**Chapter 32: The Final Test Begins**
After the brief break, the alchemists returned to their tables, their faces a mix of determination and anxiety. The third stage of the tournament was about to begin, and this round would test their true abilities—their skill in converting their knowledge, gifts, and talents into practical and useful potions and pills.
This stage was where the stars from the various powerful clans and organizations could shine the most. They had access to rare ingredients, advanced techniques, and the best alchemical knowledge. The independent alchemists, like Alaric, frowned as they realized the disadvantage they were at. They had only a few common recipes and lower-tier techniques to work with, while the stars from the different powers were smiling, their confidence clear. They sent competitive gazes at each other, knowing that their real competition was not the independents but their fellow elites.
Alaric stood at his table, feeling the weight of the challenge ahead. He had a few formulas for low-grade tier-three potions, some of which he had developed himself, but none of them were particularly unique or impressive. He knew that the others had access to high-grade tier-three potions and possibly even unique-grade tier-three potions. The branch of the Azura Alchemy Hall, which operated in the third-grade cities, had access to common low-grade tier-two potions, putting them in a league of their own. Alaric couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration, but he quickly pushed it aside. He knew that he had to do his best with what he had.
The tables were now covered with various materials, all of the highest quality, provided by the Azura Alchemy Hall. Alaric glanced over at the twin prodigies, who were setting up their equipment with practiced ease. They were using a tier-two technique that left beautiful sparks in the air, impressing the crowd. The other stars, too, began their work, their methods polished and refined from years of training.
As the competition progressed, Alonso walked through the rows of alchemists, observing their techniques. He nodded approvingly at some and shook his head in disappointment at others. When he reached Alaric, he paused for a moment, watching as Alaric used his self-taught, low-grade techniques. Alonso raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed, and moved on without a word. Alaric, sensing the disdain, clenched his jaw and focused on his work.
Then Alonso reached Elena. Unlike the others, Elena used no technique at all. She simply willed the elements into place, bending them to her will with ease. The materials she used were common and simple, yet they obeyed her commands as if they had no choice. Within minutes, she had created a very basic tier-three healing pill for pain relief—a task that should have been impossible for someone of her apparent skill level. The entire arena fell silent as they watched in disbelief.
For a moment, nobody spoke. Then, a murmur rippled through the crowd. Pill-making was a skill reserved for tier-seven alchemists and above, and it required a mastery of elements far beyond that of ordinary alchemy. The fact that Elena, a young girl with no formal training, had managed to create a pill, even a basic one, was unheard of. The murmurs grew into excited whispers, and then into cheers.
Alonso, for once, was at a loss for words. He stood there, staring at the pill in front of Elena, trying to comprehend what he was seeing. He knew that only a perfect potion could form a pill, and yet, here was a girl who had defied all expectations.
Meanwhile, Alaric continued his work, unnoticed by the crowd. He was focused on creating a unique potion, one that had saved his life during the battle with the Regans. It was a tier-three Wraithfire potion, a dangerous concoction that directly burned the soul. Alaric had discovered it by accident, but he had perfected it since then, understanding its potential and its dangers. The potion glowed with an eerie green light, with tendrils of gas flowing from its surface. It was unlike anything anyone had seen before.
When the crowd finally turned their attention back to the other alchemists, they noticed the strange potion on Alaric's table. The green glow and the unusual gas drew their eyes, and soon enough, whispers of curiosity and astonishment spread through the stands.
"What is that?" someone asked.
"I've never seen a potion like that before," another said.
Even Alonso, still reeling from Elena's performance, turned his gaze to Alaric's potion. He studied it carefully, his expression unreadable. For a moment, there was silence, as everyone waited to see what Alonso would say.
Finally, Alonso nodded, his expression one of reluctant admiration. "That is a unique potion," he said. "A tier-three Wraithfire potion, designed to burn the soul itself. Dangerous and difficult to create, but... impressive."
The crowd erupted into cheers once again, this time for Alaric. He had not only managed to create a unique potion, but he had done so under the most difficult of circumstances. The other alchemists, especially the stars, looked on with a mix of jealousy and respect.
