Like the previous day, Jai and Darrion went over their plan again for getting the fern. Now that they knew the fern was indeed here for usage, they were trying their best to focus on potion making.
Since Jai had never made any potions before yesterday’s class, Darrion had been the one teaching him about potions and alchemy mix that he knew. It was not more than a novice because it wasn’t his expertise at all, but Darrion tried.
“From what I’ve gathered back in the kingdom, Blue-tip Fern has some kind of cold property inside it. Almost like the cold stone used by blacksmith. Somehow I’m guessing from the blue tip of it,” Darrion said with his eyes looking upwards slightly, seemingly thinking.
Jai didn’t know what cold stone is, so he tried remembering the fern in the class instead. It was like the mini version of a coconut tree leaf. It was green in color from the base, but gradually turning blue from the middle of the leaf to the tip. It was around a forearm lo
“Hey Darrion, what does this Cold Drink do again?” Jai asked.Darrion, who was busy cutting up the fern, stopped for a while to tell his friend. But he frowned when he saw what Jai was doing. “You’re reading it.”Jai then read the recipe in his hands. “Cold Drink is used to cool down your high temperature body. It can also be sued to treat first degree burn. If you mix it with honey and red herb, you can treat a second degree burn. The recipes. Blue-tip Fern, Herb, Salt, Fall Four Seasons leaves, Barley Tea leaves, Blue Slime essence, and water. Wait, slime? Is this real? People are drinking this?”Jai was visibly confused. He didn’t know slimes can even be consumed.Darrion got back to cutting the fern. “I think it’s used to strengthen the fern effect.”Jai looked at his friend who seemed normal by what he was bewildered at. “You eat slimes?”Darrion looked at him, stopping his cutting once again. Then the blonde blinked. “Jai, slimes are del
Darrion took a step back and re-read the recipe. "Wait, wait. I thought I read that salt part here, in the beginning. You read it too, didn't you? Right..."The blonde read it once again to make sure that his eyes were playing with him. And then he found the salt part and pointed it to Jai."Here, isn't it? It says salt. And you even read it again to make sure we don't miss a thing like I did just now," the blonde asked, looking at Jai with a deep frown.Jai looked at the recipe again and narrowed his eyes. Then he grimaced. "Well... I thought I see it, but now I think it just slipped my sight. I read that the Four Seasons leaves were put in, and I think I mistook seeing salt because the list was right beside it before it continued downward. I glanced at it again when you put in the leaves, and realized that we're wrong."Jai took the recipe from Darrion and showed it to him. "Here, take a look at this."
Jai frowned as he looked at the recipe and the brewing pot back and forth. Then he shook his head lightly."I don't understand... This should be one hundred degree celcius. Microorganisms shouldn't be able to live. Except water bear, of course. They survived in space, of course they would survive in one hundred degree celcius hot water. So why would we need... Hmm..."Darrion, who was pouring the Four Seasons leaves brew into the filter, turned his face slowly towards him and looked at him like he had just grown three heads. "What the hell are you talking about?"Jai turned to Darrion with that still bewildered expression. "Umm..."Darrion ignored Jai's stammer and put down the pot. "Now clean the pot with the salt."Jai blinked. "Why did you make me do that?""Cause you're the one who asked the teacher about it, so you do it. I've never clean any wares with salt before," Darrion said, putting
“—squeeze! There you go! You’ve leveled up from clothes squeezer into herb squeezer, congratulations,” Mac said without any bright tone despite his words being one.“Your sarcasm knows no bounds,” Jai commented while putting away the herb he had squeezed to the bowl they used for the leaves before. His partner and Mac’s partner were grinning on the sides watching their exchange.“That’s still mild sarcastic. If you want the worse one, I can give you here right now,” Mac offered, taking away the bowl of leaf remains under the table.“No thanks, I think I know,” Jai replied.Mac shrugged. And then a boom could be heard from the table in front of them and a white smoke arose from in front of Bara. It attracted the attention of everyone in the class and all wondered what happened.Bara coughed up smoke from his m
Jai's eyes looked sharply at the thing hanging on Torfo's neck. He couldn't believe what he was seeing, but it's right there in front of his eyes. The shock would've rendered him speechless if not for the fact that the scarf was familiar to him. Also the flat expression on the wearer's face brought some sense back to Jai, and some anger.Their eyes were looking at each other directly, and Jai was appalled by how fiery the challenge in the other's eyes was. Jai knew what the other's want. But Jai still could not get why was the guy like that to him."Darrion," Jai finally voiced out.Darrion was still inside the room, getting ready, but he heard that Jai called him."Hm?" the blonde replied from inside, but he was busy folding up their dried clothes, so he didn’t turn his face to the door."I'll be leaving for a bit," Jai said without turning his head away from his soon to be opponent."Okay, careful. Don't stand on the edge and fall again, you he
