"Windvane Bluegrass" is both a learning material for occult arts and a casting material, though each casting only requires a small amount of plant extract diluent.
"This plant from the Old Continent went extinct hundreds of years ago. The College of Chemistry has an artificial nursery, but the next harvest isn't for another two years. You're in luck," Professor Garcia said.
"In luck? So, a full season takes..."
Shade pulled his thoughts back from the doctor's matter and looked at the professor.
"About thirty years. You happened to hit the twenty-eighth year; your luck is indeed quite good. The growth cycle of this peculiar plant isn't actually that long. You might not be aware, but generally, the plant materials used by Ring-casters do not flower or bear fruit every single year."
For some reason, Shade thought of the story of the monkey and the peach. He shook his head to refocus his scattered thoughts. The professor smiled
"No more joking. Although the plants are extinct on the Old Continent, this strange plant exists on the New Continent. The academy has already acquired some through its channels; they should be delivered to you by next month."
"Alright then."
Although somewhat disappointed, Shade accepted the fact. He could wait a month.
Having chosen his occult art, he wanted to return the library catalog, but the professor told him to keep it for a week and return it together with Miss Anat. That way, he wouldn't have to deliberate for so long the next time he made a selection.
The above were the rewards the academy gave to Shade. As the teacher guiding Shade's coursework, Professor Garcia was very satisfied with the young detective and believed he had a boundless future.
Therefore, Professor Garcia was personally willing to provide help for his studies
"In August, I will be starting an elective course called 'Folded Space,' which mainly covers large-scale ritual maze-locks and rare occult maze-locks. Although these rituals are complex and impossible to use for those below the Tenth Ring, listening in will be very helpful for your future studies. The specific start date hasn't been set yet; I'll notify you when it is."
This was equivalent to opening an elective course to Shade for free. Shade immediately wanted to thank him, but Professor Garcia stopped him
"I value your talent, Mr. Hamilton. You have only just begun your journey as a Ring-caster. I hope that one day I will see you as a full member of the academy; I believe that day will come."
"Since we are on the subject, Professor Garcia, may I apply to view the academy's 'Canon of Sublimation' ahead of schedule?"
Shade inquired cautiously. Professor Garcia wasn't surprised; instead, he rubbed his chin and asked
"Your reason? Why apply early?"
"Because I believe my progress might be relatively fast."
"Hmm, very well. Write an application report after you return and submit it directly through your poetry manuscript page. If the application is approved, you'll have the result by next Saturday. Although most Ring-casters advance very slowly, some simply have the talent. But be warned: promotion does not mean you have mastered the power. The study of occult arts requires time."
Professor Garcia gave a warning, and Shade immediately indicated his understanding.
Aside from these matters, Professor Garcia also inquired on behalf of the Student Management Office regarding Doctor Schneider's performance during the Lakeview Manor incident.
The doctor had not distorted his experiences in the report, so Shade had nothing to say. As for the smell resembling sulfur that he had detected, he kept that to himself.
In reality, even Professor Garcia didn't care about that; he wasn't part of the Student Management Office. He even quietly told Shade that there was no need to execute this task so seriously; he should prioritize his Ring-caster studies and just run if he encountered danger. As for Professor Sanchez's tasks, he could just write a periodic report saying "everything is peaceful" to fool them.
It seemed that at St. Byron's Comprehensive Academy, both students and professors were very skilled at writing reports to deal with things.
Before Professor Garcia left, Shade didn't forget to ask about the three wishes. The story had been resolved; now he needed to resolve growth and power
"Professor, is there a way to make an ordinary person—likely a child—suddenly possess power, and without paying a price... or at least, not too great a price?"
"Have you encountered something strange?"
Professor Garcia asked, but didn't press further. Correspondence Ring-casters always encountered many things; it was part of growing up
"No. Power comes with a price. The price a Ring-caster pays is the 'other self' that accompanies them for life and the risk of losing control at any moment. If you truly encounter something strange, let the Ring-casters in your group handle it; it might be a strange relic losing control."
Shade nodded and asked again
"Then, is there a way to make a child suddenly grow up?"
"Of course, but if there are to be no side effects, it can only achieve short-term physical growth. Many potions can achieve similar effects."
The professor thought for a moment
"Take a pen and record this; this is the potion recipe."
Shade took out the notebook he carried in his pocket. The pointed-eared professor dictated
"5 ounces of stamen from the Nine-Star Needle Leaf Flower, nine drops of genetic material from a Barefoot Fire Ape, 2 gills each of feces and saliva from an adult Fire-Tongue Sheep, two live Star-Jump Worms squeezed for juice and kept at a constant temperature, any amount of earwax, eye crust, hair, and blood from three ordinary people of different genders and ages, and 3 gills of green phlegm from a mule hybrid. Configure the magic potion using spoiled, sour milk, adding the ingredients in the order I specify, stirring clockwise 3 times after each addition—no more, no less. It cannot be configured in an environment below freezing, otherwise it will explode. Oh, and don't forget to add some honey."
