<~> Chapter 156

After explaining the extent of my plant growing abilities and some of the things I've tested, Emi told me that Celeste would likely be very interested in that ability. She mentioned something about alchemy before stepping out of the tent so that she could speak with Celeste about it right away.

I glanced at the others. "Did that seem odd to all of you? I understand how valuable particular plants can be, but that seemed like a bit of an extreme reaction. She didn't even stay to see our compiled list."

Piper shrugged. "There are some plants used in alchemy that are extremely useful. I don't know if she's interested in something specific, but even in healing, there are particular plants that make a huge difference on the battlefield."

Luna nodded. ("One of the limitations of the ability you gained was the need for high mana density in areas where you grew the plants. Considering we are standing pretty close to a dungeon, we would have enough mana to comfortably grow lots of mana-rich plants.")

Piper nodded. "We would have to do it on the first floor though, and somewhere the plants could both grow and be protected from the crab horde. This dungeon doesn't destroy barricades very quickly, so that should help. But if it's something valuable, we would need to be careful the soldiers don't take it or accidentally destroy it while fighting."

"It would be better if we waited for Lady Celeste to ask us what she wants, rather than speculate right now," Maxwell said. "I think we have a list of everything Helena's eaten and what we think the related heart might have given her. We could probably learn more once Helena feels up to shifting into each of the ones we aren't sure about, but this looks like a good list, for now."

He handed me the paper and I frowned down at it. I still wasn't the most practiced reader, but after taking those assassins' memories and Luna's tutoring, I was able to read everything Maxwell had written without any trouble.

Monsters: Umber hound - umber hound eyes, regeneration, shifting, potentially more. Unknown bear monster - unknown (strength related?) Frost salamander - cold resistance. Goblin king - unknown (some form of leadership ability?) Giant bat - improved hearing and echolocation Minotaur - improved strength Barlette - unknown (tougher hide?) Striped fire horse - immunity to being burned Large fire cat - improved balance. Bloody rabbit - improved speed, running, and jumping Bison - improved strength and added muscularity Wind hawk - reduced weight / increased speed Misty wolf - misty wolf dodge, activated ability Giant rat - improved senses using whiskers Coyote - unknown Doppelganger - activated ability to transform into monsters Changeling - improved ability to shapeshift, can shift into people and monsters Floral king deer - activated ability to grow and manipulate plants Snake floor boss - activated ability to manipulate salt

"I added the snake monster to the list, but didn't include any of the monsters that you said didn't have hearts, according to your instincts. Is there anything missing?" Maxwell asked.

I frowned as I looked at the list. "I suppose we could add the specific people I can transform into as well."

Maxwell frowned and shared a look with his sister. "If... that's something you could handle, then perhaps that would be a good idea..."

I huffed. "I know I didn't take it well at the time, but what's done is done. We should probably record at least one of their names. Merfellen, the female assassin of the six that I ate. She would be the only one that I would feel comfortable shifting into."

"I'll put it down. A female beastkin that doesn't share your eyes would be a nice option if you needed to travel in disguise," Maxwell said as he scratched the name onto the list.

"You told them about what happened that day?" I asked Luna.

She nodded. ("It seemed like an important thing to tell the others. Would you rather I hadn't?")

I considered the question for a moment before shaking my head. "No, I guess it's fine. The six of us should be open with each other. We're a team. I guess I just didn't expect you to tell them right away."

Aria cleared her throat. "So... does this mean you're going to be seeking out other people to eat?"

My upper lip raised in disgust. "Fuck no. I was... not completely in my right mind when that happened, and I regret it. Though I suppose... if I were forced to kill someone... I would consider it," I said truthfully.

This got a surprisingly solemn nod from everyone. At the end of the day, not taking advantage of everything we can might get us killed. I'm not going to seek out people to kill, but if another situation presents itself... I should consider it. I think everyone here more or less agrees with me. Even Iris didn't seem that perturbed by the admission.

There was a knock on the post next to Celeste's tent. I turned around and watched as the flap opened and Emi stepped through. "Mistress Celeste will return here in a moment with an alchemist. I came ahead to warn you so that you aren't discussing anything sensitive once they enter." Her eyes glanced at the paper on the table. "Ah, is that the finished list? May I see?"

I paused before nodding and pushing the paper toward her. Emi smiled and scanned it. "It seems the only entry I wasn't here for was the last. Thank you for sharing this list with me. I will discuss the entries with Celeste later." She handed the list back, and I passed it to Maxwell, who folded the sheet of paper in half before placing his palm over it on the table.

Emi stepped away and began brewing a pot of tea before beginning to prepare a cocktail for Celeste.

"Is Celeste a heavy drinker?" I asked. "I see you pour her alcohol often."

Emi hesitated, frowning. "Her constitution makes it difficult for her to relax. I understand your concern, but the frequency that she drinks alcohol will not impact her health. It also takes a very significant amount for it to become an acute problem for her. Please put your mind at ease regarding this topic."

I shared a look with Luna before dropping it. If this had been my old world, I wouldn't have hesitated to call Celeste an alcoholic, but I didn't know if her 'constitution' really changed anything, or if this was just an excuse. Since she was a dragon-princess, it was unlikely anyone but someone who worked with her directly, or a dragon themselves, could tell me if she was drinking too much alcohol. I might ask Celeste about it in the future, but not until we've built up some more rapport.

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There was a terse knock on the post next to the flap before Celeste stepped into the tent with a slightly nervous looking Bellor, following behind her. The dull-green-scaled drakken alchemist looked a lot more anxious than the last time I saw him talking about magic-infused salt. His apprehensive look turned slightly to confusion when he saw all of us waiting at a table with tea being served.

