Chapter 342 - 293: Reminder, Requiem
On Golden Oak Street, the wall lamps outside the main gate of the Magic Potion Workshop were still lit.
Ian pushed open the heavy oak door, and Old Finn came forward to greet him.
"The young lady and Steward Delia are here as well, taking stock of the accounts and various Magic Potions."
Ian nodded. After entering, he found Aidele asleep, slumped over a table piled high with scrolls.
She was still tightly clutching an open ledger, and a corner of her deep purple Wizard Robe had slipped to the floor.
He paused, took out an Awakening Potion, and gently placed it beside her hand.
The vaporizing scent of the Potion made Aidele’s eyelashes tremble. She opened her eyes and quickly sat up straight.
"Did I fall asleep?" She rubbed the corners of her eyes, the gesture a bit childish.
"You’ve been too tired lately."
Ian sat down across from her. Gaga, on his shoulder, was already curled up and asleep.
Aidele grabbed the Awakening Potion, uncorked it, and drank it all in one go.
As the liquid went down her throat, her spirits visibly lifted, and the bloodshot veins in her eyes faded slightly.
"So?" She put down the empty vial and looked at Ian. "Did your trip out of the city today go smoothly?"
Ian didn’t answer her question. Instead, he sat down in the high-backed chair opposite her.
His fingertips tapped lightly on the table as if he were choosing his words carefully.
After a moment, he finally began to speak slowly.
"Your father’s condition... is more complicated than I imagined."
Aidele’s breath hitched. She instinctively clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms and causing a faint, sharp pain.
"What do you mean?"
Ian raised his eyes, his gaze calm as he looked at her.
"A normal bloodline Curse wouldn’t cause a Soul to fall into such a deep state of dormancy."
His tone was even. "That day, I detected an external source of erosive Energy on your father. It’s intertwined with the bloodline Curse and is continuously devouring his Soul Origin."
Aidele’s pupils contracted sharply, and her fingers tightened unconsciously.
"Soul Erosion?" Her voice was low. "Are you sure?"
Any affliction involving the Soul was extremely dangerous and difficult to handle.
Ian nodded slightly, his tone certain.
"I’m sure. That’s why standard Purification Potions are almost useless. We have to develop a Soul Purification Potion that specifically targets the Soul."
The color drained from Aidele’s face.
She remembered what Ian had said in the Clan Leader’s Palace after his examination: "This is no ordinary bloodline Curse."
She remembered the barely perceptible rise and fall of her father’s chest, the faint, phantom-like scent of decay.
"Do you have a solution?"
Her voice was so soft it was almost drowned out by the sound of the room’s ventilation.
Her deep, cyan eyes were fixed on Ian.
Like a drowning person grasping at a final piece of driftwood.
Ian was silent for a moment. He actually had a solution, but he couldn’t say it.
’The existence of the system panel, my knowledge of the Abyss, and even the future "Entropy Change Domain" from another Limit-Breaking of Frost Ash Beam... All of it is highly effective against the Abyss, but these... many of these are secrets I can’t reveal.’
"I can try."
He finally spoke but didn’t give a definite answer.
"I need to develop a completely new, Strong Effect purification and tranquilizing Potion that specifically targets Soul abnormalities and Energy Erosion."
Aidele’s pupils dilated slightly.
She looked at Ian’s calm face, the halo of the wall lamp reflected in her eyes.
Something stirred within her chest.
It was like frozen earth cracking under the warmth of the spring sun.
"You’re... going to research this kind of Potion specifically?" her voice trembled.
Ian nodded. "I am a Magic Potion Alchemist. This is what I do best, and it’s part of my duty."
He said it so matter-of-factly, as if he were commenting on the weather.
But Aidele understood.
’Part of my duty... he means helping me, helping my father.’
She pressed her lips together, her fingertips tracing the rough edge of the ledger.
After a moment, she spoke again, her voice having regained its composure.
"It must be difficult, right? Is there anything I can do to help?"
Ian took a nearby piece of Parchment and quickly wrote down several book titles.
"I need to consult the books in your family’s secret collection regarding abnormal energy damage and Soul dormancy, especially cases involving energy from other realms."
Aidele took the Parchment. A few lines of text were written on it.
Pathology of Abnormal Energy Damage
Compendium of Soul Stabilization Formulas: Ancient Wizard Era
A Study on the Characteristics and Energy Compatibility of the Time Trace Bloodline
A Compilation of Cases on Outer-Realm Energy Erosion
...
She scanned the titles, her brow slightly furrowed.
"These are all from our family’s private collection. Some are even in the restricted section..."
She fell silent for a moment before taking a dark silver family Token from her robes, its edge engraved with the Time Trace Badge.
"This is a Level Two authority Token my father left me. It can be used to access most of the High Level collection."
She held the Token out to him. Her fingertips hesitated for a split second as they touched his palm.
"For books at Level Three or higher... I’ll need time to apply for access."
Ian took the Token. The Metal felt warm to the touch, still holding the residual heat from Aidele’s palm.
He weighed it in his hand before storing it in his Ring.
"This will be enough for now."
Aidele stood up and walked to the window.
Outside, the night was deep. In the distance, the Crystal Ball atop the Time Trace Tower appeared and disappeared between the gaps in the clouds.
"Ian," she said suddenly, her voice soft.
"Thank you."
Ian looked up. In the moonlight, Aidele’s delicate profile was cast in a soft silhouette.
Her deep purple Wizard Robe swayed gently in the night breeze, the hem brushing against the floor with a soft rustle.
"You don’t have to thank me. This will also help me improve my Magic Potion Science."
He said calmly, then lowered his head again and began to organize the equipment on his workbench.
Aidele turned around, looking at his lowered gaze, at his expression of intense Concentration.
The corners of her mouth curved into a smile without her realizing it.
"I’ll get Level Three Authority as soon as possible."
After saying this, she strode out of the room, the sound of her footsteps gradually fading into the distance.