When Luke arrived at the appointed time to meet the four remaining members of the group, he soon realized that some things were not looking good.
"What happened? Did someone fail to find some ingredient?" He asked, noticing that everyone was quiet and head down.
Nathalia took the lead on the situation. "Almost everyone got the items, but the Gold Crystal and the Heksa Monster brain fluid are scarce in town from the high demand."
"We didn't get anything?" Luke couldn't believe they went to all this trouble for nothing.
Shiro, who was not wearing his armor at the moment, pulled three vials from his pants pocket. Inside these vials was a gelatinous liquid with a silvery color, much like mercury. "We were able to buy only these three jars in all the stores that Livia and I passed through. They were the last vials of Heksa Monster brain fluid..."
Then Nathalia also opened in the middle of the circle of people the bag that was in her hands and showed that inside it were four golden crystals, which were around twenty centimeters each.
"That was all I could find with the ore suppliers... I stood in line for over an hour to buy them." The girl clarified and closed the bag.
"We should have started the search earlier..." Jilly said, a little helplessly.
Her twin sister placed her right hand on her shoulder and spoke fondly, "We don't have to worry about what we should have done but what we did. We were all exhausted from Phase One, both physically and mentally, we needed a rest."
"I think you're right..."
Although Livia Strogueher was right, the half-wolf also began to ponder whether it was the right decision to act so calmly. The time limit was near, and yet they didn't act as quickly as they should have.
"Anyway, is there any way we can get the missing items? I have a pendant, I can get into the Dungeon if I have to."
Shiro shook his head negatively. "Heksas Monsters are extremely rare and very strong creatures in the three Dungeons here. We would need everyone to enter the Dungeon, and we would be hard-pressed to find them. Not to mention the scarcity of Gold Crystals and the difficulty of extracting them."
All those present trusted Shiro's judgment and experience. The man was an experienced Class-C who is used to the two existing types of Dungeoneering, and he clearly knew items, monster spoils, and ores.
Jilly and Livia exchanged glances, and nodded simultaneously, shortly after Livia spoke up:
"We'd rather if you guys focus on making the Elixir. These were probably the last ingredients in town, and we still have enough to make three Elixirs of Flamel."
Everyone was surprised by the attitude of the two sisters.
"Why are you doing this?" Nathalia asked, confused, "You won't gain anything from it."
"Nathalia, of course, we would prefer if we could all get through, but that won't be possible and among the five of us, Shiro, Luke and you are the strongest," explained Jilly, while articulating well with her hands.
"My sister is right... we were the only ones in the family who didn't want to join a Clan or enter the Dungeons, and maybe that's why we are much weaker than the others, but you can still bring that title to the Strogueher after so long. I trust you." Livia put her pride aside for a moment to state indisputable facts.
The other three had no choice but to abide by the twins' decision. Then they entered Manilyn's house. The place was dark as usual, and the light from the chandelier that the old man always carries with him was not on the stairs as in the morning, now they were in the living room right next to the entrance.
As soon as the quintet entered the room, they were surprised. In that place, there were many instruments and tools that they had never seen before, of different shapes and sizes.
There were many shelves full of glass jars with strange things inside. There was also a giant skull of some being on the wall and dozens of crumpled scrolls.
Luke had never seen a place like this and could not even imagine how much each thing there might be worth. The instruments were made of strong glass with many different shapes, where the glass pipes twisted and intertwined. Inside these glasses, were liquids of a few different colors mixed together.
"Ah... you guys are finally back! Did you find everything I asked you to bring?" Manilyn asked, with an excited smile on her face.
So they placed all the components on the table. The old man meticulously went through everything, looking closely with his glasses.
"Good, good..." he said while shaking a bottle of Heksa Monster brain fluid.
Shiro was startled by the old man's unusual manner and respectfully spoke up, "Sir, be careful with this. They might be the last ones in the whole town..."
"And who are you?" Manilyn inquired, raising only her right eyebrow.
"A bodyguard who is here to help to protect your family." The big man retorted firmly.
"I see..." smoothing his long beard, the old man narrowed his eyes at Shiro and then turned his back to everyone.
Nathalia stepped forward and began touching the items on the table. "Are you going to help us make the Elixir anyway, sir?"
"Of course, I will help... I will always want my family to do well in the Tournament of Legends." Just then, Manilyn poured the vial of brain fluid into one of the glass instruments. "I've been advancing some processes while waiting for you guys to return..."
When the encephalic fluid was poured into a glass vial and came in contact with the black liquid that was already in the instrument, they mixed quickly and everything turned white as milk.
"We thank you for that, sir... I'm afraid we have enough for three Elixirs."
"Three...?" asked Manilyn, still on her back, and added some of the liquid sulfur. "So Jilly and Livia will be left out for two strangers to continue in the competition?" He surmised.
"They're not strangers, Grandpa...they saved our lives in Phase One," Jilly spoke up, surprised that such a statement came from someone she so admires.
"All right...if you trust them, I will happily make the Elixirs. The fermentation process will take some time, but I think they will be ready before sunrise. Since I doubt there will be ingredients for more than forty doses of Elixir of Flamel in the entire city, the playoffs should already begin tomorrow, so I indicate that the three of you rest and prepare."
While Luke sighed in relief at not having to prepare the Elixir, Nathalia was anxious about the arrival of the Playoffs.
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