Chapter 46 Farewell (End of Reverse V) Elementalist, Starch, Farewell...
Old Guge spoke slowly, and Lai listened intently.
"It is usually born in places where magical elements are abundant, feeds on elements, and is very common in the depths of the forest."
Old Guge's narration was intermittent, and he would occasionally drift into memories.
"You used to see them often in the woods next to the village, but they've become less common over time. Where did you see them?"
"Over there by the ginkgo tree."
Lei answered honestly.
“That must be quite far. I didn’t expect there to still be ginkgo trees there. When I was young, there were often ginkgo trees there. Back then, the children in the village called them ‘little elves.’”
"Their lives are very short. They are born in the spring when the flowers bloom, and they die when the first snow falls in winter."
At this point, Old Guge paused again.
"People like to classify them as a type of elf, with pointed ears and the ability to fly. But I personally think they should be considered fantasy creatures, feeding on elements and turning into more elements after death. Similar to 'elementalists,' but not quite them."
What is an elementalist?
Upon hearing a new term he had never heard before, Lai couldn't help but ask a question.
"Sigh, it's normal that you haven't heard about it."
"They are fantastical creatures born from the elements, possessing terrifying magical power capable of destroying a city in an instant. A new elementalist is born every few hundred years. The last fire elementalist was annihilated fifty years ago, and it is unknown how long it will be before the next one appears."
Old Guge shook his head as he spoke.
"Fifty years ago, when I wasn't this old, I experienced this firsthand."
"I didn't see the day the fire elementalist disappeared in the neighboring country, but I did see the great fire that broke out after that day. That fire burned for three days and three nights. Countless humans and orcs died."
Are there still elementalists active on the continent?
"The Gold Elementalist is said to still be with the dwarves, it's been almost a hundred years now."
"Thank you, Grandpa Guge."
Lai thanked Old Gug.
"It's alright. Feel free to ask me anything else you want to know. I love chatting with you younger folks."
"Okay, I'll be going now."
"Go, go."
Lai turned and left, most of his doubts resolved.
When he got home, he first went to check on the mule's trough, where some leftover watermelon rinds were thrown in, and the little mule was happily eating them.
Lai added some more bran to the mule and the red rockbird before returning to the house to organize the various household items and pots and pans he had bought that morning.
All the original seasonings were poured out and put into the newly bought jars.
The water ladles that were originally used to scoop water had a hole in them, so Laiyi simply replaced them all with new ones. She nailed evenly spaced small holes into the old ones, which she would use when making the vermicelli.
Salt and sugar are kept in a designated spot in the storeroom and left untouched until needed.
"Neil? Neil?"
When Ray called Neil several times without getting a response, he took the clean three-piece bedding set and went to Neil's room on the second floor.
He knocked on the door a few times, but heard no sound from inside, so he simply pushed the door open.
In the room, which is about 30 square meters, there is a single wooden bed, a study desk, a large wooden box, and a chair.
It's clean and tidy, unlike when he was a child, when his room and he himself were always very dirty.
Lai put down the three-piece bedding set and left the room. She closed the door without touching anything in the room.
"elder brother?"
Neil returned from outside and saw Ray coming downstairs.
"Where were you just now? I came upstairs to bring you some clean sheets and blankets."
Lei explained.
"I went to relieve myself; I ate a bit too much watermelon this afternoon."
"Take a shower and get some rest early today."
"Okay, brother."
Lai returned to his room and retrieved the books he had bought that morning. He began searching using keywords such as 'Elementalist,' 'Elf,' and 'Fantasy Creature.'
I searched through several books, including that little booklet, but I only found a brief introduction to 'fantasy creatures' in one of the encyclopedias.
The book says this:
Fantasy creatures often refer to rare creatures that exist only in history or fairy tales.
This includes the unicorn of the elves, the nightmare horse of the undead, the nine-headed dragon of the demons, the seven-colored glass pearl clam of the merfolk, a branch of the beastmen, and the elementalists.
Lai closed the book with a sigh. These things had no illustrations or specific details, and for someone as lacking in basic knowledge as him, it was practically pointless.
