Children of Angel's Gorge (3)
'Silver Dust' (Baek-eun) is not the kind of drug people commonly imagine.
'It's definitely not a drug.'
A moment here. What does this continent define as a drug?
'Drugs are criminal. Something you should never touch.'
According to imperial law, a drug is defined as— a drug.
'A substance that induces arousal in the nervous system and causes dependency symptoms with long-term use.'
In short, something that addicts you over time and destroys your mind.
Silver Dust is different.
'It's been around for ages.'
If anything, Silver Dust is akin to coffee, tobacco, or alcohol.
Somnus flower tea. Dream powder. The elves' invitation. The succubus's blessing.
'Different names, but it wasn't something new.'
Silver Dust has existed since ancient times, used by many in various ways.
'The abuse was the problem. The tampering was the mistake.'
But it only began spreading enough to be banned by imperial law after the kingdom's fall.
'It was used as a weapon of war.'
Silver Dust destroyed the kingdom.
'The emperor turned it into a narcotic.'
The empire modified Silver Dust into a synthetic substance and addicted people in ways utterly divorced from its original use.
'Silver Dust was meant to end in dreams.'
Silver Dust was a form of hope.
'They twisted a herb meant to grant hope into a substance that ruins humanity.'
It fulfilled desires in dreams, then planted the motivation to pursue those dreams in reality.
'Who was it that said it? After the kingdom's fall, the very concept of Silver Dust became corrupted.'
The empire used alchemy to ruin Silver Dust.
'They said the past Silver Dust and the future one should be called entirely different substances. And they were right.'
It made people chase only past happiness. Without Silver Dust, they couldn't live in the present or aspire to the future.
One by one, people became wastrels.
Father was no different.
"Silver Dust. Bring it."
"Father."
"I need to go see your mother. Hurry."
"...Use only the proper dose. Only the proper dose."
Father's happiness lay in the days with his late mother. Every time he slept, he sought her out.
The one positive was that when awake, he at least swung his sword to escape reality.
Others would have lain in bed, desperate for sleep even without its effects, chasing happy dreams.
'Silver Dust is essentially a free pass ticket.'
A simple lucid dream might happen once in a hundred nights of sleep, if at all.
But 'Silver Dust Lucid Dream—Lucifer Dream' is different. It guarantees entry into the lucid dream world without a hundred attempts.
'The hallmark symptom of Silver Dust addiction is sleep.'
Even if someone becomes addicted, there's no major health issue.
'They just want to sleep. No eating, no working.'
They deny reality, crave sleep, and obsess over Silver Dust for surer entry into dreams. That's about it.
Some might call it mental weakness.
But for someone like Father, who lost Mother, the past was happiness.
In that sense—
'In the classical sense, we create Silver Dust true to the intent of its original developers.'
So those crushed by the present and despairing don't cling solely to the past.
So they can live for 'tomorrow,' holding hope that happiness from the past will return in the future.
So they don't keep diving into dreams, rejecting the present and obsessing over bygone days.
'Silver Dust to counter the empire's weaponized version.'
Here in the basement of Angel's Gorge Orphanage, we grow Somnus flowers and synthesize Silver Dust.
This is munitions development against the emperor.
'It's all research into countermeasures against the enemy's strategic weapon.'
Absolutely.
'No personal motives here.'
It's not like I'm developing it just to burn Silver Dust and meet her in dreams.
'Of course not.'
Definitely not because I want to see her in dreams every night through Silver Dust.
* * *
A short while later.
After strolling through the basement, pondering the uses of these munitions,
"Somnus tea."
"Right away."
I sat at the reception room table in the orphanage.
"It's a bit hot. Please be careful."
"Perfect temperature."
Director Merrill placed tea brewed from dried Somnus petals before me.
"Mmm... good. I'll sleep soundly tonight too."
Warm flower tea before bed is unmatched for deep sleep.
'They say empire soldiers have fists a size larger than kingdom troops thanks to this Somnus tea.'
Especially proven to greatly aid growth in developing children. Not now, but in the future.
What's the status of this flower now?
'The kind starving kids chew roots of when hungry.'
A slur the kingdom uses to mock the empire.
Unaware it makes empire soldiers average 5cm taller.
That common a weed, treated as pretty trash by farmers.
'By now, they've probably razed a territory to plant nothing but this.'
Hard to get empire news, but memory says one territory became a full Somnus farm.
They're feigning other crops while mass-producing Somnus, just like me.
"Merrill. How are the other flowers besides Somnus?"
"Not great, I'd say. Oh, the children are tending them well enough, but underground..."
"Even mana herbs need minimal sunlight. It's fine. The goal is research and cultivation until success."
"Ha, haha..."
"Somnus is the weird one anyway. Grows fine without sun."
One excuse: we grow various flowers besides Silver Dust underground.
'Somnus is the real goal, but we need decoys.'
Somnus as control group, true aim is mana herbs deep below.
Everyone thinks mass-producing mana herbs is the point.
'To fool the enemy, fool your own first.'
Even kingdom-Morgania intelligence knows of the basement.
They believe Grey Gibraltar is researching 'underground mass-producible mana herbs.'
'They won't suspect Somnus itself is the goal.'
The emperor might wonder.
'I've set the board so intel makes them chuckle it off. If he notices anyway, he's a regressor like me.'
Mana herb research for camouflage isn't half-hearted.
With Silver Dust as target, I'm staking the orphanage's cover on it. In every way.
'Succeed at mana herb mass-production, and I'll chew them daily to boost mana.'
Normal plants need sunlight, but mana herbs grow in dark.
Then hang glowstones emitting steady mana instead—
'Gibraltar can afford that.'
Enchant mana stones with light magic; their mana light condenses in mana herbs.
