Rest of that day went by very fast
I explained Nobu everything that was happening. About the visions at Ignition, about auras, and finally trying potion brewing. He was indeed surprised, but listened through and then we thought about it together.
He proved my previous hypothesis, he too never heard of any famous alchemists, but let's be fare, we don't have a library to check through. Also he pointed out how it is weird that is was able to make a potion so fast and easily. Nobu's books didn't have any specific description on brewing potions (of course, why would they), but one did have a small paragraph describing that it took long while and was a delicate process. We presumed it was also a quirk from my reincarnation
After everyone was notified that I woke up, there was a flood of people coming to ask me questions or ask for an autograph (I guess, I am sort of famous now). First there were just my peers from orphanage, then journalists, and even a mayor, but gladly next day I just asked Madam Eve to not let anyone in and she kindly agreed
She excused me from doing my usual chorus until I am taken to capital (Stress and all that), of course, I did not mind at all. With free time that was given to me, I decided to continue making potions, quickly it became very interesting to me on a personal level.
First thing I did, once no stranger eyes were around, I tried making potion from the red flowers. Which logicaly turned out to give a small boost to the physical strength (Thankfully nothing broke while I was testing it). Quickly, I gave those potions names "Potion of Magic" and "Potion of Strength" respectively, but something still didn't let me be. The concentration of their effects were low and after reaction flowers would just continue to flow inside the potion. So, I started to look for a way to make it better.
First my idea was to just spark them again, which did actualy help, but took too much strength from me and after few times flowers were still floating. Then after brainstorming with Nobu, he suggested to cut them before hand, this would make more surface area and is also something we both saw done while someone was cooking, and it worked
I stole a small knife from kitchen (Shhhhh, don't tell anyone) and tried cutting them in small pieces before hand. That gave actual results, it was not that hard and amount of leftovers in the brew decreased significantly, even though not completely and many small particles were still there
Next thing I spent time on, was to look for other magical herbs. There should be more, and with ability to distinguish them I just needed to look around. On the backyard of the orphanage, we have a garden. It is not that big, but looks very good and has plenty of plants growing.
Usually, my chorus would be to come and water the plants, but in the beggining of the last day I came only to observe everything. Others were told not to bother me, so those who were also here either did their work or just walked around, both pretending that they were not interested in what I was doing
I spent half an hour looking closely on all of the plants, but none seem to be magical. One by one I was checking each flower for magic, and every bush to hold anything magical inside, but no.
I was already getting on termes with sad truth that there is nothing useful here, looking on the sky as I saw a bunch of flowers growing on top of a tree, and they were glowing! I could not see that well from here, but their leafs seemed be of light blue color with aura of silver around them
I looked around, we didn't have any ladders on such occasions.
'I guess, my only way... is the most direct one' Coping with the fact that I could get in trouble for that, I jumped to grab onto closest branch
As quickly as I started climbing the tree, came confused noises from my friends around. My way was not that easy, few times branches were cracking and I almost fall, but everything went more or less fine, for now.
"What are you doing?!", "You are gonna fall like that!" Guys from below were yelling to me. To that I just replied "Reincarnate's business, you wont understand!"
And finally I got there, on the top of the tree a nice view of the nearby streets opened up to me, but that was not the reason I climbed up here. The flowers are indeed light blue in color, they resemble roses exept that they are more wide and placement of petals makes a clear whirlwind shape with few small sprouts in the middle. I concentrate on their silver aura's and see aspect of "Sky"
Suddenly shouts from below reach my ears, specifically, one old female voice catches my attention. I looked down and indeed, there was a crowd full of my peers and maids, with Nobu and Madame Eve in it
"Everything is fine! I'm going down!" I said while starting to climb down and hoping that my punishment won't be to severe
Descending was much easier then climbing, thankfully. Nothing happened in the process and I managed to do it quickly, jumping down from last branch to the ground then Raising my head up to see Madame Eve looking down on me with anger
"C-Could we speak about this one on one...?" I say, hoping that I will atleast not need to talk to her in front of everyone around
***
"So, speak, I want an explanation!" Madam Eve demands crossing her arms on her chest, once we are finally in her workroom
The room we are in is pretty wide, probably biggest room in this building, yet doesn't has that much furniture. There is a big window on opposite side from the door, a writing table right in the middle of the room with shelfs full of books against each wall, which gives a slight feel like we are currently in a library
Madame Eve is an old lady of noble origin, in the past she was just like any other aristocrat, but at some point she found herself a life goal in helping children without parents. She wasted most of her family's fortune to keep her orphanage working while being a kind place
"Weeeell... How do can I put it..?" I didn't want to lie to her so was instinctively giving myself time to think of a way to hide some details "... After thinking about my reincarnation I came to conclusion that I am a reincarnate of a druid or herbalist, so I looked for interesting plants in the garden..."
