Ch. 12 - Artificial Stardew

"Oh? With your discerning eye, Lady Elena, you'd actually let an Initiate serve as your assistant?"

Hearing Lady Elena's response only piqued Hadrian's curiosity. He studied Robb with renewed interest.

"It seems you've found yourself another promising seedling."

He produced a small bottle from within his robe.

"Here. Some artificial stardew, consider it a welcome gift for the newcomer. It's far inferior to genuine natural stardew, of course, but it can still help with spirit power development."

Robb was about to express his thanks when Lady Elena had already taken the bottle.

"Then I'll thank Apprentice Hadrian on his behalf. But this child still has a long way to go, it's too early for something like this."

Hadrian merely offered a faint smile and said nothing more. He placed all his purchased ingredients into a special narrow-mouthed pouch at his waist and turned to leave.

The gray-blue robe vanished through the doorway in an instant, as though he'd never been there at all.

Only after that distinctive mana fluctuation had completely dissipated did Lady Elena turn to Robb.

"You're a lucky one, boy. Hadrian is a soon-to-be Morning Star Mage on the verge of ascension. Nothing he carries is ordinary."

She tucked the crystal bottle away carefully. "This 'artificial stardew' is refined from the essence of fallen stars. It can't compare to naturally condensed stardew, but at the Elementary Apprentice stage, you won't find a better potion anywhere."

"I'll hold onto it for safekeeping. Once you pass the apprentice evaluation, I'll return it to you."

She glanced at Robb. "At your current level of strength, having a potion of this caliber on your person would do you more harm than good."

Robb nodded without objection. He understood the simple truth well enough, possessing a treasure beyond one's ability to protect was an invitation for disaster.

"By the way." Lady Elena wasn't about to let him off that easily. "How exactly did you activate that stalk of stargrass earlier?"

Robb set down his work and answered honestly, to the best of his understanding.

"While I was sorting it, I noticed the fluctuations it gave off were very similar to my spirit power during meditation. So I tried handling it with a similar rhythm..."

"I see." On the old woman's deeply furrowed, fearsome face, a rare hint of a smile appeared. "It seems you do have some genuine talent for spirit perception. No wonder Hadrian took an interest in you. Now then, sort and organize those evening primrose stalks for me."

The idle chat was over. Lady Elena pointed to the ingredients in the corner and began assigning tasks again.

"Remember, arrange them by harvest date."

Robb acknowledged the order. While sorting, he casually mentioned the dark-cloaked figure he'd seen hurrying away from the dormitory area that morning.

"Ah, that's the courier who delivers mail and sundries to the apprentices. Supposedly has ties to the royal family on your side."

Lady Elena didn't even look up. "Makes regular trips between the mortal kingdoms and here."

Robb filed the information away silently. Come to think of it, the number of Mana Crystal Fragments delivered at the beginning of each month was never quite the same.

Last month it had been seven. This month, only six.

That was strange. The father in his memories was a meticulous man, bordering on rigid.

Since inheriting the House from his grandfather, not a single silver coin's discrepancy had ever appeared in the estate's accounts.

If he was the one arranging the crystal shipments, inconsistent amounts should have been impossible.

In the Farwynd Kingdom, within Lord Stark's study, the firelight from the hearth cast the man's shadow tall against the wall.

"Here are this month's ten Mana Crystal Fragments."

He handed a carefully sealed leather pouch to the butler. "Same arrangement as always, have Master Hawkins deliver them to the Black Mist Order."

The butler accepted the pouch, feeling its considerable weight. "My lord, did you mortgage the vineyard on the east side of the estate?"

Lord Stark didn't deny it. Last year's plague had devastated the harvests, and the expenses of his other children had pushed the estate into deficit.

But he had to ensure that enough resources reached Robb every month. In a place like the Black Mist Order, you couldn't take a single step without Mana Crystal Fragments.

"I was too lenient with that boy back then..." The count stood at the window, gazing out at the yellowed wheat fields in the distance. "Now all I can do is everything in my power to help him through this."

The butler withdrew with a bow, stowing the pouch in the estate's highest-security storage chamber.

And when, a few days later, the courier, Hawkins, arrived on schedule and tucked the pouch into his coat, a flash of greed darted through his eyes.

...

Lady Elena walked to a corner shelf and took down a cloth bag. "That'll do for today. These are some common pick-me-up herbs, consider them a bonus on top of your wages."

"Thank you, Lady Elena."

"One more thing..." she added as he prepared to leave. "Come a bit earlier tomorrow. I'm planning to teach you some basic potion brewing methods."

Stepping out of the herb shop, the morning mist had long since been burned away by sunlight.

Robb reflected on everything that had happened, feeling a mix of pleasant surprise and quiet concern.

The opportunities this job afforded far exceeded his expectations, but they also meant drawing more attention.

When he returned to the dormitory, Robb found Arnor leaning against his door, waiting.

"So? First day go smoothly?" Arnor asked with a smile, though worry lingered in his eyes.

Robb didn't answer right away. He first opened his door, confirmed no one was around, then gave a brief account of the day's events.

"Stardew?!" Arnor drew a sharp breath. "That High Apprentice, don't tell me it was..."

He suddenly dropped his voice to a whisper. "Lord Hadrian?"

Seeing the puzzled look on Robb's face, Arnor explained.

"He's one of the very few High Apprentices in our Black Mist Order who's shown exceptional talent in potioneering. He's also said to have made significant achievements in the study and application of stellar orbits."

"Although..." He trailed off, seeming to think better of it.

"What is it?"

"Nothing." Arnor shook his head. "Just, be careful. Getting someone's attention can be a good thing, but it also means..."

Robb understood his meaning. In a world where mages ruled over all, any distinguishing trait could be a source of danger.

"By the way," Arnor changed the subject, "the second body-tempering session is this afternoon. Are you ready?"

Robb nodded and pulled out the herbs the shopkeeper had given him. "These should help."

He sorted through the ingredients while mentally reviewing the day's gains and the skill experience he'd accumulated.

Whether it was perceiving the "rhythm" of ingredients, or the conversations with Hadrian and Lady Elena, all of it had deepened his understanding of this world.

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