Chereads / The sorcerer and the raven / Chapter 12 - The Enigmatic Experiment

Chapter 12 - The Enigmatic Experiment

As Vylen stepped into the bustling Guildhall, his eyes scanned the quest board in search of an exciting mission. His gaze fell upon a particular parchment that piqued his curiosity. The request came from a woman named Saffle Donnu, who sought to explore the potential of slimes in the creation of mana potions. Eager for a new challenge, Vylen decided to embark on this intriguing quest.

With his trusty companion, Makt, Vylen made his way to the outskirts of the forest where Saffle awaited their arrival. The forest hummed with an air of mystery, its ancient trees casting long shadows over the path ahead.

"Vylen, we must tread carefully. There may be more to these slimes than meets the eye," warned Makt, his voice echoing in Vylen's mind.

"I sense it too, Makt. These slimes possess both magical and acidic properties. It's as if their gelatinous forms contain a concentrated essence of mana," Vylen replied, his voice filled with anticipation.

The duo ventured deeper into the forest, their senses heightened. The ground beneath their feet grew damp, and the air thickened with an otherworldly scent. Suddenly, they stumbled upon a clearing where Saffle Donnu stood, her gaze fixed upon a cluster of vibrant, pulsating slimes.

"Welcome, Vylen, and greetings to you, Makt," Saffle greeted them with a nod. "I've been studying these slimes for quite some time. Their gel cores possess remarkable properties, and I suspect they may hold the key to creating a potent mana potion."

Vylen observed the slimes closely, their amorphous bodies shifting and undulating. "Tell me, Saffle, how do you plan to extract the mana essence from these slimes?"

Saffle's eyes sparkled with excitement. "By slaying fifty of these slimes and obtaining their cores, we can conduct experiments to distill their magical essence into a concentrated form. If successful, we may indeed have the foundation for a revolutionary mana potion."

Saffle's voice filled with concern as he warned Vylen of the impending danger ahead. "Vylen, exercise utmost caution! We're about to venture into a treacherous zone teeming with slimes, vile creatures of both extraordinary acidic and magical prowess. Their corrosive secretions possess the ability to dissolve anything unfortunate enough to cross their path, leaving behind a wake of devastating destruction. And their mastery of magic... it's truly awe-inspiring! These slimes absorb mystical energy, harnessing it with unparalleled power. The very thought of it invokes a mix of fascination and terror within me!"

Vylen, his senses heightened by Saffle's words, acknowledged the gravity of the situation. Nervousness tinged his voice as he responded, "Understood, Saffle. I'll exercise extreme caution to steer clear of their acidic essence. The consequences of coming into contact with their corrosive secretions are too dire to fathom. These slimes, with their formidable magical abilities, present an intimidating challenge. How can we fortify ourselves against their relentless onslaught?"

Saffle's voice resonated with unwavering determination as she locked eyes with Vylen, his metallic gaze gleaming with resolve. "Vylen, we must remain vigilant and trust in our own abilities. When confronted with those slimes, we won't cower. Instead, we'll skillfully evade their explosive elemental bursts, swiftly darting through the chaos they create. With every calculated move, we'll unleash our counterattacks, striking with precision and unwavering resolve!"

With unwavering determination, Vylen brandished his staff infused with shadows, poised to confront the slimes. Makt, perched on a nearby branch, observed the unfolding events with keen interest, his eyes never wavering from the impending battle.

The first slime surged forward, its acidic pseudopods flailing in Vylen's direction. With swift and precise strikes, Vylen dispatched it, extracting its core and placing it securely in a small vial. As he continued his battle with the slimes, Makt assisted from above, using his shadow manipulation to disorient and confound their adversaries.

With each slain slime, Vylen sensed the potency of their magical cores. The gel cores shimmered with ethereal energy, radiating a pulsing light that seemed to whisper ancient secrets.

After hours of intense combat, Vylen reached the milestone of fifty slain slimes. Fatigued but victorious, he gathered their cores and returned to Saffle.

"I've collected the cores, Saffle," Vylen announced, handing her the vial filled with the magical essence. "Let us see if your hypothesis holds true."

Saffle's eyes gleamed with anticipation as she carefully examined the cores. "Vylen, these cores are imbued with a concentrated mana essence! If we can harness this energy, we could create a mana potion of unprecedented potency."

Excitement surged through Vylen's veins. The fruits of their labor held the promise of unlocking new possibilities in the realm of magic.

As the sun began to set, Vylen and Saffle retreated to her secluded laboratory, where they would begin the meticulous process of extracting the mana essence from the slime cores. Makt, perched on Vylen's shoulder, observed the proceedings with keen interest, his ebony feathers glinting in the dim candlelight.