There were plenty of bottles with interesting shapes in the alcoholic section, including those that looked like fish or other animals. It was entertaining enough just looking at them. I had never drunk alcohol in my life, so I couldn’t discern each product’s quality. If I recalled correctly, there were no age restrictions in place regarding alcohol consumption in this world—I just hadn’t had any. Teiren had, but she also said that she’d never drunk anything that came in such an unusual bottle. In the end, I made a selection based on a combination of her knowledge and my gut feeling...
“I see that this other world really does possess an advanced level of craftsmanship!”
“Not that I have had the opportunity to observe it for myself, but apparently, their machine technology is highly developed,” I said.
“My, how fascinating...” Gnome said. His hazel eyes that had been glued to the screen were now fixed firmly on me. They seemed to be concocting something as they looked up at me from below.
Perhaps I should have kept that information to myself...
“I am a little curious, young lady. About you.”
“Me? I apologize if I have inadvertently done something to offend you...”
“No, no, nothing like that. What I’m feeling is closer to concern...” the hermit said as he pushed up his monocle.
All I could do was blink at him. There was a mix of intense affection and anxiety in his eyes, and I didn’t know what to say. After all, it had been so long since anyone had been concerned for me. The feeling left me with the sensation that my chest could burst with something between joy and embarrassment.
“Were you perhaps deceived into coming here?” he asked. “Have you got any plans for your future?”
“Hey, I was wonderin’ the same thing! Your skill sure is handy, m’lady, but ya wouldn’t wanna be trapped here for all time just ’cause of us and Lord Alkerag over there!” Salamander said, taking on a much more chipper tone than Gnome.
Was there anything I especially hoped to achieve? I had only just gained my freedom. I had barely had the time to think about anything, so I didn’t have any...
“Gardening...” I said.
“And what might that entail exactly?” Alk asked, tilting his head to one side.
“I think I’d like to have a garden. Well, a kitchen garden... I wouldn’t mind trying to grow something.”
In truth, I was surprised to have come out with the idea myself. It must have come from Teiren’s memories. Images of the “tomatoes” and “eggplants” her mother had grown in the garden flashed through my mind. She would water the plants and remove the weeds under the clear blue sky. Taking care of another life just seemed like so much fun.
Gnome’s face lit up and he clapped his hands together. “That sounds like a wonderful idea! As an earth spirit, I’m sure I could be of help!”
“Oh! Are you sure?”
“I certainly am. Especially in exchange for these wonderful containers. Just leave the ground work to me!”
Of course a gnome would feel right at home with some gardening to do. I couldn’t have asked for a more suitable helper!
“I could even call Undine and Sylph if you’d like. The more the merrier, yes?”
Salamander let out a fiery splutter. “There’s no need for them to be involved, is there, hermit?!”
Gnome smiled. “Come now, Salamander, plants require both wind and water.”
Undine and Sylph were the names of two more elemental spirits. Would they be making an appearance as well?!
“I wouldn’t get them involved, Fran. It is difficult to stop them when they get started,” Alk muttered indignantly from his seat on the altar.
“Oh? I suppose spirits are rather powerful...”
Indeed, I had nearly found myself swept away by Gnome’s powerful enthusiasm. I hadn’t expected such vitality from a spirit.
I went ahead and ordered the bottles. As they landed nearby, I found myself wondering whether the heated argument between Salamander and Gnome really was impossible to stop. But then, the earth spirit found the fish-shaped vessel and picked it up to inspect it from every angle. He paused as if remembering something and turned to look at, of all people, me.
“You know, if you do wish to summon Sylph, I think she will appreciate a pleasant breeze. And some pure water for Undine,” he said. His hazel eyes prompted me to think up a way to produce those things.
A pleasant breeze and pure water...
“I’m sure I can come up with something...” I said.
“I can see how you might procure water. But wind?” Alk asked.
“I can’t be entirely certain yet, but if I use my skill...”
I summoned my tablet, leading the dragon to lean in and peer at the screen with curious eyes. Salamander had hopped up onto my shoulder too. Even he was breathing quickly, and his big, round eyes were glistening. Of course, Gnome also had his gaze locked on me, watching my every action. I could feel their stares piercing into me as I navigated the menus on the screen with my fingers, only stopping when I found what I was looking for at last.
“Oh, here it is! This should do for water, shouldn’t it?”
I pressed a button to confirm my order, and a number of colorful bottles made a series of sonorous clinks as they lined up on the altar. Their shades ranged from being perfectly colorless and transparent to a light cobalt hue. There was even a light peridot-green one, and another that had a gradient like the sky at dusk! This collection claimed to comprise the world’s most delicious water.
The arrival of new glass bottles elicited a blissful sigh from Gnome. “Goodness! Yet more glass in wonderful shades! Young lady, I am constantly blown away by the technology of this world of yours.”
Meanwhile, Salamander’s reaction was more of a groan. He grimaced and waved one of his front feet dismissively. “Water? What a waste...”
Salamander’s reaction was the total opposite of Gnome’s, but then again, Salamander was a fire spirit, and Undine was a water spirit. Perhaps there was nothing to be done about their incompatibility.