Elias Varian adjusted the calibration on his spectrometer, watching the pale blue light of the Aether Core flicker inside the glass containment field. The Tier 2 specimen, pulled from an Elysian Warg, pulsed with weak energy, its fractured surface proof of overuse.
He frowned, jotting down the latest readings.
"Seventeen percent degradation in two weeks… not bad, considering the extraction was rushed," he muttered.
His lab was a mess—half-scavenged gear, half-built projects, and stacks of old notebooks spread across every available surface. The walls were lined with reinforced insulation, shielding his work from outside interference. This wasn't just about avoiding Guild Syndicate inspections—it was about control. His work, his rules.
A chime from the security panel broke his focus. Visitor identified.
Elias sighed, powered down his tools, and unlocked the door.
Orin stepped inside, shrugging off the cold night air. Dressed in his usual high-collared coat, the faint glow of Aether circuitry ran along the lining—expensive tech, probably stolen. He moved with the ease of someone who knew exactly how dangerous he was.
"You're late," Elias said, shutting the door behind him.
Orin tossed a reinforced case onto the worktable and crossed his arms. "Courier got jumped near Haven District. Guild Syndicate hit them before they reached us."
Elias stiffened. "How bad?"
"No survivors." Orin exhaled. "That's three shipments gone this month. The Guild's tightening their grip—if they even think you're running unauthorized trades…"
Elias waved him off. "Yeah, yeah. I get it. Don't make myself a target."
Orin smirked. "See, you say that—but you suck at staying out of trouble."
Elias rolled his eyes and unlatched the case. Inside, nestled in protective padding, was something wrong.
It wasn't Aether-blue, nor the corrupt red of a shattered shard. It was black—a swirling void with faint streaks of violet. Even through the containment, the air around it felt off.
Elias narrowed his eyes. "Orin, what the fuck is this?"
Orin leaned against the table, watching him like a cat watching a trapped bird. "A birthday present."
Elias blinked. "You're joking."
"Not even a little. Voidspawn Core."
Elias inhaled sharply, glancing at the black orb again. "This came from a Voidspawn?"
Orin shrugged. "Near one of the unstable gateways. Figured you'd appreciate something rare."
Elias didn't answer immediately. Voidspawn were anomalies. Their cores were useless in magi-tech, rejected by Aether itself. No one could refine them, no one could wield them.
He carefully lifted the core with gloved hands. Even with the barrier, his fingers tingled, like static crawling under his skin.
"And you have no idea what it does?" he asked, rotating the orb under the lab lights. The surface absorbed the glow instead of reflecting it.
"No clue. The last guy who tried messing with one collapsed in an hour. Aether sickness. Neural degradation. The works." Orin grinned. "But if anyone can crack it, it's you."
Elias exhaled slowly. The Void Orb felt heavier than it should. "And if I say no?"
Orin pushed off the table, already heading for the door. "Then you'll spend the rest of your life wondering what you just passed up."
The door slid shut behind him.
Elias stared at the orb, its void-like essence still shifting in his grip.
He wasn't one to ignore a challenge.
He was going to find out what made this thing different—even if it killed him.