Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 386 Alicia's Plea for Help

The centaur and the witch had already begun to discuss how to treat the great wizard Sura.

Locke, however, remained silent.

Although healing the great wizard Sura would certainly bring great benefits, the problem is that, given the current situation, it would be a miracle if he could even avoid dying, let alone be cured.

Elemental imbalance is a troublesome symptom for wizards, let alone when three elements are imbalanced at the same time, so Locke could only read Grand Wizard Sula's daily treatment records from the sidelines.

"Hmm? The magic potions that Grand Wizard Sura takes every day to replenish his strength are worth at least 100,000 magic stones, not even counting other expenses. He's really spending money like water." Locke wasn't surprised to see so many supplements being injected into his body; this was clearly an enhanced treatment.

Since there are no special potions available, the only option is to strengthen his physical body and magical power to maintain the status quo.

Not only that, the orange incense from the nearby sun is also a kind of enhanced healing method, which is to bring back death and enhance the local magical energy tide.

Moreover, the bed beneath the body of the great wizard Sura was only covered with a layer of gold leaf and decorations on the outside, but inside was a two-meter-long bed made of [bloodline navel stone].

This bloodline navel stone is a stone created by sorcerers in collaboration with alchemists. It can absorb various mottled bloodlines and is specifically used to absorb the scattered and useless bloodlines in a wizard's body.

Bloodline navel stones have a certain ability to adjust the bloodline in a wizard's body, so they are very important to bloodline essence masters. However, even so, this kind of stone bed only plays an auxiliary role.

The situation within Grand Wizard Sula's body was far too complex to be adjusted back to its original state.

The centaur wizard pondered, "Perhaps we should introduce new elemental infusions to restore the balance of elements within Grand Wizard Sura's body."

This statement was immediately opposed by the witch and potion master. "That's too risky. We used the Blackwater Poison to induce a backflow of water element before, which resulted in an imbalance of the third element. I don't think we can add any more complexity to the situation, otherwise it will only get more chaotic. The side effects of various potions won't just be neutralized; there will be chain reactions, and we can't even calculate what might happen then."

"But I don't have any good solutions either."

When Alicia saw that the two had been arguing for so long, only to keep denying each other's points and not offering any useful advice, a look of disappointment flashed in her eyes.

Meanwhile, the potion masters of the Plutarch family, who were guarding the sickbed, were even less skilled. Listening to these potion masters from the wizarding lands was like listening to gibberish.

They could only remain calm and pretend they were doing their jobs.

Locke, hearing the two arguing endlessly, even began to get a little angry. After all, every time someone denies another's point of view, it is essentially an attack on that person. In a discussion, it's fine if such denials happen a few times, but if it keeps happening, someone will start to get angry.

Locke suddenly spoke up. "Gentlemen, since there's no solution for the time being, let's change our perspective—from how to solve the problem to how to control and prevent it from getting worse."

Both of them were stunned.

Locke said, "The potion-making skills of the three of us are not enough to solve this problem for the time being. Why don't we start by optimizing [Enhanced Healing] to strengthen the power of Archmage Sura himself in order to combat this imbalance?"

"Although this is only a last resort, it is the most realistic thing to do under the current circumstances."

The centaur wizard and the witch potion master thought for a moment and then nodded in deep agreement.

The centaur wizard pondered, "I can blend some incense for Grand Wizard Sura. While the Sun Orange Incense is powerful, its scent is too monotonous. If we can add our centaur tribe's special incense, it can definitely enhance the effect of the Sun Orange Incense."

The witch alchemist's expression softened slightly. "I also have some ideas. I can optimize the quantity and type of supplements I give Grand Wizard Sula every day, as well as the order of injections. This should better enhance Grand Wizard Sula's life force."

"I am a potion master specializing in status enhancement potions, so this is something I can do well in my field."

The witch potion master looked at Locke. "So, witch, what are you planning to do?"

Locke waved his hand. "If I do nothing, I'll just read Grand Wizard Sura's healing materials. After all, I don't have any other good methods, and I'm not as versatile as the two of you."

My current specialty is Abyss Potions, and I can't very well give a vial of Abyss Potions to the Great Wizard Sura in front of the Plutarch family.

Locke continued looking at the documents in his hands.

The two wizards glanced at Locke, assuming he didn't have any good ideas either, and therefore stopped paying attention to him.

Three hours later, Alicia suddenly used an excuse to call Locke away.

In any case, the centaur wizard and the other witch were arguing about how to optimize the enhanced treatment, so no one cared about Locke and Alicia's departure.

