Chapter 163: Turmoil

“Many of my kin died horribly before my eyes, and many others suffered humiliation.”

As Shatia recounted this, her eyes were filled with fear, hatred, and a deep sense of helpless guilt.

“I was almost violated too, but someone stopped them.”

“I didn’t understand at the time, but after learning Siville Language, I realized they said I was pretty and could fetch a higher price if kept intact. So, the elf beside me was taken away and violated. Even then, she never revealed my identity, keeping it a secret.”

“After arriving in this plane, I was kept in a cage, surrounded by darkness most of the time. When I finally emerged, it was at the auction where you bought me.”

Shatia finished, tears streaming down her face, looking pitiful.

Helag patted her head, feeling powerless to do anything.

The invasion of the Elven Plane by the Wizard Plane was no different from the colonial invasions of the New World, inevitably involving bloodshed, darkness, and the ugliness of human nature.

Helag might one day play the role of an invader, so he couldn’t comfort Shatia with empty words.

He also pondered, “Wizards are invaders now, but they could become the invaded one day.”

This was a real possibility, as many planes were stronger than the Wizard World.

Helag’s mind was filled with thoughts, fueling his desire for power.

“Stop crying. Focus on learning Herbology and Potionology. The sooner you master them, the sooner you can help me,” Helag said.

Shatia nodded, wiping her tears, and began reading her thick books, occasionally sobbing.

***

Half a month later.

Shatia had learned the basics of Potionology and started assisting Helag with potion-making, handling minor tasks.

She managed simple potion processing and mixing, allowing Helag to focus on the main tasks.

The elves’ natural talent was evident, their high affinity with plants proving invaluable in potion-making.

Shatia handled plant-based potion materials with ease, rarely encountering difficulties.

“Don’t elves make potions?” Helag asked.

Shatia thought for a moment, “The elders do, but not as precisely as you. They use simple herbal methods with great results.”

Another batch of orders arrived, requiring urgent completion.

After a brief rest, Helag resumed work, calling on Shatia for help.

With Shatia’s assistance, progress was faster and easier.

Helag no longer had to juggle multiple tasks, reducing his mental strain.

Shatia worked diligently and carefully, earning Helag’s trust to handle more responsibilities.

Helag packed the finished potions and headed to Brack’s garden.

“Mr. Brack, the potions are done,” Helag said, placing the basket on the ground.

Brack opened the door, looking weary, and nodded, “Thank you.”

“Have you found out who’s behind this?”

Another batch of potions had been intercepted, leading to this order.

Brack shook his head, gritting his teeth, “No, but sometimes you don’t need to know who did it, just who could do it.”

“Our Terchy family controls seven potion garden bases, dominating the potion material market. Our pricing has long caused dissatisfaction.”

“On the surface, everyone is friendly, but secretly, they wish each other dead. These incidents are likely the work of those wizard families.”

“Be careful. Don’t leave Blackrock Valley easily. I suspect their next move might target our potion masters.”

So far, the opposition had only stolen their finished potions, minor actions.

If they continued, their actions would escalate.

Potion gardens and potion masters could become targets. Blackrock Valley was relatively safe with its second-level wizard array protection.

Other potion gardens lacked such protection. Blackrock Valley, the largest and most important base, had it for security.

If they targeted other gardens, the Terchy family would suffer significant losses.

As a pure-blood wizard family, their manpower was limited, spread thin across the gardens.

Blackrock Valley had the fewest guards, with only Helag and Brack as formal wizards, and Helag wasn’t a combatant.

If conflicts continued, battles might ensue, but Helag needn’t worry about that.

As a potion master and newly advanced formal wizard, the Terchy family wouldn’t involve him in fights.

Helag asked, “Can’t we retaliate?”

“No, without evidence, we can’t trouble others or pinpoint the culprit. Acting rashly would worsen the situation,” Brack explained.

The main issue was identifying the specific culprit among the suspects, leaving the Terchy family unable to act, forced to suffer in silence.

Helag sensed the situation wouldn’t resolve quickly, needing to stay vigilant even in Blackrock Valley, not complacent with the wizard array’s protection.

Five days later.

Helag received news of a potion garden attack.

The attackers came and went swiftly, casting spells into the garden before fleeing, leaving no chance to catch them.

Though the losses were minor, it deeply frustrated the Terchy family.

Brack summoned Helag, his expression grim, “I’ll be leaving for a while. If they dare come, they won’t leave. I can’t tell you the details, but stay in Blackrock Valley and don’t go out. The valley will be sealed, no one in or out.”

Brack left Blackrock Valley, leaving Helag in charge.

Without a contract with the Terchy family, Helag wasn’t privy to confidential matters.

Brack’s departure indicated the Terchy family had plans, making further sabotage difficult, at least requiring a cost.