In the study Marcus gave Anton a few instructions before turning to Aiden. Despite his best efforts, traces of anxiety were still visible on Aiden's face. Marcus caught sight of this and smiled, "Don't worry Little Alchemist, I am more than prepared. I have been waiting for an opportunity like this for a very long time. I do not take this lightly."
"Easier said than done. Luckily, I seemed to have performed extraordinarily well and produced a high quality elixir." Aiden smiled weakly while holding up the porcelain bottle.
Marcus rubbed Aiden's maroon hair, and praised him for his efforts, "I can only be so confident because I have the best alchemist in the Golden Lion Kingdom on my side!" Even though the bar was low, Aiden still took comfort in the joking title Marcus had given him. The two of them walked to Marcus' room keeping the atmosphere light, there was no room for negativity.
Several figures awaited them at the door of the room, Dylan and Gwyneth who he had already met, and another young woman who was unfamiliar to him. She was of medium height, with long wavy blond hair that would shimmer golden in the sunlight, she had a toned physique that showed through the slit in the side of her dress. Her skin was of a much darker complexion than Gwyneth who stood next to her. Where Gwyneth had pale snowlike skin, this girl had a deep honey color. Her eyes were a match for her hair, an alluring golden that seemed to see through everyone. Hanging on both hips were four circular blades that Aiden hadn't seen before. As he observed the strange woman she too was observing him, her golden eyes had an almost inorganic indifference.
"Aiden, this is Magdalena, my master of information," Marcus introduced the blond lady to Aiden. Aiden was secretly shocked, Magdalena was basically Marcus' spy. That wasn't something you tell people who you don't trust. Aiden felt his heart warm, thawing the icy anxiety he had been feeling all morning. He knew that Marcus trusted him, but seeing the proof first hand made him extremely happy.
He hurriedly nodded in greeting to Magdalena who was still studying him with a slightly disconcerting gaze. Footsteps sounded from behind them, it was Anton who had finished whatever task Marcus had assigned him, and rejoined the group. After everyone had assembled, Marcus took the lead and walked into his bedroom not even the slightest hint of hesitation in his bearing. Aiden followed closely behind, he was afraid that if he let the older boy out of his sight, something would go terribly wrong.
Marcus strode over to a meditation mat that was set up in an open portion of the room. Inscriptions faintly glowed around the map, though Aiden was unsure of their purpose. Marcus sat down into a cross legged position with a smooth and practiced grace. With his internal injuries healed, his pace had become more natural and easy.
Anton closed the door behind the group and checked the room to make sure there were no flaws in the security that had been arranged. Once that was done, Marcus glanced at Aiden with a confident look in his green eyes, "I am ready Little Alchemist, let's get started." Aiden nodded his head with a serious expression, his jawline tight from the tension. He handed Marcus the porcelain bottle that held the elixir, and watched as Marcus drank it immediately.
Blue light faintly flared up around him before sinking into his skin. Marcus waited a moment, sensing the effects of the brew before nodding to Dylan who began arranging objects around the mat Marcus was seated on. There were five objects that each held a pure energy from one of the five primary elements.
A bowl of Cold Spring water, the faint water aura that the bowl gave off hinted at the purity of it. For earth there was a dark brown soil that Aiden was only able to name after searching through his inheritance, Still Umber Soil, a relatively heavy earth aura soil that was a fantastic growth environment for magical herbs. The small amount that had been gathered was a testament to its rarity. For the wood energy, the heart of a Sky Shielding Parasol tree was used. These massive trees didn't have many medicinal properties, but their wood was highly sought after for weapons craft. The tree that this heart had come from must have been massive and old to be giving off such a strong wood energy. A crimson red magic core was pulsing a fiery aura to represent the element of fire. When magic beasts reached a certain strength level they would condense a core to hold the aura they absorbed. These cores were used in pretty much every cultivation path and thus highly sought after. Lastly, a bottle with inscriptions lining the whole body rattled and swayed in the position for the wind element. Aiden wasn't sure exactly what was in there but the aura it was giving off was clearly a strong wind energy.