"I guess, your inference does make some sense. Plants were growing all around you at the altar, you even tulips grew on your hands..."
"And also..." I started curling my hair again "... My hair color became light green"
"Fine, you became interested in flowers, but why did you need to climb to the top of the tree for those Sillias?" She pointed at the blue rose-like flowers in my hands "There is plenty of plants on the ground, no need to risk your life!"
"Other plants... They where not.... Special?" I said, trying to explain without telling directly
"Can I see?" She pointed at flowers in my hand and I handed them to her, then she gave them a glance before continuing "Yes, just like I thought. Those are 'Whirlwind Sillias', they only grow on high places with big wind and reproduce through sending their seeds to flow in the winds. They are frequently used as materials for magic, but so are other plants, including some that grow in our garden. What is so 'Special' about them?"
While she was speaking I patiently absorbed information. She left me to wonder, I'm absolutely sure that I looked at every plant in the garden, but none had aura, if these are the only magical ones that I found, then how are other plants can also be used for magic?
"I dont know. Once I saw them, something struck me that they are more 'special' then other plants" I continued playing dumb
She put left hand on her face and shook it a bit "It seems that you were indeed right when said 'you won't understand' "
"Miss, while we are talking about plants" I said to her while taking back Sillias "Can I bring you those flowers that grew around my hands?"
Madam Eve walked towards nearest shelf and looked around at the books, mumbling their names as she was looking for one specific
"If you are so interested in herbalism, then here is a present for you.." she told while handing me the book she looked for, it had green cover with plant symbol "This is 'Herbalism Guide', it has descriptions of many plants known plants"
"Thank you... Thank you very much!" I said while quickly going through the pages in the book
"You dont need to thank, I should be thanking you actually"
"Why is that?"
"..." She walked towards window, it was approximately 3 PM now, sun would be out in next 3 or 4 hours "...I spent much money on what I set as my life's goal... helping kids like you, giving them home.... Many others from nobility suggested me to stop and not spend money purposely... But your reincarnation finaly told both them and me that my work was, in fact, not pointless. Thank you for that..."
"Your welcome, Madam Eve" I replied, having nice feeling inside, from idea that becoming reincarnate finally led to something good
"..Now, you should go pack your things. Talking about that..." she went towards one of the drawers that were as bottom parts of shelfs and got something from there "I have another present, for you"
This time Madam Eve handed me a nicely done messenger bag
"I know that you dont have anything to pack your things in, so use this bag, it should be big enough for most of your belongings"
"Thank you" I put on the bag, I think it suits me "I will go now"
"Bye"
With this I went through the door and took path for my room. Thankfuly, I didn't stumble into anyone on my way, so I can quietly do what I want
There is not much for me to pack and I decided to leave it for later, right now there is more interesting thing to do, reading the book that I was given. I might have otherwise try potion brewing with the Whirlwind Sillias but the book stole all of my attention
I opened the Herbal Guide and spent next hour or so reading through it. That time was not enough to completely study everything, but it is better then nothing
First revelation that I got was that book did not have any distinction between "magical" and normal plants, which should have not been a surprise from Madam Eve's quote. That will make my life a tiny bit harder
The flowers from Ignition turned out to be called Warrior's Tulip (Red) and Mage's Tulip (Blue), which were described to sometimes grow together. They are realy good as materials in boosting magic and, talking about materials, guide gave small explanation about the using materials in magic (yet it doesnt explan difference between normal plants and those with aura)
In short, when mages cast magic there is 3 main types of components, "Voice", "Sign" and "Material". Most of the time mages don't use all of them, some times neither. They are used to increase potency of the spells, and Material component is the one that gives most effect. That is all that it explained, I guess rest I will be in the Academy
Finally, I excepted that it was time for me to pack my stuff. I still couldn't belive that I won't come back here anytime soon.
Mostly what I packed consisted in my clothes, I didn't had that much of my own other then that. I also packed that small knife from kitchen and quickly went through the room looking if there was anything else. I found something under my bed, it turned out to be that historical book that I borrowed from Nobu few weeks ago, I'll need not to forget to give it back to him.
