Blood tax

Chapter 218 The Truth About Potion Preparation Notes
Looking at the fallen ranger twitching on the ground, Griffith felt a little better.When he saw Krista being used as a weapon against him, the explosion of anger wanted to tear Anna Sui to pieces.

Now, he felt much better, he was no longer impulsive, his mind became clearer, and he began to realize the existence of strangeness.

"Guffy, are you okay? The assembly number is calling us!"

"What do you say you saw? Explain clearly."

"Ah, Erza is here, I'll pack up my equipment first, see you later."

If this conversation really existed, it would be that Griffith's forgotten memory was awakened by the sealed item.

【What did I see...】

Griffith lost the relevant memory, and vaguely felt that this was a conversation that happened before the final battle.

He remembered that he was in a trance at the time, and Erusa patted his face when he came in, so that he could wake up a little and then go to join the squadron.This scene can be matched, so let's speculate based on this.

Krista started referring to Griffith as "Guffy" the night she was promoted to Second Squad Captain.The date is clearly listed in his own personnel file as April 1443, 4, just over two months after the final battle broke out.

The scene that appeared just now probably really happened before the final battle, then, what I saw fell into a trance... Everyone's memory about Krista has been erased, only a small part of me is left, which shows that the memory Erasing the time I was away from the front line alone after her sacrifice most likely occurred.

Then, the "what" that "I saw" might not be a sealed item or a creature that erased everyone's memory, but the existence of a certain fourth party.The mirror of the observer was exploded in the end. Some existence whose true face was not seen may be at the scene that day, and the sealed object tried to project its true face... I witnessed it alone, even him, and there was confusion, reason and memory lost.

Griffith was lost in thought.This question may not have an answer in the short term, but it must be taken seriously.In the case of Neopolis, there were two factions attacking the local cultists, and even fought each other.There may be more than one high-ranking person involved in the Krista incident.

"Hey, ranger, is the image you see in the observer's mirror fabricated or real?" Griffith looked at the fallen elf lying on the ground and asked in a bad tone.

Of course she was speechless.The beating just now made her face bloom, and she even became incontinent.Galadia was pouring a little healing potion on this dangerous tribe before she died instantly.

"It may not be real," Sonia said, "I have never seen such a big spider, but I have had similar nightmares."

Galadia provided a contrary opinion: "My memory is real, and the conversations and events of Salorian are real... The arcane model was finally solved by my brother and secretly told me."

In other words, if there is such an image in consciousness, it may be projected.

Griffith put these doubts aside and began to examine the seizure from the fallen ranger.

The depraved Purifiers should have another camp, where the daily supplies and supplies are.The loot on hand included an excellent quick-fire bow, some enchanted arrows, two curved-bladed short knives, many servings of potions, mysterious ingredients, and some fine jewelry.The mysterious Watching Mirror has shattered, reduced to a cloud of powdery ash.

Finally, everyone found an old notebook in Anna Sui's body pocket.

From the appearance, this is a common notebook in Homonwarts school. It is covered with smooth Antoria cowhide, with brass buckles. magic parchment, mixed in a 4:1 ratio.This is an expensive special product, and only professors and a few heirs of great nobles are used to it.

This is an excellent record carrier, durable against insects and corrosion, and with clear ink rhyme.The writing experience can be called enjoyment.

Griffith hesitated, but opened the notebook anyway.

There was a charcoal sketch in the paper.A group of tired but refreshed explorers stood side by side, holding fossils in their hands.Everyone recognized the team leader in the middle at a glance.

That's Headmaster Tyberion!

In the painting, he is only a middle-aged man, without a fluffy white beard, and he is not the familiar sleepy look.There was a young man beside him who looked very familiar, but for a while, no one could tell who it was.

In the lower right corner of the sketch is a scribbled but individual signature, carefully deciphered...

"Salorian!" Galadia suddenly exclaimed, "It turns out that he is so much younger than the principal, and there must be a 20-year difference between the two."

The name reminds everyone.This familiar young man was indeed the supreme mage when he was young.He drew himself into it.At that time, he had short, sharp-edged hair, deep-set eye sockets and sharp eyes that left a passionate and persistent impression. He was a very handsome young man, very different from the mysterious old wizard now.

