ebookslot Chapter 54 Companionship
Chapter 54 Companionship
Ellie could only understand by relying on Rowling's occasional explanations and her own amazing memory and comprehension.
When she encountered something she really didn't understand, she would muster up the courage to ask Luo Lin for help after work.
Rowling's research was not interrupted by this incident.
While attempting to create a simple energy-gathering array using local black iron ore, he accidentally discovered that adding a very small amount of water element essence during the drawing process would slightly improve the array's stability and energy-gathering efficiency.
This gave him a new perspective on the use of elemental essences, no longer limiting himself to viewing them merely as materials for advancement or solidification, but beginning to explore their potential applications in magic arrays and even potions.
Thinking of the potion, Rowling remembered Ellie's still somewhat frail body.
Although the "Rock Breathing Method" is stable, the growth of Qi and blood is slow. It requires sufficient nutrition and gentle medicine to lay a more solid foundation and avoid depleting one's original source during practice.
He had a considerable amount of low-level magical plants and materials brought from secret realms and academies, making it easy for him to concoct potions that could strengthen the body's foundation and gently stimulate the blood and qi of mortals. These potions had little effect on wizard apprentices and were completely useless to formal wizards, but they were perfect for Ellie's current condition.
So, in the days that followed, in addition to receiving regular guidance from Rowling on breathing techniques, Ellie would occasionally receive a small potion bottle from Rowling.
The medicine is sometimes pale green and has a fresh herbal scent. After drinking it, you feel warm all over and all your fatigue disappears.
Sometimes it's amber in color and has a slightly sweet taste, which can make her feel less hungry and more energetic.
Rowling never explained the purpose of the medicine, only telling her to take it on time.
Ellie never asked many questions, and each time she would obediently take the drink and drink it seriously.
She could clearly feel that her body had undergone significant changes since she started practicing breathing techniques and taking these medications.
My strength increased even faster, my hands and feet were no longer as easily cold as before, my eyes were clearer, and I even seemed to have grown a little taller.
She kept these changes in her heart, and her gratitude towards Rowling grew day by day.
The only thing she could do in return was to keep the courtyard and stone house spotless and to pay more attention to any unusual stones or unfamiliar plants that she felt might be useful to Rowling when she went out, even though she didn't know which ones were actually useful. But she always kept this intention in mind.
Rowling gradually got used to Ellie's presence.
She was no longer just a temporary helper responsible for cleaning, but more like a junior who quietly integrated into his regular life and needed his occasional attention and guidance.
Her progress and her efforts were clearly visible to him.
Watching her grow healthier and stronger day by day, with the bright light in her eyes shining ever brighter, Luo Lin felt a subtle sense of satisfaction while focusing on his own research.
This sense of satisfaction is different from when he solves a runic puzzle or when an experiment makes progress; it is more peaceful, carrying a sense of observing life thriving.
He even began to subconsciously set aside some of his attention during breaks from research and experiments to watch the small figure in the yard diligently practicing breathing techniques or wiping furniture.
Baha seemed to have tacitly accepted this unofficial member. Sometimes he would land on the courtyard wall, tilt his head, and look at Ellie who was practicing hard with his obsidian-like eyes, occasionally letting out a soft cry that was not meaningful.
Ellie's presence is like a vibrant and warm touch to Rolin's lonely world, which is focused on research and power enhancement.
She became an indispensable, quiet yet active part of his life during this period of dedicated accumulation.
Rowling himself may not have fully realized the subtle softening and nourishment this seemingly one-sided giving and guidance was having on his heart, which was becoming increasingly firm on the path of wizardry, yet inevitably hardening.
The first snow of winter quietly arrived, covering Black Rock Town with a thin layer of silver.
Ellie, wearing the thick, warm cotton coat that Rowling had given her as an extra gift, still arrived on time to clean.
In the courtyard, her breath condensed into white mist, her little face was red from the cold, but she was even more serious when practicing breathing techniques and basic movements, as if she wanted to transform every bit of cold air in her body into strength.
