Part 33: Chapter 6-3: Brewing a Storm

Part 6-3: Brewing a Storm

Alright, Lydie! You’ve spent a small fortune on books for gemstones… so why don’t we actually start making some?



Alright. But first, we need raw gems. Let’s start with a Raw Ruby. We’ll need two Magnet Stones, some Alchemic Clay, some fuel, and some water.

Finally! Hmm… which catalyst should we use?

Hmm… anything goes. Anyway, materials! Magnet Stones… and then Alchemic Clay.



We won’t make much Coll if you tack on that trait, though!

True, but this actually works better for us if we want to register it with Corneria. Now, Fuel!



Doubling down on the cheap stuff, huh?

Sure am. Now, let’s put in some water, and synthesize!



Hmm… perfect!

Hey, Lydie. Did the Low Price traits just combine?

I wasn’t sure if that would happen, but I’m glad it did! Now for the actual Ruby itself…



We’ll also need Polish, Distilled Water and some neutralizer.



Ah, Lydie… I think I can see why you want cheap Rubies for Corneria to duplicate.

Right! This is an exceptionally powerful catalyst. It can let us produce an extra of whatever we synthesize, bestow an extra use on something we can use in the field, transfer an extra two traits, and finally, lift the effect level cap quite a bit!

That’s incredible! We couldn’t possibly have enough of these! So let’s get started! In with the Raw Ruby…




Like with the Raw Ruby, it doesn’t matter for this synthesis if we hit any effect level thresholds…



We just need to activate the spots that yield an extra Ruby and let us transfer two more traits!



Ah, hahaha… looks like some of the Low Price traits ended up turning into another Common Item trait. But this is good enough for our needs!



We could use some more weapon materials, too. Let’s make an Ingot.

As useful as Rubies are, an Ertona Crystal will be better for the effect levels we want for this synthesis.




This wasn’t perfect… but the Mercury-boosting spots let us hit a threshold for more attack power on whatever weapon this’ll be used for.



There we go! I want to synthesize more, but we’d best wait until we can get some more Rubies from Corneria first.

Meanwhile, at the Corneria Enterprise…

I can’t find the shop they were talking about. Gah, where is it? Hmm… oh?? That woman…!


Her Acquaintance’s Daughter

S-Sorry? What made you shout like that?

Can I ask you one thing? Have you ever been a doll?

What?

Ah, sorry if that was weird! I just saw a doll that looked exactly like you, once…

Hehe, that’s a surprise for me too. A doll made to look like me? By who? Although I have a pretty good idea. Fritz… I’m going to have to invoice you for this!

Ugh? I don’t think it was Dad. And how do you know my dad, anyway?

Dad? You’re Fritz’s daughter?

Yep, that’s right! I’m Drossel! Nice to meet you!

Ah, I’m Corneria. I see, Fritz’s daughter… What are you doing here, anyway, Drossel? You’ve been wandering up and down for a while.

Ah, of course. I’m looking for a shop called the Corneria Enterprise.



Yes. The Corneria Enterprise is my store.

Yes! I heard you sell lots of wonderful things, so I had to come and check it out!

I see. Then please, feel free to take a look around. I’ll give you a discount, too, since you’re Fritz’s daughter.

Woohoo! Now, then…

After Drossel leaves…



Corneria! Can we register this Ruby with you?

You certainly can, but… you already have three items registered with me. What would you like to swap out?

Hmm… we have plenty of Red Neutralizer for now. Let’s swap that out.

Understood. I’ll make the arrangements.



(Alchemy sure is something… you can make gemstones cheaper than cloth, if you have the will and the skill.)

Lydie! Sue! I have a copy of your Ruby ready!

Then we’ll take it. Here’s your 42 Coll!

Thank you very much!

Anyway, Sue! We’ve got more synthesis to do!



Right! This is our first time trying to make Silvalia. It’s a more potent metal that can be used for forging.




Let’s place our blue components where the blue spots in the cauldron are. And as a bonus, the Ruby having a spot boosting Sun effects means that we already hit a threshold for Strength… before even putting in any green components!



Right! And in turn, the Ruby having a spot boosting Mars effects pushed us over another threshold for Attack and Speed… and the effect level cap increase let us max out the Strength effect! Now, then, let’s finish the job!



And be sure to register it with Corneria later, of course!

Ooh, Lydie! Have you ever wanted to make an even more powerful Bomb?

That’d be great to have! What’s your plan, Sue?




Let’s use the Darkshroom as a catalyst, since it’ll raise the effect level cap just enough to let us pull this off. We just need to be sure to activate the level spots, and…




Success!




I’ve got an idea about how we can take this even further! Lydie! Use a Ruby as a catalyst, and use this combination of ingredients…



I see. Using that old Uni Bag in tandem with the blue spots the Ruby created, we can hit a second threshold with the blue effect. And we have just enough red components that with the Mars space…




Yeah! This will be super potent in battle… Shame about the lack of useful traits, but this was a tradeoff we had to make. If nothing else, it’ll cost us less to have Corneria top it off.



Speaking of traits… next up, Distilled Water! We can use this for a Battle Mix, and I was wondering something about traits on ingredients we use for Battle Mix.




The potency of a Battle Mix depends on the quality of our ingredient… but if we make ingredients that have traits bestowing more uses on them, then couldn’t we boost the quality commensurately?

Commens… I dunno what that means, but it’s worth a shot!



There we go! Now that I think about it… we can keep using Distilled Water with quality-enhancing traits to make even higher-quality Distilled Water… so we could keep this going ad infinitum! But for now, last on my bucket list… a Special Nutrient!




With a Ruby as our catalyst… all we need to worry about here is putting in as much green components as we can. And activating the spots giving an extra copy and an extra use for those copies, of course!




Special Nutrient

That’s a pretty interesting item. A nutrient you can use with not just plants, but anything.

Hahaha, I know! We can use this to get higher-quality ingredients when we go gathering. By the by… Do you think it would make a person grow taller?

That could be fun, sure. But Lydie, do you think it might work on hair? If so, there’s someone I’d really like to help out.

I know exactly who you mean, Sue, but I think we’d better leave it alone… Sometimes, you know, not saying anything can be the kinder option.

I see. We can’t make flowers bloom on a barren wasteland, I guess…

I dunno if I’d put it that way, but… you get it.

Right… Anyway, we’ve been synthesizing for days on end! I think we’ve earned some R&R…

The next morning…


Promises to Mom



(Heheh! I’ll help you with anything! I love you, Mom!)

(That makes me so happy! I love you too, Lydie.)

(Uwaah, Mom! I fell over!)

(Oh dear. That’s alright, I’ll kiss it away. You’re strong, Suelle. Is that better?)

(I’m not strong! Hurting things hurt! Waaaah!)

(Oh my. You’re such a cute little crybaby, Suelle. Hey, Lydie. You have to protect Suelle. You understand? You’re her big sister. You have to be the one to look after Suelle, Lydie.)

(I will! I promise you, Mom!)

Mom… you’re watching, right? I’ll do my best…



Lydie’s looking at that photo again…

I noticed too. She doesn’t show it often, but I know she’s very sad on the inside.

She should just tell me how she’s feeling. We’re twins, after all.

That’s exactly why she can’t. She’s clumsy and stubborn. You have to watch out for her, Sue. Watch out for Lydie.

Hahaha, I know! After all… I made the same promise to Mom.