Chapter 12: Artificial Star Dew

"Oh? With your discerning eye, Madam, you're willing to take on a reserve Apprentice as your assistant?"

Holt's voice held curiosity as he glanced at Ron with interest, intrigued by Mrs. Ellen's response.

"It seems you've found another promising candidate," he continued, a faint smile curling at his lips. From within his robes, he drew out a small bottle.

"This is Artificial Star Dew. Consider it a welcome gift for the newcomer. While its effects fall short of real, naturally condensed Star Dew, it can still enhance one's spiritual power."

Just as Ron was about to express his gratitude, Mrs. Ellen reached out and took the potion bottle first.

"Thank you, Holt," she said calmly, "but this child still needs to proceed gradually. It's too soon for him to use something like this."

Holt only smiled and said no more. He placed the herbal medicine he had purchased into a narrow-mouthed cloth bag at his waist. Without further delay, he turned and left.

In an instant, his gray-blue robe vanished through the door, as if he had never been there.

Only after the faint magical energy fluctuations dissipated completely did Mrs. Ellen turn to look at Ron.

"You're lucky, child. That Holt is a future Wizard on the verge of promotion. The items he carries are anything but ordinary."

She handled the crystal bottle with great care.

"This 'Artificial Star Dew' is refined from the essence of fallen stars. Though not as powerful as the naturally condensed variety, for someone at the Apprentice level, you won't find a better magic potion."

She placed the bottle in a secure drawer. "I'll keep this for you for now. After you pass the Apprentice assessment, I'll return it to you."

She gave Ron a meaningful glance. "With your current strength, possessing such a valuable potion is more dangerous than beneficial."

Ron nodded in agreement, understanding the simple truth that "an innocent man with a treasure invites trouble."

"Oh right," Mrs. Ellen continued, clearly not ready to let him off the hook yet. "How exactly did you activate the medicinal properties of that star-grass earlier?"

Ron paused what he was doing and explained honestly, "When I was organizing it, I noticed that the fluctuations it gave off were very similar to the spiritual energy used during meditation. So I tried to align it with a similar rhythm..."

"I see." A rare smile crept across the old witch's heavily wrinkled face.

"It seems you really do have a knack for sensing spiritual power. No wonder Holt took notice of you."

She pointed toward a pile of herbal plants in the corner. "Now, help me sort and organize these Evening Primroses."

"Be sure to arrange them in the order they were harvested."

Ron nodded and moved to complete the task. As he worked, he casually brought up something that had caught his attention earlier.

"This morning, I saw a dark-cloaked person leaving the dormitory area in a hurry."

Mrs. Ellen didn't look up from her work. "That's just a runner. They're in charge of delivering letters and supplies to the Apprentices. They often travel between the mortal kingdom and here."

Ron quietly noted the information. Now that he thought about it, there was something strange going on. The quantity of magic stone shards he received each month always seemed a bit off.

Last month, there were fourteen shards, but this month there were only twelve.

That didn't make sense. His father was a strict, detail-oriented man. Ever since inheriting the title of Earl from Ron's grandfather, the estate's accounts had never been off by even a single silver coin.

If his father was in charge of sending the shards, then something else was going on.

Far away, in the Faruk Kingdom, the warm firelight in Earl Ralph's study cast his tall shadow against the wall.

"These are this month's twenty magic stone shards."

He handed a sealed leather bag to the butler. "As always, have Mr. Hawkins take it to the Black Mist Forest."

The butler accepted the bag, feeling its heavy weight.

"My Lord... did you mortgage the eastern vineyard?"

Earl Ralph did not deny it. Last year's plague had ruined the harvest, and between the other children's expenses and household costs, the manor's income had become insufficient.

Still, he had to ensure that Ron received enough resources. In a place like the Black Mist Forest, survival was impossible without magic stone shards.

"I failed to guide that child in the past," he said quietly, gazing out the window at the withered wheat fields. "Now, all I can do is try my best to support him through this difficult time."

The butler nodded solemnly, then exited the room, storing the leather pouch in the manor's highest-security vault.

But a few days later, as the regular messenger, Mr. Hawkins, received the bag and tucked it into his robe, a flash of cunning glinted in his eyes.

Back in the herbal medicine shop, Mrs. Ellen pulled out a cloth pouch and handed it to Ron.

"That's enough work for today. These are some ordinary revitalizing herbs. Consider it extra pay for your efforts."

"Thank you, Mrs. Ellen."

"Oh, and one more thing," she added just as Ron was about to leave, "come a bit earlier tomorrow. I plan to teach you how to refine some basic potions."

When Ron stepped out of the shop, the morning mist had already lifted, and sunlight streamed down over the cobbled paths.

As he walked back to the dormitory, he reflected on everything that had happened. The opportunity this job brought had far exceeded his expectations. But he also understood that opportunity came hand-in-hand with attention—and risk.

Back at the dormitory, he found Andre leaning casually against his door, waiting.

"How was it?" Andre asked with a smile, though a trace of concern hid behind his eyes. "Smooth first day?"

Ron didn't answer immediately. He opened the door and checked inside to ensure they were alone before recounting the events of the day.

"Star Dew?!" Andre gasped. "That High Apprentice… Could it have been...?"

He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Master Holt?"

Ron's blank expression prompted Andre to explain further.

"He's one of the few High Apprentices in our school who's made exceptional progress in Potion Studies. Rumor has it he's achieved breakthroughs in stellar orbit research."

He hesitated for a moment.

"What is it?" Ron asked.

"Nothing," Andre said, shaking his head. "Just… be careful. Attracting attention can be good, but it also brings... complications."

Ron nodded. He understood well enough. In a world where the strong devour the weak, standing out wasn't always safe.

"Oh, right," Andre changed the subject. "The second body tempering session starts this afternoon. Are you ready?"

Ron nodded and took out the herbs Mrs. Ellen had given him.

"These should help," he said confidently.

As he organized the contents of the cloth bag, his mind drifted to everything he had gained today. On top of the knowledge and insights, there were clear signs of growth in his panel.

[Basic Potioneering Experience +3]

[Herbal Medicine Identification Experience +2]

His ability to sense the subtle "rhythms" in herbs and his interactions with both Holt and Mrs. Ellen had deepened his understanding of the magical world around him.