As the Lennox faded into the distance, Roran and his companions made a beeline for the Alchemy Pavilion, known as the Eternal Pill Sect. sect was founded in the academy multiple millennia ago by the legendary Grandmaster Alchemy, known simply as "Aetherius the Eternal." , The title "Eternal" was bestowed upon Aetherius due to his rumored immortality, a feat achieved through his profound understanding of the elixirs of life and his ability to transcend the limitations of mortal existence.
Its ancient architecture adorned with intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes. The air hummed with the scent of medicinal herbs, mingling with the bustling activity of sect members purchasing, practicing, or concocting their own pills.
Roran wasted no time, swiftly signaling one of the sect members to summon the esteemed elders. His position as the house president afforded him certain privileges within any sect, yet it also demanded respect with the elders and masters. Soon enough, the sect member returned, guiding Roran deeper into the heart of the sect.
Within the sanctum of the sect, two figures awaited: an elderly man and woman, bearing a striking resemblance to one another, as if twins Roran inclined his head respectfully. "Greetings, Alaric and Aria," he murmured softly.
"Welcome, Roran. How may we assist you today?" Elder Aria greeted with warmth in her voice.
Roran produced the paper Lennox had entrusted to him, offering it to Elder Aria. Her brows furrowed in curiosity as she accepted the document, her eyes scanning its contents with a hint of surprise.
"This is an intriguing ingredient you've brought to us. What is its purpose?" Elder Aria inquired slowly, her tone laced with interest.
Roran hesitated, feeling a bit of unease. "Um... I stumbled upon this ingredient during a mission. I simply wished to test its efficacy," he admitted, with a gulp as he didn't think he would be asked that.
As Roran spoke, a flicker of concern passed between Alaric and Aria. Alaric, the elder man, stroked his beard thoughtfully, his gaze fixed on Roran. "Testing unknown ingredients can be perilous, young Roran," he cautioned, his voice deep and resonant. "One must tread carefully in the realm of alchemy, for the consequences of misjudgment can be dire."
Aria nodded in agreement, her eyes still fixed on the document. "Indeed, the potency and nature of such ingredients can vary greatly. It is fortunate that you have brought it to us for examination."
Alaric glanced over the paper briefly before waving his hand. In an instant, an ancient furnace materialized, its multiple chambers glowing with a pulsating energy. Hovering slowly just above the ground, what Elder Alaric used was a storage crystal identical to Nadia's. Within the crystal confines, it was conceivable to store a abundance of personal items, each finding its own space within the 10x10 meter expanse that seemingly expanded infinitely.
Alaric waved his hand once more, and multiple herbs appeared in the air: Verdant Essence Lily, Cerulean Willow Bark, Aetherial Saffron, and Verdant Moss. The essence extracted from the Verdant Essence Lily served as the primary catalyst for the Viridian Remedy, imbuing it with potent purifying properties. Cerulean Willow Bark helped soothe inflammation caused by the Verdant Plague and promoted the elimination of toxins from the body. Aetherial Saffron possessed potent revitalizing properties, its golden-hued petals infused with energy-enhancing essences that bolstered the body's resilience and vitality. Verdant Moss, when included in the Viridian Remedy, acted as a natural absorbent, drawing out harmful energies and impurities from the body.
Elder Alaric meticulously arranged the rare and potent medicinal herbs in the air, his movements deliberate and precise. With a push of his palm towards the furnace, a roar erupted, reminiscent of a dragon's cry. Orange fire blazed forth, but within its flames danced the ethereal nexus energy, infusing the air with its power. The nexus energy flowed into the furnace, transforming into a liquid to aid in the pill-making process.
As the alchemy furnace roared to life, Alaric opened the lid with care, adding the ingredients one by one. The chamber filled with the enchanting aroma of verdant essence lilies and cerulean willow bark, their energies intertwining.
But just as he was about to introduce the final ingredient, a sudden surge of energy disrupted the equilibrium within the furnace. With a thunderous roar, flames erupted, sending Alaric reeling backward in astonishment.