‘If only this wasn’t dirt,’ was Jai’s only regret as he ran. If it was concrete like in the tournament, he might be able to give himself a little boost with the impact.Jai glanced sideways, but he saw something bright coming and immediately dodged to the side. However, Torfo managed to catch up to him and sent a kick to his side. Jai was pushed back, and then a fiery flame smacked his wounded side and burst in front of him. It messed with his sight a bit and he was attacked with multiple punches right afterwards.Torfo sent another punch to Jai’s face before giving a spinning kick. His pinwheel kept crashing into Jai to help him stun the thunder elemer from counterattacking, blocking, or even dodging.Jai grunted as he retreated. Having no chance to attack means retreat. Now, the tables have slightly turned, and now that Jai saw his opponent could use the pinwheel efficiently in close range, Jai had to change his strategy. But Jai needed to adapt. So he charged
Torfo had returned to the mausoleum with Jai. The guards were very surprised that they came back so fast looking as if a hurricane of fire had run by them. Nevertheless, they immediately called the emergency. The guards carefully took Jai to the infirmary, and he was treated immediately by the monks. Torfo held onto Jai’s blue scarf as he waited outside.There were quite many people walking back and forth in the main hallway of the Falcon Wing, where the dragon statue was. But here in the infirmary hall, it was quiet. The crowd in the main hall was only faintly heard, and the slight silence somehow led Torfo to retreat to his mind and think.Torfo sighed as he leaned against the wall. ‘This was my fault to begin with. Jai was right. I shouldn’t have judged him being the same as them.’Looking at the blue scarf in his hand, he was reminded of the time when he found it. It was lying around in the garden on the day he helped Jai to
Unfortunately, what happened next was what Torfo had not hoped but already expected. When he didn’t find anyone in the dorm, he went to the dining room. Because it was lunch time, he thought someone should be there to have lunch. Instead, he found everyone. Plus the children. And he didn’t feel like telling what he was about to tell Darrion in front of everyone, who cherished Jai’s presence so much. He was thinking how should he tell the windlet about his friend when he realized he had Jai’s scarf in his hands. An idea suddenly popped into his mind.He stood by the entrance of the dining room and stood up straight. Darrion was sitting facing the entrance’s direction, so the blonde would eventually see him.Everyone looked like they were having a good time eating, talking to each other, and none of them looked at the door for the first minute. So Torfo waved Jai’s scarf around the top of his head, trying to get their attention.Darrion was looking away from Lemi
Jai felt something wrapped around his stomach from behind. He immediately looked down to his waist, spotting two smaller sized hands coiling on his waist.‘A kid, obviously. But who is it?’ Jai wondered. This was a baby shower event, so he wasn’t feeling weird if children attend too. The question is, who is this kid?He tried to turn around to look at the hugger, but the kid was hugging him tight. It wouldn’t be hard to push it, but he was reluctant because it’s a kid. He knew there’s nothing he could do but ask.“Oh? Hello? Is there anything you need?” Jai asked with a friendly tone.He could hear giggles, but the kid didn’t answer his question.“Oh are we playing guess?” Jai asked.More giggles.“It’s a boy.” Someone whispered from his left side. A familiar voice yet he could not name.“Hey!” The boy protested.But from that tone alone, Jai could already figure out who it is. So he said. “Hello, Ruta-kun.”The kid let him go and Jai could finally turn around. True, it was Ruta. The
On the day when the baby shower was held, Jai arrived at the place with Baji.The venue is in a mansion in the North Town. Jai hadn’t been in that certain neighbourhood, but he finally understood that the North Town is the place for the riches, and the neighbourhood they were in is probably among the richest. The mansion building is tall, and the garden is so wide. There’s a medium sized pond with two gazebos on the side, and then there’s also a small orchard on the right side of the mansion.Baji leaned in to whisper something. “The party is in the back garden. And keep your mouth shut, please. You’re a famous guy and I don’t want you looking stupid.” Then he leaned back.Jai immediately closed his unconsciously parted lips and recited the plan. He couldn’t, of course, confront an important figure of a clan in a crowded venue. So Baji and Gilbert had made a plan to help him talk alone with Fuuji Fu in the venue. He just have to make sure he could deal with the ‘fans’, though he hoped
It isn’t a doubt that Cynthia was reluctant to share that information with Harris because Jai was there. So Jai proposed to the brunette to re-visit the place later in the day to ask about it.Baji was there when they returned, and Jai immediately told him about the findings he got also to consult about the Fiery Lotus.Baji crossed his arms on his chest and nodded in acknowledgement. “It’s fortunate that a promising lead is finally here. We’re sorry for the late initiative from our part. We should’ve worked harder.”He didn’t think that he would receive an apology from Baji. But it showed that the man is a responsible person. Jai shook his head. “It’s alright. From the start, it was already a scavenger hunt. But do you know anything about either of those?”Baji fixed his seating before he explained. “Well about the Chief of Fuuji, he’s a strict person on males. He’s nice to females, and he’s really into babies. There’s only one male person he had shown his friendly side to in public,
