The Alchemy Wing was unlike any part of the Spire Azhaan had explored before. The air buzzed faintly with the energy of the processes happening all around him. Glass vials bubbled with liquid mana, rune-carved furnaces roared with steady flames, and faint whispers of magic wove through the voices of the tamers and alchemists hard at work.
Azhaan stood at the edge of the workstation, taking in the sight of shelves crammed with ingredients—some glowing, others pulsing, and a few radiating a cold, almost eerie presence. The alchemist who had requested help, a young woman named Leira, adjusted her thick, silver goggles and turned toward him with a hurried energy.
"Mana extraction isn't complicated," she began, her voice tinged with excitement as she placed a cluster of glowing, jagged crystals on the table between them. "But it requires precision and focus. You mess up, and—"
A small explosion erupted from a nearby station, sending a burst of purple smoke into the air.
Azhaan winced as Leira chuckled nervously. "That happens."
Shade growled softly from its place near the edge of the room, its red eyes flicking toward the source of the chaos. Azhaan felt the faint pulse of disapproval through their bond.
"Reassuring," Azhaan muttered, turning his attention back to Leira. "What do you need me to do?"
Leira pushed a small set of tools toward him, her hands fluttering with nervous energy. "We're going to crush the mana crystals into a fine powder and blend it with purified water. The trick is to keep the mana stable—it wants to… well, explode."
Azhaan raised an eyebrow. "Great. No pressure."
Azhaan picked up one of the glowing crystals, its surface humming faintly with energy. The warmth of it was surprising, like holding a living ember in his hand. Using a small, rune-carved hammer, he carefully tapped the crystal, breaking it into smaller fragments.
"Slow and steady," Leira said, her tone suddenly serious. "Too much force, and the mana destabilizes."
Azhaan nodded, his grip tightening on the hammer as he worked. The smaller fragments shimmered faintly as he ground them into a fine powder, the energy within them sparking faintly with each movement.
Leira handed him a vial of purified water, its surface smooth and clear like liquid glass. "Now comes the hard part," she said. "Slowly mix the powder into the water while I stabilize it with the runes. If it starts glowing too brightly, stop immediately."
Azhaan poured the first pinch of powder into the water, watching as it dissolved instantly. The liquid shimmered faintly, its surface rippling with soft waves of energy.
"Good," Leira said, tracing her finger over the rune-carved edge of the workstation. The symbols glowed softly, their light steady and calming. "Now keep going, but don't rush."
Azhaan worked carefully, adding the powder in small increments. With each addition, the water glowed brighter, its energy swirling in mesmerizing patterns. Shade watched intently from the edge of the room, its red eyes fixed on the process. The bond between them pulsed faintly, a mix of caution and encouragement.
Finally, the liquid settled into a steady glow, its energy radiating warmth. Leira let out a breath she'd clearly been holding, her shoulders relaxing.
"You did it," she said, a grin spreading across her face. "That's some of the finest mana-infused water I've seen in weeks."
Azhaan set the vial down carefully, relief washing over him. "Thanks. Let's hope it works for what I need."
Azhaan returned to the workshop where Instructor Miren was still busy, now overseeing a group of students working on enchantments. Her crystalline serpent shifted on her shoulders, its gaze fixing on Azhaan as he approached.
"You're back," Miren said, her tone neutral but laced with curiosity. "And you've found a medium, I see."
Azhaan held up the glowing vial. "Mana-infused water. Leira helped me refine it."
Miren stepped closer, her sharp eyes appraising the liquid. She nodded slowly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Impressive. This will work perfectly as a stabilizing medium."
Azhaan's shoulders relaxed slightly. "So, what's next?"
Miren gestured toward the far end of the workshop, where a circular chamber was partially visible through an arched doorway. "The evolution chamber. It's a protected space designed for rituals like this. I'll guide you through the process, but the success depends on you and your bond with Shade."
Azhaan glanced at Shade, who padded silently to his side. The Shadow Stalker's red eyes glowed faintly, and the bond between them pulsed with quiet determination.
"We're ready," Azhaan said firmly.
The evolution chamber was unlike anything Azhaan had ever seen. The circular room was lined with glowing runes that pulsed in rhythmic patterns, their light illuminating the smooth stone walls. At the center of the chamber was a raised platform surrounded by a faintly glowing barrier.
"The platform is designed to channel the energy from the materials into your beast," Miren explained, her tone steady. "Place Shade on the platform and arrange the materials around it. The Lunar Bloom and Starfire Shard will provide the energy, and the mana-infused water will bind it to Shade's essence."
Azhaan stepped onto the platform, his heart pounding as he carefully placed the Lunar Bloom and Starfire Shard in front of Shade. The Shadow Stalker sat silently, its body tense but composed as its red eyes watched him.
Miren moved to the edge of the chamber, her crystalline serpent uncoiling and slithering toward the runes. As she traced her fingers over the glowing symbols, the room filled with a low hum, the energy of the chamber intensifying.
"Azhaan," Miren said, her voice cutting through the hum. "This is where your bond will be tested. Focus on Shade, trust in the connection you've built, and guide the energy. If you lose focus, the process will fail."
Azhaan nodded, swallowing hard. "We've got this," he said softly, meeting Shade's gaze.
The bond between them pulsed strongly, a surge of mutual understanding and determination flowing through the connection.
As Azhaan poured the mana-infused water over the Lunar Bloom and Starfire Shard, the materials began to glow brightly, their energy swirling together in intricate patterns. The air around them crackled with raw power, and Azhaan felt the bond with Shade deepen, their connection sharper than ever before.
Shade's body tensed as the energy flowed into it, its form flickering faintly with shadowy light. The runes on the platform glowed brighter, their patterns shifting as the chamber hummed with rising intensity.
Azhaan closed his eyes, focusing entirely on the bond. He could feel Shade's thoughts, its emotions, its unwavering trust in him. The energy surged around them, and for a moment, it felt like they were one being, their essences intertwined.
The glow reached a blinding crescendo, and then… silence.
When Azhaan opened his eyes, Shade stood before him, its sleek form shimmering faintly. Its red eyes glowed brighter than ever, and the bond between them pulsed with newfound strength.
"You did it," Miren said, her voice soft but filled with approval.
Azhaan stepped forward, placing a hand on Shade's head. "We did it," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.