Everyone looked up and saw a figure quickly descending the stairs.
It was Jet!
He was still wearing his signature dark brown leather jacket and jeans, giving him a Western cowboy look, but the wide-brimmed cowboy hat he usually wore was gone, revealing a head of neatly styled green short hair.
More than a year seemed to have shed much of the boyish immaturity from this once-callow youth.
The contours of his face were more defined, and his emerald eyes were deep and spirited, showing less impetuousness and more composure and confidence.
Although he was only eighteen, there was already a hint of mature independence in his demeanor.
"Jet!" Levy happily went to meet him.
"Levy! And… Ezreal! Cana! Lucy! Sorano! Ikaruga! Max!" Jet's gaze swept over everyone, his face beaming with genuine joy, "Why has everyone come! Please, come in! Come in!"
Ezreal's gaze lingered on Jet for a moment, a white light quietly ignited in his eyes and then quickly extinguished, a subtle hint of approval flashing within them.
He could clearly feel that the magic power within Jet was much more refined and robust than a year ago, and his aura was also more stable and contained.
Evidently, in this past year, he had not only worked hard on pharmacy but had also never neglected his own magic power cultivation.
This growth filled Ezreal with genuine satisfaction.
"Jet, your shop is really impressive!" Lucy looked around, exclaiming.
"Hehe, it's alright." Jet scratched his head, a little proud, "It's all thanks to everyone's support. Feel free to look around! All these on the first floor are basic potions I've improved myself; their effects are much better than ordinary market goods, and the prices are affordable, so they sell the best!"
He enthusiastically led everyone on a tour, introducing his products like a treasure trove: "This 'Highly Effective Trauma Healing Salve' has an extract of 'Moonlight Moss' added, increasing healing speed by 30% and reducing scars; this 'Calming Sleep Aid Incense' uses the essence of 'Serenity Flower' and 'Nightglow Grass,' its effect is gentle, even children can use it…"
"Not bad, kid, you're getting somewhere." Cana picked up a bottle of light blue magic recovery potion, shook it, and said, "Looks like the kitchen wasn't blown up for nothing."
Jet's face turned red: "Cana! Don't bring up those embarrassing stories! My lab's safety measures are perfectly sound now!"
Everyone laughed.
Then, Jet took everyone upstairs to the second floor.
The layout here was more exquisite, the lighting soft, and the potion bottles on the shelves were more ornate, with "Premium" labels.
"These are ancient formula potions that I've tried to restore or improve based on some ancient manuscript fragments and occasional guidance from Granny Poluchka," Jet introduced, with a hint of pride in his voice, "Like this 'Dragon's Breath Vigor Potion,' which can greatly boost explosive power for a short time, though the side effect is some exhaustion afterwards; this 'Elemental Affinity Potion' can temporarily enhance perception and control of specific elements, but it's very costly…"
As they talked, they eventually arrived at the third floor.
This was a completely different world!
The spacious area had been converted into a laboratory and lounge.
A huge alchemy workbench stood against the wall, covered with various beakers, test tubes, distillers, crucibles, magic stirring rods, and other precision instruments, as well as some magical arrays emitting strange light carved into the surface.
The air was filled with a stronger scent of herbs and magic materials mixed together.
In the corner, there was a simple bed and a desk, piled high with thick books and notes.
"This is my 'battleground'!" Jet patted the workbench, "I usually research new formulas and improve old processes here."
"It's a bit messy here, please don't mind it."
He quickly brought up a few stools from downstairs, "Sit, sit! Xiao Ling! Brew some tea and bring it up!"
Everyone sat around the slightly crowded laboratory, drinking tea and chatting.
Jet was like a faucet turned on, incessantly recounting his experiences of the past year or so.
"...You wouldn't believe it! When I first opened the shop, I was practically driven crazy! During the day, I had to mind the shop and deal with customers, and at night, I had to research formulas and brew potions... orders flew in like snowflakes!"
"As soon as I developed a new potion, before it even had a chance to get warm, someone would come to order it!"
"As soon as I finished a batch of goods, new orders would come in! I practically wished I could split myself in half! Luckily, I later hired Xiao Ling to help run the shop, so I could focus on research…"
He spoke with great animation; although he complained about the hard work, his eyes sparkled with love for his work and a sense of accomplishment.
"It seems you've been living a very fulfilling life," Ezreal said with a smile.
"Mm! It's tiring, but I'm very happy!" Jet nodded vigorously, "Being able to do what I love and support myself feels especially good! It's just… I miss the Guild, I miss everyone."
He looked at Levy, "Levy, how have you all been recently? Is everything alright at the Guild?"
"It's going well," Levy said with a smile, "Natsu and the others are still the same, and Wendy, Sorano, and the others have integrated very well. Oh, by the way, we just completed a large festival commission…"
Levy briefly talked about the festival, and Jet listened with a yearning expression: "Wow! That sounds amazing! Too bad I'm too busy, I haven't even been able to go back and visit…"
After chatting for a while, everyone saw that Jet still had semi-finished potions reacting in his lab, knowing his time was precious, so they stood up to leave.
"Leaving so soon?" Jet was a little reluctant.
"We won't bother you, busy man." Cana patted his shoulder, "Keep up the good work, kid! Don't tarnish Fairy Tail's reputation!"
"Don't worry, Cana!" Jet thumped his chest in assurance.
Before leaving, Jet ran downstairs and grabbed a large pile of potions, stuffing them into everyone's hands: "These are all made by me, and they work great!"
"Ezreal, this is 'Advanced Magic Power Recovery Potion,' its effect is twice as strong as what's on the market!"
"Levy, this is 'Mental Focus Potion,' drink some when you're reading or researching! Lucy, Sorano, this is 'Beauty and Rejuvenation Potion'!"
"Cana, this is 'Hangover Relief and Liver Protection Potion'! Ikaruga, Max, this is 'Potent Trauma Salve'! Take them all! Don't be shy!"
Unable to refuse, everyone accepted this heartfelt and weighty gesture.
Bidding farewell to the enthusiastic Jet and Xiao Ling, the group, carrying various potion bottles, headed north of the city.
Droy's "Magical Botanical Garden" was located in a relatively secluded area north of the city.
More than a shop, it was a small estate.
Tall hedge walls enclosed a large plot of land, and a wooden sign hung at the entrance, adorned with various strangely shaped plant patterns and the words "Droy's Magical Botanical Garden."
Pushing open the creaking wooden door, the sight before them made everyone's eyes light up!