I put book on my bed and after checking everything again I figured that there was indeed nothing else. Then came question of the magic herbs
I don't know if there will be able to find any herbs like this in Royal Academy, I don't even know for sure if there is a garden over there. Of course I didn't want to leave them here, but they didn't fit after my cloths and even if I'd manage to fit them, I'm not sure how such transportation would effect them
As I was holding them, trying to figure out what to do, a new unexpected discovery happens. On the outside of my right hand a black thick line appears, that instantly opens to become same eye tattoo I have seen giving me flashbacks to those visions. Right after, it illuminates green magical glow and the herbs that I held are absorbed into it, after what eye closes back into a line and disappears
On some instinctual "reincarnate" level I understand that they are right now in some kind of pocket dimension pouch, I even feel like I can see them being inside it
Instantly, I test if I can get them back and gladly they go back right away same way they got in, with eye opening again to let them out. In my curiosity I check what else can be stored, but unfortunately I can only put herbs there. Atleast the problem is now gone
I put all of the flowers inside the eye, and took the book. Before exiting the room I give it a last glance.
In the window, sun is getting ready to set, there is only an hour or two left, meaning that men from academy will be soon and I need to wait for them outside
After standing there for unknown amount of time, I finaly feel like I looked enough and then go straight to Nobutoshi's room. As I get there I knock on the door and after hearing permission, step inside.
His room I the same as mine, except there is a small pile of books in a corner. He himself was sitting on the floor in the middle of the room, while another book was laying open near him
"You wanted me to return it, if I remember correctly" and hand him back the history book
"Yea.. Just put it to the pile" He pointed to the corner with books "So what was it today with you and the tree?"
"Long story short, I found new magical herbs.. By the way, look at my new trick!" Then I let him see as the eye on my hand opening and then closing after what I am holding Sillias
"Wait, so you can just make them out of thin air now?" He gives me a surprised glance after misinterpreting my new ability
"No-no, it is just a sort of pocket for plants, I tried fitting anything else, but only herbs can be stored there"
"Oh, okey. That does make more sense" he switches his concentration to the Sillias in my hand "..And so what do you see in them?"
"I see 'Sky', but didnt yet try to make any potion, I might get caught if I try to do it right now"
"Do you feel any sleepiness from tonight?" At morning I told him that couldn't get much sleep from constantly thinking about the visions
"Thankfully, no. Even if I would, I will have enough time to sleep during 3 day journey..." few seconds of silence was in the air as we remembered how close my departure is "...And what were you doing, here on the floor?"
"Well..." He put his right hand in the air and grabbed it's wrist with the other to have more control. Then his eyes started glowing a bit and in his hands an orb of same blue energy appeared for a few seconds before Nobu stoping. "...Madam Eve allowed me to take book about basics of magic"
"...You will become greatest mage there is" I gave him my sincere cheers
"Thank you.... And you will find the answers you are looking for" he replied to what I just gave him a smile
We finally left the building and stand outside waiting. We didn't count time, hoping it will last forever. We talked and laughed, remembered funny stories we shared. Slowly others joined our talk as the sky was becoming more and more orange colored, and then we saw a caret in the distance, away from the town
We continued speaking as it was moving closer and closer, pretending that nothing is changing, but as it enters the town and slowly takes its way towards us we stoped speaking
It is colored in white with royal emblem on it, for everyone to glance at, with two men on it. One being the driver, and the other being a guard. As it stops near us the man who was driving stands up and walks towards
"I am looking for person named 'Izuru Hideki', on behalf of 'Efeus Royal Academy' " He spoke in low and slow voice
"...It is me" I reply, knowing what he will say next
"We are tasked with bringing you to capital, safe and sound. Road takes from two to three days, so we need to leave right now, other wise you will come late"
"..." I looked him in the face with disbelief "... And what if I dont want to leave?"
"...Unfortunately, we were not ordered to give you choice.."
I turn back towards Nobu who looks at me with same sad face I have. Instantly I wrap my hands around him, hugging him, as a teardrops go through our faces
"M- Make sure to get to the truth..." he whispers into my ear
"...And... And you don't become anything less then a Supreme Wizard" I whisper back
I lower my grasp and take a step back
"We are gonna see each other again!" shout I while getting inside the caret
Carriage turns around and gradually moves away. Whole time I'm looking back through the window, at the town where I was born and where I was living in for all of my life, before it disappears in the horizon.