I don’t want danger, but I do want books. I need books. I must have books. Maybe I’ll only try to locate it precisely. Scout it out, and see what it’s like. If it’s really too dangerous, then I’ll give up. However, if lucky enough to find a way inside, then perhaps a hidden library has the best books?
It’s decided. I’ll hunt for the library. I have enough copper coins for five more round trips to Tranas. Stealing more coins or securing the sewers is also an option if I have to stay longer. This can work.
Sleeping the rest of the day away, I spend the night mixing more potions and testing the new plants that I’ve gathered. Luckily, a few mix successfully.
I’m not entirely sure how this one will be useful? Impurities? Aren’t more muddy things better? Oh! Unless this is like a poison? Regardless, I bottle a few because it’s hard to know what the future holds.
This will definitely be useful, if only for repairs. Maybe for other small crafts as well? I’ll carry a few of these too. New situations demand creativity, after all.
Maybe this could convince me to enter the library even if it really is dangerous? That doesn’t exactly sound safe, but desperate times do sometimes require hopeless solutions.
I write down all the potions’ names, their effects, their ingredients, and then also make rough sketches of the original plants as well. On a separate piece of paper, I do the same but for the failed ingredients. No sense re-collecting new experiments that won’t work if I can remember them.
Surprisingly, the work pays off well given the many new discoveries.
Feeling brave, even without the potion, I head straight back to Tranas the next morning. This map isn’t exactly precise, but I’m almost certain that I’ve identified at least the rough area of the unchecked box. It’s the intersection of three streets, which is somewhat unique. There’s also a short, hidden note beneath the veil explaining “north side alley, white brick”. Of the few three-way intersections, there’s only one with white brick buildings and an alley on the north side of the crossing.
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Is the entrance really in this alley? It was easy to slip in unnoticed, but there’s absolutely nothing in here. Although, perhaps that isn’t a surprise. It is a hidden library after all. I search every brick and divot, even with my eyes strengthened, but there’s still nothing even slightly out of place.
I hate this. This means that the only option left is waiting and keeping watch since I might catch someone coming or going. Then maybe I can sneak in after them. The same strategy used with the sad merchant in Vastra. How long will this take? It could be days or longer. These books better be good.
Four days later, I’m on edge. The coins are running out, and I’ve been obsessively glued in place here rather than finding things to steal. I don’t want to miss anything. Tomorrow, I have to stop, if only to secure more copper coins for the terminal tribute.
At least I’m still keeping up with practice. In fact, two new exciting developments have occurred. At five levels for self perception, I’ve gained a passive, intuitive awareness of my internal energy. This means that while making little pockets, I automatically sense if a break is needed well before bottoming out. That’s incredibly valuable! No more stupidly passing out when breaching my limits.
Also, at five levels for life perception, sensing the little clouds of magic surrounding big ones and other living things has become a constant passive as well. I no longer need to focus or strengthen my eyes. In fact, when focusing now, I can barely detect living clouds through some walls. The buildings surrounding this alley are very full of people, at least near the walls. However, it’s unclear what’s going on inside, and entering to find out would probably be instantly suspicious for a little one like me. I’d need to learn more about them first.
Defeated by another empty day, I head back to sleep through the remains of the day. Luckily, the giant has never captured me on the way to my stakeouts, but at this point, it might be a welcome distraction. Especially since he’s a reliable source of the copper coins.
The Vastra sewer welcomes me home, and I poke the slime with a finger to tell it I’m back. It’s looked awfully lethargic lately. It’s grown quite a bit from the regular feedings. Hopefully that’s not a problem. At the least, it likely means that I could miss a few feedings without issue.
As I put all my things away before sleep, resealing them in their appropriate pockets, there’s one more thing that I add to my shoplifting list. Even more plant varieties are now necessary since I finally located compounding milestones in one of my books.
Level 2 – Three ingredients
Level 4 – Four ingredients
Level 6 – Five ingredients
Level 8 – Six ingredients
Level 10 – Heat treatment
Now at level two, that implies that I can mix two different powders into water. Therefore, even more experimental searches for new, successful combinations are on my horizon! This also explains why I’ve been struggling so much to get levels as rapidly as with the base mixing specializations. Practicing new combinations seems to contribute far more than anything else.
Finally, I quietly settle down into the sludge. So exhausted by this failed, monotonous watching, I can barely think. Rest will help. Rest will heal.