"Bellor, as I already told you, you are not in any kind of trouble. Please sit. Would you like some tea?" Celeste asked.

"Ah, yes, my lady." He glanced at our group at the table awkwardly. Without needing to be asked, Emi grabbed a spare chair set against the wall that was more appropriately sized for the shorter drakken man. He awkwardly sat at the table and looked around at all of us as Emi placed a cup of tea in front of him. At the same time, Celeste sat down next to Luna and sighed as she took a sip of her cocktail.

Bellor cleared his throat. "May I... ask what this is about, Lady Celeste?"

Celeste kept her eyes closed and took another sip before sighing. After a moment, she opened them and focused on Bellor with her intimidating narrowed eyes. "What I'm about to tell you is to be kept as a national secret. You are to tell no one of what I'm about to ask you to do, nor discuss anyone involved. Do you understand, Bellor?"

The drakken looked intimidated all over again, but her presence didn't frighten me nearly as much as it had before our 'training sessions.' Anything short of that dragon she could summon, now looked like a minor scolding to me. I would need to be careful about how I act around her other family members as well, if that's any indication of their strength. The intimidation certainly worked on Bellor though, who looked a bit like he was going to piss himself.

"I understand... my lady. What do you wish for me to do?"

"Have you heard of blue moon lotus, Bellor?"

The drakken's brow rose. "Blue moon lotus? I am aware of it. It's incredibly rare and heavily regulated in Ironcastle and the surrounding countries. Did... did you find some in the dungeon?" he whispered.

"No... but I may have found a new source elsewhere. If I gave you the recipe to create blue lotus ether, do you think you would be able to create some for me?" Celeste asked.

Bellor looked guarded. "Would this be sanctioned by Ironcastle? I do not wish to go against King Titannus's will."

Celeste nodded. "Of course, I have the full support of King Titannus in this matter. This secrecy is not for skullduggery. It is simply because of how dangerous blue lotus ether can be in the wrong hands. This must remain a secret, but I am confident in your character."

The drakken looked down in thought at the table before looking back up. "I'll do it, but only if I can get it in writing that I'm doing this because you commissioned it. I'll need to see the recipe before I can tell you how feasible it will be."

Celeste nodded and gestured toward Emi, who tore a page from a notepad. Emi scanned it for a moment before handing the sheet of paper to Bellor. His brow crinkled as he slowly read through the sheet of paper. Every now and then, he stopped and looked off to the side as if he were considering something, before returning to the paper.

Finally, he sighed. "Given these instructions, I'm sure I would be able to do it. But I'm already behind in all of my duties already. I'll need assistants to help me pick up the slack while I work on this project. I'm sure I will be able to create this potion successfully, but it'll take a lot of time away from my other tasks."

"Excellent. We have additional alchemists and aides coming in already. I'll have a proper contract written up for you to sign once I have secured the blue moon lotus flower petals. Are there any other concerns?" Celeste asked.

Bellor frowned. "None at the moment... I'll come speak with you again if there's an issue." He looked around at the six of us seated near him. "I take it these delvers have found that source?"

She nodded. "They have, but it's something I'm keeping close to the chest."

"I understand. May I go?" Bellor asked.

"You may. Thank you for your time, Bellor." Celeste stood up and walked him to the exit flap of her tent before making sure that the flap was secured behind him. Once she was done with that, she sat back down and looked me in the eye. "If I give you a single seed, how many flowers can you give me from it?"

I frowned. "It would depend on the seed... and the environment, and many other factors, I assume. It sounds like these plants are dangerous though. Why the sudden interest?"

"Blue moon lotus flower petals are the key ingredient in a potion that greatly multiplies the power of mages for a short period of time. Used by a dragon-princess... you can guess how powerful it would temporarily make me in an emergency," Celeste said calmly.

"It sounds like I would be giving you an incredibly dangerous weapon. What would you do with it?" I asked coolly.

Celeste leaned back in her chair. "I would keep it as insurance. You're smart, Helena. I know you realize that the third floor of this dungeon changes everything. I'm worried... that there will be an unavoidable conflict soon. As I told you, once the king begins fortifications here, the secret to this place will be out. That will be a political quagmire, and there is a real chance that this camp will be attacked before we have hardened this place. It's possible things were already set in motion the moment we dealt with that assassination attempt. If I had one of those potions, I could be equivalent to an army, and keep everyone safe."

Keep everyone safe by killing the enemy first. I sighed and leaned back. It sounded like I was possibly giving Celeste the equivalent of a bomb. I've seen what mages can do. A multiplicative increase in power could be massive. However... it would also make me an invaluable asset... but that would require me to basically become an arms dealer. On the other hand, at least I would be giving this weapon to a person I trusted... for the most part anyway. Certainly moreso than the other princes in Ironcastle or anyone else I've run into in this world. Outside of my friends, of course.

"I can't make any promises. I don't even know if I can grow flowers from these seeds. If these flowers are so rare and powerful, why are you even trusting me with this?" I asked.

"Blue moon lotuses are only known to grow in the territory of floral king deer. Your power is exactly the kind that would be required. I am willing to risk one seed if there is a chance you can do it," Celeste said.

I sighed. "Let me... let me think about it."

It was apparent that this was not the response Celeste wanted to hear, but she respected it, for now. "Very well. Please give me an answer soon. Having that as an option would greatly affect my plans... and ease some of my stress."

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