Luo Lin stood by the window, watching the small figure persevering in the snow. His gaze swept over her now steady and powerful steps, and he nodded slightly in approval.
Perhaps, while searching for those unattainable materials for innate magical abilities, witnessing the transformation and growth of a life firsthand is also a worthwhile experience.
He turned back to the workbench and continued to fiddle with the shimmering ores and rune materials. Only the faint hum of energy flow remained in the stone house, intertwined with the rustling sound of snowflakes falling outside the window.
……
As winter fades and spring arrives, the snow around Black Rock Town gradually melts, revealing the dark rocks beneath and the tenacious sprouts of tender green grass.
The air was still chilly, but it had become more moist and vibrant.
Rolin's research on the fusion of star power and the corrosive sphere still made no breakthrough progress; the starlight coating was like a candle flickering in the wind, unable to last.
He turned more of his energy to exploring how water elemental essence could be used to create magic circles, and to practicing basic enchanting using local ores.
These studies progress slowly, but they are reliable and allow him to continuously accumulate experience in the subtle manipulation of energy.
Ellie's changes were even more noticeable.
With her consistent practice of the "Rock Breathing Method," its effects gradually became apparent.
Her originally thin body has become much stronger, and her arms and legs have smooth lines, no longer looking like skin and bones.
His skin had a healthy tan from frequent outdoor activities, and his eyes were remarkably bright, as if they contained two clear springs, lively and focused.
Her practice was no longer limited to the initial standing posture and breathing.
She practiced the basic power-generating movements recorded in that booklet, such as punches, side kicks, and blocks, quite well.
Although his strength is far from meeting the standards of a knight's apprentice, his coordination and steady demeanor already exceed those of an ordinary child.
Occasionally, Luo Lin would use his mental power to sense the flow of Qi and blood within her body while she practiced.
That trickle has now become more powerful, flowing slowly and firmly along the pathways prescribed by the Rock Breathing Method, nourishing her bones and muscles.
The chest tightness caused by difficulty breathing has long since disappeared.
That day, after cleaning the yard, Ellie began practicing a static pose called "Stone Skin Pose" that was recorded in the book.
This posture requires the body to be half-squatting, with arms crossed in front of the chest, and all muscles in the body kept in a special state of tension, in order to train the ability to resist blows and the instantaneous gathering of qi and blood.
She maintained this position for about 15 minutes, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and her calves began to tremble slightly, clearly indicating that she had reached her limit.
But she gritted her teeth, wanting to hold on a little longer.
"That's fine."
Rowling's voice came from the side.
He had finished his work in the laboratory at some point and was standing under the eaves.
"Too much of a good thing is bad. The Stone Skin style emphasizes the feeling of qi and blood gathering, rather than simply competing in terms of duration."
"When you feel that your Qi and blood are difficult to maintain, you should relax and regulate your breathing to recover."
Upon hearing this, Ellie immediately stopped her movements, exhaled a long breath, and began to adjust her breathing to calm the somewhat disordered blood and qi in her body.
A moment later, she felt the tingling, numbness, and weakness gradually subside, replaced by a peculiar feeling of strength slowly returning.
"Thank you for your guidance, sir."
Ellie wiped her sweat and said respectfully. She now regarded Rowling's words as gospel.
Luo Lin's gaze swept over her arms, which were slightly red from practice, and he noticed several faint, old scars on them, left over from a time of hardship in her life.
He remembered that when he had prepared those mild medicines before, there were still some ointment base materials left over, which had a slight effect on promoting healing and fading scars.
"Come with me."
Rowling turned and walked toward the basement laboratory.
Ellie paused for a moment, then quickly followed. This was her first time being allowed into the lab, and she couldn't help feeling a mix of nervousness and curiosity.
The sight inside the laboratory dazzled her.
Various oddly shaped glasswares shimmered with a faint light, powders and minerals of different colors were placed on the lab table, and complex lines and patterns that she could not understand were engraved on the walls. A faint scent, mixed with herbs and other unidentifiable aromas, filled the air.