With only one rocket remaining. Selina pondered where to placed it as her gaze hovered over the living room.
Classic furnishings consisting of a sofa draped with decorative mat, table by the corner, cabinet, vase, and one empty bookshelf.
I have to be resourceful, rockets needs to be used when unexpected occurs. What if suddenly, the cult members are inside the living room?
With this in mind, she picked the last rocket and objectively placed it by the corner, hidden behind a cabinet.
While considering the placement, Selina thought of how she will trigger the rocket. It could be through a personal such as string or a match.
A string should do... She murmured.
Let's see... If I light up a cloth damped with oil added with candle wax, placed the burning material in a container with the lighter of the rocket and separate the two with a thin metal until the string was pulled. It should be able to trigger the following explosion!
Selina then walked to the kitchen, just before the arched entrance of the living room from the short hall and returned with a half part of a metal can filled with wet cloth.
Just before she can lit the can. Selina attached it behind the cabinet next to the arched entrance by using a tape, placed the can's lid to act as separator, afterwards tied the lid to a string connecting pass the arched path.
It wasn't for the Rose School of Though members to trigger. It was intended for her to initiate the escape, masked to lead them to the beyonder officials.
After placing the rocket and its trigger closely to the lid. Only now did she consider lighting the materials inside the can.
Will it be today or tomorrow?
With a slow sigh she deprecate herself. Doing all of this just for it to be a sham...
At least now, I can rest well... Let's light it tomorrow. I made the material inside to last at least by midnight. So to be certain, around afternoon should do...
Her paranoia eased for a moment, then came the anxiety of whether people would notice the scattered rockets around a path and collect them for their own.
I-It should be fine... I concealed them perfectly. I'm certain they're littered in a manner that they're indistinguishable from discarded and hazardous items.
Selina forced herself into composure before ascending to the second floor.
...
The dark shattered like an illusory glass of globe.
From the light, it revealed a vile environment of flesh and organ flooring and pulsing sky of veins that resembles a womb.
The light is an illusion. It is natural, It is intoxicating.
Within its cast lies a sculpture of Selina. With the usual golden-white hair, pointy ears, snow skin and dressed in a long, white gown.
At that moment, the world terraformed into the pastures of Milo. The sky was replaced by a bright sun and skies, the floor grew vibrant grass, and a mural-like vines spiraled from the merged feet of the maiden and onto the horizon infinitely.
Selina opened her eyes.
The dream became the mysterious dreamworld once more.
This has become a daily... But won't it affect my mental health? There has to be a way to activate and deactivate it through my will... Selina pondered with seriousness.
I have an idea for it days ago. But I haven't actually tried it... Should I attempt it now?
After contemplation. Selina simulated the sensation of awakening.
Her body crumbled into a pile, alongside the soothing and luscious green environment. The world regressed into a vile and nauseating place.
...
Crimson moonlight filtering from the veiled windows, casts an eerie yet serene glow over the room.
Selina, who was sleeping peacefully on the bed, her hair disheveled from the covers, suddenly opened her eyes.
She saw the bedroom in a quiet picturesque scene.
Alright, now let's try simulating the feeling of fatigue...
Selina mustered her will in rejuvenating the sensation of the weariness from constant walking, riding in public carriages, listening, anxiety and stress.
After awhile, she felt herself drifting, until finally she fell asleep in the comfort of her bed.
...
Dawn rose from the cityscape of Tingen.
Bathing the entire region into a warm, bright sunlight that eclipses the weary times of yesterday, brough forth promising morning.
On her bed, draped in the warm covers. Selina's eyes fluttered open.
She saw morning light permitting from the transparent glass of the windows. But instead of being refreshed, puzzlement surfaced from her expression.
The mysterious dreamworld didn't appeared the second time... Then what can I do to activate it? Does it naturally pull me in without my consent?
Selina considered retrying her attempt. But seeing that the day had already arrived, she decided to set it aside for the night as she had other things to attend.
From her bed, she rosed and as usual, she did her morning routine of buying pastries at the nearby store, took a few minute shower, prepared her gun holster, and finally intending to leave her residence once more.
After a brief greeting from Madam Martha. Selina took a carriage and headed to East Borough.
She only had two more days of trial from Darkwill. If she still failed to obtain his approval of becoming an assistant, she will have to agree regardless of her opinion.
So within these two more days and the present, she needs to learn as much in the field of apothecary from Darkwill as she can. Because afterwards, she'll leave Tingen.
Although this wasn't what she intended at first, due to lack of resources and opportunities, she now considered joining the circle of nobility much earlier, so as to help Mr. Fool much faster.
The Fool's recovery is her ticket back to Earth.
After awhile, the carriage halted at a street, few walks from Darkwill's herbal store.
Upon alighting, a thought rose within Selina. I wonder why is his shop called Lawson's, could it be that it's his surname?
She then donned her sun hat, fixed a crease of her dress featuring a bodice and a shrug draped around her shoulder. Selina pressed on towards the street.
...
In Lawson's Folk Herbal Store. Just before the edge of East Borough.
Darkwill had started his mentoring after seeing Selina entered few minutes ago.
The young lady were always well-kept, having an air of refine beauty from her silver braided-bun hair, composed and mechanical poise and mannerism to politeness.
She was an eye-candy for both men and women alike. So to him, the desire was eclipsed by awe and admiration. Not only is the lady's appearance attention-inducing, but her nature also adds on to her charm.
