>>5342046>>5342055>>5342149>>5342216>>5342294"Did she teach you anything about potions, Schierke?"
"I have watched my Master brew a few substances in this room before, but I don't have her permission to mix anything yet. She says any small mistake could bring ruin to the entire forest."
"That's understandable. I'm already shocked at what you can already do without harming yourself. I'm just curious as to how she got her hands on a Mandragora."
"Oh, that much I know. Just place some drops of this dark liquid onto them, and they never wake up." Schierke demonstrates it on the dead Mandragora. "Of course, this is just a sample, but I believe there's some Mandragoran essence laying somewhere around here, if that's what you're looking for. It's a rare substance, so I doubt she has that much, given how she hasn't found one for years."
"I figured it wouldn't be that easy... Good to know there's a way to treat them, either way..." Would have saved you a lot of trouble a few days prior...
"Say, what do you call the mixture of Mandragoran essence and Elf Powder?"
"Kmengcide, I believe. It's a deadly aging substance, that speeds up your metabolism to the point of reaching the end of your lifespan. It's partly a blessing that mandragoran essence is not easy to find, or else someone would have used it as a war asset, like humans do with boiled water or oil."
"Kmengcide, I'll write that up on my notes... Well, since you don't have permission to use the room, I'll ask the remaining questions to Flora."
"Good. I could barely understand what you were talking about." Guts comments as they were lead to a sewing room in the upper floor, where a charming old lady sat at her chair, staring at a window and reading a book by herself.
"Here they are, Master." Schierke opens the door as Flora smiles to the group.
"Welcome... To the Mansion Of The Spirit Tree. Please forgive my apprentice for the incident at the garden, she was merely concerned for my safety."
"You... Surely... You're the one I've met 50 years ago... It's unbelievable, you look exactly as you did when you gave me that medicine to save my mother!" Morgan smiles as he remembers what happened in his childhood.
"How nostalgic. I do remember that boy, as well. Though I guess age has affected both of us in different ways..."
Farnese has been quiet ever since Schierke mentioned the See, and now that she's in front of Flora, she tried her hardest to blend into the scenery until the elder witch spoke to her.
"Don't be so frightened, young lady... My folk were not among those whose lives you took. Even if you were, the fault collectively lies upon the servants of your deity. I do not harbor hatred from manipulated individuals. In fact, your effort to redeem yourself by learning magic is plenty admirable. If you can learn some offensive magic and astral projection, you would likely be close to Schierke's level."
"Sh-She knows magic too!?" Schierke frowns, feeling less special by the day.
