Chapter 25: Wintermoon Spear Dance
Time passed swiftly—three years blinked by like falling leaves in a storm.
In that time, Raven had dedicated himself relentlessly to the art of alchemy. Day and night blurred into one long experiment as he honed his craft, reaching a 100% success rate in Mortal-Rank potion concoctions. It was a milestone most alchemists only dreamed of.
But progress demanded more than skill. It demanded resources, and Darkcross Town's local herbal market offered little more than dried weeds and moldy roots.
If not for the rare ingredients his Aunt Shirley smuggled in from the Royal City's black market, he doubted he could've brewed even a single Low-Rank potion.
In three years, he succeeded in crafting only two.
The first was a Paralysis Potion—potent, effective, and completed on his fifth attempt.
The second... was far more remarkable.
A Life Affinity Potion.
His first-ever affinity-based concoction.
His heart had soared when it worked—his biggest achievement to date. But the cost had nearly emptied his pockets: 250 gold coins, all burned away in trial and error.
"Twenty sets of materials... and only one success. It was sheer luck," Raven thought.
Still, the effort hadn't been wasted. The experience taught him more than success ever could.
"Affinity potions are hard to create, lad," came Zera's voice within his mind. "No one in this world has succeeded in crafting them—not truly."
"I know," Raven murmured aloud, his tone filled with frustration and hope. "But if I can get better ingredients, I can go even further."
Despite the lack of resources, he continued to improve. He'd memorized 40% of the Adept-level alchemy books and made over a hundred Mortal-Rank potions using leftover ingredients. He sold those through under-the-table channels, slowly building his wealth.
"Even after subtracting material costs, I've got about 430 gold coins saved up," Raven mused. Surprisingly, Athena and Shirley refused to take a single coin from his earnings.
He knew why. Though they no longer feared his death was imminent, both had doubled down on their efforts. But no matter how hard they trained in the new Knight techniques, they saw no breakthrough.
"It's the shackle," Zera explained. "They'll need a Class Gem or an Awakening Potion to break it. Gems of that level are out of reach, so we must focus on the potion."
"Even if Athena reaches the peak of Knight Training... it won't be enough?" Raven asked.
"No. Not without the potion. When your aunt next visits the capital, have her search for the materials. Affinity matters—but your safety comes first. With two Radiant Knights beside you, you'll be far safer. Even official Wizards won't dare stand in your way."
"Knights can overpower Wizards?" Raven's brows rose.
"Not all Wizards are untouchable, lad. I once knew a Wizard—my creator—who was arrogant enough to challenge a higher being. He ended up... as a crown. Don't be like him. Stay cautious. Stay humble. And keep earning. You'll need wealth to walk the path of a true Alchemist."
He understood. Every potion, every breakthrough, came at a steep price.
Still, Raven's priorities were shifting.
Athena now held a vital position in Darkcross City. After slaying the Orc Commander, her name spread like wildfire. She'd been promoted to Superintendent, overseeing the Industrial and Commoner Districts—and all narcotics crime investigations. She was constantly at risk.
That alone made Raven decide.
"The Awakening Potion... I'll make it for her first."
Meanwhile, Shirley had taken on more commissions, funneling her earnings into savings. Together, the sisters had managed to gather over 660 gold coins. Combined with Raven's stash, their household had over 1,090 gold coins—enough to bid on the Miracle Life Potion at the next Royal Auction.
Even better, Raven still held two Feral Eye Crystals and a Mutant Magic Stone in his inventory.
"Those might fetch over a thousand gold coins," he thought. But Zera had warned him not to rush into selling. Wizards might come sniffing around.
Caution, once again, prevailed.
But one issue continued to gnaw at him—his injured soul.
"Twelve years might seem long... but life doesn't wait."
That concern led him to his next goal—Crow's Misery Academy. Zera told him his current Ice Affinity would make him eligible—if he healed his soul and improved his affinity rank.
But getting accepted?
Only the top 100 out of 10,000 students were chosen.
"Can I beat them all?"
"Impossible?" Zera scoffed. "You're impatient, not incapable. Focus on your alchemy—study affinity potions. Gather materials. Let everything else come in time."
He took that advice to heart.
He buried himself in books. Studied formulas. Memorized techniques. He also completed his fifth year of elementary education and enrolled in the Knight Training School.
Unlike elementary school, Knight Training focused on combat tactics, strategy, and physical endurance. But the tuition was steep—2 gold coins per month. Many students dropped out, including his closest friend, Robert, who returned to help his father's merchant business in Baron's Highhold.
Raven had wanted to help. But Zera had warned him.
"Keep a low profile. Especially from Teacher Elizabeth."
Age of Rune, Year 1415 — August 16th. 9:00 PM.
Raven lay on his bed, staring at the wooden ceiling above.
"What are you thinking, lad?" Zera asked.
"Tomorrow, I start weapon training," he whispered. "Should I pick up swordsmanship? If I train alongside my sister, I can improve faster, right?"
But he hesitated—for in his inventory sat a forgotten item: Frozen Ender, a mystical spear.
"You have no affinity for swordsmanship, Raven," Zera replied flatly. "Even if you train for twenty years, you won't be able to produce a single spark of Sword Aura."
"Can't I make a swordsmanship affinity potion?" he asked, hopeful.
"There's no such thing. Weapon affinities can't be brewed. They must be born or awakened through hardship and enlightenment. My creator had no interest in weapon arts—so there's nothing in the library about them either."
Raven frowned.
"Then why did he give me that spear? Was it useless?"
Zera went silent for a long moment.
"I wonder myself... but my creator never did anything without purpose. If he left you the Frozen Ender, it means something."
There was a pause, then Zera's tone shifted.
"Though I have little hope in this path, I'll at least teach you the basics of spearmanship."
Raven felt a tug on his mind, and suddenly, the world shifted.
He stood on the first floor of the Memory Library, surrounded by silent shelves and floating tomes.
Above, a familiar figure descended the spiral staircase—the beautiful elven woman, serene and radiant.
She stepped forward and conjured a silver-covered book from thin air. The cover bore the image of a warrior astride a silver wolf.
"This is the Wintermoon Spear Dance," she said softly. "A foundational spearmanship technique with ten stages. This volume contains the first four. Memorize them. Practice each one diligently."
Raven accepted the book and opened it to the first page.
Chapter 1: Gripping
"Hold the spear with both hands, spaced apart for balance. The leading hand should grip closer to the spearhead, offering control. The trailing hand supports and stabilizes the weapon..."
He continued reading, eyes widening with each word.
"Overhand Grip—A traditional grip where both palms face downward. The leading hand presses the thumb along the shaft, while the index and middle fingers maintain control. The rear hand anchors the shaft for stability..."
Raven's heart pounded.
He could feel it—this wasn't just a weapon.
It was a beginning.
"What is this feeling...?" he whispered.
The spear had called to him for years, sitting quietly in his inventory.
Now, for the first time, it stirred.
"I'll only give you one hour per day for reading about Spearmanship, lad. In the remaining time, you should focus on improving your knowledge in Alchemy," Zera said, dampening his excitement.
"Okay," he replied with a nod, suppressing his enthusiasm and returning to the book.
Once the allocated hour ended, he shifted to the Adept Rank Alchemy books and memorized the theoretical knowledge with full concentration.