Part 30: Chapter Twenty-Nine: Dreams of Eden

Last time Felt and his allies failed miserably to drive the Imperials from their camp. Today, we’ll learn what happened after that in Eden.





Felt had sent Viese a letter about what happened.



Galahad… Well, it turns out that Galahad trained to fight with Gray. And not only that, he’s also Noin’s father! Can you believe that? Well, we had to fight him, and were winning, but his soldiers cam back so we had to run away…
In the long run, I guess that was for the best. A father and daughter shouldn’t have to fight each other… We’ll just have to find another way to the workshop.

Viese decided that she needed to find something more she could do for Felt.



Oh, sorry…
Felt’s mission is a constant battle… We’d never know if he failed.
I know he’s doing it to save Eden, but…
Are you worried about brother Felt?
Huh?
I guess I am worried..
Come in!

Lutanus the librarian came by her house with a message from Kreuz.



Oh, Lutanus. What brings you here?
Well…
I’m here to deliver a message from Kreuz.
There is new information regarding the Azoth.
Please stop by the Eden Temple when you get a chance.
New information?
Yes.
Please excuse me, I have other business to attend to.
New information about the Azoth…
This new information may help Felt.
Okay.
I can worry about Felt later.
I hope he returns to Eden safely…
I will do whatever I can to help him do that.
I’ll help, too.
Great. Then we should go to the temple together.
Yay!

But Viese could hardly step outside before an apocalyptic crash from next door rang out.



Woha, what was that?!
Wah waaah!
What’s going on…?

It seemed Coco, the Mana who worked at the nearby shop, had dropped one plate too many.



What happened? She did it again!
I told her to be careful with that package, but she fell and broke everything in it.
Uh oh…
It’s not the first time she’s done it, either. So I had to tell her, “Coco, you’re FIRED!”
Poor dear… Don’t you think firing her is a little harsh?
Not at all. In fact, I think it’s the only way she’ll learn.
It’s her perfect chance to be more careful and less foolish.
……

Viese was worried about her friend, and tracked her down near the entrance of Noir.



She looked upset. I better go cheer her up…
Wah hah…
Hi, Coco. Melona told me what happened…
I’m sure she won’t hold a few mistakes against you. I’ll even go with you to apologize, if you want.
It’s not just a few mistakes, it’s a few mistakes a day.
So, that’s why Melona is so angry…
Yeah…
But, you still want to work at her store, don’t you?
Yeah…
Well, then you should at least apologize just to be nice.

Viese and Coco returned to Melona, who had cooled off a bit by this point.



Please take her back, for me!
……
Alright… If you can replace the items she broke, I’ll take her back.
Viese Really?!
So… What did I break…?
Well…
I don’t really care about the regular items. I just want the new Cure Jars I was about to put on sale.
Alright! I’ll do my best!
……She still acts as foolish as ever.

Coco decided she needed to do this on her own.



No, thank you. I think I should do this all by myself.
From now on, I’m gonna take full responsibility for my actions.
Are you sure? …Okay then. Please let me know if you ever need my help.
Okay. Thank you.

This left Viese free to head to the Temple.



Huh? Who is this?
Oh, her name is Iris.
She’s been staying at my house for awhile now…
You hadn’t heard about her?
No> I haven’t heard anything about her.
So, her name is Iris…
……
Oh, I’m sorry. Did I scare her?
Oh, no. She’s just shy…
……
Anyway, I heard you had new information about the Azoth…
Oh, yes. Please come with me.

Kreuz led her to the library, where a locked door had previous barred her way.



But, these are special times…
What is this place?!
This is a secret library that contains alchemy techniques of the highest level.
What I wish to show you lies at the deepest part of the library.

And down in the library’s depths there was indeed a book about the Azoths.



