Between finding his way back ho and discovering his Fey roots, both were equally important to Ery. However, the challenge lay in the fact that the Fey clan resided on another planet within the system, making the journey to their domain far from simple.
"We have a formation ready. If we take it, we'll reach the clan in a week… but if we miss this window, we'll have to wait for the Rainbow River to open in two months," Kaelyin explained, her expression making it clear that waiting was not an option she was willing to entertain.
Ery frowned at the urgency. "I need more ti. There are things I must take care of first."
Kaelyin's sharp gaze t his. "You have five days." And with that, she and her two fairy companions made themselves comfortable as guests within the Azure Cloud estate.
Five days was a painfully short amount of ti, but Ery had no choice but to make it work. The key to his plan was gaining access to the Northern Territory, where Rosin Karat and the Realm Gate were located. If he could attach himself to the upcoming expedition forces, he could ensure a smoother journey ho. But for that, he needed to gain the trust and favor of the Supre Being, Ilir Batara.
His best opportunity lay in fulfilling the Warmaster's request—preparing the first batch of the special pills he had promised. If successful, not only would it grant him an audience with the Warmaster, but it might also secure the access he needed.
Ery needed to venture into Pardera City, scouring the various alchemy shops in search of the necessary ingredients. To expedite the process, he enlisted the help of Shinta, Kingrig, and Haron, giving them a list of specific materials and their effects.
anwhile, he returned to his Magus domain to train, hoping to sharpen his mastery over the Dao of Heaven and Earth techniques.
Forty-eight hours passed in a grueling blur. Despite his efforts, neither the ingredients nor his mastery of the technique had progressed as much as he had hoped. His attempts to create the pills resulted in dozens of failed batches, frustration building with each wasted hour.
Amidst his struggles, Shinta arrived at his workshop, carrying a tray of hot tea.
"This one gives a breezy feeling… it's a mint tea," she said with a soft smile. "And this one is young callia tea. It's supposed to relieve stress and help you regain focus."
Touched by her thoughtfulness, Ery set down his work and took a break. The warm, soothing drink cald his frayed nerves.
"I'm sure you can do it, Father. I believe in you," she said, her confidence unwavering.
Encouraged by her words, Ery found renewed determination. He was truly grateful to have such a daughter.
After a mont of silence, Shinta hesitated before speaking again.
"Actually, Father… Lady Kaelyin seems nice. I was thinking… you said my blood would be enough to confirm our identity, right? Well… what if I go with her first? You could pick up later. It would give you more ti to take care of things here."
Ery's expression imdiately darkened.
"No. Absolutely not. That's too dangerous," he said firmly, cutting her off before she could finish.
"We could always go later using the Rainbow River…" he added, his voice gentler this ti. "No, we should stay close together."
Shinta frowned at his sudden outburst.
"Geez, it was just an idea. If you don't like it, fine, no need to get so worked up about it. Seriously, you really need this tea," she muttered before leaving.
Watching her go, Ery sighed. He knew her idea made so sense, but he simply couldn't allow it. They were stranded in this unfamiliar realm, surrounded by unknown dangers. He wasn't about to let her wander off on her own.
The next day, Ery decided to return to the Skyroot Palace. He needed access to their library to further refine his alchemy recipes, and more importantly, it was ti to retrieve his broken cauldron. A high-quality cauldron would significantly increase his chances of success.
Upon arriving at the estate, he made his way to the warehouse in search of Master Ulric. However, what he learned took him by surprise.
"Master Ulric?" Ery asked one of the attendants. "Where is he?"
The attendant shook his head.
"He's left the estate, Master Ery."
Ery frowned.
"Left? Where did he go? When will he be back?"
The man shrugged.
"The old master cos and goes as he pleases. Sotis he's gone for days, sotis months… even years."
A sinking feeling settled in Ery's gut.
"Did he leave anything for ? A cauldron, perhaps?"
The attendant hesitated before shaking his head.
Ery stood there, stunned. Had he been tricked? Had his prized Starforge cauldron been taken from him?
"That can't be the case… right?" he muttered to himself, trying to suppress the growing frustration in his chest.
While Ery was still grappling with his missing cauldron, a Skyroot mber approached him.
"Master Ery, the Patriarch would like to speak with you."
Ery raised an eyebrow at the unexpected summons. Caliborne, the Skyroot Faction Patriarch, had indeed told him to visit, but he hadn't expected the Grandmaster to be so adamant about eting him as soon as he arrived.
Curious yet slightly wary, Ery made his way to the grand hall of the Skyroot Estate. Upon arrival, he was made to wait outside the imposing wooden doors. The wait stretched longer than expected, heightening his anticipation.
Finally, he was ushered inside. Stepping into the grand hall, he was taken aback to find not only Patriarch Caliborne seated at the head of the chamber but also several elders positioned in a semi-circle around him.
The air in the hall was thick with an unspoken intensity, and Ery felt a flicker of anticipation as he wondered what this was about.
Finally, Caliborne spoke, his deep voice resonating through the chamber.
"Master Ery, given your commitnt to aiding the realm in its current struggles, we have decided that you are worthy of learning our ancestral techniques—the Heaven and Earth Reversal."
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