Elder Alaric's hands stilled for a moment, his brows furrowing in disbelief. "How is this possible?" he murmured, his voice filled with astonishment. "I've never failed with such simple herbs before... Could it be that they're not meant to be mixed?" Behind him, Roran watched with growing anxiety, his heart pounding in fear of Lennox's pill failing.
"We'll do it together," Elder Aria declared.
Standing side by side, Alaric and Aria faced the alchemy furnace, determination etched on their faces. They channeled the essence of Dragon's Fury fire, their hands ablaze with its fierce energy. In this world, where elemental forces held a will of their own, each fire presented a unique challenge, demanding respect and mastery.
With unwavering focus, they directed the flames into the furnace, fueling it with the raw power needed to catalyze the alchemical reaction. As the chamber resonated with the crackling of flames, Alaric and Aria worked in perfect harmony. Gradually, the mixture within the furnace began to simmer and churn, undergoing a miraculous transformation beneath the searing heat.
As Alaric and Aria stood before the alchemy furnace, their gaze locked in determination, the chamber resounded with the fierce roar of flames. With hands ablaze with the potent energy of Dragon's Fury fire, they summoned its power, aware that in their world, fires were not mere elements but living entities with their own will and consciousness, each presenting a unique challenge to conquer.
As the flames eagerly consumed the metal walls of the furnace, Alaric and Aria moved in perfect harmony. Within the crucible, the mixture began to bubble and boil, undergoing a miraculous transformation under the relentless heat.
The Viridian Pill hovered gracefully into Roran's outstretched hand, its name spoken with a weight that echoed through the chamber. Elder Alaric scrutinized it, his gaze sharp with curiosity. "Whom is this pill intended for? Its ingredients suggest a potent ability to dispel evil and promote healing... We've never encountered a pill quite like this before," he remarked.
Roran scratched his head, hesitant to reveal the truth. However, the earnest expressions on the elders' faces urged him to speak because he also knew that they will also find out at some point. "A fellow Nexus student suggested this medicine could aid Madam," he admitted reluctantly.
Suddenly, Elder Alaric's expression contorted with alarm. "Are you out of your mind? Planning to administer a random pill? Have you considered the consequences if it fails?" he thundered.
Roran recoiled at the elder's outburst, his grip on the pill tightening. "I... I trust him," he asserted.
"You!" Elder Alaric pointed an accusatory finger at Roran, his anger palpable.
Elder Aria intervened, soothing her brother. "Brother, calm yourself... Let us accompany Roran and see what happens. We shall help if anything happens," she suggested gently, her trust in Roran.
As Alaric and Aria stood before the alchemy furnace, their contrasting specialties and personalities were evident. Aria, with her gentle demeanor and soothing presence, possessed a knack for calming her brother when needed, her expertise in alchemy lying in her ability to blend ingredients harmoniously. On the other hand her adventurous spirit led her to explore uncharted territories in search of rare and exotic ingredients, making her a pioneer in the field of alchemical synthesis.
While Alaric approached his work is determination and hard work mirrored the legendary Aetherius the Eternal, he was recognized for his meticulous attention to detail and his unparalleled skill in pill making.
With a nod from both elders, they followed Roran to the House of Ignistris. Upon their arrival, they found the atmosphere surprisingly calm, prompting a sigh of relief from Roran. As they entered, Lennox rose slowly, his eyes brightening as he approached but
"Lennox, I'm back!" Roran shouted happily.
Lennox stood up slowly, Sylas jump up and walked quickly toward Roran. "President, will this pill really work?" he asked slowly.
"I don't know, but we have to try. Otherwise, she'll get worse. Plus, I brought the elders in case anything went wrong," Roran explained.
While Sylas didn't like the answer, he went toward the elders. "Greetings, elders. Thank you for the pill to save my mother."
Both of them nodded as Lennox took the pill and needle box out of Roran's hand. "Let's get started," he said seriously.
"That's the boy all the elders are paying attention to," Elder Aria whispered to Elder Alaric.
Elder Alaric was shocked, his eyes widening. "Really? Are you sure?" His sister nodded seriously, and he started to stroke his long beard. 'Maybe that pill will really work,' he thought.
