For the benefit of inconspicuous behavior, the group took certain steps out of safety routine. They decontaminated inside the cave, used an alternate exit from the mines, and discarded their suits, along with anything they couldn’t carry in alone. All they needed was their tools, clothes, and the most important, the myrrh ant queen’s elemental gem still in its jar. When they arrived outside the mines Anthony began to dig a large hole with a knife, burying their protective suits beside the entrance in a shallow grave and covering them with brush and debris.

“Master Zoe, is it wise to leave this equipment unattended?” Anthony had finished burying his outfit along with his bags and extra supplies.

“Don’t worry Bios, I’ll send a letter when we get back to the Pharmacy so that Charlie can dig it up and dispose of it properly.” Zoe encouraged him. “It’s not the first time I’ve had to cut and run because of Boreas Group’s interference.”

“I’ve hidden it as best I can but what’s to prevent them from finding this evidence if they search around this area. And what if Charalampos gives up the location.”

“I doubt they’ll be here long enough to really concern themselves. With the myrrh queen’s grave currently in an uproar, by the time they reach those tunnels the whole colony should be completely active. Best we should do is get out of her while the getting is good.”

Jason began walking toward the camp carrying the myrrh’s queen’s organ in his position. He started suddenly turning it around as if he noticed something he hadn’t before.

“Umm, Ms. Gaia, you might want to take a look at this.” Jason said.

She walked over to his side as he placed the jar in front of her face. She looked at the exterior of the organ very carefully, practically squinting to get a glimpse.

“Is that what I think it is?” Master Zoe’s eyes widened with new excitement as she peered at the jar.

“By the Kings, I was right, those are pinheads all over the organ.”

“Pinheads?” Anthony asked.

“She means the first stage of mushroom growth, before they become button heads.” Jason said.

“In other words, this liver is growing sprouts all around it.” Master Zoe answered.

“Is that the organ that was attached to the elemental gem?”

“It’s the equivalent of one as far as myrrh Ant’s go, but that’s not important, this just proves my theory.” She held up the jar in her hands and looked closely at the buds glistening in the light. “It’s nearly impossible to grow these herbs by taking samples of cuttings, the only way is to find the gravesite of a sacred beast. However, since it's deadly or helpful plants require elemental gems with their bodies to promote sacred herb growth. The elemental gem is the key to promoting healthy plants like this.”

“Wait, there’s a flaw in your theory Ms. Gaia.” Jason said. “My family has been trying for years to cultivate sacred herbs by transplanting elemental gems, but they mostly end in failure. Even corpses alone have the same flaw, why doesn’t every beast create herb while this one does?”

“You have a point, Mr. Tilt.” Master Zoe lowered the glass. “I’ve even tried myself but all things end in failure, even the most prominent of cultivators can’t seem to cultivate sacred herbs simply by corpse or gem. There has to be some factor that we’re overlooking.”

Jason and Master Zoe immediately turned their heads to Anthony who was unsure what to make of their staring.

“...You’re saying I’m somehow responsible?” He reached the conclusion.

“Maybe, but then there are a number of factors we have to consider first. For now you’re just a piece of a larger puzzle, I’m just satisfied that we might be able to grow a healthy supply of Angel Mushrooms from this one liver. Let’s get the horses, we have to get back to the Pharmacy.”

They managed to make it back to their camp, swiftly packing up the rest of their supplies and taking the horse out to head back down the trail. It was a slower journey than the way over the quarry, but they were careful to keep the jar and their destination in mind. When night fell, they rested on the camp once more and Anthony decided to address a question that Jason had been trying to avoid. With all the clues left behind in their journey he finally felt he could know what his family’s real business was.

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“Your family is in the illegal herb trades aren’t they?” Anthony bluntly expressed.

“Well, aren’t we being straight forward?” Jason resting near the horses for the night.

“You’ve avoided the question but it would explain how you know so much about sacred herbs and their uses. I’m not asking to meddle in your affairs, I’m just curious why you chose to work with Master Zoe, since you may be putting her life in danger.”

