Chapter 84: Discovery Part 2
As the bluish-white light was transporting us back, I threw my glance back to the ruined walls on the west.
[Magnifying Lens]
I observed the structure as it sat between the towering mountain ranges, north and south of it.
Before my vision was hazed out completely, I managed to glimpse the torn gate at the center of the walls, peering into ruined buildings scattered farther in.
I formed a deep frown as we returned to the mirrored chamber. Deep in my thoughts.
The buried valley, the buried path, the dam, and the walled city.
They were all found in the same region.
The sixth to the eighth floor were connected to one another in terms of where they took place.
Surely this discovery was not a coincidence.
At the very least I thought we would pay heavy price if we chose to ignore it.
"Serafina, you're coming?"
Jonah's voice drifted me from my chain of thoughts.
The others had already left the rift. He waited by the gate as he saw me standing still and wondering.
"Yes! Let's go!"
I said as I joined him.
As soon as we arrived on the first floor square, Party 2 was already there equipped with their gears.
Seeing them prepared with their weapons and armors in the square, I assumed the fairy had called for them while I was still inside the mirrored chamber.
They all were in deep discussion with Shanny, Trudy, and Darius.
I would expect they were talking about the eighth floor we just went to.
It was then that the fairy appeared on the square with us.
[Party 2, you're up! Go into the rift!]
Zecht, Norn, and the others tensed up.
For the last two days, master had not been calling them to the fourth floor.
It was a clear signal for their party that they would soon climb up the tower for their next deployment.
Considering the eighth floor was a subjugation mission unlike the two floors below it, I could guess where they would go this time.
Zecht was passing instructions to his comrades as Jonah and I walked past Party 2.
"Remember our training. I'll take the lead in the front. Norn and Maddock will follow close behind me. Tarran will provide support from the center. While Luan protects him and cover our rear."
I did not hear any objections from the others. They all took heed to what Zecht was saying.
Despite his laidback attitude, the heavy sword man turned out to be an effective leader.
They might not have a mage in their ranks that could kill multiple goblin riders at once.
But both Zecht and Norn were experienced mercenaries. Strong enough to be summoned to the forged land as 3-star heroes.
They would be able to figure out what to do to eliminate the enemies.
As Party 2 entered the rift, mine started climbing back to the second floor.
Jonah and the others returned to the training ground to resume their training, as always. While I made my way to the magic hall, as always.
I sat at my research table and began my research hours for the day.
Just as I solved a dozen problems from the many parchments on the table, five people carrying sacks of Dara flowers and other health potion ingredients entered the magic hall and made their way to the alchemy lab behind me.
Ever since the formation of the gatherer parties, there were now people assigned to carry the health potion ingredients to my lab.
I did not have to waste my time going down to the storage on the first floor of the lobby anymore.
"If you'll pardon us, Lady Zeref."
A girl with honey blonde hair softly spoke to me as her group was done carrying the ingredients and materials into the lab.
They knew I was busy with research and tried not to bother me other than to excuse themselves.
Sometimes they just went out quietly when they noticed I was too occupied with work to acknowledge them.
And no matter how many times I told them otherwise, they still insisted on calling me 'Lady Zeref.'
The sight of the gatherer girl this time, however, reminded me of something.
"Wait a minute! There's something I've been meaning to give you."
"What is it, Lady Zeref?"
She walked back to me questioningly. Her fellow gatherers had already left the hall.
I reached to a drawer on the table and handed to her a paper consisted of a list of ingredients, as well as detailed drawings for some peculiar ones.
"I'll be needing those items to make my mana potions. Be sure to look out for them during your trips to the Weekday Dungeons."
"As you wish, Lady Zeref! I'll order the gatherer parties to start collecting these for you."
The girl replied.
The reason why she could say those words was because this girl was now in charge of the gatherer parties. The 'chief gatherer' as what we called the role.
Her name was Harl. A farmer's daughter who knew her way with plants and also hunting.
She got along well with Tarran and the boy trusted her, saying that Harl reminded him of this lady who often helped him and the other orphans back home.
Ever since the boy was included in Party 2, Harl took over the responsibility of managing the gathering activities in the Weekday Dungeons.
She was also a 1-star prospect.
Had her skill with the sword just a tad better, she would be in Party 2 instead of Luan.
"How are your gathering efforts going? How many elemental stones have you obtained so far?"
I asked the chief gatherer.
"We did not always encounter the elemental stone guardian during our trips. But currently we have three fire stones, one water, and one wind. That's the last I know since the fairy occasionally flew into the storage and took some."
The Promotion Stones synthesis.
The fairy would use the elemental stones to create the Promotion Stones.
The problem was, sometimes the process would fail and we would lose the elemental stones.
That was why we only had that many left, despite the gatherers had been going to the Weekday Dungeons many times already.
"How many Promotion Stones are in the storage right now? The rainbow-colored ones."
"The fairy took two the other day. I believe we have three left."
For Jonah's and Shanny's promotions, of course.
With three Promotion Stones left, we would have enough to promote Trudy, Tarran, and Luan.
I nodded to Harl's report.
"Those Promotion Stones should be enough to promote the remaining 1-stars in Party 1 and 2. And we still have enough elemental stones to create another one as well. You gatherers did a great job in the Weekday Dungeons."
The girl's face turned brighter. She suddenly bowed to me, letting her honey blonde hair swung around.
"Thank you, Lady Zeref! It's an honor to hear you say that."
It had been a while since I surrendered to this too polite manner of hers.
I continued my request to her.
"Even so, Harl, I need your parties to keep gathering the elemental stones. The fairy would probably no longer need them for a while, but I do."
The elemental stones could be useful to strengthen our weapons.
Not to mention for another idea I had been brewing that could help us greatly in the upcoming Quintal Trial.
"Of course, my lady! We'll keep an eye out for those as well!"
Harl said determinedly before I dismissed her.
Having brushed the topic of the elemental stones, I could not help but to wander into my alchemy lab for a moment and stared at the enchantment pedestal there.
A smile curved on my lips.
I whispered to myself.
'Another BRILLIANT idea, indeed.'