Inside the lobby on the first floor.

Now only Locke and Alicia remained. Alicia said to Locke, "Locke, I observed the thinking of those two people, and their thinking is really simplistic. Although they may be somewhat famous in the wizarding world, they probably can't help my grandfather at all."

"However, it's possible to have them enhance my grandfather's healing abilities. But Locke, do you have any ideas?"

Locke hesitated for a moment, then said, "To be honest, I don't have any good ideas either. However, I would like to try upgrading the formula of all seven types of nectar in the Holy Spring Dew potion."

Alicia looked at Locke with a puzzled expression.

Locke said, "I once bred and optimized one of the nectars in the Holy Spring Dew potion—the Emerald Lichen—into the Emerald Iris Lichen. I was wondering if I could optimize the remaining six magical plants, extract their essence, and create a Holy Spring Dew potion with the same formula but with all the magical plants in the formula upgraded."

"I think it's the only way to strengthen your grandfather's life force with the Holy Spring Dew potion."

Alicia's eyes lit up slightly, and she nodded. "It is indeed a good alternative approach."

“You asked me about the project before, and completing this project requires a lot of manpower. I can provide you with that manpower.”

Locke nodded; he shared the same idea. It would benefit both sides, and he could use the resources of the Plutarch family to overcome a lot of repetitive and tedious work. "Just find me a project team related to magical plants that has been abandoned halfway, but still has the personnel and equipment."

"With a few minor modifications, I can begin my Holy Spring Dew Potion project."

Alicia said, "Of course. I was cold to you just now because I couldn't show any bias in front of everyone."

Locke said, "Of course, Alicia. I know."

Alicia hesitated for a moment and asked, "Locke, can I trust you? I can't trust my family right now, especially my brothers and sisters, and my uncles."

“Locke, I suspect that my grandfather’s illness is not as simple as it seems.”

“Right now, there aren’t many people I can completely trust. Perhaps only you, my friend, who are completely unrelated to this matter, are people I can fully trust. Locke, I need your help.”

"I can't control the Plutarch family on my own."

"If you can help me, I will fully support you in pursuing any project you want to do. I'm doing my best every day to help you with the archaeological heritage of the First Ring Road."

Alicia clutched the sleeve of her amaranth-colored wizard's robe. "Sometimes, I really feel that this day has come too quickly. I wasn't prepared. My grandfather, who has been protecting me all this time, is already terminally ill."

Locke was puzzled; the internal workings of this large family were far too complicated. "But Alicia, even if you need help, why don't you go to your parents?"

Alicia sighed. “I don’t trust my parents, because they have four other children besides me. They favor their eldest son, my brother, the most. But my grandfather favors me the most, so he is the only one in the family who fully supports me. The others… even my parents, all have their own agendas.”

“When my grandfather was healthy, our family was united and there were no problems. But after my grandfather fell into a weak state, the attitude of those so-called relatives towards me has quietly changed.”

Alicia said, "Now, apart from my grandfather's confidants and some wizards who are loyal to me, I can no longer trust anyone, especially after what happened with the airship."

“Now my grandfather has actually put me in charge of the family. Although my grandfather can still be lucid for one or two hours every day, so there are no unusual developments in the family for the time being. But I can already feel that the atmosphere in the family has changed.”

Locke nodded slightly, lost in thought, unsure whether he should get involved in this matter.

But upon closer reflection, his relationship with Alicia was currently quite good, and they were both helpful to each other. Moreover, if he could obtain a very rare archaeological legacy through Alicia, that would seem quite appealing.

Moreover, he had already sided with the wizard Anthony within the Philaid family and gained substantial benefits.

Now, it's just the same thing being done again in the larger Plutarch family.

Anyway, the wizards in the Six Towers Land aren't very high-level, and since I'm inside the White Dragon Tower, I don't need to worry about others attacking me with wizard towers, so I really don't have anything to worry about.

Locke nodded. "Alright, I'll help you, and you help me acquire a piece of the archaeology inheritance. I'll take that deal. In return, I want other materials, such as those on botany, potion-making, and breeding—the more the better. Also, I want to select some high-quality projects from your family that are halfway through; I want to continue working on them."

"As you know, I need some high-quality projects to enhance my resume."

Alicia breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Okay."

"At least you're by my side; I'm not alone now."

Alicia took out a soundproofing array made by the Protection School from her Astral Ring, set it up on the ground, and then said to Locke, "Locke, I have something to tell you about something that happened to my grandfather. I discovered that when my grandfather fell into a coma, his body... was not filled with his soul."

(End of this chapter)