"Here's what I need you to do around here."
I spoke to a gray-haired tall plump woman about as old as Darius.
Sharine Melroy. A 1-star summoned after the third floor addition.
She was initially assigned as a cook on the second floor when plenty of the senior kitchen staffs were recruited as cooks and servants for the third floor lodging.
When I returned to the magic hall that morning, Pavarin was already there waiting with this woman by his side.
The chief servant said Sharine was the head maid for a recluse noble historian in western Tsatu.
The woman was used to managing the historian's massive library given her lord never bothered to hire another staff to manage it.
By Pavarin's description, Sharine was definitely the one I was looking for to help out in the magic hall.
I began explaining to the magic hall's new depository manager of her duties once the chief servant left us.
"You will record everything that is in the magic hall's depository. List every ingredients and materials that the gatherers brought in and the elemental stones master granted us."
I said to her while showing the decently-sized storeroom attached at the side of the magic hall. The depository.
"You will keep track of master's order to the alchemy lab. As well as the products we send out to the storages on the first and the second floor of the lobby. Basically you will monitor what goes in and out of the depository."
"Understood, my lady."
Sharine replied with a graceful bow.
We then walked through the door connected to the magic hall's library.
"Next, I want you to record every book kept in the library. How many copies there are, where they are kept, who are currently borrowing them. You will know, Sharine."
The plump gray-haired woman calmly nodded to me. She did not find the duty overwhelming, as she was used to do just that before coming here.
I would also like her to even cross-reference the books list. But it was impossible for her to do given she was not a mage.
I would have to wait until another 'educated' mage arrived in the forged land.
We then made our way to the trunks laid on one of the library's long tables. The maps we obtained from Jeanine in the Exploration Dungeon.
"I also need you to store these maps in the library. Organize the maps according to region. Make a detailed record of them the same as you'll do with the books. I want to be able to find a specific map without having to rummage through the piles of scrolls."
"As you wish, my lady."
Sharine replied again.
I grabbed the sacks of elemental stones kept between the trunks and handed them to the plump old woman.
She did not struggle holding the weight of those rocks.
"Start your work with the depository. Once everything is settled there, continue with your work in the library."
The plump woman bowed again to me and made her way back to the magic hall's storage.
The position of the magic hall's depository manager was granted the third floor privilege. That should make it easier for me to reach the woman at any time.
I then went to the alchemy lab where Jansen was already waiting.
"Has master requested anything for today?"
I asked the herbalist.
"The fairy just announced the order, my lady. It's another 50 vials of basic health potion for the first floor storage. As well as 25 intermediate health potions for the main storage on the second floor."
The timid giant man replied.
There were about 70 combatant trainees on the first floor according to Trudy.
Each day master made most of them frequent the first to the fourth floor.
Every makeshift party deployed were supplied with basic health potions delivered to the first floor storage.
Many of the first floor trainees were not that skilled in combat that the health potions were required even on the lower floors.
That was why master kept ordering plenty basic health potions each day.
Hopefully with Trudy now training them, the basic health potions supply would not get depleted as rapidly as before.
The second order from master caught my interest.
"Has master ordered intermediate health potions before?"
I asked Jansen.
"Never, my lady. Master only ordered basic health potions from Lady Vallerynne and I while my lady was away."
Even if master did put in the order, I doubted these two could successfully brew intermediate health potion.
In any case, master only equipped the intermediate health potion on the raid team, so far.
If master had put up an order to resupply it, that could mean one thing.
Master wished to resume climbing.
"Work on the basic brew. I'll deal with the intermediate order myself."
"As you wish, my lady."
I then filled my early morning working in the alchemy lab with the herbalist.
Once I was done preparing the Dara flowers and began its filtration process, I turned to the clock to observe the hour.
It was almost time for the wildlings' magic lesson.
But the three mages had not arrived yet.
I might as well do something productive as I waited for my pupils.
So I returned to the library and began my one-hour research duty for the day.
I expected I would have to stop researching within few minutes, but the wildlings only arrived after I was done with my research quota.
"We're here! We're here!"
Yuxia exhaustedly announced as he, Matrias, and Vallerynne entered the magic hall.
Each of them was carrying the book I distributed last night, knowing very well they would require the text for their lesson.
They were all panting and drenched in sweat. Their faces were still red in heat.
I doubted it was simply because they had to run up to their rooms to get the books.
It must not had been that long ago since they finished with their physical exercise on the first floor.
