Liora, emulating the precision of a professional tea sommelier, observed Eldric attentively as he demonstrated and explained each step in the tea-making process.
She meticulously noted every detail, mentally simulating and repeating the steps over and over to ensure she grasped them fully.
Once Eldric had completed his demonstration, he turned to Liora and asked, "You've seen everything, right? Do you understand?" Liora nodded with a confident smile, replying, "Yes, I understand completely." Confirming her readiness once more, Eldric inquired, "Are you prepared to undertake your trial?" With unwavering certainty, Liora responded, "Yes, I am ready."
Eldric then stepped aside, allowing Liora to take his place at the preparation area, reminding her that he would not assist during the trial—a standard rule she was already familiar with.
Observing closely, Eldric watched as Liora readied herself at her station. Seeking final confirmation, Liora glanced at him and asked, "Shall I begin?" Eldric, with an encouraging smile, replied, "Of course, yes please."
With that, Liora commenced her trial, crafting her tea. Though it sounded peculiar, this was precisely what the ancient beast had requested.
She started by retrieving several dried tea leaves from a jar, gently grinding them into a fine powder.
Carefully, she placed the powder into a strainer and poured boiling water over it. Gradually, the tea began to flow through the strainer like a gentle waterfall into the awaiting glass below. The rising steam carried a fragrant and calming aroma, filling the room.
Taking a small spoon, Liora began to stir the tea slowly in a clockwise direction. The color and fragrance were impeccable, and she thought to herself how perfect it seemed.
A satisfied smile crossed her face, confident that she would pass this trial swiftly.
After a few moments, she concluded her stirring, tapped the spoon twice against the rim of the glass, set it aside, and presented the tea to Eldric, who served as her judge.
With a proud smile, she said, "Here is your tea; please enjoy."
Eldric graciously accepted the glass, "ooh, thanks a lot", thanking her warmly. He blew gently on the tea to cool it, creating swirling wisps of steam.
Liora waited calmly, free from any trace of anxiety, convinced that this trial would be her quickest and most successful yet, potentially setting a personal record.
After the tea had cooled slightly, Eldric took a thoughtful sip, fully immersing himself in the experience. He analyzed every nuance of the flavor as it touched his lips, rolled over his tongue, traveled down his throat, and settled warmly in his stomach.
Not a single note escaped his attention. His eyes remained closed throughout, his expression one of deep concentration, truly embodying his role as the judge.
When he finally opened his eyes, a broad smile spread across his face. Liora, watching him intently, mirrored his satisfied expression, eagerly anticipating the official announcement of her success.
Eldric then began to speak, his tone still gentle and warm. "I'm sorry, but the tea isn't quite right yet. Could you try again?"
Liora, unaware that Eldric's verdict contradicted her assumptions, responded with an enthusiastic smile and a slight bow. "Thank you very much!" she said, still beaming.
However, after a few seconds, the realization dawned on her. "W-wait… what? I have to repeat it?"
"Yes, Liora," Eldric replied, chuckling awkwardly. "You need to try again."
"But didn't I follow your example exactly?" Liora asked, struggling to accept the result.
Shaking her head, she maintained a polite tone despite her disbelief.
"No, Liora, I'm afraid your tea still isn't correct," Eldric explained kindly.
Liora internally grumbled as she returned to the brewing area. This time, she repeated each step even more meticulously, muttering instructions to herself under her breath like a mantra.
It didn't take long for her to complete the process once more, and she promptly handed the freshly brewed cup of tea to Eldric.
Again, Eldric blew on the tea to cool it before taking another careful sip. Liora waited, this time without her earlier enthusiasm.
After a moment, Eldric spoke. "Hmm… I'm sorry, Liora, but you'll need to do it again."
"W-what?!" Liora exclaimed, bewildered. "What's wrong with my tea? I followed your example perfectly!"
Eldric simply smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, but this tea still isn't quite there. You'll have to try once more."
"Uurrrgghhh… fine," Liora muttered, frustration bubbling beneath her composed exterior.
For the third time, Liora repeated the same activity, her initial expectation of this being the quickest trial she'd ever faced slowly evaporating like the steam rising from the hot tea.
Once again, she completed brewing her tea and presented the freshly brewed cup to Eldric. Yet, his verdict remained unchanged. "I'm sorry, Liora, but this still isn't passing. Please try again," he said with unwavering politeness.
Liora muttered under her breath as she began the process anew, finally voicing her frustration. "At least give me a hint where I'm going wrong!" Eldric chuckled softly, responding, "You know I'm not allowed to assist you, Liora."
Exhaling sharply in disbelief, Liora refocused on her task, racking her brain for any overlooked step or mistake.
Still without clarity, she finished preparing the tea, served it to Eldric, and awaited his judgment—only to hear the same gentle but firm response: "I'm sorry, it's still not right. Please try again."
Liora didn't respond this time, knowing Eldric's answer would remain the same. Silently, she resumed the process, her perception of him shifting.