"Can everyone back up? I need space," Lennox said as everyone moved a couple more feet away.
Lennox approached Sylas mother cautiously. Suddenly, multiple green tentacles burst out of her body, heading toward him. Roran burned them away, but more kept coming back. Lennox got closer, so Roran struggled to keep burning them away, and Sylas ended up jumping in to help.
"Lennox, as a warning, if anything happens to my mother, I will make you regret it," Sylas said as he continued fighting off the tentacles.
Lennox looked back at Sylas. "You think I fear you while you're doing nothing that could save her? I'm doing something," he said with slight anger, not liking that Sylas threatened him for no reason.
Sylas looked sad, realizing he might have been in the wrong. He decided to apologize later if Lennox saved his mother. When Roran whispered something to him, he woke up from his thoughts. He and Roran used their nexus to create a shield around Lennox that the tentacles couldn't penetrate or crack.
With the protection of nexus, Lennox placed the pill into Sylas mother's mouth. She calmed down, and the tentacles weakened from the pill's effects. Lennox then flipped the woman over onto her back, ripping open her shirt to expose her back. Sylas turned around, looking at the house members, who instantly turned away.
Lennox opened the needle box and carefully selected the eighteen specially crafted acupuncture needles, which weirded out both elders as they knew acupuncture always needed twenty needles, but they decided to keep watching with interest.
Lennox sent nexus energy into his fingers as the needles slowly began to insert into the woman's body, his movements deliberate. As each needle found its mark, a surge of warmth and energy radiated outward, causing the woman to gasp in astonishment as the pain began to ebb away, replaced by a soothing sensation of healing.
Lennox closed his eyes, intensifying his focus as he activated his fire into the needles, entering straight into her body without leaving a burn. He visualized the flow of nexus coursing through the woman's body, seeking out and neutralizing the toxic energy of the Verdant Plague.
Slowly, but surely, the green tendrils began to recede, their grip on the woman's body weakening with each passing moment. Lennox brow furrowed in concentration as he channeled his more of his nexus energy and fire into the needles, infusing them together caused extreme strain on his body but that when he felt his fire Intense up similar to that off alexander.
As everyone heard the sound of a phoenix in the air, Lennox may have heard the cry, but he felt it in his soul as it resonated with the needles and himself.
Elder Alar's eyes opened wide, and his lips trembled. "Is that the Legendary Phoenix's Eighteen Needle Dance?" he shouted in shock, his heart racing.
Roran questioned, "Elder, what's that?".
Elder wiped his sweat as he explained slowly, "The Phoenix's Eighteen Needle Dance is a legendary acupuncture technique that suddenly disappeared. It's said to possess unparalleled power and healing capabilities. Named after the divine bird that symbolizes rebirth and renewal, this technique is said to bring about a transformative and rejuvenating effect on the body, mind, and spirit. Each needle is imbued with the essence of fire, representing the fiery spirit of the phoenix, and is meticulously crafted to channel and amplify the body's innate healing energy."
After Elder Alaric explained, everyone was shocked as they never thought that Lennox knew something like that. What Elder Alaric said is true, but it also unlocks hidden potential within the recipient, awakening dormant abilities and unlocking new levels of consciousness. However, mastering the Phoenix's Eighteen Needle Dance is no easy feat, requiring years of rigorous training, discipline, and dedication. Only the most skilled and enlightened nexarcs are able to wield its power effectively.
Suddenly, a surge of emerald light erupted from the woman's body, illuminating the room with an otherworldly glow. Lennox gritted his teeth against the onslaught, his hands steady as he continued to manipulate the acupuncture needles.
With a final burst of energy, the green tendrils disintegrated into nothingness, leaving behind only a faint echo of their former presence. The woman lay still, her breathing shallow but steady, her complexion pale but no longer tinged with the sickly hue of the Verdant Plague.
As Lennox withdrew the last of the acupuncture needles, a sense of relief washed over him. He swayed, his chest heaving with exertion, and almost fell off the bed if it wasn't for Sylas coming up to support him.