Chương 57: Moonlight Grass

After some time spent working, the southeastern corner of the library was finally restored to order. Zelier brought the mysterious Elven-language tome to the administrator's desk and registered it for borrowing. The administrator flipped through the book, recorded its identification number, and handed it back.

"You can only keep it for fifteen days. Remember the deadline." He stamped the borrowing card.

"If you fail to return it on time, you won't be allowed to borrow books again."

"Understood." Zelier nodded. The two of them left the library. While Zelier was still carefully replaying the strange vision he had witnessed earlier in his mind, Bev hurried after him.

"Hey, hey, wait. Where are we meeting up?"

"Meeting up?" Zelier looked confused.

"You helped me organize the library, so I'll help you gather herbs. Fair is fair." Bev nudged him lightly with her elbow, speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Seeing that she clearly wasn't going to take no for an answer, Zelier didn't argue. He thought for a moment.

"Then… let's meet at the Blackstone Town gate in half an hour."

"Alright!" After returning to the Nightflower Inn, Zelier carefully stored away the Ancient Elven Tome, hiding it beneath the wooden boards of his bed. The Elven race had a unique social structure. They existed in clans, governed by the High Elder Council, and usually lived in secluded regions untouched by humans. Pure-blooded Elves rarely appeared within human kingdoms. They were proud and aloof, disdaining to associate with short-lived races.

Because Elves possessed incredibly long lifespans, they held countless ancient secrets. Many scholars throughout history had attempted to locate Elven settlements and uncover forgotten history from them. Most returned empty-handed. Of course, Zelier had no intention of searching for pure-blooded Elves. But since Vaelis carried Elven blood, perhaps he could understand some of the writing. He would ask him the next time they met for a quest.

After hiding the tome, Zelier grabbed the white ashwood base, a cloth pouch for collecting herbs, and then went into town to buy a small shovel for fifty copper coins. Everything was prepared. Blackstone Town Gate. Zelier looked left and right, waiting for a while, but he still couldn't see Bev anywhere. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Only merchants and farmers passed through the gate. Did she stand him up?

Just as Zelier was beginning to wonder, an elegantly decorated carriage slowly approached along the main road and stopped right in front of him. The curtain lifted, revealing Bev's face. She waved at him.

"Over here!"

"Uh… I thought we were walking there. It's only a few hours away." Zelier was caught off guard by the sight.

"Walking is exhausting. Of course we're taking a carriage." The coachman had already stepped down and respectfully opened the carriage door for Zelier. This carriage was on an entirely different level compared to the one Marcus had rented before. Two massive Shire horses pulled the carriage, their coats gleaming like black satin. Their size and muscular build far surpassed ordinary draft horses.

The exterior of the carriage was crafted from expensive redwood, covered with delicate carvings and decorated with polished brass fittings. The interior was even more extravagant. The cabin was spacious, with a soft wool carpet covering the floor. The seats were made of luxurious velvet, and a small table in the center held fresh flowers and a tea set. Judging by the setup, the owner clearly had complete confidence in the carriage's stability.

"Hold on tight! We're leaving!" The coachman shouted, cracked the reins, and the carriage began moving smoothly. Zelier examined the decorations inside, silently estimating their value. This carriage alone probably cost over a hundred gold coins, didn't it? Unable to hold back his curiosity, he asked:"Bev, what exactly does your family do?"

"Guess." Bev blinked innocently. Why did every girl like making people guess?

"Do you own a mine?" Zelier answered casually.

"How did you know?" Bev's eyes widened. No way. I actually guessed right… Zelier's mouth twitched.

"Part of the mineral veins around Blackstone Town are controlled by my family." Bev explained.

"No wonder…" Zelier finally understood. No matter what era or what world it was, whoever controlled mineral resources controlled an endless treasure vault. The carriage moved incredibly fast while remaining remarkably smooth. Zelier barely felt any bumps along the way. Before long, they reached their destination.

"Miss Bev, we've arrived. The road ahead isn't suitable for the carriage anymore." The coachman's voice came from outside.

"Let's get off here." The two of them stepped down. They had reached the outskirts of Ashwood Forest. The endless forest stretched before them, its canopy a mixture of green and gray beneath the sunlight. Bev gave the coachman a few instructions and asked him to wait there. Zelier took out the map given to him by Manlin and followed the marked route into the forest. Bev carefully followed behind him.

Although Bev was usually cheerful and fearless, once she entered this gloomy forest, she became noticeably more cautious. Everything here was new to her. She curiously examined her surroundings, occasionally distracted by strange insects flying through the air or oddly shaped mushrooms growing beneath her feet. But whenever she heard the slightest movement, she immediately hid behind Zelier. Meanwhile, Zelier kept stopping and adjusting their direction.

"Zelier, are you sure you're not lost?" Bev glanced around nervously.

"We're not going to get lost in the forest, are we?"

"Not likely." Zelier carefully studied the map.

"Let's see… keep going straight, then cross that small hill ahead. We should be there." His sense of direction was nowhere near as good as Marcus's, but thankfully the map was detailed enough, and the gathering location wasn't too deep inside the forest. Soon, Zelier climbed over the hill marked on the map. At last, he found their destination. It was a hollow buried deep beneath the forest canopy, where sunlight could barely penetrate.

The damp air was filled with countless tiny particles of light, drifting like fireflies. The source of the glow was a large patch of grass growing near the cliff walls. The plants themselves were semi-transparent white, but within the darkness of the forest, they emitted a soft pale-blue radiance, illuminating the hollow with an almost dreamlike beauty.

"Zelier—give me a hand." Bev's voice came from behind. Zelier grabbed her small hand and pulled her up the slope with a little force. Bev wiped the thin layer of sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief. The moment she saw the scene before her, her eyes instantly lit up.

"Wow… it's so beautiful!" It looked like a place that could only exist inside a dream.

"Alright. Time to dig." Zelier took out the small shovel and cloth pouch he had prepared, then crouched down and began working. A young body really was convenient. Zelier still remembered how his knees used to crack whenever he crouched down in his previous life, and how standing back up would sometimes leave him dizzy. He carefully dug around the roots of the Moonlight Grass. Although the herb looked delicate and small, its roots were tangled and intertwined, making it surprisingly difficult to extract.