Elaine paced the length of her cramped quarters, the crumpled note still clutched in her hand. The faint green shimmer of the Essence of Binding on the desk caught her eye, a reminder of her narrow success in the workshop earlier.
The warning was clear enough: Aria Venhold's experiments were dangerous, and her probationers were disposable. But it wasn't enough to know she was a pawn. If she was going to survive, she needed to understand the game—and the Nexus might be her only ally in unraveling it.
QUERY: Request Nexus Insight into Aria Venhold's Experiments?
(Y/N)
"Yes," Elaine whispered, her fingers tightening around the note.
The Nexus shimmered faintly, its text scrolling into view.
ACCESS GRANTED.
Aria Venhold's Experiments—Key Objectives:
Fusion of alchemical essences with sentient substrates (e.g., living beings). Synthesis of autonomous constructs through nexus-driven essence layering.Exploration of forbidden Divergence pathways to bypass Nexus-imposed mandates.
WARNING: Direct confrontation with Venhold poses extreme risk. Proceed with subterfuge and intelligence gathering.
Elaine's blood ran cold. Fusion with sentient substrates? Living beings? Her stomach churned as she recalled the Shardfang Hound, its crystalline spikes and unnatural behavior. Had that creature been a product of Aria's experiments?
And what were forbidden Divergence pathways? The Nexus had never mentioned them before, yet Aria was actively trying to circumvent its control.
Elaine exhaled slowly, forcing herself to think rationally. If she couldn't confront Aria outright, she needed a way to gather more information without drawing attention.
Her gaze fell on the Essence of Binding, and an idea began to take shape.
The Plan
Elaine stepped into the alchemical workshop the next morning, carrying the vial of Essence of Binding in one hand and a cautious resolve in the other. The space was just as chaotic as the day before, with apprentices darting between tables and overseers shouting orders.
She spotted Aria near the far end of the room, bent over a series of complex runic diagrams etched into a metal plate. The overseer's expression was sharp, her eyes narrowing as she scribbled notes onto a scroll.
Elaine approached carefully, clutching the vial tighter. "Overseer Venhold," she said, keeping her tone neutral.
Aria glanced up, her piercing green eyes locking onto Elaine. "Caldara," she said briskly. "I trust you're here to report progress."
Elaine held up the vial. "I've refined the Essence of Binding further," she said. "I thought it might be useful in more advanced applications."
Aria's eyebrows rose slightly, her expression shifting from disinterest to curiosity. She took the vial, examining it closely. "Refined, you say?"
"Yes," Elaine lied smoothly. "I experimented with an enhanced stabilization technique. It should perform more reliably in high-energy environments."
Aria tilted the vial, watching the liquid ripple inside. "Interesting. Perhaps you have some potential after all."
Elaine suppressed a smirk. She had Aria's attention—now to push the next part of her plan.
"I was hoping," she said cautiously, "to study some of the guild's advanced schematics. If I'm going to be useful to you, I need access to better resources."
Aria's eyes narrowed, and Elaine felt a bead of sweat trickle down her spine. The overseer's expression was unreadable, her silence stretching uncomfortably long.
"Ambitious," Aria said finally. "But ambition isn't always rewarded here, Caldara. It often gets people killed."
Elaine forced herself to hold Aria's gaze. "I understand the risks. But if I can refine an Essence of Binding on my second attempt, imagine what I could do with proper guidance."
Aria tapped a finger against the vial, her expression thoughtful. "Very well," she said slowly. "I'll grant you limited access to the restricted archives—but only under supervision. Disappoint me, and you won't get another chance."
Elaine exhaled, relief flooding through her. "Thank you, Overseer."
Aria handed the vial to an assistant and gestured for Elaine to follow. "Come. Let's see if your curiosity is worth indulging."
The Restricted Archives
The archives were hidden in the lower levels of the guild compound, behind a heavy iron door etched with glowing runes. Elaine followed Aria through the labyrinthine corridors, her footsteps echoing against the stone walls.
When they reached the door, Aria placed her hand on the runes, and the entire surface rippled like water. The door swung open, revealing a dimly lit chamber filled with shelves of ancient tomes, scrolls, and alchemical diagrams.
Elaine's breath caught. The air was thick with the scent of old parchment and something sharper—magic, raw and unrefined.
"You have two hours," Aria said, her tone clipped. "I expect results, not excuses." She turned and left, the door sealing behind her.
Elaine moved quickly, scanning the shelves for anything that might shed light on Aria's experiments. Most of the texts were dense and archaic, filled with esoteric symbols and diagrams that bordered on incomprehensible.
Finally, she found a slim journal bound in black leather. Its title was scrawled in faint gold lettering: "Essence Integration and Substrate Adaptation."
Her hands trembled as she opened the journal, skimming its contents. The pages detailed experimental methods for fusing alchemical essences with living organisms, pushing them beyond their natural limits. Many of the entries were annotated with warnings about the extreme risks involved—mental instability, physical mutation, and catastrophic failure.
One passage caught her eye:
"The Veilshard Nexus imposes strict limitations on Divergence progression, forcing compliance with its mandates. By bypassing these restrictions, one may unlock unregulated power, though the consequences remain unknown."
Elaine's chest tightened. This was what Aria was after: a way to break free from the Nexus's control. And if the experiments detailed in the journal were any indication, she was willing to risk lives to achieve it.
The Nexus flickered faintly in her vision, displaying a new notification:
WARNING: Exposure to restricted knowledge may destabilize substrate. Proceed with caution.
Elaine ignored the warning, her mind racing. She had what she needed—proof of Aria's intentions and a clearer understanding of the stakes.
But as she closed the journal, a faint sound caught her attention: the soft shuffle of footsteps outside the archive door.
Someone was watching her.