“Anti, you Master Zoe does that well on her own.” He snickered. “I’m not one to cause Ms. Gaia trouble, in fact, I own her more than my life, but that of my whole family.” He gazed into the campfire near where Master Zoe rested. “When you grow up in the Slums, you’ll do a lot of things to survive. My family’s trade was farming, but wasn’t exactly on the up and up. The sacred herb market is not just an illegal trade but also a necessity for people who can’t afford even the simplest medication.”

“You take the tone of humanitarian, but I assume you are still charged for your medicine?”

“Ha, darn right we did, but not for what you think. Very few people believe in getting something for nothing, if you don’t charge they’ll think you’re an Imperial informant or worse. I don’t want to lose track of my story, but it was during one of those Imperial sweeps that many of my kin were met with severe injury. We couldn’t even get a good doctor to come out because of the family’s ‘questionable reputation.’ Then wouldn’t you know it, Master Zoe barged on the family farm willing to help.”

“I take it your family was suspicious about her.”

“Good reason too, she was ex-Imperial for all we know she could have sent those goons. Yet, she pointed out that she wasn’t doing this out of the kindness of her heart, because she expected a price to be paid as soon as we were done.”

“Did she tell you what type of price?”

“Not right away, but I guess my family was so desperate they didn’t bother to ask. She offered to teach us how to make new herbal medicines, but I was willing to learn. The way she used our herbs was ways we never thought of, not as raw uncut products but as new tinctures that could create effective cures for everyone. When she was finished, she finally demanded a payment.” He pointed to himself.

“She wanted you?”

“You looked surprised.”

“I thought Ms. Clio helped Master Zoe with her tinctures.”

“Who do you think does all the labor in the place? She calls it a valuable job experience, teaching me to teach the Slums about her medicines when she’s ready to retire.”

“I thought she was retired.”

“Not what it means...” He looked at Master Zoe sleeping and then nodded his head changing the subject. “...She may not want me to tell you this, but Ms. Gaia has bigger plans than just managing a simple pharmacy. When the time comes for her to move on, you’re looking at the manager of the first branch shop.”

“What else could Master Zoe want?”

“Same thing that any of us want, to be accepted. Whether it’s being a healer, a mage, or even just a regular pharmacist instead of a back alley pusher. We all dream of something greater.” He yawned and rubbed his eyes. “Speaking of which, you better get some rest. It’s still a long way between here and Gourd.”

In his restful state, Anthony’s spirit wandered again, far from the camp and into the woods past the greater plains of the Duchy. He was unsure where he was, but it looked to be a place where cattle and bulls roamed freely, a ranch perfect for grazing and standing for tired cattle. On this ranch there were two young ranchers camping out in the field near the cattle. By one rancher’s side, was a shield of gray stone, while the other one wielded a jagged dagger that shined with black shining hue.

Anthony knew they must have been Earth Mages, for only they would be so bold as to wield the shield Granite Turtle shell and dagger made of Black Myrrh’s mandible. These were objects said to be talisman’s to aid Earth Mags into the 2nd and 1st Circle of Mage craft respectively. They could have been hunters or perhaps just hired mages, but they acted like Teacher and Student as they gathered around the fire watching the cattle.

“Are you sure it’s here?” The student asked, holding his dagger close.

“There’s been reports of a Brimstone Hound attacking cattle near this farm.” The teacher told him. “Just keep an eye on the fire and be ready in case it shows up.”

“The fire, sir?”

“The fire will turn blue the closer they get, from the sulfurous fumes that come for their body.”

“Right, right.” He agreed, staring at the fire intensively.

The Teacher looked around at the cattle steadily moving in the moonlight. Nothing seemed a miss, until they heard the sound of snarling and biting. It was then that the man held up his shield ready to engage.

“It’s here son, get ready.” He looked for any sign of the creature.

“Sir, that fire...it’s getting bigger.” He turned to realize the fire was still burning bright red like a raging inferno but not glowing blue as he thought.

It was when he heard the mad snarling and biting of a large pack of wild animals that he knew something was certainly amiss. He looked into the darkness at the bodies of fallen cattle and the great beast had taken down as least three of them in one strike. Then he witnessed from the glimmers of the fire three sets of mad eyes staring directly at him. This was no greater beast of any kind, it was a demon on the attack.