"Honey?"
Shade, looking down as he recorded, asked in surprise, feeling his stomach churn.
"Yes. The name of the potion is 'The Price of Growth.' Configured according to the amounts I specified, it should be effective for about ten minutes. If you don't add honey, just think about these materials, and then think about the taste..."
Professor Garcia shrugged
"You wouldn't want to know. These materials are relatively common; you can ask that Priest Augustus to help make it. Isn't he from the College of Chemistry?"
"Yes. Actually, I feel that adding honey would make the taste even stranger."
Shade nodded, but he didn't know if potions or their raw materials could be brought into the past timeline; it was difficult to define whether these things counted as "supernatural items." However, asking Priest Augustus to help configure them and prepare extra materials was quite simple. He could try carrying both the raw materials and the finished potion; even if neither worked, perhaps the Saint in that era could provide the materials.
"I have high hopes for you, Mr. Hamilton. If you wish to conduct another time exploration, remember to report it to the academy first."
Professor Garcia prepared to leave. His warning reminded Shade that although the key to the Fifth Epoch—Year 1068—in his hand wasn't finished yet, there might be other ways to obtain time keys.
He could take the opportunity to go to another point in the past to test whether the task he encountered from the Ancient God was a low-probability event, or if he truly was watched by that Ancient God of Time every time.
However, the recommended frequency for time exploration by the College of History was no more than once a month, so Shade currently could not obtain a new key from the academy.
After seeing off Professor Garcia while lost in thought, Shade went to the second-floor drawing room to continue the conversation.
While Shade had been talking with Professor Garcia, Doctor Schneider, who had originally been in pajamas, had already changed his clothes. He now looked to be in quite good spirits; it was impossible to tell that a few hours ago he had seemed to be on the brink of death.
As soon as Shade pushed open the door, he heard the doctor enthusiastically delivering a "speech" regarding the use of that 1,000-pound fund. He didn't know if the academy's potion was too strong or if the 1,000 pounds were too strong, but the doctor's current spirit was practically manic
"Shade, are you finished over there? Quick, sit down."
The blue-eyed psychiatrist greeted Shade with a smile and asked if Shade had any items or knowledge he needed to purchase from the St. Byron's Library recently. After receiving a negative answer, the doctor slapped his own thigh
"Look, currently none of us have anything we want to buy, and the validity of this money is until the end of this year, and no one needs to pay tuition. Therefore, we should withdraw all of this money."
"Is that possible?"
Shade asked curiously, sitting beside Priest Augustus.
"Of course it is," Priest Augustus said, rubbing his chin, his eyes narrowing slightly. "But it requires some skill."
"There will also be some loss," Miss Louisa added. It seemed this wasn't the first time they had done such a thing.
"Roughly how much of the 1,000 pounds can be cashed out?"
Shade asked again, planning his expenses in his mind.
This time, Miss Anat provided the answer. The female caster was skilled at divining the future, but was equally short on cash
"The speed and reliability differ depending on the method. We prefer to be a bit more cautious—withdraw around 200 pounds a month over half a year. This way, we can get about 910 pounds out of the 1,000."
Although a tenth was lost, this figure was still quite impressive. Compared to the exorbitant spending at the academy, cashing it out was worth it even with the loss.
"You guys really have a way."
Shade couldn't help but feel admiration. The old priest patted Shade's shoulder with a sentimental look
"Young man, sooner or later you will have your own ways."
The specific operation of cashing out the 1,000 pounds was handled by the doctor, to be completed in roughly four installments. Accordingly, after each payment was received, Shade, Miss Anat, Doctor Schneider, Miss Louisa, and Priest Augustus would split the money in a ratio of 2.5: 2.5: 2: 1.5: 1.5.
Shade and Miss Anat took more because the former had dealt with Madame Lasora, and the latter had destroyed the ritual node of the Evil God's descent. The doctor took an extra 0.5 because he was the one operating the funds.
No one had any objections to this method of splitting the money, and the doctor stated that the first payment would likely be available in the latter half of this month.
Thinking about it, Shade would benefit by about 220 pounds from these 1,000 pounds. Adding the reward from Miss Galina and Detective Spyro's wallet, in just two short weeks, Shade had moved from needing relief food when he first arrived in this world to steadily stepping toward the middle class—provided he won the card game on Sunday and secured the no-work job introduced by Miss Galina.
(End of Chapter)