After instructing Mayor Buck to finalize the list of apprentices and initiate the expansion of the blacksmith shop, Leylo led Ed straight toward the upper reaches of the river valley.
The further upstream they went, the more rugged the terrain became. The mountain walls on both sides grew steep, the trees became denser, and signs of human presence vanished entirely.
"My Lord, it should be just ahead," Ed said, pushing aside blocking shrubs and pointing toward the faint but thunderous sound of rushing water.
They advanced a bit further, rounding a massive grove of boulders, and the view suddenly opened up. A broad waterfall, looking like the Milky Way cascading downward, tumbled from a cliff dozens of meters high. It crashed into a deep pool below, kicking up a pervasive mist. The roaring boom echoed through the valley, deafening to the ears, while the spray hit their faces with the crisp chill of a mountain stream and the scent of damp vegetation.
"What a majestic waterfall!" Leylo couldn't help but exclaim.
Ed remained silent, meticulously observing the environment. After a moment, he pointed toward a spot behind the side of the waterfall, near the cliff face. "My Lord, look there."
Leylo followed his gaze. Behind the massive curtain of water, he could vaguely discern uneven rocks concealing a hidden fissure. Had it not been for Ed's sharp eyes and their prior deduction, an ordinary person would never have noticed this corner veiled by the water screen.
"Let's go take a look."
As they neared the falls, the impact of the water was so powerful it made their chests feel tight, and the mist nearly soaked their clothes. They carefully treaded over slick rocks to reach the area behind the curtain. Pushing aside thick sheets of water and hanging vines, they indeed discovered a narrow crack just wide enough for a person to pass through sideways.
Inside the fissure was pitch black, emitting a damp, chilly air. Ed produced a torch from his pack and lit it with flint, the dim yellow light dispelling a portion of the darkness.
"My Lord, let me scout ahead first." Ed held the torch high and squeezed inside. Leylo followed closely.
The passage was short. After a dozen steps, the space widened significantly. It was a massive, naturally formed karst cave. Stalactites of various shapes hung from the ceiling, shimmering with an eerie luster under the firelight. The air was thick with the smell of long-sealed dust, mingled with a faint, strange scent of mixed herbs and minerals.
Deep within the cave, there were clear signs of artificial modification. The inner stone walls had been polished relatively smooth and were carved with blurred symbols and patterns. In the center of the cavern sat a large stone table, its surface cluttered with odd glassware, crucibles, mortars, and unknown metal tools—most covered in dust, some broken or shattered.
In the corners lay piles of withered, strange plant specimens, oddly colored ores, and several wooden racks. On one rack, dried lizards, toads, and bat wings hung by thin threads, casting splayed, monstrous shadows in the flickering light, adding a touch of grim eeriness.
"By the looks of it, this should be a wizard's laboratory," Leylo whispered, looking around. Judging by the traces, the wizard had likely left this place a long time ago.
"My Lord, look over here!" Ed made a discovery beneath a pile of scattered junk.
Leylo walked over and saw Ed dragging out an object tightly wrapped in thick oilcloth from beneath a rotting wooden crate. The oilcloth had become stiff and brittle with age, and its corners were frayed, yet it had served its protective purpose well.
Carefully unwrapping it, they revealed a thick journal bound in an unknown beast-hide. The cover was dark brown, devoid of text or markings save for a twisted, complex, and mysterious rune branded into the center with a hot iron.
Leylo's heart skipped a beat as he took the journal. It felt heavy in his hand. Though old, the hide cover was well-maintained and felt supple. He took a deep breath and cautiously flipped to the first page. The paper inside was yellowed and coarse, but the handwriting was clearly legible—a strange script mixing the common tongue with a vast number of unknown symbols and diagrams.
Leylo patiently used the torchlight to decipher the parts written in the common tongue. The contents were extremely vast, covering herbal identification, mineral purification, elemental transmutation, and rune drawing. Many entries were vague or even contradictory, appearing to be experimental notes and fragments of inspiration recorded at a whim.
However, as Leylo reached the latter half of the journal, his breathing hitched. The theme of the following dozens of pages suddenly became clear and focused on one specific field: Magical Beasts!
It covered everything from identifying promising young beasts, habit analysis of different species, and taming techniques, to deeper levels of bloodline activation, potential induction, and even... directed breeding under human intervention!
On several pages, written in bright red ink, were detailed formulas for magical potions, refining steps, and corresponding incantations. The names and effects of these potions made Leylo's heart race.
"Cubs' Growth Stimulant: Primary materials include Earth Dragon Grass and magical beast spinal fluid, supplemented by Moonlight Stone powder... can significantly shorten the skeletal development cycle of young beasts..."
"Potential Awakening Potion (Prototype No. 3): Requires the heart-blood of a Rank 3 beast, Deep Sea Luminous Pearl... highly unstable with a high risk of failure, but success can forcibly awaken a hidden talent or bloodline power in the target..."
"Attribute Solidification Fluid: Recipe incomplete, only partial records. Seems capable of permanently fixing an elemental power within a beast's body, increasing its corresponding resistance and attack power..."
Leylo's eyes grew brighter and brighter, his fingers gripping the journal so hard his knuckles turned white. This was a priceless treasure!
What did he lack most right now? Time. He needed a way to rapidly increase the strength of his territory! Blackstone Town was waiting to be rebuilt, and he was short on both talent and power. If he could master these potions—even just the simplest "Growth Stimulant"—it would be enough for him to quickly raise a batch of usable magical beast mounts, or even form a small-scale magical beast cavalry! This would be vital for defense, exploration, and future expansion.
"Ed, search this place again thoroughly. See if there are any other journals or valuable items." Leylo's voice carried an irrepressible excitement. He carefully closed the wizard's journal, rewrapped it in the oilcloth, and placed it solemnly against his chest inside his tunic.
Ed nodded and began a more meticulous search of every corner of the laboratory. Unfortunately, aside from some expired alchemical materials, a few low-quality magic crystal shards, and some tattered parchment with fragmented magical knowledge, they found nothing as significant as the journal.
"My Lord, no further discoveries," Ed reported back.
"It's enough." Leylo patted his chest, feeling the thickness of the journal. A satisfied smile broke across his face. "Today's harvest has already far exceeded my expectations."