The date of the sketch is April 1407, 4 of the Second Age.

At that time, Salorian looked only about 20 years old, which means that he may be less than 60 years old now. This is something that everyone didn't know before.But everyone knows that Headmaster Tyberion just celebrated his 81st birthday.

The two of them are usually dressed in white clothes and robes, with beautiful white hair and beards. They both look unpredictable, so they are from two generations...

The part of the notes is an investigation record signed by Professor Tiberion.

"Investigation Records of the Belomon Ruins ([-])

"Our drilling has opened limestone veins and we expect to find more beneath the rock formations. Rocks and soils preserve ancient evolution and geological change for us, and many specimens are being seen for the first time. Among the ancient cephalopods , shellfish, and plant fossils were found as well as vertebrate fossils; a short time later, we were surprised to find another cavity below, which excited all the team. Young Thalorian, full of vitality as usual, Taking sufficient protective measures, he was the first to rush in and brought us shocking news.

"The number of rich samples is unbelievably large. Even if it takes all the scholars in Homemonwarts to gather and spend a year, it may not be able to fully inventory and classify. I am going to write to the headmaster, asking him to establish a long-term investigation here. stand."

Headmaster Tyburion's discovery back then was similar to Professor Gnorrison Bell's recent results.They likely found the same cave that was rich in shellfish, bones and fossils.

However, he did not make it public!

Griffith immediately became alert.The headmaster did not announce the discovery that year. Mutated creatures appeared near the Turan Swamp. Professor Bell unearthed huge and deformed fossils.

He closed the notebook with a "snap", not going to read any more.The top priority is to join Lana and the others to escape here, report the situation in the ruins, and then let Roland bring artillery to dismantle the entrance of the ruins!

The more Griffith thought about it, the more it made sense.Suddenly, a full and extremely elastic oppression appeared on his arm.

Sonia grabbed him and shouted, "Griffith, give me this record!"

"No, this is mine," the quasi-knight hurriedly refused.It's troublesome, Sonia shouldn't be allowed to see this thing.

"I'll trade with you!" The girl shook his arm vigorously.

"In exchange for what? No, it's too dangerous, no." Griffith held up the notebook.Sonya tiptoed beside him but couldn't reach him.

"I beg you--!"

The girl begged in a soft voice, and looked up at him with sparkling eyes, as if she really could do anything for this notebook.That wonderful feeling weighed heavily on my heart... Who can resist this!
Galadia snatched the note from Griffith and handed it to Sonia.The latter kissed her excitedly.

"Galadia, you are the best!"

Miss Elf gave Griffith a sharp look, and then said softly to Sonia: "We are running out of time, we will leave after watching the last part."

After a lot of geological and archaeological investigation process and reports, several records at the end of the notes shocked them.

"Investigation Records of the Belomon Ruins ([-]).

"I tried unsuccessfully to classify this strange creature and only added to my confusion.

"Features of the exposed organs would classify it as animal; however, examination of the internal structure revealed many features unique to plants. It had a digestive and circulatory system, and was able to excrete waste through hoses encased in viscous bodily fluids.

"It has multiple chambers for storing air, and it can switch between two fully developed respiratory systems--I'll call them gills and pores.

"It's amphibious, presumably capable of long hibernation in the absence of air.

"If its nervous system is extremely complex and highly developed, its musculature is overdeveloped. According to my speculation, its complete body must appear in the world as a frightening mass of flesh tissue and tentacles.

"Anatomy found that it can vocalize or sing in a wide range of sounds, and it must not be difficult to imitate the sounds of humans and animals.

"From Tiberion's Investigation Note (Thirteen).

"Research on this strange creature has made a breakthrough.

"It's still alive! A living sample was found in one of the fossils!
"After adding a small amount of nutrient solution, the flesh and tentacles showed a high degree of mimicry. It was imitating me.

"It's terrifying. Each of its tentacles can come together to form new shapes. It even uses a small piece of limb to simulate a miniature image of my research team.

"My dizziness is severe. This terrifying discovery may have traumatized my sanity. The mimicry of this ancient creature may just be my hallucination. All in all, my current mental state has reached the verge of losing control.

