It was almost the perfect timing - as audit students, Caroline and Jason were already almost halfway done with their time in the audit program, which was about the time they would need to start thinking about their final thesis. Although they had some rough ideas ahead of time, they were still quite uncertain on what they wanted to write about. Now that they connected with their secondary elemental power, they would have more sources of inspiration.
"Congratulations Caroline/Jason." Jianmen's voices came from the two scrolls at the same time, with almost the same proud and happy tone: "Looks like you have connected with your secondary elemental power, which means that you would be treading onto a new path forward. Now, I hope you understand that the use of Xuanli is much more than as powers to use on the battlefield. Healing is also of critical importance to you, whether as normal power wielders or as cultivators. Now, take some time to stabilize your new found power and proceed with care. I will be waiting for you at the inn."
"Thanks Boss." Jason chuckled.
"Yeah, thank you Boss." Caroline smiled and shook her head, while still playing with a ball of wind energy with her fingers.
Without saying anything else, both of them got right back into meditative states - this time they were not trying to connect with new elemental power, but were instead heeding to Jianmen's advice and trying to stabilize their grasp and control of their new power.
This time the process did not take them that long, in only around twenty minutes, both of them came to from their meditation and visualization.
But, just when they were about to open their mouths and exchange some ideas, a sudden strange feeling dawned on them.
It was a vague sense of an impending happening, their next tribulation. It was similar to what they felt merely days before their last tribulation. The difference was that right now, this feeling was still quite distant, hazy and barely tangible, so it did not seem to be something that would happen right away.
"So you feel it too?" Jason asked.
"Yes." Caroline nodded, then she picked up her scroll: "Feels like something we need to ask Boss about. But luckily, there's still a lot of time for us. So ... what do you say now? Should we keep trying?"
"Let's go back and try the new spells first." Jason thought for a short moment: "Then we can meet up later and see how to combine our spells. What do you think?"
"Sounds good. But it might be a while. I just joined a hunting club recently, and they will be organizing a hunt tomorrow. It might take all day." Caroline giggled: "You know, if you'd like to join us, I can refer you."
"Thanks. But maybe not right away." Jason shook his head: "I have my arrays and circles club session as well."
-------------------------------------------
In the public library of the academy, the librarian in a red robe and a small red beret on her head was approached by a young man.
"Hey Camile, how are you doing?" the young man came with a smile and a rose with shiny petals like they were made from pure and well crafted crystals.
Camile sighed unnoticeably, turned around to face the young man still with two books in her hand and a smile: "Hi Andrew, what brings you here?"
"I, am, here, to - read." Andrew Brooke smiled and slowly pushed the rose forward: "I would like some research paper or journal on herbology, and not the introductory type, I want specialty research documents."
"Oh, and you suddenly developed an interest in herbology and book reading because - why?" Camile asked with a flirtatious smile: "I've never taken you as the reading type."
"Probably because there's a beautiful librarian who, could never seem to put her herbology books down before she came to the academy." Andrew Brooke smiled: "And I heard she likes the Roses of Ackama Valley."
"Aren't you sweet Andrew. But it would take a lot more to get what you're asking for." Camile chuckled and picked up the rose: "For example, high end herbology research papers belong to their respective houses and you would need to file applications for them. And one single flower prepared in an incorrect way is not gonna work. For example: to properly preserve a Rose of Ackama Valley, you should have coated it in high density oil with fire elemental energy, then put it in filtered water enchanted by an experienced herbalist. Right now you are just wasting your money on something that will fade to ashes in under five hours."
"Then I guess I can bring a fresh new batch to you." Andrew Brooke leaned in over the counter: "Or, you can come to the batch. What do you say? Ms. Jensen?"
"Hmm, and why would I do that? " Camile asked: "The only place in the academy with Roses of Ackama Valley is the greenhouse, and I moonlight there to help cultivate them. So you're not gonna impress me by taking me there."
"Oh, nonono, that's far from it." Andrew Brooke shook his head then leaned in further, signaling Camile to come close to him as he was about to spill out a secret: "You might have heard of it already, but my uncle is on the school board. And as a board member, he has certain privileges like having a private luxurious living quarter, having access to all facilities and documents, and lastly, private and secure channels of import and export, where you can basically get anything from outside the academy, without having to go through the official channel. This includes energy stones, alcohol, even the best quality Roses of Ackama Valley. So, how's that sound?"
"Ooh, tell me more." now Camile finally appeared interested.