Chapter 92: Concoction
The underground chamber smelled faintly of herbs and iron. Dust motes floated in the light of a single glowing crystal as Raven wiped the wooden table clean with a sterilized solution. His movements were calm, practiced—almost ritualistic.
He laid each ingredient with care, like a jeweler setting gemstones. The Temporal Lotus petals shimmered faintly, shedding ripples of silvery light. Crystallinewine resin glistened like molten glass under a forge. The powdered Stardew Lizard bone gleamed with a ghostly sheen, while the Bluefire Ash pulsed with a dying ember's warmth. A small flask of Ethereal Water swirled with an unnatural density, its surface refusing to settle. Last came the Dark Root Oil—thick, black, and still, as if the shadows themselves had been condensed within the vial.
Raven rolled up his sleeves and muttered, "Let's begin." His eyes sharpened, and the faint glow of magic danced across his pupils.
'Mind Eye.'
The world shifted. Every motion, every flicker of energy—he could feel them, as if time itself slowed to let him observe.
He arranged his alchemical kit: a rune-etched furnace, delicate flasks, and a glass beaker with stabilizing runes. The faint hum of the magic circle under the table resonated with the runes, giving a rhythmic pulse to the air.
He placed a Temporal Lotus petal in a bowl and began grinding it with a jade pestle. A sweet, almost nostalgic scent filled the chamber, stirring faint memories of rain over moonlit ponds.
"First, the Lotus."
He poured fifty milliliters of ethereal water into the flask and dropped the crushed petals in. The water shimmered—then glowed with a faint silver hue.
Drop by drop, he added Crystallinewine resin. The mixture thickened, forming threads of liquid mercury. Raven's hand didn't tremble even once.
Half a teaspoon of powdered Stardew Lizard bone came next. The instant the powder touched the surface, the potion hissed and exhaled a faint blue mist. Raven's eyes narrowed.
Not enough reaction.
He stirred slowly, waiting for the mist to fade before adding Bluefire Ash. The ash flared bright blue for a heartbeat before dying down, leaving the potion shimmering like moonlight caught in ripples.
"Now… the tricky part."
He lifted the vial of dark root oil. His voice dropped to a whisper. "Too fast, it collapses. Too slow, the time essence will scatter."
One drop.
Two.
Three.
Each fall of ink-black oil sent ripples through the silver liquid. The potion shivered, light warping around it as if the air itself grew heavier. A faint hum spread across the table, vibrating through the flask's glass.
The glow brightened to purple—then fizzled.
Raven frowned. The potion dulled to gray sludge.
"Failure."
His tone was flat, but his jaw tightened.
He exhaled, closing his eyes. 'Where did I go wrong?'
[You added the bone powder too early.] Zera's voice was calm, echoing faintly in his mind.
"I see…" He murmured. "Let's start again."
Without hesitation, Raven cleaned the flask and restarted. His fingers moved faster, guided by memory and precision.
This time, the mist deepened to an azure hue—the color he wanted. His lips curled faintly. "Perfect."
The ash stabilized the mixture, its glow steady and calm. Then came the oil—slow, deliberate. Each drop resonated like the ticking of a clock. The air thickened, humming in rhythm with the potion's pulse.
A final drop.
The potion flared violet, then turned into a translucent silver liquid threaded with swirling purple lines.
Raven leaned back. "Failure again…" His voice was softer this time. His eyes, however, burned with focus.
He analyzed every motion, every breath he took. "It's the oil. A drop too much."
He began again.
The third attempt was different. His body moved automatically, guided not by sight but instinct. The chamber grew silent save for the crackle of the furnace and the occasional hiss of energy.
When the last drop fell, the potion let out a soft hum—melodic, rhythmic, alive.
The glow steadied. Silver and violet intertwined like twin serpents.
Raven smiled faintly. "It's done."
[Amazing! Your success rate of concocting beginner-rank potions has increased from 10% to 33%. You can consider yourself a peak-rank Beginner Alchemist now.]
Zera's tone was almost proud.
Raven examined the vial with a monocle. A faint blue screen appeared.
…
[Name: Time Affinity Potion]
[Grade: Beginner]
[Effect: 90% chance to increase user's Time Affinity from 'Nil' → 'Low'.]
…
"Not bad."
He uncorked the flask and drank.