Future empire research tech, thankfully undeveloped now.
'Problem is, can't reveal it casually, and progress is slower than expected.'
Developed by empire academy grad students—adults with higher education.
Handed to ragtag kids from everywhere with 'just try it'—no wonder it fails.
'Fine. Those failures build foundations for Silver Dust.'
Kids don't know.
'Practice freely with mana herbs.'
As instructed: dry mana herbs, grind, extract juice, synthesize with liquids, cool.
'So they're skilled for Silver Dust later.'
The whole process trains for one synthesis.
'Kids sometimes have finer motor skills than adults.'
Work for grownups, play for kids.
'It's going well.'
Per plan, results in 5 years—3 if lucky.
Secure steady 'silver' component—
'This place becomes the factory.'
Synthesize with Somnus, produce pure Silver Dust freely.
'Can't tell them all, headache.'
Father doesn't grasp it.
"The orphanage runs at a loss. Better turn it into a soldier training camp."
"Father."
"They should earn their keep."
Judged utterly unproductive.
"You really think growing flowers underground will generate enough funds to feed these kids?"
"What if you gave those flowers to Mother?"
"That's separate from your mother. I'm serious."
Ultimate deflection—Mother excuse—failed.
"100 kids, 30 staff. Monthly operating costs over ten million."
"......"
"Over 70% on basement research. No results? Those kids join physical training too."
If losses continue, Father plans labor for all orphanage kids.
'Can't let that happen.'
Of 90, 12 have knight talent, but average fitness suffices for patrols/guards.
'Can't helmet future pharmacists as guards.'
So show results.
Mana herb success.
True Silver Dust production.
Or—
'Find Sword Master talent Father wants, maintain status quo.'
One Sword Master offsets monthly millions for 10 years.
Such orphanages would sprout everywhere, like nobles' academies post-empire success.
'Orphanage succeeds? They'll blanket the kingdom.'
Nobles collect orphans to 'draw' Sword Masters.
Nobles gonna noble.
'Me too.'
Glance at watch.
Nearly 9 PM; outside dark, torches needed for roads.
"One hour to curfew."
Post-kidnapping, mansion curfew at 10 PM.
Even I can't wander after.
So.
The door creaks open.
"U-um. I heard you called for me."
"Yeah. Wow, cleaned up, you look just like a noble young master."
The silver-haired, silver-eyed boy shed his filthy rags for party-ready noble attire.
"Just travel dust. You eat and sleep well normally, huh."
"Y-yes..."
"Good. Sit."
Ethan Sezar shuffled in hesitantly.
"Merrill. Fetch something, ear here."
"Yes. ...Yes?"
"Yeah. You heard right."
"...Understood."
Merrill startled but bowed and left.
"Ethan Sezar. I have exactly 30 minutes. Sit first."
"...It's Ethan."
"Ah, right? Sorry. Bad with names."
Heard the warning.
"No need to remember fleeting connections."
Not worth remembering yet—not important enough.
"Of orphanage kids, few I remember. Haha."
"......"
"Curious why summoned? Simple talk."
I filled my cup with Somnus tea.
"30 minutes till I finish this. Fail to convince me? You're first cut this cohort."
"What?!"
Ethan jolted up in shock.
"Sit."
I dropped my index finger; he sat meekly.
"Your state says answering honestly smooths talk. Ethan Sezar. Who recommended you?"
"M-Mirdin Madam."
"Ah, yes. Mirdin Madam. Family tutor, sweet Letar's etiquette teacher. Kind soul, full of pity."
Gulp.
"Guess I'll have to cut Mirdin Madam's throat."
"......!!"
"Incompetence if kindness. Treason if deliberate—framing count family."
".......???"
Ethan doesn't get it.
"Orphanage stayers become our wards. You're defeated navy officer's descendant."
"Ah..."
Future hero, Master talent?
"Gibraltar accepting criminal spawn—ex-military. Perfect rebel plot setup."
Or heard whispers since arrival.
"Someone told you 'don't go Gibraltar' or 'they won't take you.'"
Hint dropped; he deduces before answer.
"Because you're Sezar before Ethan. Accepting you insults royals outright."
"......!!"
"Unfair? Tough. Gibraltar's enemies everywhere; no embracing your mine."
"I-I'm not like that...!"
"Or Mirdin spy?"
"No!! Gah...!"
Ethan yelled, then clamped mouth.
"Right. Don't raise voice. Bedtime soon, quiet."
I sipped tea.
"Still wanna stay? Prove iron will. As commoner Ethan."
"......"
"Perfect timing."
Door creaks.
"Good. Merrill. Set on table."
Merrill entered with large basket, placed per order.
"This is..."
"Somnus flowers. Worthless. Starving kids won't die making soup of 'em."
About 100 blooms.
"Culls from underground."
I picked one wilted at edges.
"Eat them all. Everything here."
"......!!"
"Good for you."
No mana awakening, no Sword Master shine.
"Finish before my tea's gone. I'll pitch to Father based on will."
Somnus tastes weedy. Not tough; chewable.
'Devour this much? Father senses mana channels instantly.'
Ethan's mana pathway size.
Ethan Sezar's 'Master vessel.'
"All for you."
To awaken, stimulate dormant mana.
"This... torture?"
"Torture? Kid turning down heaven's lifeline."
I opened teapot, plucked inner Somnus petals.
"How good it is—can't explain."
Grows tall, builds frame, boosts mana—man's best tonic.
"Good meds taste bitter."
"H-heok...?!"
Chew chew.
Dried, steeped once—tougher than fresh.
"Show will. Can't? No place for you in Gibraltar."
Master talent? Past hero? Brother-killing grudge?
"No reason to keep disobedient dog."
Irrelevant now.
"Eat."