“So uhh, this person whom you mentioned before with Tsubasa is a very important person. And you want to ask him about Alex?” Darrion asked when they were in the carriage, heading back.Jai narrowed his eyes. “Why aren’t you being straightforward?”“I’m a bit tired from today. There are so many deliveries like yesterday. But ahh… I’m more tired in trying to understand what they say.” Darrion said with nervous smile.Jai forgot that his friend is not adept in Shouha language, it must be hard to work without understanding what anyone is saying.“Sorry.” Jai apologized.Darrion nodded. “It’s fine. Let’s just stick to no name for now, if possible. I… Can’t really erect a barrier right now.”“Sure.” Jai nodded. “The… Family, you know, told me about him. Saying that he is the first person we can ask about Alex. But he has a very high standing, as you’ve listened to me and the father talked about him, so it won’t be easy to talk to him.”“I see. So that’s why you go to them. They can be consi
"Sorry if it's too much of me to ask." Jai said."Oh no, no. It's fine. But my mother is not at home though, is that alright?" Yuta asked as he turned to Jai and Darrion behind him."It's alright. It's very sudden after all." Jai said."Alright then. Would tea be alright?" Yuta asked."Yes. It's fine. Thank you." Jai answered.Fu Fuuji is the head chief of one of the notorious Ten Guardian Clans, the Fuuji clan. After leaving the Komatsu’s residence, he was thinking about how to get in touch with this person. And the Akamine clan is the first thing that came into Jai’s mind.While they don’t really owe him a favor, this family is the closest connection that he has to the Fuuji clan, because they’re also one of the Ten Guardian Clans.Also, he knew that it’s not guaranteed that he would get an audience with Fu Fuuji through the Akamine. There’s a possibility that they are enemies with each other. But he would at least try to ask. So here they were, in the Akamine clan’s residence.Yuta
Returning to the present.“Little Sparks. Fiery Lotus. What the hell are those?” Jai asked as they left the compound.“Quiet down. You’re gonna get us killed for that.” Claude remindedJai turned around and talked in slight whisper. “If it’s associated with the Queen, that means it’s very private. In the North Town, in a community place like thing. It doesn’t ring any bells from the previous search. Do you know anything about it?”He saw an empty horse mount coming in their direction and waved it.The mount stopped in front of them and they immediately climbed in the carriage. “Southeast Windlet Post Office.” He told the horse mount driver.Weaving the air barrier thicker, Claude replied. “I don’t. I’m a hunter, not a mercenary. How do you suppose I know these things?”Jai smiled shortly with a shrug. “Maybe? Ah… But this is a major progress in the case. At least we know he’s not dead, and it will take more effort to rescue him now.” Jai smiled.Claude stared at Jai suspiciously. “Why
They were led to a corridor which have several doors across from each other. Alex immediately knew they are resting rooms, because he could see a bed from one of the opened doors.One of the committees, the previous guy who shot the Cloud Viewing Rune in the ceremony, pulled his hood down, showing his blonde hair. Then he turned around while the other committees went past him, leaving him to deal with the new freshmen batch.“Good morning. My name is Liam. I am one of the guild members and I am one of the supervisors of the freshmen. Well, not really supervisor, but I’m the one they put in charge to look after you when the super seniors are out. Like right now. Oh and umm, I’m not alone. I have my friends with me to look after you. So please don’t do anything rash, because we outpower you by a lot. And we prefer not to hit you, because you’re a potential junior. Please be nice to each other, okay?”Alex didn’t really pay attention. He stopped listening when he uttered the fourth sente
That morning on the day when Jai went to the Komatsu’s house, Alex had already settled in ‘the place’.He wasn’t familiar with the kingdom, as such, he didn’t know where he was taken to.And since he was late, he was grouped with those who were also late. Many eyes stared at him when he entered the room—it was an average room with beds—reserved only for those who arrived late.Apparently, those who arrived first had attended the ceremony and the first phase—and those who were late had to attend on their own. But they would be gathered together after that, and he would be able to meet his roommate. That was what Master Fu said yesterday when he dropped him off. But the old man wasn’t lying.He went through a sleepless night—because there were many others here that he didn’t know and he wasn’t keen on getting surprise attacked in the middle of his sleep. But the night went by uneventfully, fortunately.He and the others were given a tray of scone and tea to start the day. He didn’t eat
“Don’t. Test. Me.”Jai’s eyes glowed brighter for a second as he emphasized the last words.The civilians, of course flinched at his threat. All of them knew him as a humble and righteous young man. Always smiling and looked very kind. They never knew this side of him. That’s why they were very surprised. The Kizuato group wasn’t included though, they were there exactly to prevent Jai doing what he planned to do.Akane, who had have enough of her parents’ plan, stood up.“Akane-chan!” Rio tried to stop her, but she went anyway and spoke.But instead of retaliating at the guest in their house like the rest of her family, she was looking at her mother instead. “Just tell him, mother!”Rio frowned deep at her. “What are you saying, Akane?”Akane gritted her teeth. “Just tell him!! If you tell him, no one will be hurt!”Rio shut her mouth and swallowed, but she didn’t say anything.Akane looked at her mother with bewildered expression. “If you don’t, then I will.” She turned to Jai. But