After Harley gave a brief speech, sharing her feelings about winning, her hopes for the future, and her wishes for the advancement of Potion-making, the grand competition came to an end.
Although most people were unhappy with the results, they knew they had been outmatched and had nothing to say.
But when the competition ended, no one left the square.
All the Potions on display were moved away untouched, and long tables took their place.
As was customary, an outdoor banquet was held after the competition.
Though night had fallen, clusters of light floated in the air, making the square as bright as day.
The Beyonder Apothecary Association had provided a sumptuous spread, with specialties from every school available.
Harley had no idea which country's delicacies fried bamboo worms and roasted centipedes were, but they looked downright barbaric.
She had only seen them in the Southern Continent. Back then, she hadn't wanted to try even a bite, and she felt the same way now.
Besides the food, the banquet also offered plenty of drinks, including Mead, Firewhisky, and Ice Champagne.
Harley really wanted to try some, but she was surrounded by Potion Masters and couldn't get away.
President Hector kept discussing the new method of processing Phantom Grass with Harley, along with the important question behind it—
how to combine different herbs to reduce the instability of other ingredients.
Harley skillfully chatted with the elderly men and women, all of whom were at least seventy.
She had the year of correspondence she'd put in beforehand to thank for that. It had familiarized her with the way these Potion Masters communicated and thought.
To be honest, though they were advanced in years, they were far harder to deal with than the nobles of the Intis Kingdom and the Loen Kingdom.
Those