Chapter 259

Chapter 259: Weaving Stars

In the red maple forest, the days passed quietly as she lived alone. Everything seemed to have become routine. Every morning, she would wake up on time, wash, and tidy herself before starting her experiments. Luolan Hill watched her newly developed potions continuously improve.

From version 1 to version 16, the materials used were constantly experimented with and changed. Under the system’s recording and assistance, detailed data was compiled into tables for constant comparison.

The amber-red maple fruits were not infinite. Only 382 had been produced under Luolan Hill’s care and adjustments, and now, due to the trials of making golden maple syrup and extraordinary potions, 61 had been used, leaving 321 remaining.

Though plentiful, they would eventually run out. However, the growth rate of ice-flower plants was much higher. With Yixuegelin’s symbiosis and care, their future prospects and yields would surely surpass those of the amber fruits.

In the quiet wooden house, the young lady gently shook the mixture, watching as it reacted slowly, bubbles forming and colors changing until it finally stabilized into a light cyan color. She labeled the container and carefully placed it on a shelf.

Through continuous exploration, she ultimately found several optimal solutions.

Firstly, the 14th potion, version 3.8, which was the most cost-effective. The main ingredient was ice-flower fruit, combined with other low-level extraordinary materials, greatly improving the user’s constitution and stabilizing their extraordinary core while enhancing their control over magic power. Luolan Hill officially named it the 【Ice Flower Potion】(rating: excellent gold).

Secondly, the 5th potion, version 4.3, which was the most effective. The main ingredient was amber fruit, combined with ice-flower fruit and a series of extraordinary materials, significantly enhancing the stability of the individual’s extraordinary core and their control over magic power. It also improved physical constitution, making them more suitable for practicing extraordinary sequences and gaining bonuses for ice-element-related skills. Luolan Hill officially named it the 【Golden Moon Potion】(rating: perfect pearl).

The former could be mass-produced, but the latter, due to material constraints, could only produce a small quantity. Considering future use of amber fruits, Luolan Hill only made ten vials of the 【Golden Moon Potion】, while 100 vials of the ice flower potion were made.

After completing all these potions, there were only two weeks left until school started.

—

“Finally finished!” Sitting at the table, after sealing the last potion, the young lady let out a small cheer, then stood up. The afternoon sunlight shone through the room, casting a captivating glow on the rows of potions.

In the corner of the table, inside an orange-yellow gem, a little bear was snoring soundly. Awakened by the silver-haired girl, it opened its eyes and circled around inside the gem before slowly lying down again.

Even extraordinary beings weren’t immune to fatigue. After prolonged focus, exhaustion surged like waves. After a big stretch, the young lady lay down on the table for a brief rest.

After a short nap, as the sun gradually set, she slowly woke up.

Opening her drowsy eyes, her head felt much clearer, and she felt more spirited. Grabbing the orange gem on the table, she walked out of the wooden house to the streamside, first washing her hands, then holding the orange gem. A warm ripple flashed, and the moisture on her hands slowly dissipated, leaving a mist in the air as if drying her palms by a winter fire.

These past few days, this extraordinary gem containing the soul of the giant bear had been very helpful to Luolan Hill. With its help in stabilizing temperature, she could focus more on experiments, increasing her speed.

After multiple collaborations, Luolan Hill became familiar with the little bear in the gem. Though it didn’t possess human-level intelligence, its IQ reached that of a child, able to discern and handle basic matters.

Once, Luolan Hill even tested it with a mirror; it could recognize itself rather than simply treating it as another entity.

The rocks by the stream were quite clean due to wind and sun exposure. The young lady lay down slightly, gazing at the deep purple twilight sky, raising the orange gem and looking at the little bear’s soul within.

“These days have been tough,” she softly said, then continued.

“Should I make you a body and give you a name?” She shook the orange gem, and inside, the little bear opened its black eyes, looking at her curiously, seemingly not fully understanding her words.

After resting for three days, the young lady sat in front of the wooden loom by the window, carefully adjusting it. Gathering the silk threads dried over the past period, she began meticulously weaving the twilight yarn.

Recalling the last time she spun yarn, it must have been eight years ago. The arrival of Tides that day had frightened her, but fortunately, she was friendly and meant no harm. The candles exchanged afterwards were just recently used up. In the early days when she lacked tools, those candles had been like a universal tool, providing much assistance.

If given the chance, she should thank this senior.

Thoughts drifted through her mind as tranquil sunlight filtered through the window, illuminating her silver hair and pure white dress with a faint golden hue. Her actions and appearance remained unchanged, as if time had stood still.

The light purple twilight fabric, reflecting the sunset, shimmered with radiant light, growing gradually as she wove.

This time, she still wove star patterns onto the fabric, as she represented the star witch. Unlike her initial confusion and doubts, she now embraced this mission without resistance, accepting this title with ease.

When exactly did she start changing? Luolan Hill couldn’t remember. Perhaps it was the silhouette of a young boy, or the desperate struggle of rabbits, or perhaps facing enemies without limits, or the sorrow that permeated the grasslands for millennia.

She wasn’t someone who overflowed with sympathy, but she wouldn’t deliberately resist the kindness and sympathy that arose within her heart, bringing hope to those in dire straits.

At some point, kindness became unpopular. People mocked those kind souls, saying they were easy targets, naive, even hypocritical, as if such behavior was foolish.

But when she herself faced injustice, she would curse the world bitterly, hating the coldness and indifference of others.

Undeniably, indiscriminate kindness was unacceptable, but did that mean one had to become a cold-hearted person? At least, Luolan Hill didn’t want that. She wanted to live in a gentle world, where both strangers and herself could find beauty.

With inner peace and acceptance, stars of various sizes appeared on the purple twilight fabric, delicate as gossamer, soft as silk.

(End of Chapter)