"Potion studies can wait for now."
Miss Danist brought the conversation back on track:
"To sum up, the enemy this time is a Ring Arcanist over fifty years old who knows about the Tree Hollow but does not control it? If they are strong enough, even sixty or seventy would not count as old.
So Shade, what exactly are you planning to do tomorrow? I will not agree to let you go alone."
"Of course I will not go alone. Miss Winslet, I will need you to turn back into an owl and follow me."
"No problem."
The Witch immediately said with a smile, quite pleased that she could both follow Shade back into the past and, because her main body was an owl, continue following him in the present.
But the Red-haired Sorceress was displeased because of this:
"What about me? Am I supposed to stay behind and keep digging through documents?"
"Daniste, until we find a way to limit the Tree Hollows, someone has to stay behind and watch them. Your contribution is no less important than mine."
The Witch said with a smile, then instructed her apprentice to arrange lunch:
"Since you have something to do this afternoon, we will meet here again tomorrow. For safety's sake, I will arrange for my Followers to lie in ambush nearby beforehand. There is no need to worry about secrecy; my young ladies are all very good at hiding themselves."
The red-haired girl beside them tugged at Shade's sleeve, looking quite unhappy, but there was nothing to be done about it.
After lunch, Shade did not toss the Crystal Shoes to return home, because doing so would take that book out of Vesta City as well. So he obediently set out from the city district for the woods, taking nearly