"I suppose you would like breakfast before you begin your lesson?"
I warmly asked them.
The three of them nodded eagerly.
"Oh yes! I'm famished!"
"I would really like some refreshing cold juice after all that running!"
"I think I could eat a whole boar!"
Seeing their reactions, I turned to the depository manager who was already recording the books in the library.
"Sharine, would you mind informing Pavarin to bring over food to us?"
"What does my lady wishes to have?"
The former head maid asked.
"Honeyed porridge with soft boiled egg, cheese, buttered bread and mint tea for me. As for the other mages, plain water and boiled potatoes will be more than enough."
The wildlings gasped at my words.
"P-p-potatoes?"
They mumbled under their breath as they saw Sharine leaving to deliver the order.
I enchanted three chairs to be dragged toward my research table and gestured my pupils to sit there.
"Waiting for the food can be dull. So let's play a game, shall we?"
The three mages, for some reason unknown to me, flinched at the word 'game.'
They each took their seat warily.
"I've tasked you to memorize the Barrachian Index by now. So let's see how well you did with your first homework."
The wildlings exchanged worried glances with each other.
"Fail to state a variable equation correctly and you will have to run an additional lap tomorrow morning. I will let Trudy know."
I could hear Vallerynne squealing. Matrias and Yuxia were anxiously clenching the edge of their seat very hard their knuckles were turning white.
I proceeded to point to one of them.
"You. The 51st Variable, the Daruat Double Helix."
By the time Sharine returned with a couple of servants carrying trays of food, the three mages were already slumped within their chair, mortified by their impending fate.
Yuxia and Vallerynne would had to run almost twice as much tomorrow morning.
Matrias thrice as much. He got nothing right!
At the very least, these mages would get their physique improved very soon. I would not have to worry of them running out of breath in the trials.
Their slow memory would ensure they received enough exercise.
We then began our magic lesson as we dined our breakfast.
The three mages only had potatoes, of course.
For almost the greater part of the day I spent teaching the wildlings the significance of each Barrachian variable, as well as how they were practically used in spell-casting.
As expected of wildlings, they quickly picked up the practical side of the lesson.
They did not struggle to perform the mental exercises I instructed them to do. As long as I described the method in detail, of course.
Many first year students in my magic academy struggled in the mental exercises used to translate the Barrachian variables into actual casting.
Some even dropped out of the academy because they could not figure it out, although they had memorized the entire Barrachian Index.
But these wildlings managed to perform the intricate methods as easily as breathing.
Just as I suspected, they had the potential to become great mages.
All they needed was proper guidance, hard work, and patience.
While taking breaks to resume my work in the alchemy lab, I tried to instill as much knowledge as I could into the wildlings.
They were truly like a sponge if I could make them sit and listen properly.
Once I saw Jonah standing by the entrance, I noticed the sky outside had darkened. Master already left as well.
"Let's stop here for today. Keep memorizing the Barrachian Index. There's no use for you to know how to practice the equations mentally if you can't memorize them in the first place."
I told my pupils.
I turned to Yuxia.
"I expect you to fully memorize the entire index by tomorrow. I intend for you to start training your elemental magic very soon. Party 2 is already waiting for you."
The wildlings gaped at my reveal.
"I will be joining Party 2?"
Yuxia asked in slight disbelief.
Matrias and Vallerynne turned to the eastern man as if he was just given a death sentence.
"They already found someone to be their fourth member, which left the fifth for you to fill. You will start visiting the trials with them next week. So you need to be ready by then."
"Next week?! Why didn't you tell me sooner?! I still have plenty to study!"
Yuxia immediately snatched his magic text and ran to the exit. He called his fellow wildlings.
"Matrias, Vallerynne, come and help me memorize the variables! I'll help you guys study too!"
Strongly nodding, the two mages hurried to catch up with the elementalist.
Even though it was Yuxia who was given an assignment, they knew it was only a matter of time for them to visit the trials as well.
"You're doing really well training them."
Jonah said to me as he walked closer.
"I still have plenty to teach them. I'm not sure how they'll turn out just yet."
"They WILL become great mages under your guidance, Fina. I'm sure they will. They can never have a better teacher."
I smiled at his words. Truly the man knew how to dispel my doubts away.
My expression then turned more tense.
"Are Devisha and Arian ready?"
I asked him.
"They are waiting for you in the duel chamber."
I nodded to him and started for the magic hall's exit.
"Then let's not keep them waiting."
It was time for Party 1 to find Trudy's replacement.