The taste was sharp and metallic. The moment it slid down his throat, his surroundings warped. Every droplet in the air seemed frozen mid-fall. The faint hum of the furnace stretched into eternity.
Then, with a pulse, the world resumed.
Raven opened his eyes, his heartbeat slow but steady. "It worked."
A faint shimmer appeared beside his vision.
[Time Affinity: Low]
He exhaled in relief, then sat cross-legged on the floor. "Let's complete the Fourth Circlet."
His consciousness slipped into the Mind Space.
Darkness surrounded him, vast and endless. Floating runes drifted through the void like glowing stars. He focused, weaving the hexagonal formation that would form the Time Circlet.
Runic words etched themselves into existence, glowing white and gold.
The structure pulsed—alive.
Two spell models descended from above, crystalline and brilliant. Past Self.Mind Eye.
As the Circlet absorbed them, a wave of energy spread through the Mind Space. Raven's eyes opened back in reality, silver light fading from his irises.
He whispered, "Past Self."
A ripple passed through him, and suddenly—he was standing a few feet away, watching himself at the table, repeating the same motions as before.
The clone looked so real it might've been breathing. When it vanished thirty seconds later, Raven felt the faint drain of energy and smirked.
"Thirty seconds of duplication… recharge in five minutes. Acceptable."
He cleaned his workspace and climbed the stone stairs back to the manor.
Servants bowed as he entered the main hall.
"Tell Jacob to come to my room," he said, already heading upstairs.
The oak door closed behind him with a soft click.
The warmth of the Aether lamp spread across his polished desk and ornate furniture. He loosened his robe and exhaled. "Four more affinities to brew. That should be enough for now."
He changed clothes, bathed, and by the time he stepped out, Jacob was waiting outside.
"Come in," Raven said, drying his hair.
Jacob entered, holding a thick book. "The Empire's Constitution Law Book, my lord. I couldn't buy it, but Toby helped me borrow it from the Court Library. We must return it by Monday."
"One day is enough." Raven sat, flipping through the pages. "Any information?"
"Yes, my lord." Jacob's tone lowered. "Toby's uncle works at the Supreme Court. He said all bribes to the Judges go through a man named Everett. He manages the Court building and has ties with nobles—and the Crows Misery wizards. On Sundays, only patrols and cleaners enter the building."
"Good." Raven looked up. "Find out who handles the cleaning of the main hearing room this Sunday." He paused, then added, "I need two hours inside. Alone. Bribe Everett if needed."
He tossed a heavy leather pouch onto the table. Gold coins clinked.
Jacob blinked. "My lord… this is—"
"Five hundred gold," Raven said evenly. "Make sure it's anonymous."
Jacob bowed. "Yes, my lord."
"Also," Raven handed over a ring. "Sell the unused materials at Mystic Cauldron and buy the rest from this list. Use the remaining funds wisely."
"Yes, my lord. Anything else?"
"You and Selene can use the spirit pool. I won't be using it this week."
Jacob's eyes widened. Gratitude replaced shock. "Thank you, my lord. We'll not waste this chance."
"Go."
When the door closed, Raven leaned back and shut his eyes.
…
He awoke at 8 P.M., ate dinner with Jacob and the others, then entered the illusionary world again. Hours of spear practice left him drenched in sweat.
By 2 A.M., he sat back on his bed, staring at the ceiling. "Zera. Show me Charles Nightwind's memories."
[You'll find them on the twenty-fifth shelf of Runeth's section. There aren't many, but they're worth reading.]
Raven's consciousness entered the library of memories. Rows of shelves stretched into infinity. He followed the faint blue glow to the twenty-fifth shelf and pulled out a book.
The pages unfolded before his eyes—not paper, but living scenes.
He saw Charles and Runeth meeting as enemies. He saw contracts, betrayals, and a battle against a Goddess's incarnation. He watched Charles trick gods and mortals alike, wielding fire as if it were alive.
When the visions ended, Raven stood still, breathing heavily.
"He built a Magic Tower… and killed a Goddess's vessel." His voice trembled with awe. "And he was only at the Expert Realm."
He memorized the tower's blueprints and shut the book.
Back in the waking world, dawn crept through the window.
[What will you do today?] Zera asked.
Raven's eyes glowed faintly. "It's September 20th. Time to perfect the plan. No mistakes this time. If I want to save my aunt… I'll use every advantage."