Rosalie finally spoke, her voice cutting through the room like a blade. "Enough. Treyni, Kaela—your actions will be addressed later. For now, we must focus on the matter at hand: whether this human is an asset or a liability."
As the elders continued their debate, the skepticism lingered like a shadow over the hall.
"If the monster arrival is real," Faelar said, "we are more than capable of defending ourselves without a human's help. Our forces have stood against greater threats before."
"And if it's not real," Sylven countered, "then we've been played for fools. Either way, his presence here serves no purpose other than to sow discord."
Rosalie finally rose, her presence commanding. "I hear your concerns, and I share them. But we cannot ignore the possibility, however slim, that he is telling the truth. The survival of our people is at stake. If there is even a chance this 'Baki' arrives, we must be prepared."
The discussion was growing increasingly grim when Miku entered the hall, clutching a vial of the newly crafted healing potion.
"Elders!" she called out, her voice trembling but resolute. "You need to see this."
Rosalie raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What is it, child?"
"A healing potion, unlike any we've ever had," Miku said, her eyes alight with hope.
Rosalie stood and addressed the council. "Follow me. No arguments."
Though some elders murmured in discontent, they obeyed. Rosalie's authority as a Grade 4 mage was absolute, and when she spoke, the council listened.
*****
The tension from the council chamber followed the elders as they entered Venzel's workshop. The dimly lit space was filled with the acrid scent of alchemical brews, shelves lined with vials, and strange tools scattered across every surface. Venzel stood at a wooden table, carefully cradling a shimmering blue potion in his hand.
"Ah, the esteemed council," Venzel greeted, his voice calm but laced with a touch of irony. "I assume you're here to scrutinize my work?"
Elder Faelar's eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms. "We're here to ensure you don't bring harm to this village with your so-called experiments."
Venzel smirked and held up the potion. "Then perhaps you'll allow me to prove my intentions. Chief Rosalie, would you do me the honor of testing this potion?"
Rosalie stepped forward, her expression neutral but her gaze sharp. "What exactly does this potion do?"
"It's designed to heal injuries rapidly, even grievous ones," Venzel explained. "If successful, it could be a significant asset to your people. But I'll leave the decision to you."
Elder Sylven scoffed, stepping closer with a look of disdain. "You expect us to trust you with something so critical? For all we know, that concoction could poison us all."
"Or worse," Faelar added, his voice dripping with suspicion. "A trap to weaken us from within."
Venzel raised an eyebrow, unperturbed. "You're welcome to test it yourself, Elder Faelar. Though I doubt your constitution matches your conviction."
Faelar's face darkened, but before he could retort, Rosalie held up a hand. "Enough. I will test the potion."
Sylven frowned, her tone sharp. "Leader, surely you don't mean—"
"I do," Rosalie interrupted firmly. She turned to Vendel. "Hand it over."
Venzel extended the vial with a slight bow. "As you wish, Chief."
Rosalie took the potion and inspected it, swirling the liquid as it shimmered in the light. "What's the procedure?"
Venzel gestured to a stone table, laying three rats. "We'll test it in stages. The first on a dead rat to observe any reaction. The second on one with a minor injury. And the third—" he paused, meeting her gaze, "—on one with a critical wound."
The elders exchanged uneasy glances, but Rosalie nodded. "Very well. Let's proceed."
In the dimly lit room, three rats were placed on a stone table. One lay lifeless, its small body stiff with death. The second was missing a limb, its stump raw and bloody. The third was uninjured but restrained.
Rosalie held the vial of potion and approached the dead rat first. With a grim expression, she poured a few drops onto its unmoving body.
Nothing happened.
Elder Faelar crossed his arms. "This proves nothing."
At the back of the room, Miku piped up, "Hey, it's not a revival potion!" Her voice cut through the tension, earning a few sharp looks but no response.
Next, Rosalie moved to the injured rat. The potion glimmered as she tilted the vial, allowing a single drop to fall on the wound.
The effect was immediate and startling. The stump began to bubble and twitch, the flesh regenerating in real-time. Bones reformed, muscles stretched, and fur grew back in seconds. The rat squeaked, scurrying across the table with its limb fully restored.
Sylven's eyes widened, but her voice remained skeptical. "A clever trick. But one success doesn't prove its safety."
Rosalie's gaze remained fixed on the rat. "Let's continue."
Rosalie approached the healthy rat. She splashed it with a small amount of the potion, and the creature's movements grew faster, more aggressive, its muscles visibly bulging.
"An enhancement effect," Sylven murmured, her voice tinged with reluctant admiration.
Rosalie's face remained impassive as she cast a spell, pushing the enhanced rat to the brink of death. It writhed, its breathing shallow and erratic. Another drop of the potion fell, and the rat's vitality was instantly restored, its body returning to its enhanced state as if nothing had happened.
A heavy silence filled the room, broken only by the scurrying of the rats.
"This is no ordinary potion," Rosalie said, her voice low but firm.
The room was silent, the elders exchanging uneasy glances.
Venzel leaned against the table, his tone calm but pointed. "Satisfied?"
Rosalie handed the vial back to Vendel, her expression unreadable. "It seems your work has merit, human. But this doesn't mean you've earned our trust."
Elder Faelar grumbled, "One potion doesn't erase the suspicion surrounding you."
Sylven added, "We'll be watching you closely, Vendel. Any misstep, and you'll answer to us."
Venzel smirked, tucking the potion away. "I wouldn't have it any other way."