None of them made as much sense to him as the book "Vagura on Racial Anecdotes".
As darkness fell, Lei reviewed all the magic skills he currently possessed, practiced a couple more, and then lay down on the bed to rest.
The moonlight is still bright tonight, but the moon has shifted and is slowly getting smaller.
The sun is high in the sky, and a new day has begun.
Tomorrow, Vivian will leave here to meet the Baron's party in Rosen Town and escort the supplies to Eton City. Tomorrow morning, Ray and Neil will go to Hagrid's house to see Vivian off.
Today, their task is to peel and wash the potatoes, then grind them into a potato paste, filter it through cheesecloth, and let the starch settle. Only then can they proceed to the next step of potato processing.
Peeling and grinding fifty pounds of potatoes is a huge undertaking.
Lai and Neil sat on low stools around a large basin, peeling the potatoes for over an hour before finally finishing.
After peeling, I washed it three times with clean water and filled several basins.
After cleaning the potato skins, the two began to grind the fresh potatoes using tools.
This job is far more physically demanding than peeling skin.
The two rubbed for several hours, until Neil's arms were trembling, before they finally finished.
Actually, this tool has some issues; it's rather short and cumbersome to use. You need to use your left hand to hold it firmly against the bowl so it doesn't move around while you're rubbing the potatoes.
"Neil, go and rest for a while."
"good."
Neil washed his hands and sat in the chair, watching his brother filter out the excess impurities until basins of milky white liquid remained.
This is starch solution.
After a day, once the starch has completely settled, scoop out the transparent liquid on top and let the remaining non-Newtonian liquid dry.
After finishing the potato dishes in the morning, I had lunch, took a short nap, and then started making sweet potato dishes.
There weren't enough basins at home, so Lai brought out the small jars she had bought before.
After another half-day of busy work, the sweet potato starch slurry was finally ready and stored in a small jar.
As dawn broke, after breakfast, Ray took Neil to Hagrid's house early in the morning to say goodbye to Vivian.
Seeing that Vivian liked kebabs and roasted pine nuts, Ray prepared ten pounds of roasted pine nuts and several jars of prepared barbecue seasoning for her.
Vivian was overjoyed when she received it.
Linda held Vivian's hand tightly, unwilling to let go easily.
"Take good care of yourself when you're out and about."
"must."
"Don't worry about home. Your father and I aren't old yet. Brian and Reese will take good care of us at home."
"Don't worry, we're here."
Rees immediately promised.
"good."
Vivian gave Hagrid another hug, and Linda's tears were already welling up in her eyes.
"Alright, let's go, or we'll be late again."
Hagrid said.
Vivian released Hagrid, turned around, and mounted her horse.
She brought back a lot of things when she came back, and now that she's leaving, she's taken quite a bit of luggage with her. It's all stuff Linda prepared in advance.
The whip cracked, the horse began to move, and Linda's tears finally streamed down her face behind Vivian. No matter how much she wiped them away with her handkerchief, she couldn't stop.
"Remember to come back when you have a holiday, and remember to eat breakfast every day!"
Linda was still giving her instructions with concern.
Parents always worry about their children when they are away from home.
Vivian's figure grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared completely.
Reese and Brian offered to give her a ride home, but she declined.
As the only girl born after the two boys, Vivian was surrounded by love from a young age, which fostered her carefree and outgoing personality.
"well."
Someone sighed.
Life is always like this: after experiencing surprises, it eventually returns to the mundane.
"Let's go back."
Hagrid pulled Ray and Neil into the house to catch up.
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Copywriting:
Shi Nian has lived on this planet covered with yellow sand since childhood.
My memories are filled with sandstorms and the occasional garbage packages dumped here.
Others on the planet often say that they are all abandoned sinners, destined to spend their entire lives on this garbage planet.
At that time, they did not believe what they were saying.
His mother had told him that he could leave this place as long as he could overcome the planet's magnetic field.
Just like a seed, it can sprout and grow once it accumulates enough energy.
He persisted in cultivating his vegetable garden in the yellow sand, piecing together his small dream amidst the garbage heaps.
Shi Nian believed that one day an oasis representing hope would grow in the desert.
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