The sun hung low in the sky as Aiden stood in his mother's alchemy lab, carefully mixing the ingredients for another healing potion. His concentration was absolute, his hands steady as he followed the meticulous process outlined in the alchemy book. The soft bubbling of the cauldron filled the room as Aiden adjusted the flame beneath it. He reached for the final ingredient—a sprig of moonwort—only to find the jar empty.
Frowning, Aiden paused, realizing the potion's preparation was now ruined without the essential component. He sighed, extinguishing the flame and setting down his tools. The thought struck him then: the ingredients in his mother's lab were insufficient for his continued practice. He had been making potions relentlessly over the past few days, and the shelves were now bare of several key items.
Wiping his hands on a cloth, Aiden headed upstairs to find his mother. Ayleen was in the kitchen, kneading dough for bread, when Aiden approached her.
"Mother," he began, "where can I get more ingredients for the healing potion? I've run out of moonwort."
Ayleen stopped mid-motion and turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "You've run out of moonwort?" she repeated, surprised. "How much of it have you been using?"
"I've been practicing," Aiden replied earnestly.
Curious, Ayleen wiped her hands on her apron and gestured for him to lead her to the lab. When they descended the stairs, her eyes widened in shock. Row after row of neatly arranged healing potions lined the workbench and shelves. Each vial was carefully sealed and labeled, their contents glowing faintly in the dim light. Ayleen's jaw dropped as she examined them more closely.
"Aiden," she murmured, picking up one of the vials. "These are incredible. Some of these have a purity level of nearly 100%."
Aiden watched her with a mixture of pride and nervousness. "Are they good?"
Ayleen placed the vial back on the shelf and turned to him, her expression a mix of amazement and concern. "They're better than good. Even though these are basic healing potions, their quality is astounding. Most professional alchemists would struggle to achieve this level of purity."
She paused, then asked, "What do you plan to do with all these potions?"
Aiden hesitated. "Can we sell them to buy more ingredients?"
Ayleen laughed, shaking her head. "Sell them? Aiden, merchants would line up to get their hands on stock like this. They might even offer you an endless supply of ingredients in exchange for these potions."
Aiden's eyes lit up at the prospect, but Ayleen quickly sobered and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Listen to me, Aiden. Your skill is extraordinary, but it's also unusual. You mustn't reveal your success rate or even the fact that you know alchemy before you get into the Royal Academy. Do you understand?"
Aiden nodded solemnly. "I understand, Mother. Don't worry; I won't tell anyone."
Relieved, Ayleen hugged him tightly. "Good. Now let's have lunch. We'll discuss this with your father when he gets home."
Later, as they sat down for their midday meal, Orin returned from his smithy. He set his tools by the door and joined them at the table. Ayleen wasted no time recounting the day's events, describing Aiden's potions and his remarkable progress.
Orin listened intently, his eyes widening in surprise. "Aiden, you never cease to amaze us," he said with a proud smile. "If we need more ingredients, we can go to the nearest city tomorrow. It'll be a good opportunity for you to see the world beyond the village. And I will also need to stock up on metal and other things."
Aiden's face lit up. "Really? I've never been to a city before! I'd love to go."
Orin chuckled. "Then it's settled. We'll leave early in the morning, so make sure you get plenty of rest tonight."
That afternoon, Aiden went to play with his village friends, Rodrick and Lily, to share the news. Rodrick, the village head's six-year-old son with brown hair and sharp black eyes, listened intently as Aiden explained he'd be away for a couple of days. Lily, the five-year-old daughter of the village merchant, clapped her hands in excitement. Her reddish-brown hair glinted in the sunlight as she exclaimed, "You're going to the city? It's amazing! The streets are paved, and there are so many shops and people."
Aiden smiled, feeling a swell of happiness at their enthusiasm. "I'll bring back souvenirs for you both," he promised.
Rodrick nodded approvingly. "That would be great! And when you get back, you'll have to tell us all about it."
The three of them played until the sun began to set, and Aiden returned home. That evening, as he lay in bed, he found it hard to sleep, his mind buzzing with excitement about the journey ahead.
.
.
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Far to the north, in the Beast Continent, the atmosphere was tense. The ancestral beast and the guardian protector of the beast continent, tigress Kalindra, a towering figure of raw power and authority, walked with a predator's gait through the shadowed passageways of her domain. Her striped fur shimmered faintly in the dim torchlight, and her piercing golden eyes scanned the path ahead. Her swishing tail created a rhythmic sound that echoed ominously.
Guards lining the halls dropped to their knees as she passed, their heads bowed in deference. Her mere presence exuded a primal aura that made even the bravest of them tremble. None dared to meet her gaze as she approached the grand doors leading to the council hall.
Inside, the council was already in session. Clan leaders of the Beast Continent—monkeys, bears, wolves, and others—were locked in heated debate, their voices rising as they demanded answers from the lion king, Alphonso. The golden-maned king sat at the head of the table, sipping tea with a calm demeanor that belied the chaos around him.
"Why have you called this urgent meeting, Alphonso?" the bear clan leader growled. "We're not here to waste time."
"Indeed," added the wolf clan leader, his sharp eyes narrowing. "If this is another one of your delays, I'll have no part of it."
The lion king remained unperturbed, his golden eyes glinting with amusement. But his calm disregard did not escape the notice of the fox clan leader or the naga representative, both of whom exchanged suspicious glances.
As the arguments reached a fever pitch, the grand doors burst open, their hinges snapping as they slammed against the walls. A wave of primal energy flooded the hall, silencing everyone. The ancestral tigress entered with measured steps, her gaze sweeping over the room. One by one, the clan leaders averted their eyes, unable to withstand the force of her presence.
Alphonso stood and bowed deeply. "Greetings, Ancestor."
The other leaders followed suit, rising from their seats and bowing in unison. The tigress nodded curtly and took the seat of honor at the head of the table. Her commanding voice broke the silence.
"Sit."
The leaders obeyed without question. She looked at each of them, her gaze lingering long enough to make them squirm, before she spoke again.
"I have called this meeting to deliver a notice. The Shard of Genesis has appeared."
Her words dropped like a thunderclap, plunging the hall into stunned silence. The clan leaders exchanged wide-eyed glances, their previous bravado replaced with uncertainty and fear.
"Prepare your territories," Kalindra continued. "History may be repeating itself, and this time, the dragons will not remain idle. The tides are shifting, and we must be ready."
Without another word, she rose and strode out of the hall, her aura lingering like a stormcloud. The leaders sat frozen, processing the gravity of her announcement. Finally, Alphonso broke the silence, his voice calm but firm.
"Return to your lands and prepare accordingly. The world is changing, and we must adapt."
The leaders nodded, their expressions grim as they departed. The hall emptied, but the weight of the tigress's words lingered like an ominous shadow.
Back in Brishelm, the first light of dawn crept through the windows as Aiden leapt out of bed, ready for his first adventure to the city. Unbeknownst to him, the world beyond his village was shifting, and his journey would mark the beginning of something far greater than he could imagine.