Even though more than fifty years had passed, Veril still rembered what it was like to be a struggling college student on earth.
Going hungry so nights, not having the funds necessary to do things that so of her classmates could, and looking online to see that people her age had just bought their sixth car.
Those kinds of feelings of inferiority were sothing no one would ever forget.
Even though she was now in a much more comfortable position, the cult wasn't necessarily rich. They just had a lot of items on hand that, if sold, would be worth a lot of money.
But if Veril had the choice, she believed that it might be nice not to have to worry about money for the foreseeable future.
It would also open up new avenues of study for her, as she could purchase rarer alchemy components and maybe discover new pills.
The potential avenues were too enticing for her to pass up.
"Alright, Grandmaster. We'll accept your gift just this once."
Hideyoshi looked relieved enough to jump for joy.
"Wonderful, just wonderful! I'm grateful you spared the burden of having to lug these heavy things back down the mountain myself."
His sect mbers who had actually carried the crates looked at him as if they had been unfairly overlooked.
"Jordan." Veril called.
The orange-haired young woman poked her head out from behind Abbott Tang's back.
"You're good with math, right?"
"I'm pretty decent, yes, my lady."
"Think you can take ten percent of this and divide it up among the other cultists?"
The only ones who seed surprised by Veril's decision were the n who did not already know her personally.
Enyo and Ina barely batted an eye, but Jordan seed slightly troubled.
"Are you sure, my lady..? That's nice and all, but such a gift is..."
"...I guess you're right." Veril nodded.
Jordan actually looked relieved.
"Could you set so aside for Yem too? She works hard for us after all."
Jordan could tell that Veril wasn't going to budge on her decision. Besides, it wasn't really her place to argue with the lady of the cult about money.
"...I'll get right on it, Lady Veril. I'll be sure everyone in the cult knows to co and thank you."
Jordan twirled her finger, and the chests were lifted into the air and floated behind her.
She bowed before leaving the garden to begin the task asked of her.
Once she left, Veril was hoping to follow in her footsteps with Ina and Enyo in tow, but fate proved to have a most unexpected path in store for her.
"Pardon ..."
Right before Veril's eyes, the dwarven pill master got down onto his knees and bowed deeply in front of Veril.
Enyo's eyes narrowed.
"Lady Veril, though you are my junior in years, I fear that your knowledge and understanding of alchemy far surpasses my own. I humbly ask that you take as a student..!"
Veril's jaw dropped. Ina squealed internally with pride. Enyo looked mad enough to spit.
"A-A student!?" Veril cried.
"Hold on, Love." Enyo said coldly. She slowly turned her gaze towards Hideyoshi and stared at him like he was an insect she could crush anyti the mood struck her.
"I do hope you haven't co here offering this exorbitant amount of money in the hopes of playing on my wife's soft heart... I fear I may have an irrevocable reaction if that were to be the case."
"Enyo..." Veril pleaded softly.
Enyo wouldn't turn her gaze towards Veril at that mont. Her lifeless gaze was solely fixed on Hideyoshi.
"...I assure you, ma'am. I fear that I am shaless enough that even if Miss Veril had refused my offer, I would still have asked that she take as a disciple.
I have dedicated so many years of my life to the study of alchemy. If there exists a chance for to learn more, I would endeavor down any road to do so."
Hideyoshi bowed until his head touched the floor.
"Please. Even a crumb of your knowledge would be the grandest honor."
Enyo huffed and sat back with her relaxed air returning.
She glanced at Veril out of the corner of her eye and found her making the exact sa face as she had been five minutes ago.
"I... think I need to call an audible."
"A what now?"
-
Even as explosions and cheering filled the cavern, Taira's eyes were sealed tight as he rested his head atop his paws.
Aveena was resting on her husband's midsection with a small, proud expression that she couldn't wipe away.
Just as she enjoyed witnessing the fruits of her own labor, she was learning that she also enjoyed witnessing those underneath her enjoy their own power.
Right now, Vaal was high-flying.
He had always been sturdy and powerful, but he lacked his sister's stamina and agility.
After training, Vaal was not only faster than her before they began, but Tiche was now almost as fast as Veril.
And Aveena had never been more proud of anything in her entire life.
She felt the sa way that she did whenever Yukiko did... anything, really.
As she cheered for her disciple without the slightest interest in decorum, Aveena suddenly paused with her arms still raised in the air.
She stared into space for a couple of seconds before turning to her husband and giving him a slight nudge to wake him up.
"Veril wants to know if she can take that old dwarf as a pupil."
One of Taira's eyes fluttered open. "Old dwarf..?"
"The one from the Aspiring Heaven Society. The arrogant pill maker."
Taira was now wide awake, and lifted his head in bewildernt. "And how is it possible that a eting such as this occurred..?"
"Apparently, we miss quite a lot when we are not present at ho." Aveena shrugged.
Taira had so many questions he wanted to ask that it wasn't even funny.
He thought over Aveena's original question for a mont before coming to a decision.
"Just… tell her she can do as she likes. So long as she doesn't teach him anything the old ghost would consider valuable."
Aveena nodded as if she were of the sa line of thinking.
She closed her eyes to relay the ssage when suddenly a body ca crashing to their feet, and the cult erupted in cheers.
"I guess they're done... That ans it's her turn now, right?"
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