss Benanis:

"No problem. But not every piece of land can have its memories extracted; I need to examine the site. Plus, the ritual requires preparation time and cannot be performed immediately."

"No problem, today is obviously not suitable. Then can we leave tomorrow? That is, on Tuesday, or perhaps another day this week?"

Shard asked, and Miss Lathis shook her head:

"I’m really sorry, Shard, tomorrow or the day after isn’t feasible. Vanessa and I found information about our father once having established a secret underground chamber in the public cemetery, among other matters... Can we do it on Thursday? Vanessa told me about your encounter, and it indeed sounds intriguing. Although I was born and raised in Randall Valley, I’ve never been there."

"Do you need me to accompany you?"

The Witch asked nonchalantly as if casually suggesting:

"If you don’t need me, I can just stay in the opera house and watch the girls rehearse the new play."

Miss Lathis immediately glanced at Shard and winked, and Shard, of course, understood:

"Of course, we need you. After all, adding Miss Lathis and me together, our level would only be one level higher than yours. So, let’s depart on Thursday and revisit the Night Shrine."

Shard said, and it was only then that the Blonde Witch nodded in satisfaction.