[Master Alchemists of the Slaith Era]…
It begins on this page.
“Palaxius is considered by many to be the greatest alchemist who ever lived.
But, the greatest alchemist isn’t necessarily the most skilled at alchemy.
The most skilled at alchemy is none other than his apprentice, Elusmus.
With these two masters working together, alchemy advanced faster than any other time in history. However…
The Azoths that they created ended that prosperity in an instant.
Palaxius created the [Crimson Azoth].
And Elusmus created the [Azure Azoth].
The [Crimson Azoth] decimated an entire region, resulting in Lake Midgard’s creation.
A winter-like hardship followed this tragedy of alchemy.”
Palaxius and Elusmus…
I know a little about Palaxius.
He’s a master alchemist with many accomplishments to his name. But…
But?
They say he was very dangerous, and would do anything to attain his goals…
This [Crimson Azoth]…
It’s very likely that it was born form his own insanity.
……

With that, Kreuz left Viese with access to the library, hoping it might help her help Felt.



Are you sure?
If Felt’s report is correct…
Then he may be facing an extraordinary enemy.
You are the only one who can help him.
I understand. Thank you.
Well, I’m going back upstairs.

There was an odd chest nearby.



But its contents were even stranger than its existence at all in such a place.



Who are you?
I am Faustus, the Dream Mana.
We were playing hide and seek when I got stuck in that box.
You’re a real lifesaver!
Your tail is too long for your body.
Yes, I know.
……
Oh, I know. Miss Alchemist, will you make a pact with me?
Are you sure?
Absolutely. I can’t risk getting stuck in that box again. And, hide and seek is all we play.
Please…
……
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 with Faustus, the Dream Mana!
System Message: Received the mark of the Dream Mana, the [Dream Gem]!
Dreams are a part of the human condition. My power lies within them.

Viese also found a book on a material most rare, Hexi Glass.



“The Hexi Glass Crystal is made naturally through the build up of air.
It is a rare crystal that can only be found at the top of windy hills.
Hexi Glass improves a body’s reaction time…”
Hmm, Hexi Glass improves reaction time…
This could be useful!
I’ll borrow this book, too.

And there was also a suspiciously timely book that explained how to produce a very useful, indeed vital item indeed.



It looks like this book has some useful recipes written inside it…
I better check it out.
System Message: Received [Alchemic History]!
You now have the recipe for [Grappling Hook]!

Upstairs, Lutanus was reading at work yet again.



Yes. I still have a lot of books to catch up on.
Have you learned anything new since last time?
About Mana? No, not really.
Some books say that Mana came before humans…
But I just don’t know. And I might not even find what I’m looking for after reading every book here.
…After all, it’s humans who wrote the books.
Yeah, you may be right.
But, I’m not going to give up. Even after I’ve read every book.
It doesn’t take a Creation Mana to want to know everything about the past.
Mana live much longer than humans… But even we will be gone someday.
By that time, I’d like to know all about Mana and this world…
And write it all down in a book somewhere.
That’s a wonderful goal… I hope you achieve it.

Viese and Iris had finished their business at the temple, and prepared to head home.



Yes.

Iris headed upstairs after they returned home.



May I Synthesize upstairs?
Sure. But, be careful.
Hehe. Looks like she’s getting used to being here…

Meanwhile, Viese got to work on a recipe using Hexi Glass.



Viese, what are you doing?
Well, remember when we found that study on Hexi Glass back in the library?
Now, I’m trying to come up with a recipe that uses that item…
Oh…
Yes!
Did it work?
Yes, my recipe is finished.
System Message: Received [Viese’s Recipe]!
You now have the recipe for [Viese Charm]!
So… What did you learn how to make?
Just a little good luck charm.
I think this charm will make Felt’s mission just a little safer.
I see.
The only problem is, I don’t know if we can find enough Hexi Glass…

Viese though back on where Hexi Glass can be found, which led to just one conclusion as to where to check.



“It is a rare crystal that can only be found at the top of windy hills.”
A windy hill…
Hey, I haven’t made a pact with a Wind Mana yet…
Let’s go to Weathervane Hill to make another pact!

And so they left. Next time, we’ll see what happened at Weathervane Hill.