Elaine sat at the desk, her fingers absently tapping its worn wooden surface. The tiny, glowing orb of Ignis essence hovered inside the stabilization flask, its light casting faint shadows across the room. She should have felt accomplished, but unease prickled at the edges of her mind.
The Veilshard Nexus had been silent since unlocking her alchemical insights, yet its ominous presence lingered in her vision. She waved her hand in front of her face experimentally, trying to dismiss the faint overlay of text.
"Not going anywhere, are you?" she muttered.
She sighed and focused on the alchemical kit. The book's next section outlined more complex tasks: combining multiple essences to create usable compounds. But before she could dive in, the Nexus flickered and displayed a new message.
QUERY PROMPT:
Access Advanced Alchemical Schematic?
(Y/N)
Elaine hesitated. The word "advanced" set off alarm bells in her mind, but curiosity got the better of her. She whispered, "Yes."
The air shimmered in front of her, and a translucent projection appeared—a detailed, three-dimensional diagram of an alchemical construct. The schematic depicted glowing runes arranged in concentric circles, surrounding a crucible containing multiple swirling essences.
ALCHEMICAL SCHEMATIC: COMBUSTION SERUM
Ingredients:
Ignis Essence (Stabilized)Terris Essence (Unstable)Minor Catalytic Rune (Fire)
Effect: Creates a volatile liquid capable of controlled explosions.
WARNING: Combustion Serum requires precise stabilization. High risk of critical failure.
Elaine leaned back, the weight of the schematic pressing down on her. "Explosives?" she muttered. "That seems… excessive."
But the information sparked an idea. If she could master this serum, it might prove invaluable—not for destruction, but for bargaining. Knowledge was power, after all, and the right demonstration might sway even someone as ruthless as Aria.
First, though, she needed the next essence.
The alchemical kit contained a small jar labeled "Rockspine Moss", which the book identified as a source of Terris essence—earth-based energy. Carefully, Elaine crushed a small portion of the moss and transferred it to the flask, repeating the activation process.
As the runes flared to life, the Nexus flickered again:
TERRIS ESSENCE UNSTABLE.
WARNING: Essence stabilization window reduced to 2 minutes.
Elaine's pulse quickened. The faint green glow inside the flask began to sputter, tiny sparks of light dancing erratically. She fumbled for the vial of Aether Sap, but the green glow suddenly intensified, and the flask grew hot in her hands.
"Dammit—stabilize!" she hissed, pouring a few drops of the sap into the flask.
The light dimmed slightly, but the essence continued to flicker erratically. The stabilization wasn't working.
The Nexus chimed again:
ADAPTATION REQUIRED: Add secondary stabilizer. Suggested material: Iron Filings.
Elaine scanned the desk. A small tin of iron filings lay buried beneath the other tools. She grabbed a pinch and sprinkled them into the flask. The effect was immediate: the erratic sparks settled, and the glow coalesced into a smooth, stable orb of light.
TERRIS ESSENCE STABILIZED.
Elaine exhaled slowly, her fingers trembling.
"Two down," she muttered, setting the flask aside.
Before she could continue with the serum, the door to her room burst open. Elaine shot to her feet, heart hammering, as a young man in leather armor strode inside. His sandy-blond hair was tied back, and his piercing blue eyes scanned the room with practiced efficiency.
"You're Caldara Vess?" he asked, his tone curt.
Elaine tensed. "Who's asking?"
The man frowned. "Guild warden. Overseer Venhold sent me. You're coming with me—now."
Elaine blinked. "Coming with you? It's the middle of the night."
"She doesn't care," he snapped. "And neither should you. Grab whatever you need and move."
Elaine's mind raced. The Nexus remained silent, offering no insight into this sudden development. Something about the warden's urgency unsettled her.
"What's this about?" she asked, stalling for time.
The warden's gaze darkened. "You're assisting with a live field test. If you fail, you're dead."
Elaine's stomach dropped. "Field test? Of what?"
"Whatever Venhold tells you," he said flatly.
The journey through the guild compound was brief and silent. The warden led her to a courtyard where Aria Venhold stood waiting, her crimson and black robes billowing in the faint night breeze.
"Ah, Caldara," Aria said, a cruel smile playing across her lips. "Good. You're punctual."
Elaine crossed her arms. "Care to explain what's going on?"
Aria stepped closer, her green eyes gleaming. "You're going to prove you're worth keeping alive. I've prepared a… controlled exercise."
Behind her, a steel cage rattled ominously. Elaine's eyes widened as a creature emerged from the shadows: a hulking, wolf-like beast with glowing red eyes and sharp, crystalline spikes protruding from its back. Its growls reverberated through the courtyard, shaking the ground beneath her feet.
"This is a Shardfang Hound," Aria said casually. "You'll pacify it using only alchemy. No weapons. No help."
Elaine's throat went dry. "You're joking."
"Do I look like someone who jokes?" Aria replied coolly.
Elaine glanced at the beast, its claws scraping against the stone as it lunged against its chains. The Nexus flickered back to life, presenting a new notification:
EMERGENCY DIVERGENCE MANDATE:
Objective: Neutralize Shardfang Hound Without Lethal Force.
Time Limit: 15 minutes.
Reward: Advanced Class Unlock. Failure: Substrate Collapse.
The weight of the mandate hit her like a blow. She didn't have a choice—again.
Elaine gritted her teeth, stepping toward the beast as her mind raced through her options.