Everyone knew it by now that gold coins barely registered in Zora’s eyes.
What truly moved her were demon crystals, academy points, and rare dicinal ingredients.
As a result, the entire academy shifted gears. Students began combing through the Heavenly City and the surrounding regions, hunting for anything unusual, anything rare enough to catch her attention.
At the sa ti, another set of rumors blood like weeds after rain.
"Have you noticed? Senior Raphael is polite to everyone, but he’s especially attentive to Zora. I’m telling you, he actually likes her."
"What am I supposed to do then? I’ve liked Senior Raphael for so long. If he really already has soone in his heart..."
The female students were quietly heartbroken, clinging to the hope that it was all just idle gossip. As long as Raphael didn’t openly acknowledge anyone, their hopes, fragile as they were, could still survive.
On the other hand, the male students were far more accepting.
"Zora is so beautiful. Wouldn’t it be strange if Senior Raphael didn’t like her?"
"Forget Raphael. Any man with eyes would fall for her."
In every sense, Zora was dazzling. Though Sylvandria was still recognized as the academy’s long-established goddess, many felt that the newly arrived Zora was more vivid and real. She feels less distant and within reach.
While the outside world buzzed endlessly, Zora herself remained blissfully unaware.
Inside her room, the Silver Cauldron burned steadily above the flas.
"Master," Black muttered as he tugged at White’s fur in boredom, "you’ve already made enough concentrated liquid that it fits four bottles of high-grade potion. Why are you still making more potions?"
Since returning, Zora had barely paused. One batch after another, her potion-making continued relentlessly, as if she wouldn’t stop until her ntal strength gave out.
Based on the cauldron size, only two bottles of highly concentrated Elixir of Tranquility can be made for one batch. So, two tis should have been enough. But Zora didn’t stop.
Boom!
As the Cauldron’s lid trembled, she opened it to look at the potion gathered deep at the bottom of the cauldron, while the rest was filled with water. She poured away the water and filled the thick, concentrated, bluish-white potion in two more porcelain bottles.
She smiled faintly. "Raphael, Reesa, and the others are my friends. The Elixirs are useful to any spirit warrior. Naturally, I should prepare a share for them."
She had always been clear about one thing. True friends deserve sincerity, not stinginess.
Though the Elixir of Tranquility wasn’t high-grade, its effects were undeniable. And over this ti, Raphael and the others had helped her more than once. She wasn’t the type to forget such things.
Hearing this, Black’s eyes lit up. It suddenly scooted closer, lowering its voice conspiratorially.
"Master... then what do you think about Senior Raphael?"
Zora paused.
Her instincts imdiately told her that this question was anything but innocent.
"What are you trying to say?" she asked coolly.
Black clasped its hands together and leaned in. "Well... I do think Senior Raphael is great. But I still stand firmly on Prince Kael’s side!"
Smack!
Zora slapped Black cleanly across the head.
"Little furball," she said flatly, "don’t concern yourself with such profound matters."
"Aaah!" Black flew straight into the wall, slid down dramatically, and sat there in silence, clearly traumatized.
White sighed and shook its head, glancing at it with pity. "I told you. Master obviously likes Senior Raphael. You just wouldn’t believe . Look at you now."
Before White could finish basking in its wisdom, Zora flicked it away as well.
"Both of you seem far too idle," she said calmly, raising an eyebrow. "Looks like I need to find you so proper work to do."
Black and White imdiately stiffened.
As soon as those words left her mouth, Black and White instantly changed their expressions.
The two little fellows sat upright at the edge of the bed with exaggerated obedience, hands covering their mouths, eyes wide and innocent, silently declaring that they would never utter another word again.
Shihtzu, anwhile, swaggered over with undisguised pride.
It settled itself beside Zora, deftly plucked a demon crystal from her hand, and crunched into it with crisp satisfaction. As it chewed, it even cast a smug glance toward the two "disciplined" troublemakers across the room, its tail swaying lazily in triumph.
"Villain rising with success!" Black fud under its breath, eyes burning with resentnt.
Who would have thought that this Shihtzu, which usually looked dazed and harmless, spending its days acting cute, would actually be so sharp and scheming?
Shihtzu stretched languidly, twisted its round little backside, and silently basked in its victory.
Serves you right for not knowing who’s boss, it thought smugly.
White ground its teeth in irritation. It had been far too long since it last beat soone up. Its paws were itching.
The two little fellows exchanged a look, a dangerous understanding passing between them. It seed they couldn’t let this little beast continue acting so arrogantly for long.
*
The next day, after finishing her alchemy work, Zora finally left her room.
She walked slowly up to the third floor and knocked on Raphael’s door, only to find that no one answered. A hint of confusion surfaced in her dark, clear eyes.
Had Raphael gone out?
Just as the thought crossed her mind, the door behind her opened.
"Looking for Raphael?"
The calm, indifferent voice sounded unhurriedly. Apart from Alaric Von Seraph, who else could it be?
Zora turned around, nodded slightly, and gave an awkward smile. "You’re here as well, Senior."
Alaric Von Seraph glanced at her briefly, then opened the door and gestured for her to enter.
The mont Zora stepped inside, she realized that Raphael and Sylvandria were already present. A trace of surprise flickered across her face.
"You were looking for ?" Raphael stood up, smiling gently at her.
Zora nodded lightly. "Since everyone’s here, that saves the trouble. I ca to bring sothing to you."
She reached into her Storage pouch and took out three white porcelain bottles, handing one to each of them. "These are Elixirs of Tranquility. They should be useful to you."
The mont those words fell, Raphael, Alaric Von Seraph, and Sylvandria all froze, their gazes fixed on Zora.
Elixir of Tranquility.
The most talked-about dicinal Potions in the academy recently, sothing countless students dread of obtaining, sothing that had already driven the entire city into a frenzy... and she was simply giving them away?
"Unearned gains bring unease," Alaric Von Seraph said in a deep voice. "We can’t accept this."
Elixir of Tranquility was too precious. They didn’t know how Zora obtained them, but that only made it harder to accept such a gift.
They had originally planned to participate in the auction three days later. Paying a high price for it would have been reasonable. But being handed one directly like this was far beyond their expectations.
Zora smiled faintly, her expression calm and composed as she placed the porcelain bottles firmly into their hands. "Since I entered the academy, you’ve all taken good care of . I don’t see this as anything extraordinary. You don’t need to refuse."
To her, Elixir of Tranquility was rely a second-grade dicinal potion. To others, they were priceless treasures, but that difference in perception was sothing she’d long since grown used to.
"For ," she added lightly, "this really isn’t sothing worth making a fuss over."
Sylvandria stared at the Elixir in her hand, shock flashing uncontrollably across her usually gentle face.
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