There was no time to rest. 'Two years', that was what they had…
The Second Calamity, which stretched over two years, had taken almost a quarter of that time to stop, meaning that they only had slightly over a year left!
-
Swoosh!
Petra practically flew through the halls of the mansion's main tower, quickly making her way up to the fourth-floor laboratory, leaving the other girls in the dust.
She walked through piles of scattered experiments and idle projects with light leaps.
The room was lit by magic lights built into the ceiling, casting a pale blue glow throughout the space. The temperature was carefully regulated, and the air was controlled by a magic artifact. The heavy scent of distilled chemicals and drugs lingered in the air, leaving anyone unprepared vulnerable to the shock.
Petra arrived before a large series of tanks.
Petra walked to the back, her big black eyes scanning each tank as she passed through.
Each tank contained a 'creature'.
Some were the size of a head, while others were as large as a tree stump. The tanks accommodated them, varying in size to fit the needs of each specimen.
She passed through the dozens of 'semi-perfected' creations (ants) and walked towards the back.
Here, Petra stood before the largest tank…
This tank stood out immediately, its construction far more refined than the others, with a layer of security even integrated directly into the surrounding tower, setting it apart from the rest. In addition, it was also much larger than the surrounding tanks.
Petra looked at it, feeling that she was really immature…
Although she was extremely lazy in her studies, her innate talent allowed her to understand the rune language at a terrifying speed.
Looking forward, Petra realized just how much she had grown in this brief period of time.
This tank incorporated a series of 'physical and metaphysical mechanisms', combined with runes that Elena had taught her back in Evergreen Town, and her own visualization research using spirit stones and willpower as a low-level computer. Looking at it now, it was the same feeling that one would get when they looked back at an old piece of art…
It was trash!
Blah!
Fortunately, it didn't matter…
Petra pressed her soft hand against the surface of the glass.
Her body naturally retracted all the lingering poison that drifted around her, an instinct that was in sync with her unconscious caution toward those close to her.
Petra's voice was soft. "Don't worry, I'm back…"
Hosh! Something moved, a massive shadow…
Concealed behind the cloudy tank, a massive silhouette slowly stirred, shifting within the tank and turning towards Petra. Its form was difficult to discern, but those who had seen it knew…
Two bright blue eyes flickered to life like lantern lights. Dozens of blade-like appendages stretched out along its serpentine body and clung to the inner edge of the tank. Its 'head' slinked down and rested parallel to Petra's palm.
Petra smiled as she craned her neck.
He had grown big, too big. Fortunately, that didn't matter anymore, because she had a solution…
She had already planned to take the 'next step', and now, with her gains from the western region, she had everything she needed!
Petra spoke in a small voice.
"I have a gift for you. No, not just you, all of you! So, you'll have to wait here a little bit longer… But don't worry, I promise it will be worth it! After this, you won't have to sleep for a long time!"
The creature twisted with an unknown emotion in the tank, stirring up bubbles as it moved.
Petra took her hand off the glass.
She turned around and let out a small breath, her fingers still tingling from the pressure that lingered beyond the glass. Even without contact, there was still 'something'. The faint hum of the runes vibrated through the floor, steady and calm, reinforcing the glass and acknowledging her return.
Then—
Petra nodded to herself, satisfied with what she had seen, and headed back toward the center of the laboratory. It was time to begin…
-
Petra left the tanks and returned to the center of the laboratory.
"Mm…"
Looking towards the stairs, Petra found a badly 'out-of-shape' elf with long black hair and a comically large purple scarf. The elf was bent over, gripping the railing with both hands. She was disheveled and covered in sweat, almost appearing as if she had barely survived the climb.
In a way, it was a bit seductive…
Petra wasn't sure if she needed to go over and help.
She hesitated, tilting her little head slightly as she watched Jillian wheeze and sway, ready to collapse at any moment.
Was she really that unfit?
It didn't look like it…
So why…
After a concerningly long time, Jillian managed to catch her breath. Her back straightened, her posture lifted, and the trembling in her knees finally disappeared completely.
Her head shot up, and the big black eyes with dark circles began to sparkle with excitement.
Swoosh! She ran from table to table, examining the laboratory with the enthusiasm of a small and excited child. Her long scarf trailed behind her like a ridiculous tail, fluttering in the nonexistent wind.
Petra: "..."
Was she just pretending…?
What the fuck?
Was this what was called an eccentric?
Petra watched her jump around the room, muttering things like 'what did this thing do?' 'What were these experiments trying to prove?', and 'how did this work?'. Questions repeatedly spilled from her mouth, swirling around like a storm of unnecessary outspoken thoughts. She muttered to herself, poking instruments, lifting notes, and gasping at every little detail her grubby claws could find.
To Petra, she almost felt more like a dog than a real elf…
In Jillian's mind, she thought—
- How did it come to this?
- Did I die and go to heaven?
- How cool!
Jillian couldn't help but be extremely excited!!!
Her hands trembled with joy as she moved, almost tripping over herself with every new discovery.
