Chapter 617

Chapter 617: Secret Potion?

Jesse entered the basement and smelled the familiar, lightly cool dampness. He glanced toward the hall and was surprised to find Ursula not in the Alchemy Room, but sitting in its center, eating dried fruit snacks while reading.

She seemed thinner than before. Over the past six months, she must have been constantly worried about those assassins tracking her down again, making life rough.

Seeing him enter, Ursula lifted her eyes and hesitated before asking, "Jesse?"

"Ursula," Jesse said. "I’m back."

"Finally! I’ve been counting the days." Ursula tossed her book aside and hugged him before stepping back to examine him. "You seem taller, and a bit tanned… Kalimdor truly is a wretched place."

The height didn’t surprise Jesse—approaching twenty, even slight growth without blood rituals wasn’t unusual. But the tan concerned him.

Was it Shadow Power? The elite orc warlocks of the Shadow Council all had grayish-black skin, not the natural brown or fel-magic green.

Though prolonged exposure in Kalimdor and at sea explained some tanning, he couldn’t shake thoughts of shadow corruption.

Ursula’s eyes dropped to his bag. "If I’m not wrong—"

"You’re not wrong." Jesse placed the bag on the table; its contents clanked against the wood. Ursula tugged the fastened cords. "Dead?"

"Just a head. The insects there were boar-sized, Ursula. I’m lucky to escape alive. Did you expect me to bring back a live specimen?"

"Of course not. You’ve endured much." Ursula unwrapped the bundle, peeked inside, and immediately covered it again. "Give me time to process this creature’s appearance. We’ll delay the alchemical experiments for a few days, Jesse."

"Your experiments are your business. I only care about my payment," Jesse said.

"About payment…" Ursula retrieved a small leather purse from a cabinet. "I’ve safeguarded this for you—Erlan’s share. I don’t know the amount; see for yourself."

Jesse weighed the pouch before opening it: fifteen gold coins and twenty-odd silver coins.

"So much?" Jesse frowned. "Mage Aubergine said we’d each get eight or nine gold…"

"Don’t ask me. But that Eredar demon skull sold beyond expectations. Overall… sales were strong. Many mages from Quel’Thalas and Dalaran crave demonic materials lately. With their increased funding, Zardeth and Erlan secured other spells more easily."

Combined with Aubergine’s promised commission, this meant twenty-one gold total from that venture. Had this Kalimdor trip failed to locate Dethmoora, it might’ve been less profitable than scavenging. Though as Aubergine said, demon resources near The Black Morass were nearly exhausted by scavengers, leaving little profit to be made.

Jesse calculated his coins—seventy gold with silver. Enough to buy and renovate a Trade District house according to Greed. Perhaps he needn’t wait for Quel’Thalas’ payment; he could inquire at the registry now. But he’d bring Greed—the dwarf knew property better.

"Wait," Jesse suddenly said. "This is Erlan’s payment, not yours."

Ursula gave an awkward smile. "Apologies, Jesse. I prepared a secret potion for you, but… funds have been tight."

"Hiding meant I couldn’t sell potions or ingredients. I sold some materials for that potion, delaying it months. I must eat—I refuse to live off the Dagger Association’s coffers. That would silence me before Zardeth and Jalane. But I’ve restocked everything."

"Understood. So what’s this secret potion?"

"An immensely potent brew. For a spellcaster like you? It’ll elevate your capabilities significantly." Ursula sighed. "But this place lacks proper facilities. I’ve arranged a better-equipped alchemy lab through contacts. I’ll complete it there—worthy of your risks. For now, take this Strong Shadow Protection Potion as my apology for the delay."

She handed him an exquisite crystal vial. Though the glass blocked its Shadow Power, the liquid’s deep hue alone made Jesse’s scalp prickle.

"This protection potion used surplus ingredients from the secret brew. Imagine how precious that one is," Ursula said.

"Just tell me. You’re making me restless," Jesse pressed.

"I won’t detail it before succeeding. Revealing this much is already my concession. No more questions, Jesse. Two weeks—give me two weeks at most."

"Fine." Jesse yielded reluctantly.

Leaving The Slaughtered Lamb, Jesse felt lighter. The tavern remained safe, and Zardeth’s spell-hunting progressed smoothly. When he returned, new spells awaited.

Walking through the Mage Quarter gardens, he recalled the Ered’ruin shadow-control magic learned before leaving Kalimdor. He still didn’t know what game spell it corresponded to.

He’d nearly choked a giant insect with it once, but Vereesa’s arrow struck too fast to gauge its effectiveness.

He needed another test—but not on living targets.

His thoughts drifted to Teron Gorefiend’s Death Coil.

He’d avoided this spell. Using a demon servant’s soul as ammunition felt too costly; he wasn’t Gakin.

Though he’d memorized it perfectly, he’d never dared cast it.

Facing Dethmoora, he’d almost unleashed it using a dying Felhound’s soul. But never having tested it, he chose reliability—The Hand of Gul’dan—over uncertainty.

Using it was one matter; mastering it another. He must summon a Felhound specifically to test Death Coil.

Then there was demon enslavement. He needed uninterrupted conditions.

Wait—could he enslave a demon first, then use its soul for Death Coil?

The idea thrilled him. He nearly sought a demon immediately—but Malin’s office appeared before him.

Jesse pulled out the broken pocket watch from Maraudon. He’d come to ask if Amy’s gnome contact still worked in the Mage Quarter—maybe the watch could be repaired cheaply.

Every coin counted now. Pocket watches weren’t cheap, and between buying property and daily expenses, frugality mattered.