Part 24: Chapter Twenty-Three: A Heart of Stone

Felt replied to Viese’s prior letter on Iris after securing the Book of Hermes.



Viese, in turn, was hard at work on the Key.



I better tell Felt about this item!
Key of Hermes…?
Yes.
This key will unlock silver treasure chests and doors.
Ohhh…
Oh yeah, there’s a silver treasure chest upstairs…

Viese found a recipe for something strange called an Uni upstairs, she produced it but wasn’t entirely sure what it did.



But, what does it do…?

She also wrote a letter back to Felt.



Viese also found another silver chest back in the Historical Society, but didn’t have all of the materials to create the recipe yet. When she returned to the workshop, though, Iris had more surprises for her.



What is it, Iris?
Here.
This is a Heal Herb. Where did you get this?
I made it.
Wow! You’re getting good at this.
I made it for you.
Really? Thank you.
System Message: Received [Heal Herb]!
I haven’t taught her anything. She just learns from watching me… it’s amazing.

There was also a great silver door beneath the Eden Temple.



And behind it, there were the Mana of Stone.



There was also another ancient lithograph.



Viese found the Stone Mana sleeping in a room of crystals.



……
Excuse me!
……
I guess he’s sleeping.
……

Before Viese could leave, Diemia did finally wake.



Oh, I’m sorry…
…But, you are a Stone Mana, right?
Yes. My name is Diemia.
So, you must be an alchemist. I haven’t seen one of you in quite a while.
There were more alchemists back then.
Nowadays, no one comes back here. I’ve been sleeping for a long time.
…Maybe there’s a reason we met.
How would you like to make a pact with me?
Are you serious?
Yes. I’d be happy to do it. But, I have a favor to ask you.
As you can see, I’m not so young anymore. I have trouble seeing things when it’s dark.
Do you have anything that can light this place better?
To light this place, hmm…
There’s the Glow Lamp!
…But, I don’t have one with me. I have to go make one.
I’ll be right back with something to light up this place, I promise.
Thank you. I’ll just wait for you here then.
Okay. I’ll be right back.

Viese quickly synthesized the Glow Lamp.



System Message: Handed over 1 [Glow Lamp].
Wow! This is bright. I can see things down here now.
I’m glad you like it.
Now it’s my turn to help you. I’ll make a pact with you. Just as I promised.
Then, let’s make a pact.
Mana, the father of power… the mother of life… The source of all nature…
I, Viese Blanchimont, have pledged to uphold the sacred tenets of Lilith.
In honor of that pledge, I have come to form a pact Diemia, the Stone Mana!
I hope this turns out well.
System Message: Received the mark of the Stone Mana, the [Stone Gem]!

She immediately found something for Diemia to do, as she’d found a recipe for a Meteor.



This item will cause a meteorite to fall.
Meteorite?
Yes, a meteorite is… Hmm… Just think of it as a piece of a shooting star.
A piece of a shooting star?! I wanna see it!
No! It’s too dangerous for them to fall near you.
But I wanna…
How about if we just stay up late tonight and watch regular shooting stars?