A scripter's source of power, the 'Elixirs', this particular substance was a combination of three components: black sea ink diluted with a special 'agent' and, most importantly, a mythical ingredient.
Silvie, despite her troubles, remained interested in Daishi's lecture; he made it clear that diluting 'agent' was the most difficult to get, yet he refused to name it for the time being.
"Sir Daishi, what about the mythical ingredient? How do you obtain such a thing?" the servant asked curiously.
"Mythical ingredients, they're named poorly by the GPA, as in reality these were the blood of various mythical creatures, from basilisk, wyvern, and the most sought-after, dragon blood," the gentleman expanded on his earlier exposition, all the while the servant was listening in great intrigue; these words seemed foreign to her.
The store owner continued with his explanation. "Mythical creatures were the result of mutations from native animals, as the ink had subtly seeped into the soil. Yet there remains one question that even today's great minds cannot solve."
"These creatures, even if their origin was from native species of Umbridge, how, and why do they so closely resemble those found in ancient mythologies?" the store owner mused, and Silvie found her head tilting slightly.
"What do you mean, Sir Daishi?" It became clear that Silvie perhaps had never seen a single kind of fiction depicting such beings. Lady Evelyn gave the store owner a knowing look, encouraging him to entertain her inquiry.
"To put it simply, let's take dragons, for example. In our historical records from those I've personally seen, these creatures were considered a byproduct of mythos and thus of human imagination. But these creatures manifested from lizards that had absorbed the black sea ink. As for why such a thing happens, we don't know..."
Silvie attempted her best to understand, but she was getting a clear picture but it wasn't quite enough. "Forgive me, sir," she said softly, "but... what is a dragon? Is it like a serpent? Or a kind of bird?"
"I have never heard of these creatures, and these kinds of stories." Her tone was cautious, unsure if the question itself might sound foolish.
For a moment, the store owner was baffled on how Silvie didn't know such common knowledge, then Lady Evelyn chimed in, "Silvie had amnesia when I met her."
"Even the rest of the slaves in the Velvet Pavilion suffered the same."
"We can only imagine what kind of past Silvie went through, to the point that she doesn't even know such mythologies and stories." The mistress's understanding words were a cue to the store owner not to be so judgmental toward the servant who now waited with curious eyes.
"I see..." Daishi softened his gaze, the faintest trace of surprise crossing his features...
Sir Daishi regarded her ignorance, though without a hint of ridicule. "A fair question," he said, folding his hands behind his back.
"Dragons are... or rather were, enormous creatures, scaled like lizards, yet capable of flight. Their wings stretched wider than houses, and their breath could melt steel. In myths, they were seen as symbols of power or ruin, depending on who told the story." He paused, giving the servant a short moment to ponder such a creature.
Silvie only lowered her gaze, uncertain whether to feel awe or fear toward a world that once birthed such beings.
"How do people even manage to get those things..." the servant murmured, all the while the mistress continued to sip her beverage with amused ears.
For the first time, the store owner allowed himself a chuckle. "Silvie, seeing Lady Evelyn's Script should have given you some answers. There is power in this world so fearsome it can leave its scar on someone's lifetime."
Lady Evelyn nodded, with a graceful gesture of her hand, she explained, "Oh, please, I am not particularly powerful. My presence is, at most, a minor nuisance to contend with."
"I respect your humbleness, Lady Evelyn..." Daishi teasingly remarked.
The servant, however, wasn't entirely sure what to feel. Was Lady Evelyn being modest? She could not tell. Yet, the thought of a Scripter more powerful than her mistress was an oddly terrifying notion.
But as everyone raised their cups to drink, Daishi felt the need to clarify something.
"Silvie, most of these... mythical creatures were not born naturally. They're artificially produced, intentionally created and controlled, often killed when they're ready to be harvested."
"For instance, a normal lizard can be given an elixir infused with traces of past dragon blood, turning it into what we now call a dragon."
"You see, those that evolve naturally in the wild rarely survive for long. There's little to no food left for them, and even if there is, they often destroy whatever remains of their environment. That's why the GPAs' Orange Stripes exist, to cull and hunt down such unstable creatures."
Silvie nodded. The more she learned, the more she rejected the world she was in. Her heart was conflicted, it was cruel to raise a creature, poison it with ink, and ultimately kill it for power. Yet perhaps that was the reality of this world, one she would have to learn to accept.
"But to add to that," Lady Evelyn said, setting her cup down lightly, "you can still encounter mythical creatures in places where the habitats have evolved.
"For example, Nox Forest, close to the Black Sea, holds many such creatures. They were often used for elixirs. However, even for some Scripters, venturing there is dangerous.
"As such creatures are... unforgiving."
Daishi nodded. "Indeed. But that's illegal under Umbridge law." He spoke with a faint smirk that made it clear neither of them cared much for such a law.
Silvie tilted her head slightly. "Mythical creatures... I wonder what it feels like to encounter one." the same thoughts she had when pondering inklings.
The servant had so many things to learn within the world of Eschalon...
"It's either the most magical or the most horrifying thing you'll ever experience," Lady Evelyn replied with a sly smile.
"It just depends on the creature you meet. Just be careful not to mistake one for an Inkling." She sipped her coffee slowly.
"I'll be careful, Lady Evelyn," Silvie said softly, taking a small sip of her own.
After a short pause, she cleared her throat. "Ahem... I understand everything, Sir Daishi, but with all that being said, how do I survive the consumption of an elixir?"
Despite the cruelty of its nature and the process of obtaining it, it was still a power she could abuse.
A power that, perhaps, could give her life meaning beyond being someone's servant...
Chapter End...