Chapter 90 - Shadow (13)

From a rough look, the second recipe seemed to mainly consist of records exploring regional alchemy traditions while wandering the continent.

The language used changed with each dated section. It seemed he had recorded in the local language of each region he stayed in while traveling.

It contained technical content that would require considerable effort to interpret. The only fortunate thing was that records of minority tribes' traditional alchemy were written in the common language.

Damian doubted whether he could accurately interpret it with his language abilities.

There was no other choice. He would have to live with dictionaries in the library for a while.

For one or two lines of text, there wouldn't be any danger in getting help from others, but finding a trustworthy language expert was another problem.

***

The next morning, in the carriage heading to Eternia, I asked Trisha, "Do you know any languages besides the common tongue?"

Trisha answered proudly, "Nope!"

"Never mind then."

It would have been the best scenario if Trisha could interpret it. But of course not.

"Why? What are you trying to learn it for?"

"There's a book I want to read but it's in languages I don't know. Are there any seniors or classmates who are good with languages?"

I thought about asking Art Club President Haley to find someone, but making requests right after just finishing introductions seemed too forward.

Going to professors bothered me too. I should interpret this recipe with my own abilities as much as possible. I couldn't show the full text to professors, and I couldn't follow them around constantly just to ask for help with interpreting parts of blocked sentences.

I needed someone like Liria. Someone who wouldn't get deeply involved but would definitely teach what was needed.

And Trisha happened to mention a suitable name.

"Yeah, Senior Cecil is the smartest. She's mixed-race so her family is everywhere."

"...Cecil?"

"But she seems super busy lately. Even I barely see her face. She probably won't deal with you either? You're not really close with her."

"...Where does she usually stay? Do you know which club she's in?"

"...Don't know."

"Do you have any idea where she might be?"

"Do you absolutely have to see Senior Cecil?"

Cecil would be quite a good choice.

"Yes, she's the person I need most."

"..."

Trisha's expression subtly darkened.

"What's wrong? Did you fight with Cecil?"

She answered stiffly, "No."

Then, she turned her head away from me as if she didn't want to speak anymore. Though she didn't express it openly, her mood seemed somewhat depressed.

Unlike her usual way of openly expressing when she was upset, she seemed to be feeling emotions she couldn't speak about.

Why is she like this? Does she just get in a bad mood every morning?

For now, I put everything aside and planned how to find Cecil.

First... stop by Witdruff Hall and get some flower petal candies. I'll have to think about whether to wear the mask or not.

***

Cecil sat resting on the magic fountain in front of Eternia's central library.

She took some pride in the fact that no one among Eternia's first years could be as busy as her.

She had spent days going back and forth between the library and the research lab for her personal research.

There wasn't even time to think about art specialties.

She planned to just let herself be assigned wherever by doing nothing.

Unpopular clubs were best. They took less time and were filled with less bothersome people.

Smoking tobacco with a blank face, she frowned as she noticed passing students' gazes lingering on her.

Though she was used to getting looks due to her mixed-race beauty, lately, those gazes had been subtly irritating. It was because people approaching her about joint classes and such had rapidly increased recently.

Cecil's intuition hit the mark immediately.

Someone began approaching while fixing their gaze on her. Though her eyes were bleary from pulling an all-nighter at the library and she couldn't see clearly who it was, she had no intention of dealing with anyone right now, even if it was a prince.

She was sick of it now. What was that “reward” that made people try so hard? Why were they all so desperate?

She exhaled smoke slowly and spoke to herself loudly enough for everyone to hear, "Ah, my mood's going bad, I wish everyone would just go away."

What did it matter if others saw her badly or not?

Some who heard flinched, looked around nervously, then turned and left.

Cecil finished her tobacco and went back into the library.

She sat at a square table in the reading room she had claimed earlier and opened her book again. She put on round research glasses and immersed herself in reading again.

Then, someone tapped their fingertips on the table to get her attention.

Cecil's cousin, first-year Alchemy Department student Bertrand, had quietly taken a seat across from her.

Cecil sighed lightly and turned her eyes back to her book.

