"EH!? What in the world is this!?" Seraphina cried out when she saw her Miniature Box.
She did not dare to outright curse in front of her sister out of fear of a punishment, or she would have definitely done it.
"What's wrong Sera?" demanded Coralie, with concern written across her face.
Seraphina took out the Miniature Box from her leather pouch with trembling hands, and presented it for both of them to see.
Even though she had carefully sealed the Miniature Box, it had still somehow ended up opened!
Seraphina's entire body trembled in shock because more than half of the Poisonous Venomtree's roots were missing!
She hastily unstrapped her pouch and turned it upside down. The silver-haired girl desperately shook her pouch, letting everything inside spill out, as if the missing roots would magically appear.
What she got instead was some silver coins, the paper with the quest's details and a plum colored herb—one that radiated poisonous magical power.
As her pouch's content was revealed, with the sound of objects hitting the wooden floor, two loud gasps filled the room.
Seraphina was shocked and saddened, what had happened to her roots? Where had they gone?
Her clear golden eyes started to blur from the moisture spreading through her eyes.
'What did I do wrong...sniff...'
On the other end of the room, Coralie too was shocked at the sight of what was in her little sister's pouch, but not for the same reasons as Seraphina.
She had recognised that inconspicuous looking plum 'herb' to not be an herb at all!
Inside the encyclopedia recording the known 5 Star treasures and magical resources, this 'herb' was classed at the top of the list—comparable to even the best 6 Star treasures and magical resources!
Yes, it was that good.
"Sera, tha—that is..." Coralie said between two rapid breaths and her heartbeat quickening. She carefully picked up the 'herb' with her hands and finished her previous sentence. "That's a [Toxic Forest Heart]!"
"What's that?" Seraphina asked puzzedly as she rubbed her reddened eyes.
"A [Toxic Forest Heart]! Sera, you should know that the [Poisonous Venomtree] species's upper limit is the Radiant 4 Star level, right?"
"Hm." Seraphina nodded lightly at her sister's statement.
"The [Toxic Forest Heart] is this magical plant's only way to evolve further and increase their power. It is the only offspring of a [Poisonous Venomtree] having reached its peak, and they can only make one in their entire life using the life force equivalent to an entire forest!
They can either choose to absorb the [Toxic Forest Heart] to become a 5 Star magical plant themselves, or let it grow by itself and it will naturally become a 5 Star magical plant in record time!"
The [Toxic Forest Heart] was undoubtedly very rare, not only did they exist in very limited numbers but most of them had been absorbed by their progenitors.
"But it's not because they are rare that they are valuable. If anyone else were to absorb it instead, it would bring incredible benefits to them!
Their mana and life force would be refined beyond what any other 5 Star treasures could achieve, especially if the one who absorbs it also has a Poison mana affinity.
But that is not all, the [Toxic Forest Heart] would also grant an immunity to all poisons below the 5-Star level to whoever consumed it!" Coralie exclaimed, telling her some mind-blowing facts.
Seraphina's golden eyes lit up like stars, they seemed to regain a flicker of hope.
'If I sell this... maybe, just maybe 'she' won't chastise me...' the thought swirled inside Seraphina's mind, she thought about how many platinum coins—cough...how many people she could feed with this.
Seeing the light in her golden eyes, Coralie knew exactly what her little sister was thinking about.
"Sera, no! No, you cannot sell it" Coralie said, putting a finger on Seraphina's nose like she was disciplining a dog. "The [Toxic Forest Heart] would be much more valuable absorbed, especially for you! You are always poisoned, at least with this I won't have to always worry about you."
Seraphina snapped back from her thoughts thanks to her sister's warning however, when she thought more about the [Toxic Forest Heart] she realised that there was a better utility for it.
"Sister, I do not need this. Instead of selling the [Toxic Forest Heart], I want to give it to you. I, too, worry about you sister." Seraphina declared, protesting her sister's authority. As for what she would do about the missing gold the [Toxic Forest Heart] had absorbed... She would find a way, her sister's safety and well-being were her priority.
"Shush! Your work is very dangerous, you need it much more than me." Coralie put her finger on Seraphina's lips, quieting her.
"But Sister, your work is also dangerous and you cannot defend yourself. Sister, You should also know that I would give up my life for you, so you being in danger also puts me in danger.
You could just consider the [Toxic Forest Heart] as a payback for your 'Power stone' necklace gif—awwhhh..awhhhh..."
Coralie did not give Seraphina the time to finish her sentence, with her hands, she pried Seraphina's mouth open and stuffed the [Toxic Forest Heart] down her throat.
*Gulp*
*Gulp*
Seeing the look she was receiving from her sister, Seraphina chose to act defeated and obediently swallowed the [Toxic Forest Heart].
However, acting defeated and actually being defeated were two very different things.
'This is too childish, sister...' thought Seraphina, thinking it was child's play to fool her sister.
When her sister would not be looking, she would punch a hole through her stomach and retrieve it from there.
Then, she would give it to her on her birthday—when she would not be able to refuse her gift.
Seraphina internally smirked, marveling at the brilliance of both her plan and mind.
However, Seraphina failed to include the most important variable, would this birthday actually come?