Ordinarily, her visits might have granted him the small advantage of subtly promoting his shop—enough, perhaps, to gain two or three new customers a week. Yet this past week, not a single sale had been made. Instead, all his time had been devoted to teaching the lady the art of apothecary.
"There... Now scrape the bark to get its brittles. Normally, you'd just throw the bark in, let it simmer, then take it out once the components are absorbed." Darkwill explained.
He added. "But in doing so, you risk losing most of the essential components within. So by scraping or sometimes cutting it into small portions can give the drug better results."
Selina diligently memorized Darkwill's lecture, nodding with attentiveness before proceeding to scrape the bark.
While doing the task, Selina felt a soothing sensation deep within her stomach.
In puzzlement, she asked herself. Was that... My potion beginning to digest?
This made her heart palpitate in excitement, hardening her resolve to complete the medicinal drug that she's concocting. If I continue this... In a few months, I might be able to digest it completely!
Indicating my chance to advance onto the next sequence!
But in that moment, she realized that she's missing the potion formula and had no idea where to start searching.
If only I can contact the mysterious man who gave Selina the Apothecary potion... She sighed, only for the next second to shook her head.
No... That man might also be a member of the Rose School of Thought...
Since the wedding day suddenly changed after Selina had intake the potion... Wait... If that is the case, can the Rose School of Though actually holds the rest of the Apothecary potion's sequences?
It came from the hooded man after all, there's a high chance that he's apart of the secret organization! Selina reasoned inwardly.
In immersion, her hand suddenly staggered. The bark fell onto the floor with a thud.
This made her recover from her stupor and managed to steadied her hand in time just before the blade contacts her skin.
"What are you doing?" Darkwill's brows met.
"Preoccupied with something? You know even baboons learns to focus on one task in the present rather than worn themselves out from what's to come..."
Selina gave a soft, weary smile and said. "I'm sorry..."
She then picked the fallen bark and repositioned her hand, holding the knife.
"Alright, be careful next time. I wouldn't want to you be injured, less I desire to bankrupt my whole business." Darkwill gave a sarcastic yet worried response.
Selina nodded and began to pay close attention to her process of cutting.
After that, she saw Darkwill perform the same usual habit of tapping his glabella thrice before looking at the medicinal drug.
This habit of his stays consistent whenever he mentors her.
With curiosity, Selina decided to mimic it.
She positioned her body to a nearby drawer. Slumped her head to her left hand, expressing as though she was bored, then proceeded to reach her point finger to her glabella.
She tapped it thrice... But nothing had occurred.
Darkwill finished his inspection, turned to Selina to gave a mild praise to keep her from losing motivation. But to his surprise, he caught Selina in a habit similar to his activation.
He raised a brow and asked. "Ms. Roy, what are you doing."
Ah!
Selina's breath hitched. In response she quickly withdrew her body and replied hastily. "N-Nothing Mr. Darkwill... Please proceed to the next formula."
Darkwill maintained his expression. Is she trying to mimic how I activate my spirit vision?
But seeing Selina's ordinary nature. He feigned ignorance and set his thoughts aside. "Very well... Now onto the Regime..."
Selina felt embarrassed. Was it really just a habit of old people?
Her doubt increased from the falsity of her assumption, prompting her to maintain her facade once more.
The lecture continued and ended in the usual schedule.
Seeing the dusk settles once again. Darkwill looked at Selina and said. "You may go, that's all I can teach for the day. The rest will be tomorrow."
There were no customers entered the whole day.
Selina wanted to ask Darkwill why his store unknowingly repels customers even though some occasional passerby would glance at it, then retracts their attention afterwards.
But because she can't promise anything to improve the business. Selina decided to avoid concerning herself in the matter.
...
Arriving in the Municipal Square.
Beautiful and colorful tents stood erected from the center, followed by loud beckoning of local hawkers, clamor of passing carriages and carts selling various foods and ingredients.
As she walk, she considered that her visit in the Greenhill asylum before was hasty and it lacked the proper analysis and approach. She failed to account variables that might occur in such a method.
Since she doesn't have a clear background to intimidate Gudarian in a more civilized manner rather than brutely force him using weapons. She decided to forfeit her pursuit as she's about to leave the city soon.
Lost in thoughts. Selina also realized something she forgot and exclaimed inwardly. I lost a day probing Mr. Swain!
Yesterday made her entirely occupied. To the visiting of the supposed member of a cult that revolves around Spectator potion, to the purchasing and distributing of rockets to her prepared route.
Selina sighed tinged with guilt. Well... I won't be staying here for long.
It was supposed to be one of my methods of gathering information in this world. But since I'll be entering a much higher integration, information and connections will be established easier...
On her way to the Macadamian East-Well to buy her usual takeout. Just as she was about to turn.
She saw a man, about a few inch taller than her, walking towards the opposite direction, parallel to Selina.
He wore a half cloak with faint violet linings draped onto his coat, accompanied by a waistcoat and a trouser, all had the similar color of jet black. Over his head was a top hat followed by a cane held by his right hand.
Strapped to his chest and body was a leather holster that seems to contain a revolver. Indicating his possible position as an officer.
The man exudes a somewhat scholarly air whilst his face had a rather refined bearing but an average-looking features.
Seeing him about to approach, Selina held her sun hat, as a brief respect while passing an officer. And in exchange, so does the man.
The two crossed paths amidst the fervent crowd.
Each concealed by their courtesy.