At this, Bertrand spoke in a low voice, "This isn't the time to be doing this."

Cecil shot back in a sarcastic tone, "How did your Drama Club interview go?"

Bertrand seemed quite flustered as if an embarrassing memory had surfaced.

"No, I told you I failed the third test. Why are you bringing that up again?"

Cecil took off her research glasses and brushed back her long hair with its light waves.

"Why did you come? What do you want to talk about?"

"I found out what the joint class is. It's an alchemy class."

Cecil frowned briefly.

"It's related to fantastical beasts, so why is it an alchemy class?"

"They say alchemy knowledge is essential for tracking fantastical beasts. Spirit summoners and alchemists are key in that class."

"..."

"And I also found out what reward they give for bringing a fantastical beast's horn. Originally only those who received the potion knew, but it seems word spread secretly because the effects are so amazing."

"What is it?"

"You'll be surprised too. Instead of doing research, you need to prepare for the joint class right now."

Bertrand looked around carefully and slipped a note from his pocket toward Cecil.

She took it with a dubious expression.

And Cecil's eyes gradually widened as she confirmed what was written on the note.

***

As Bertrand said, Cecil put aside her personal research for now. After learning the identity of that reward, she fully understood the seniors' desperate attitudes.

Just imagining what could be done with that potion elevated her mood.

She, too, became ruled by desire and switched direction to prepare for the joint class.

She moved between the long bookshelves in the reading room, picking up books that seemed to have useful information and loading them onto a cart.

"Hmm... ‘Fantastical Beasts of the Continent' and 'The Beast Tamer of Calamity' and also..."

While pushing the cart, she stopped after spotting something that looked good and reached for the top shelf.

Due to the high shelves, her hand couldn't reach. Too bothersome to get a footstool, she stepped on the bottom shelf to climb up.

Soon after, the bookshelf slowly tilted and books slid down, showering like rain.

"Eek!"

Unable to withstand the falling books, she fell to the floor.

Fortunately, the bookshelf didn't completely fall over so a major disaster was avoided, but her irritation surged due to the surrounding mess.

While organizing the messily scattered books, someone who seemed to have heard the commotion came over and helped sort the books.

The cart was blocking Cecil and this stranger so she couldn't tell who it was. Through the gap she could see an arm with visible veins, sleeves rolled up. Since she was in a hurry, she didn't particularly refuse the help.

She grabbed books in bunches and hurriedly placed them on the cart. The library Planteras could handle proper book arrangement.

Roughly finishing the cleanup, she stood up. The person helping beside her also stood and handed something to her.

It was the book she had been trying to get.

She took the book and looked up to check the person's face. A man with dark red hair wearing a wooden mask.

It was Candy.

Her thoughts stopped briefly at the sudden reunion.

"Why are... you here?"

"Came to read books."

After staring blankly at Candy, Cecil suddenly became aware of her appearance and lowered her head slightly.

"W-wait a moment."

She extended one hand forward as if saying to not come any closer and covered her face with the book.

She never imagined he would appear suddenly. This was a surprise attack. She had pulled an all-nighter and her hair was messy and she hadn't even washed her face in the morning. Being unprepared, she couldn't help but be very flustered.

"What is this? Why are you suddenly here without saying anything."

He threw out a playful joke smoothly, "...Do you need a mask too?"

"S-shut up. You, stay right here. I'll be right back. If you run away, I'll turn you into a popsicle."

"Alright. Go ahead."

Cecil turned sharply and walked quickly out of the reading room. Though she knew Candy wouldn't follow, she couldn't lower the book due to a strange sense of shame.

Only when she reached the lounge with large mirrors did she let her guard down.

Looking in the mirror, her appearance wasn't too good. Her hair was disheveled and her lips had lost color to a light pink, probably from fatigue. She tidied her hair with her hands and applied lip balm.

Then, she undid one top button of her white blouse to show her collarbone.

Cecil started heading back to the reading room but stopped again in front of the mirror feeling something was lacking.

After biting her lip and contemplating for a while, she finally undid two more buttons.