Chapter 597: The Creation of the Soul Vessel [I]
Contrary to the expectation that it would grow in one day, the Treant seeds that Adelaide planted did not immediately sprout and grow. This made Adelaide disappointed, as she was excited about what would grow from those seeds.
On the other hand, the ginseng that Arthur had planted the other day had finally sprouted. He didn’t know if it was because of his effort or because Miss Yona already said that they just need this ginseng if they want to grow the Heartroot Ginseng itself, but seeing it firsthand allowed Arthur to finally understand the difference between the regular ginseng and the Heartroot Ginseng.
The leaves are shaped like hearts for some reason, and the ripe red berries that regular ginseng has are also shaped like small hearts, releasing a very sweet smell, similar to a real berry. It somehow smells similar to a strawberry and blueberry sweet smell when crushed to juice, which is weird for a ginseng.
"Is it actually normal for a ginseng berry fruit to smell like actual berries? Don’t they smell like a medicinal herb instead of a fruity aroma like this?" Adelaide asked as the twins inspected the mature Heartroot Ginseng.
"No way. I have tried those berries before when Mother planted them in the past. I actually mistook them before as raspberries and tried eating them. They are a bit tangy and a bit bitter the more you chew. I think Mother said that those berries are useful for creating tea and other stuff that are used for medicine. It isn’t the most sought-after, though, like ginseng," Arthur said, remembering those times he tried to eat that berry and ended up regretting it.
"What do you think is gonna be used in the creation of the Soul vessel from this Heartroot Ginseng, though? Do you think it is the root itself or the berry?" Adelaide asked.
"I don’t know, but I guess the berry might be useful, so I would refrain from even getting that berry eaten, even if it somehow is tempting to eat," Arthur said as he grabbed the garden shovel and started digging on the Heartroot Ginseng slowly. He made sure to dig slowly to ensure he wouldn’t hit the root while digging it out.
As soon as he pulled it out, instead of the usual shape that ginsengs have, the root is actually shaped like a heart as well.
"Wait, is this why they call it the heartroot ginseng? Because everything about this plant is shaped like a heart?" Adelaide frowned, looking at the ginseng in Arthur’s hands.
"Even if I am not always seeing the plants that Mother harvests, I am quite sure that a ginseng doesn’t look like this at all..." Arthur looked confused as well.
Then, someone started speaking behind them, surprising the twins who were both focused on the ginseng.
"Oh? Would you look at that, you two managed to grow it successfully. Good job, considering that I have given the Heartroot ginseng for just a day and yet it has become mature and already harvested!"
"Kyaaa! Who’s there!?" Adelaide jumped to her feet as she quickly turned around, only to meet Miss Yona.
Arthur was also surprised, but that’s because of Adelaide’s scream, causing him to also get startled, but he wasn’t showing any reaction as bad as Adelaide and remained composed after getting the sudden surprise.
"Miss Yona? Good morning to you. It’s rare to see you around the farm," Arthur greeted Yona while also wondering why Yona was actually around when she usually spends most of her time around the Great Beehive Tree where the bees are staying.
"I took a break for today as I have been working for quite a while, and I miss exploring and seeing the situation from time to time. Still, it is great to see the heartroot ginseng now. It’s been a few years since I last handled heartroot ginseng."
"Even though you have the seedling and means to grow it yourself?" Arthur asked.
"Even though I like to plant things, I don’t have the green thumb that is similar to your mother, who can naturally grow almost anything without much issue. Seems the two of you inherited her green thumb legacy. To see the Heartroot Ginseng again, this really takes me back and is giving me a painful reminder that I am very old already."
Both Adelaide and Arthur looked at each other, frowning at why Yona seemed like she is quite old already when she still looked young. They barely see her age these past few years already, and seeing her still young like this makes it weird when she talks about age and stuff as she always thinks she is old despite looking young. Of course, only Elaina knows her ultimate secret on why she remained young, but that is something that the twins will not learn for quite some time.
"Anyways, now that you got that, what are you two going to do?"
Adelaide answered that question with a quick response. "We will continue and make the planned Soul Vessel. We will use it to create a way to restore and awaken Mom again."
"Ah yes, the soul vessel. I remembered that. So you guys have already gathered all the ingredients necessary for the creation of this thing. Interesting."
She went silent for a bit, staring at the twins blankly for a bit before she suddenly proposed an idea.
"You know what, how about this? I can help the two of you create the Soul vessel. It’s been a while since I dabbled in Alchemy and crafting like this, so I think I am getting excited."
Hearing her words, both Arthur and Adelaide are surprised and delighted by what Miss Yona said. Then, someone else also decided to join.
"I heard that! Don’t leave me out of the fun. I am in too!"
The three looked up and saw Julia floating above them in her maid outfit, as she slowly descended to the ground. It seems she just returned from the Grand Sage’s tower, and now, she is saying something about helping out.
"Sis Julia!" Adelaide approached Julia and hugged her while the latter also reciprocated the gesture. Only Arthur did not do anything, but Julia already knew that.
"You two are looking quite chipper today! I overheard your conversation with Miss Yona here, and I admit that was interesting. I also want to join and see how to make that thing!"
Yona quickly intervened. "But aren’t you quite busy with the Grand Sage’s work? He should have plenty of subjects and things he has to do that you need to attend to."
"That’s true, but Master already allowed me to rest for a while. He said he has already accomplished most tasks and I am now free to do something on my own for a while as he is still trying to see if some of his calculations are wrong and is currently busy there and would rather be alone for a while."
"Then, shouldn’t your next course of action be to rest? Why are you even going to work again after doing work?" Yona looked at Julia, confused.
"No worries. You can say this is a form of relaxation to me. You don’t have to be worried about me."
Hearing that, Yona could only sigh. "Well, I also do that on my free time and although it is relaxing for the brain, it is also not a good rest either, so next time, please avoid it."
Adelaide quickly cut off their conversation in case they might be crossing something that they shouldn’t cross.
"Well, in that case, Sis Julia, your help will be really helpful indeed. With your alchemy and crafting magic, this will tremendously lessen the amount of time we need to actually create it, and with Miss Yona’s experience, she will be helpful a lot too."
"If it is alchemy, you can definitely count on me. I heard you three are going to create this Soul vessel, right? Have you got all the ingredients needed for it?" Julia asked.
𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
"Yes. We stored them upstairs. The only thing left to do is actually process them and create the actual soul vessel that we will need," Arthur confirmed.
"You have the tools to do that, right? Let’s get there and get this task done as soon as possible." Yona beckoned the rest of them to enter the house.
Adelaide quickly opened the Almanac and checked how to create the Soul Vessel and the necessary actions to complete it. As expected, the process mostly done was the refinement of the ingredients that they carried before, including the Heartroot ginseng.
Since both Julia and Yona seemed to have no idea about the Almanac, nor did they even see it while floating in front of Adelaide, Adelaide decided to memorize the recipe in a short while and quickly grab a paper and a writing pen as she started putting the steps and necessary ingredients into the mixture.
Now, with the two, the Soul Vessel will be available to them soon enough.