"I can't let everyone find out, especially to avoid Salorian. This smart young man is too impulsive and energetic. He will be attracted by the unknown and ignore the danger."

"From Tiberion's investigative note (fourteen).

"I urged the expedition team back. I don't want to stay in this place for a quarter of an hour. That horrible creature killed one of my students. I managed to cover up the past in the name of accident.

"I don't know how to explain it all, I can only cover it up. I can't let the world know about the existence of this monster.

"I'm going to close the tunnel, and pray that no one will dig up these monsters again."

At the end of this investigative record, Tyberion wrote in terrified and flustered handwriting:

"How did it come out?!

"It appeared in my tent as a beautiful young brunette and spoke to me, asking me to take her out into the world. Her flawless beauty was beyond human limits. But I knew it wasn't real The shape, the resuscitated flesh and tentacles in the petri dish confuse me. After making the request, it even curtseyed and left the tent to wait for my answer.

"I'm going to do my best! I managed to get Salorian to take everyone away first, and there are only me and this monster in the ruins. As the Transcendent of Sequence 6, I have prepared the most powerful spells and the best wands and amulets , This will be a life-and-death struggle. Even if I fail, the pre-arrangement will destroy the entrance of the entire ruins and imprison the monsters in a deep underground pit hundreds of meters away.

"As an occultist, it would be wise to leave a sane and precise record of these final glorious moments, as I have always done. But I cannot, having lost all logic after witnessing the astonishing distortion and confusion The ability to think. Chaotic whispers occupied my brain, everything was fragmented, and I couldn't even tell whether the black-haired woman was a reality or a hallucination.

"I was suffocating and trembling like a frog facing a poisonous snake. Is this monster sealed underground an evil creation that destroyed the ancient civilization?"

"No more time to record. It's calling my name outside the tent, in a soft, sweet, polite voice, and it sounds wonderful. But this only intensifies my fear. I'm going to hide this record, useful or not.

"Long live truth! May imagination change the world!"

It seems that after completing this record, the strongest supreme mage in this world shouted slogans and went to fight the monster.He survived and became the headmaster of Homenworth.If he is still him.

Griffith's face was serious, and a possible existence could not be ruled out.That's when the Tyberion was forced to bring this monster to Homemonwarts.After that, the monster may have met Thalorian in the identity of Tiberion's daughter, disguised himself as a human figure, confused him, and left the story in the "Potion Making Notes".

Yes, this is the most likely truth.

The author of "Potion Preparation Notes" is likely to be Salorian, not some black magic supreme who has been wiped out of existence.Young and energetic, he thought Iletia was a weak lady who was murdered by mobs.After that, he was happy to find Iletia safe and sound, and the two seemed to live happily for a while.

What happened after that?Salorian wandered around the world for a while, until returning to Bayerand in 1427 to take part in an important event.Before that, he had been separated from Iletia.

In the years that followed, Thalorian became a senior professor and a powerful wizard supreme.He is coordinating many advanced magic studies, one of which is related to the ancient gods.

He has a large territory in the Tuyang Valley in Verona, relying on the reservoir to provide power for his magic workshop.During the flooding of the Tullon Valley, an orc took part in a hunt to kill the local otherworldly creatures.Similar but slightly different orcs appeared in 1443, under the command of Rudias' garrison mage, and attacked me and Galadia.Salorian's associate professor Veronos also happened to be near the attack site, and he actively invited me to join his potions course as an assistant teacher afterwards.

A series of events flashed through Griffith's mind quickly.

It is almost certain that Thalorian spent some time with a monster so terrible that his sanity may have become crazy and twisted.He still misses the horrible creature even years later.

It is said that events beyond common sense bring the danger of madness, but also the possibility of gaining occult knowledge.Thalorian's ability to become the strongest supreme mage in the world is likely to be related to this incident, and even Tiberion is the same.

Then, even if they are not crazy, they are probably hovering on the edge of madness.

What is Thalorian planning in Tuyang Valley's territory?

Wait a minute, black-haired, stunningly beautiful young woman, Potion Preparation Notes reacted upon seeing her... Ah, gods, what did I see in Silvermoon Tower!
Griffith was terrified. He realized that the underground ruins were extremely dangerous and had to flee quickly.

(End of this chapter)