12 Gift

12 Gift
(Ella's Pov)

Finn knows me too well. He's really hard to fool.

"Right, Kyle is the teacher's younger brother." I tried to use a smile to cover my guilt.

Finn looked at Kyle suspiciously: "You're the teacher's brother?"

I quickly tugged at Kyle's arm: "Yes, yes."

Kyle seemed to glare at me from under his hat and slowly nodded.

Finn was very happy: "Then do you have news about the teacher? Where is he? How is he doing now? Why did he suddenly disappear back then..."

"Alright, Finn." I interrupted him. "Kyle also hasn't seen the teacher in a long time. He's also looking for the teacher. He was injured and will be resting at my place for a while."

Finn nodded gloomily, his ears drooping down. But the next instant he became happy again.

"Worthy of being the teacher's brother—your skills are really strong! Let's have a match sometime!"

Kyle pushed away Finn's hand: "No."

Finn was about to persist. I quickly rushed between them: "Alright, alright. You must be tired. Hurry back and rest. Kyle is injured and can't spar with you. We'll talk about it when he's better."

Kyle went directly to his room.

Finn looked down at me and murmured softly, "Ella, is he really alright?"

I gave a slight start, putting on a look of feigned confusion. "Who? Kyle? He’s perfectly fine."

Finn touched my head: "Since Ella says there's no problem, then there's no problem. If anything happens, you must tell me."

"You know, I will never refuse your requests."

Looking at the young man's sincere gaze, I could no longer say polite words. I solemnly nodded: "I understand. Thank you, Finn."

Only after Finn finally left did I collapse exhausted into a chair.

Too many things happened tonight. Finn already knows about Kyle's existence, so Kyle can't possibly stay inside the house all the time without coming out.

I must make Shade Draught as soon as possible so Kyle can also go out and move around during the day.

But thinking about tonight's events, I always feel something's not right...

"Kyle." I turned to ask the dark elf who was drinking tea.

"How did you know Finn and I broke into the library?"

Before he could answer, I spoke first: "You said it yourself—you said if I wanted to break into the library at night, you would be a better choice. I'm very certain I didn't tell you I went to the library."

Kyle was silent for a second: "Because of the contract connection."

"You could even predict I'd go to the library?" I narrowed my eyes. "You couldn't have been worried because I didn't come home at night and specially ran to find me..."

Before I could finish, Kyle pulled out a black-covered book from his cloak.

Seeing this book, I was momentarily speechless.

It was actually "100 Special Potions"!

"How is this book in your hands?!"

"Want it?" Kyle curved the corner of his mouth. "Can one book buy your silence so I can have some peace and quiet?"

I put my hands together and said very sincerely: "Absolutely. Esteemed Lord Kyle."

Kyle smiled and handed me the book.

I waved my hands repeatedly: "Wait, I don't dare take it. This book almost bit my wrist off."

Kyle gave me a bland look: "Acting without knowing anything—I really don't know whether to call you foolish or ignorant."

I protested: "How was I supposed to know books could bite people?"

Kyle shook his head: "You should go out and see more, expand your horizons."

After saying that, he raised his hand and lightly tapped the cover twice.

The next second, the originally tightly closed book actually opened by itself.

Kyle turned to a certain page: "This kind of book has a unique opening method. Flipping through it casually will only get you attacked."

I quickly nodded: "Can I look at it now?"

Kyle tossed the book to me. I caught it and quickly turned to the page recording Veil Potion.

That's right, it's this one!

Getting the book, I immediately returned to my pharmacy room. While reading, I quickly re-examined the formula in my head.

If I add shadow-blocking herbs and adjust the Moon-kissed Dew ratio...

Right, I can ask Finn if he still has Moonfruit.

Thinking of this, I excitedly rushed out, found Kyle, and happily announced to him: "I found a way to let you go out during the day!"

Kyle froze for a moment, then said: "Thank you, Ella. But you don't understand what being a dark elf means. This is a curse engraved on the soul. I can never bathe in sunlight again. It would kill me."

"It's possible, Kyle. I found a way!" I grabbed his arm and said excitedly. "Using Veil Potion plus Moonfruit, then adjusting some herb dosages will work!"

But Kyle shook his head: "Ordinary potions won't work on me."

He looked at me calmly: "Ella, I've tried every method you can think of. It's precisely because those methods didn't work that I fled here and was caught by you."

I also calmed down. I had almost forgotten that elves have super strong drug resistance. Ordinary potions don't work on them.

But my Knockout Agent worked. Why is that?

"It's the blood!" I suddenly realized. "Kyle, my blood works on you!"

"Maybe if I add my blood, my Shade Draught can work on you!"

"Shade Draught?" Kyle repeated the term.

I confidently lifted my chin: "A potion I specially created for you. How about it? Feel honored~"

Those emerald eyes looked at me, then slowly curved into crescents.

"I am honored beyond measure."

I took the opportunity to make a request: "When you bathe in sunlight again, give me this '100 Special Potions' book!"

Kyle nodded: "Okay."

I immediately extended my pinky finger.

Kyle looked down at my hand, seemingly not quite understanding my behavior.

"This is humanity's way of making contracts." I explained seriously. "Pinky promise."

Kyle imitated me and also extended his pinky finger. His pinky was very beautiful. The sandalwood-colored skin seemed to have dark patterns on it. It looked very special.

My pinky hooked onto his pinky.

"After a pinky promise, you can't go back on it."

"Okay."

I looked up and met his gentle gaze. I couldn't help but break into a brilliant smile.

Kyle's potion needs to be made, but first I have to complete previous orders. I suspended my custom potion business and quickly made Mary's hair loss potion.

Mary touched her increasingly sparse hair and was so moved she almost cried.

"Ella, you're my savior!"

"Don't rush to be moved yet." I instructed her. "You can only drink half a bottle per day. More will make strange hair grow."

Mary immediately nodded solemnly.

After Mary left, I immediately went to find the town merchant Mark.

The materials needed for Shade Draught aren't easy to find, especially Starrift petals and fresh Hulaweed leaves.

Unfortunately, after hearing my request, Mark directly shook his head.

"The herbs you want haven't been in stock recently."

"Why? I remember you sold these before."

"Magical beast riots are becoming more and more frequent." Mark sighed. "The herb gathering teams outside have suffered great losses. The production of many herbs has dropped."

I sighed: "What can we do about this?"

"If you're particularly urgent..." Mark lowered his voice. "Maybe you can ask elven merchants. They have many herbs, and magical beasts don't dare cause trouble in the Elven Kingdom."

I immediately rejected this suggestion: "Forget it. Why would elves pay attention to me?"

With a wanted criminal from the Elven Kingdom hidden at home, how could I dare do business with elves? It would be terrible if discovered.

Left with no choice, I could only ask Colin for help.

Patrol knights frequently travel to various places. Their information is much better than ordinary merchants.

Outside the knight order station.

Colin had just finished training. When he saw me, he was obviously stunned.

"Ella? Did you come to see me?"

I smiled and patted his shoulder: "Yes, to bring you some good food."

Colin took the pastries: "Just tell me—what do you need help with?"

"You're still the most considerate~" I immediately briefly explained about needing to find herbs.

Colin listened carefully and said he would help me inquire.

"That's it? Nothing else?"

I was stunned by his question: "Is there something else?"

Colin had the lollipop I gave him in his mouth: "Oh, nothing. I'm just quite surprised."

"What's wrong?"

"This is the first time you've taken the initiative to find me without mentioning anything about Wayne."