One should remember that Petra's lab would naturally tilt toward the style of Earth.
Petra just sighed.
* * *
Time passed…
-
It wasn't just Jillian, the other girls were also running around.
When Bell took Dorthy to the third-floor library, she couldn't control her emotions. In addition to the shock and enthusiasm, there was also something in the back of her mind that flickered, a distant and nearly forgotten memory.
Dorthy recognized this room, albeit not completely, no, not yet…
This was undoubtedly the room that she had seen in her divination.
Her eyes drifted.
There—
Dorthy found the exact seat where the other 'her' had sat. Her feet took her there on instinct, and she walked over and sat down, sinking into the cushioned chair.
Hmm! Indeed, this was a good spot!
After a soft mumble, the scholarly girl adjusted herself comfortably, then slung off her bag and placed it to the side. She smiled as a refreshing feeling washed over her soul.
To the right was a drawer, and to her left was a window.
Dorthy adjusted her glasses and looked out the window.
She almost felt like she was in a dream…
The sunlight, the motes of dust, the soft scent of wood and paper, everything felt strangely familiar, as if her future had reached back and touched her heart.
And perhaps, knowing who she and Bell would become, it very well might have…
Her hand stretched out, picking up a book.
-
Outside, the three Purple Elves were running around.
Elves had an innate attachment to nature, and the greater the 'exposure', the greater the 'attachment'. After being exposed to the Emerald Ghost Tree, the level of dependency was no different than that of a mother and child. It was the same for things like the 'World Tree and the High Elves', but on a much higher level… er, well, maybe not so much… The Emerald Ghost Tree was truly extraordinary, and although it was not on the level of the World Tree, it wasn't too far off…
This 'attachment' naturally extended to everything within the territory as well.
The three Purple Elves ran through the layers of farmland, jumped onto the trunk of the Emerald Ghost Tree, climbed and explored, and eventually found their way to the poison garden in the back, the only garden that remained growing even after their long period of departure. They skipped through rows of toxic flowers, their excited voices rising every time a plant hissed or glowed. They acted like naive children, seemingly existing in a sustained state of drunkenness.
Petra wasn't sure if it was her doing, but these three seemed to have already deviated from the common sense of normal elves by a large degree.
It happened so quickly that even Petra was a bit concerned.
She didn't think that elves were supposed to change this much…
Weren't long-lived species supposed to be slow and stubborn, with long periods needed for both physical and mental growth…?
What was going on?
Looking over…
Currently, one of them was already trying to coax a venomous vine into becoming her belt…
-
On the other hand—
The dwarven sisters, diligent as always, followed Elli into the mansion and quickly disappeared. It seemed as if they were picking up the same 'bad habits' as a certain emotionless instructor, appearing and disappearing whenever they wanted.
-
As for Levy, she found her way to the Emerald Ghost Tree, while Rose led Lira around the mansion.
* * *
Everyone was settling in slowly, especially the old editions, who were all very happy to finally be home… The mansion, once quiet and cold, now bloomed with a newfound life!
Footsteps, voices, and the warm, chaotic presence of everyone who had returned filled the air.
Petra was quite content with it all.
* * *
One week later, back to the present…
-
Petra pushed herself up out of the pile of books, grumbling at Luna's 'warm awakening'.
Petra received Luna's glare and knew she couldn't keep sleeping. Petra puffed out her cheeks, cutely turning her head to the side.
Standing up, she walked over…
Her little feet tapped on the wooden floor as she walked before Luna. Petra stretched out her arms like a stiff and uncooperative child, glaring fiercely! Although calling it a 'glare' was a bit generous…
Because Petra looked too much like a doll, especially at home, it was hard to take her seriously.
As for Luna, she didn't care at all…
Her little claws reached out and grabbed the hem of Petra's nightgown. Swoosh! She plucked it off, stripping Petra naked and exposing her to the cold 'morning' air.
Petra shivered and wrapped her arms around her chest.
After Luna picked up the mage robe she had brought with her, she helped Petra get dressed for the day.
This was a frequent struggle, cough-cough-cough, er… a frequent routine!
Luna was used to it by now!
Once all the clothes were 'properly pulled on', the lazy little girl plopped down on a nearby pile of books, her butt landing with a 'poof', unapologetically using it as a chair, and let the strangely attentive maid pop on her boots one at a time.
From the side, the faint sound of shifting paper stirred.
A small blue snake emerged from the mountain of books, its tail coiled around and dragging a pointed hat that had been buried beneath there pages.
Luna walked over, took hold of the hat, and with a single smooth motion, let the snake coil itself up and vanish inside as she lifted it up.
It was so smooth that it was clearly rehearsed many times…
Luna stuffed the hat over Petra's face and grabbed her by one hand, dragging her out of the room. Petra grumbled the entire time, books spilling across the floor behind her as she was dragged along.
If one were to look closer, they would find that all of these books were newly written, some still wet, all centered around 'biology and evolution'…
Tens of thousands of them…
All amassed by a certain little girl, in a certain little room.
-
One hour later…