"How about... all of them?"
Athelei felt a rush of excitement run straight up his spine and all the way up to the crown of his head.
Taking from every single faction, stealing that which they desired... It sounded delightful. For with treasures aplenty, his influence would grow. With more powerful avenues, he could direct the endings he wanted.
"Orien!" Someone barged into the room Athelei was working in. Again. "Were you able to purchase Glacial Essence and Sticky Ink?"
"...I was... It's over there," Athelei pointed at an assortment of conspicuous glass bottles, "The light blue one and the bone-white one are the ones you need... What's up, Brother Kang?"
Brother Kang, who was a man in his thirties yet had the energy and liveliness of a teenager, rushed through the piles of items that populated Athelei's workplace. He was prancing around like a person holding a ritual, avoiding the delicate items all around him. There were glass spheres floating like planets to his right and sculptures to his left. Boxes of vegetables were floating above his head, and crates of fruit were chained to one pole with many others of its kind.
"It's about the Silver Pearls!" Brother Kang answered with excitement in his tone, "We've figured out what they can be great for!"
Athelei's eyes sparkled when he heard that. It seemed like the start of every month brought about an occasion. Today was the first of June, after all. And with all the hectic underground business, Athelei could feel just how peaceful it was in Atlantis.
It was just a cycle of working, sleeping, eating, and figuring out how the strange board games were supposed to be played.
No death, no treasures, and no ends... But Athelei did not mind such things. He was quite fond of the relaxed, monotonous days in Atlantis to contrast with the cutthroat nights in the subterranean kingdoms.
But now, it seemed like Atlantis was having another event of its own.
"Can I watch what you all are doing?" Athelei swam towards Brother Kang who was gingerly placing the two glass bottles inside a velvety box.
"Of course!" Brother Kang replied as he hurried out of the door, "Follow me, quick! The more of the younger generation who bear witness to this new discovery, the better. Too bad you only have Shop and not Record, little one. Immortalising this event would have been glorious!"
Athelei was happy he was welcome, and he followed after Brother Kang's mid-level Rank 1 Evolver speeds. White light flickered around his limbs as he propelled himself forward, all the way until he reached the middle area of the central Atlantian palace.
"I have the items needed." Brother Kang announced after bringing his fist down in three rhythmic knocks. "Orien of Aren is with me as well. May we enter?"
"Come in, Brother Kang. Orien." The voice of Lotus Song sounded out, and Brother Kang gently made his entrance.
'Not barging in this time, are we?' Athelei made a wry smile and followed shortly after.
Once he was inside, he felt a sense of deja vu hit him. Another crowd of the Lotus clan members had gathered around once more. Their expressions were that of nervous excitement as they loosely encircled a table in the middle of the circular room. They floated around, gazing at everything with bloodshot eyes.
If they weren't so energized by the possibility of discovery and invention, they might've passed out, falling into a deep sleep thanks to the relaxing waters all around them.
An Artist who was likely around Brother Kang's age was standing on a platform beside Lotus Song. He was busily working on a silvery pearl the size of his own head. An array of special blades were scattered around the waters near him, allowing for easy access. Milky white light trailed his fingers whenever he reached a certain point in his gruelling task.
Without saying anything else, Brother Kang pushed the two glass bottles he had retrieved from Athelei towards the busy Artist. It was then caught by Lotus Song, who placed the items where appropriate.
Athelei watched as a few carvings on the Silver Pearl were filled with Sticky Ink and splattered with Glacial Essence.
"The last two ingredients are in place..." Athelei heard the Artist murmur as the latter continued to work. "I just need to refine the pattern sequences... If only I was capable enough to draw a pattern circle instead!"
No one seemed to mind the Artist's constant murmuring as the man worked. They all waited expectantly, and after an excruciating hour, they suddenly felt that the energies of Atlantis were suddenly more concentrated in their area. The Silver Pearl that had once simply been reflecting light now shone a spherical hologram of Mystic Patterns around it.
The cravings had allowed such an occurrence, and now the Silver Pearl looked wondrous with its milky white aura of Mystic Patterns.
"It's a success!" The onlookers all felt the pulsating energy of the Silver Pearl and celebrated.
The Artist who did all the work was just stunned that it was a success. He stood in a daze as his relatives all shook him around.
Athelei was pleasantly surprised by the turn of events. He glanced curiously at the Silver Pearl and executed his usual Inspect.
[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]
Mystical Pearl
Mana: 10/10
Durability: 6/7 (Carved)
- Infuses an area with preset energy.
- Currently infusing Atlantis' [Cleansing Aura] into an area of fifty-metre (50m) radius
[]-[]-[]-[]-[]-[]
'Ah,' Athelei smiled as he thought, 'The simplest descriptions really do bring about the most versatile applications.'
The Mystical Pearl could act as a beacon of whatever concept the creator wished it to be. With enough of these pearls, the people of Atlantis felt they were one step closer to braving the dangers right outside their city's walls. They could borrow a piece of their city and take it with them in their travels.
As for what the humans on land could do with such an invention; from war to security, healing or poison, the Mystical Pearl could be used for it all.
Of course, the question of difficulty in its creation as well as maintenance was an issue... But Athelei did not think about such things just yet. He temporarily allowed himself to be distracted by the possibilities.
"Well done, everyone." Lotus Song spoke as the celebratory atmosphere died down. "You've all worked incredibly hard, so it's time you all get some rest. I can see the bags beneath your eyes from afar. Take the next three days off."
Lotus Song then smiled, "It seems like the Head will be receiving more good news."
.
.
.
If the first of June had been the day wherein the Mystical Pearls were brought to life, Athelei's purified Tangible Will was his success for that day. He had been sneaking his usage of Tangible Will earlier in the day, and now that night had fallen and Atlantis' lights had dimmed, he could freely test it out.
"Pure white Tangible Will..." Athelei had been expecting such a colour over the course of his refinement practice, but when it really arrived, he could not help but feel surprised. "Who would've thought?"
A breeze of white light was snaking around Athelei's limbs, meshing perfectly with the milky lights of the Mystic Patterns he was trying to draw in the air.
The gates to Rank 1 Artist weren't that far any longer, as if his Tangible Will heightened his ability to draw. Athelei was slowly understanding what it meant to create a sequence.
It was fluidity and congruence. Harmony and balance.
The philosophies of those who followed Libra with all their heart could serve as a guide for even the elite Artists of Oxhor. It was interesting how the most studious of humans were aptly suited for the class where theology had its spies.
It was as if the world was trying to say, "Faith and diligence go hand in hand."
When the darkness grew deeper, the anticipated call arrived. Someone was calling out his name, ignoring the concept of space and whispering straight into his thoughts.
"It's that time of the night again," Athelei grinned.
Irene was summoning his presence.