But Alaric wasn't done yet. As the test continued, he began to hear a strange voice in his head. It was faint at first, but it grew louder, telling him to open his eyes. He resisted at first, but the voice was insistent, and eventually, he did as it asked.
What he saw was beyond anything he had ever imagined. The elements around him were no longer just materials—they were alive, dancing before his eyes in the most beautiful and intricate patterns. He could see the very essence of alchemy itself, the way the elements merged and intertwined to create potions and pills. It was the most incredible thing he had ever seen, and he could feel a deep connection to the very heart of alchemy.
But it was too much for him to handle. Blood began to flow from his eyes as his body struggled to cope with the overwhelming vision. He fell to his knees, closing his eyes to escape the intensity of what he was seeing. When he finally opened them again, the vision was gone, but something had changed. He could still see the elements, though not as clearly as before, and he knew that he had been blessed by the Dao of Alchemy itself.
Nobody else had seen what Alaric had experienced, but they did notice the strange white light that descended upon him as he knelt on the ground. It was a blessing, a sign that he had been touched by something greater. The other alchemists could only watch in envy as Alaric slowly rose to his feet, his eyes now filled with a new understanding.
As the final moments of the test ticked away, the alchemists completed their potions and pills, each one presenting their work to Alonso for judgment. Elena came first, her pill the clear winner in both skill and technique. Alaric came second, his unique potion earning him the respect and admiration of his peers. The old man, with his years of experience, secured third place, while the twins and other stars followed close behind.
The results were announced, and the arena buzzed with excitement and disbelief. Elena, the girl who had been dismissed as a failure in the first round, had come out on top. Alaric, the independent alchemist with no formal training, had earned a place among the best. It was a day full of surprises, and the crowd was still digesting the results.
As the excitement died down, Hendrix and little Lu, who had been watching the competition from the stands, decided to approach Elena. Hendrix pulled little Lu along, eager to talk to the girl who had impressed everyone so much. Old Lark watched them go, a small smile on his face. He had seen many talented individuals in his time, but Hendrix was special. He knew that Hendrix was destined for greatness, and he wasn't surprised that he was drawn to someone like Elena.
As they reached Elena, Hendrix greeted her without any shyness. Little Lu, on the other hand, was very shy, barely able to make eye contact. Elena, too, was shy—no boy had ever spoken to her before, and this was her first time coming to the outside world.
"Hi, I'm Hendrix," he said confidently. "And this is my best friend, little Lu. His actual name is Lupin, but he likes to be called after his dad."
Elena smiled shyly. "I'm Elena," she said softly.
Hendrix looked around to make sure no one was listening, then leaned in closer. "Where are you from?" he asked in a whisper.
Elena hesitated. "I'm not supposed to tell anyone that," she replied, looking around nervously.
Hendrix grinned. "Me neither. My old man said I shouldn't tell anyone, but I'll tell you if you promise not to tell anyone else."
Elena nodded eagerly. "I promise," she said.
"I'm a Kane," Hendrix whispered, feeling a strange sense of pride in the name, even though he didn't fully understand its significance.
Elena's eyes widened slightly, but she didn't seem to understand what it meant. "Cool," she said, then added, "My mom said my dad is an Eternal."
Hendrix had no idea what that meant, but he nodded anyway. "Cool," he repeated. "Pinky promise not to tell anyone?"
Elena extended her pinky, and they linked fingers. "Pinky promise," they both said, laughing together.
A bond had been formed, one that would last a lifetime. Hendrix introduced little Lu again, and the three of them laughed and talked, unaware of the future that awaited them.
Aster
, watching from a distance, was consumed with jealousy. He saw the bond forming between Hendrix, Lu, and Elena, and it made his blood boil. His mother, noticing her son's reaction, began to cook up a plan. She couldn't stand the thought of someone else being close to such a talented girl, and she was determined to find a way to attach Elena to her son before it was too late.
But for now, the three new friends were unaware of the schemes being hatched around them. They were just children, enjoying the simple joy of newfound friendship, and the future could wait for another day.
*** End of chapter 32****