Internally, she grumbled, 'So much for all that kindness and warmth—it was just a mirage. I thought he'd be the most polite and pleasant ancient beast, but he's just as infuriating as the rest.'
Reflecting further, she added, 'Come to think of it, this trial is crueler than Solara's or even Sylphine's.'
Meanwhile, Eldric stood nearby, casually stroking his beard with an ever-present smile. His serene demeanor only fueled Liora's growing irritation and frustration.
The cycle continued endlessly; she had lost count of how many times she'd repeated the process.
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Outside the temple, the day had shifted—the sun now hung high in the sky. Elowen, who had returned to her room, received a letter delivered by a carrier pigeon.
She opened it immediately; it was from the Six Great Mages. Reading it silently, she absorbed their words:
"Our dear Elowen, we understand how challenging this trial must be for Miss Liora, given the immense power at stake. However, time is running out. The demons' attacks have become relentless, striking us on every front. Our forces are dwindling daily while their numbers keep swelling—we cannot fathom how they multiply so quickly. Meanwhile, our reserve troops require extensive training, and injured soldiers need time to recover. We implore you to motivate and guide Miss Liora to expedite her trial. It is a lot to ask, but morale among the army is steadily declining. We await your good news—or better yet, both your arrival and Miss Liora's."
Crumpling the letter in anger, Elowen muttered bitterly to herself, "Speed up her trial, my ass! If I could intervene directly, I would've done so from the start. If they weren't my mentors and seniors, I'd turn them into frogs."
With a heavy sigh, she left her room and headed toward the spiraling staircase leading to the temple where Liora was undergoing her trial.
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Back inside the temple, the situation remained unchanged. Liora brewed tea, Eldric tasted it, and once again, Liora failed. Frustrated, she muttered to herself and prepared to repeat the process yet again.
The cycle had dragged on for so long that her patience and stamina were wearing thin. This time, as the cycle repeated, Liora seemed on the verge of giving up.
Her body slumped against the wall near the kitchen, her eyes staring blankly at the wooden floor beneath her, devoid of energy or motivation. Observing this, Eldric finally spoke up, "Perhaps I can give you two keywords as hints."
Liora turned her gaze toward Eldric, still weak and unmotivated. With his ever-present friendly smile, Eldric continued, "The keywords are *by the book* and *details*."
Despite the hint, Liora's spirits didn't lift immediately. She stared at the ceiling, contemplating the clues while silently debating with herself.
'The book' must refer to the example he showed me at the start, but what about 'details'? I thought I followed everything he demonstrated—the amount of dried tea leaves, the water quantity, the stirring… What am I missing? Could it be that I need to replicate every small detail? Like how he picks the tea leaves, the strength of his crushing motion, the speed and angle of my stirring, even the tilt of the spoon?
Suddenly, Liora sprang back to life, standing upright with renewed vigor, only to smack her head into the low ceiling of the peculiar room. "Ouch!" she cried out, rubbing her sore head.
However, the pain didn't distract her from the epiphany she'd just experienced.
Her mind raced with excitement: Yes, maybe I really do need to copy every single movement Eldric made, down to the tiniest detail! Her eyes sparkled with determination, and her spirit reignited.
With optimism greater than during her first attempt, Liora began brewing tea again.
This time, she mimicked Eldric's actions meticulously—the way he selected and picked up the dried tea leaves, the precise force used to crush them, the direction and pace of stirring, even the angle of the spoon—all replicated perfectly .
Once finished, she handed the freshly brewed cup of tea to Eldric. As usual, Eldric blew on the tea to cool it before taking a sip. But then, something unexpected happened.
After savoring the tea, Eldric grabbed another empty glass, poured some of his tea into it, and offered it to Liora.
Confused but silent, Liora accepted the glass, her expression conveying unspoken questions.
Eldric raised his cup in a toast-like gesture, saying warmly, "Congratulations, Liora. You've done exceptionally well."
A mixture of confusion and relief bubbled into a soft laugh as Liora lifted her own glass to meet Eldric's.
"Th-thank you," she stammered gratefully.
At the exact moment their glasses clinked together with a soft ting , Liora felt the familiar sensation she'd experienced twice before—power, mana, and knowledge surged through her body.
Realizing the transfer of power was underway, she calmly closed her eyes, regulating her breathing and channeling the flow of energy within her. After several minutes, the process subsided.
Opening her eyes, she saw Eldric smiling contentedly as he sipped his tea. Returning the smile, Liora took a sip from her own glass, relishing the moment.
The warmth of the tea lingered on Liora's tongue, its sweetness a quiet reward for the hours of frustration—yet beneath her relief, a question hummed like an unfinished note: If even the simplest trials demanded such perfection, what impossible standards would the next ancient beast set?
Outside, the wind carried the scent of distant storms, and the weight of Elowen's approaching footsteps seemed to whisper: Time's up.