Early the next morning, Ellie Miller eagerly slipped into the Alchemy House.
[Your current good reputation is 135, and a few gentle "Magical Plants" have grown in your Rear Garden.]
[Your current evil reputation is 209, and some troublesome "Magical Plants" have grown in your Rear Garden.]
[Please collect them before sunset to prevent the Magical Plants from withering.]
When Ellie Miller arrived at the Rear Garden, she was astonished by the "sea" of Magical Plants.
The last time she saw such a sight was when she accidentally sold a bottle of "Flame Potion" to a brat.
After harvesting all the Magical Plants and categorizing them in the preservation cabinet, Ellie Miller discovered two types of Magical Plants she had never seen before.
This one looked like a mimosa, but its leaves were chilly, with a layer of frost on the surface.
When Ellie Miller touched the leaves, her fingers were briefly frozen by the frost.
The frost melted due to the warmth of her fingers.
[Your improper handling slightly diminished the potency of the "Cold Leaf."]
Actually, this was a "BUG" of the Alchemy House.
When discovering new species, Ellie Miller would deliberately damage the Magical Plants to trigger the Alchemy House's notifications, allowing her to learn the name of the new plant.
The other new plant resembled a blue dragon fruit, but its body had small spikes, feeling icy cold to the touch, like holding a small block of ice.
She forcefully snapped off one of the small spikes, and the Alchemy House immediately flashed a notification.
[Your improper handling slightly diminished the taste of the "Ice Fruit."]
Taste? Is this for eating?
It should be a fruit with alchemical properties.
It can currently be confirmed that both plants are definitely suitable for making Ice Attribute alchemy potions.
In alchemy, if the Fire Attribute is too strong, adding a bit of this can neutralize the excessive fire potency.
Ellie Miller took all the "Cold Leaf" and "Ice Fruit" into the Alchemy House.
First, she tried using only the Cold Leaf to make an alchemy potion, but she failed. Adding three leaves in succession also didn't yield a successful Ice Potion.
She poured out the failed potion.
The old crucible automatically cleaned itself.
"Thank the magical Alchemy House for sparing me from scrubbing!" Ellie Miller genuinely loved the Alchemy House's 'auto-clean' feature.
After switching to a water base, Ellie Miller mashed the Cold Leaf and added it to the crucible, mixing thoroughly.
Then, she decided to crush an Ice Fruit and add it in.
"Crunch, crunch."
The sound and feel of crushing the Ice Fruit were just like crushing a big ice block.
Really curious, what creature would like to eat this?
After adding the Ice Fruit to the crucible, with a few more stirs, a "bang" was heard.
A new potion was successfully made!
[You have successfully crafted an Ice Potion.]
Ellie Miller immediately went to the second floor to write the two new Magical Plants into the Magical Plant Atlas.
Magical Plant Name: Cold Leaf.
Magical Plant Characteristics: A chilly little herb, with leaf surfaces covered in a layer of frost. Do not damage, as it may affect potency.
Suitable for: Crafting potions with ice effects, such as Ice Potion. Or, can be used in alchemy to neutralize excess Fire Attribute.
[Successfully added to Magical Plant Atlas: Cold Leaf]
[Junior Herbalist title: 200/200]
[You have obtained the title of "Junior Herbalist." The certificate has been issued; please check it in the Alchemy House]
Ellie Miller also added Ice Fruit to the Atlas.
[Successfully added to Magical Plant Atlas: Ice Fruit]
[Intermediate Herbalist title: 201/1000]
A new green certificate appeared on the bookshelf on the second floor. The certificate read, [Junior Herbalist Certification].
The lower left corner of the certificate had two flamboyant signatures.
Ellie Miller picked up the certificate and examined it carefully, recognizing the two signatures as:
School of Alchemy Principal: Merlin
Academy of Herbology Professor: Michelle
Ellie Miller, while pleased to receive the certificate, also realized an issue. This Alchemy House might not be as simple as she thought.
However, no matter what, the Alchemy House was her reliance for survival in this dangerous Another World.
Putting down the certificate, Ellie Miller turned her attention to study the newly made [Ice Potion].
The Potion Bottle material provided by the Alchemy House was special, preventing the temperature of the icy blue liquid from being felt through it.
Just when Ellie Miller was at a loss, a troubling problem suddenly came to mind.
If asking the Duke to help find herbs, assuming they were found, how would their potency be maintained during transport?
Thus, Ellie Miller took out samples prepared in the preservation cabinet.
The Water Flower and Terra Root began losing potency after leaving the preservation cabinet.
Ellie Miller immediately opened the [Ice Potion] and poured it on them.
The deep blue liquid instantly froze the items into two large ice blocks upon contact.
[Successfully preserved the potency of the Water Flower.]
[Successfully preserved the potency of the Terra Root.]
Ellie Miller excitedly left the Alchemy House with a box of Healing Potions and a 'big ice block,' heading to the Duke's study.
Edward Martin and his wife Joanna Martin were already waiting there.
Seeing them, Ellie Miller remembered that the Duke had mentioned they wanted to meet her yesterday.
Feeling refreshed, Ellie Miller was a bit disappointed not to see the Duke's tall figure.
"Where's the Duke?"
"He should be busy establishing a new Order of Knights," Edward replied awkwardly.
The fully recovered Edward Martin was burly and handsome, far removed from the burned mess waiting for death in bed two days ago.
At this moment, the couple had gigantic "bubbles" above their heads.
[Ah... never talked to the lady before, a bit nervous, how do I say I want to become her loyal knight...]
[So nervous, how do I tell the lady I want to become her Personal Maid?]
Ellie Miller was startled by the couple's thoughts.
But then she thought, such "life-saving grace" rewarded with devotion was very much in line with this era's knightly values.
Especially since she planned to leave Kostanyn, it was time to cultivate loyal followers.
This couple fit the criteria perfectly!
"Madam, I wish to pledge my allegiance to you, to become the sword and shield in your hands," Edward Martin said directly.
The couple held their breaths, watching Ellie Miller nervously, awaiting an answer.
Ellie Miller asked, "Have you discussed this with the Duke?"
"Yes, Madam. I have 'died' once for the Order of Knights. I want to use my new life to repay your life-saving grace."
Ellie Miller nodded, "Alright, I agree. Knight, you may swear your allegiance to me."
The towering Great Knight Commander knelt on one knee, piously declaring, "Silver Knight, Edward Martin hereby pledges that Ellie Miller Coldcrest will be my liege."
"I shall be her sword."
"I shall be her shield."
"Should I betray, may my soul drown in the river of Hell, never to surface."
After declaring his oath, the knight gently kissed the back of Ellie Miller's hand, completing the allegiance ceremony.
Joanna stepped forward, "Madam, I wish to become your Personal Maid."
In this era, a Personal Maid was often a close confidante for female nobility. Ellie Miller didn't hesitate to accept Joanna.
"Very well. As long as you don't betray me, I will treat you and your husband well."
With new 'followers,' Ellie Miller could now proceed with some plans she'd long been considering.
She immediately took them on a carriage to leave Kostanyn, heading for Centralis.
Edward rode a horse, guarding outside.
Sitting inside the carriage, Joanna was curious but restrained herself from asking Ellie Miller.
But...
Seeing the enormous 'bubble' almost bursting the carriage roof, Ellie Miller nonchalantly mentioned, "I want to open an Alchemy Shop in the city."