Once all of the items were in place the other four took up position to guard Marcus. Aiden kept his gaze focused on Marcus, ready to help immediately if anything went wrong. Marcus closed his eyes and began taking deep and measured breaths. As he did so, the auras of the items surrounding him began to sway in rhythm. When he inhaled, they seemed to be sucked towards him. And when he exhaled, they appeared to be pushed away. This continued for several minutes before Marcus moved his hands into a strange symbol and took a deeper breath than he had thus far. The aura madly rushed towards him in a chaotic scramble, all rushing in tandem to where his hands were making a small opening. The five different auras clashed and collided as they tried to fit into the small opening, beckoned by whatever technique Marcus had devised.
Aiden's heart tensed and his eyes widened, it took all of his will power not to try and stop the other boy. Marcus had done this on purpose so he had to believe that there was a plan. Even though so much energy battling for supremacy seemed incredibly dangerous. And Marcus had just healed after years of internal injuries from energy that had run uncontrollably rampant throughout his body. There must be a plan. Definitely a plan. Aiden's thoughts were running a thousand miles per second, worry deeply embedded in each one. He closely watched Marcus' face for any sign of discomfort, but there was none, just the habitual icy indifference.
Second after agonizing second seemed to stretch on indefinitely, Aiden wasn't sure how long the process took. Only that when the five items around the room were drained of their energy and disappeared or crumbled into dust, there seemed to be a slight popping sound coming from Marcus. Five sets of eyes locked onto the sitting boy nervously. Aiden frowned and gently reached out with his mental power, careful to not actually touch Marcus and potentially distract him. He could sense that the energy was under control and that at least for now, everything was fine.
Relief flooded through him, this was the largest hurdle for them. Marcus had come through, and created a method that would allow him to practice. As long as he could practice, the Sommerset clan would have an invaluable asset and their strength would continue to grow and the two of them would be able to access greater resources and go farther on their path of cultivation. It wasn't until many hours passed that Marcus opened his eyes and ended his meditation.
Aiden rushed over instantly to check his condition. Marcus handed his wrist over with a sense of relaxed satisfaction. Aiden's mental power quickly swept through checking carefully for any sign of injury or weakness. Then, he was met with the shock of the century. Marcus possessed Skin like Jade, Muscles like Steel, Tendons like Bowstrings, and even Hardened Bones! Aiden was about to die of envy. He knew that the Natural Chaos Body was no joke and Marcus himself had an unparalleled understanding of cultivation, but with this speed how could mortals like him keep up. Perhaps the shock on his face had been too obvious because Marcus raised his hand to rub his hair in reassurance. "The energy contained in those treasures was an incredible amount so the progress of my cultivation was similarly large. If I didn't absorb it all then, it would have dissipated and been wasted. Under normal conditions I would not be able to progress so fast because I need an equal amount of each elemental aura. If we were in a fire element treasure land, your speed would be unmatched." Although his face was still cold, his green eyes twinkled with amusement looking at the dumbfounded face of his Little Alchemist.
Aiden snapped out of his shock and realized that he was right, each of those treasures had been very rare and hard to procure, which had allowed Marcus to leap forward in cultivation at a speed ordinarily impossible. After being relieved of his worry about not being able to keep up with Marcus, a new worry cropped up. What if they couldn't find areas that had a good amount of each aura, wouldn't Marcus' cultivation stagnate? Before he could let himself become too worried, Aiden remembered that there were alchemical solutions to this problem. He could continue to cook special cuisines that balanced aura as well as potions and elixirs to boost Marcus' cultivation.
Marcus looked on helplessly as Aiden began to daze out considering all of the things he needed to make but never let Marcus' wrist go or explain his condition. Not that he was worried, he could sense that his body was fine. But it wasn't a good habit to get so distracted, and let his vigilance down so much.