With the materials in hand, Lucas set out to brew the next potion.
Sequence 5 - Ringmaster.
He entered the Hecate Cabin, using the potion cauldron set up inside. After all, a home for witches was never complete without a cauldron.
The ingredients were already gathered: the siren feathers willingly given from Persephone, the tragic lyre gifted by Hades, the vial of Argus' tears brought by Annabeth, the fang of Charybdis secured by Elizabeth, and the tongue of an Echo-Drakon gathered by Thalia and Luke.
They lay neatly arranged beside him as Lucas lit the fire beneath the cauldron and added the water base, watching it heat. When it was ready, he first added the Fang of Charybdis. The instant it touched the water, it sank dramatically below the waterline, creating a whirlpool that stirred the concoction without him having to do it himself.
Next, he threw in the lyre, an instrument of a tragic artist. When the lyre hit the water, it released sorrowful wails, and a green mist seemed to emerge from the lyre, forming into a wailing spectre. It tried to struggle free from the lyre, but the whirlpool created from the fang seemed to suck the spectre into the water, turning the water a murky green as the lyre dissolved.
Next came the feathers. Lucas dipped them into the murky water one at a time; each feather, upon touching the concoction, dissolved into threads of silver. Next came the tongue of the Echo-Drakon, dropping it into the cauldron, indiscernible muttering seemed to pour from the water. Lastly, Lucas added the tears of Argus, watching as they were mixed with the water thanks to the whirlpool and seeing the color change from murky green to crystal clear yellow, with silver threads acting as veins throughout.
He pulled out a flask and poured the completed potion into it, making it easier for him to consume. He raised the flask to his lips and gulped it down.
For a moment, there was nothing, then a slight warmth spread from his heart, seemingly flowing through his veins as it explored his body. It soon faded, leaving him feeling relaxed, almost like he had just experienced a massage.
Then his mark ignited.
The Fool's brand, hidden beneath his collarbone, seared to life with such force that Lucas collapsed to his knees. His breath caught in his throat. The pain was white-hot, causing his mind to freeze and his vision to cloud. He gritted his teeth, pressed his hands to the stone floor, struggling against the pain.
The mark pulsed again. Once. Twice.
And just as he thought he'd black out, it receded.
Lucas breathed. Slowly. Shaking, but alive. Sweat dripped from his face, pooling onto the floor. He flipped himself onto his back, his body too sore to move, leaving Lucas to rest on the cold, hard ground, as he did have enough strength even to cast healing magic.
Lucas didn't know how long he lay on the floor, but eventually the pain dulled, allowing him enough strength to cast some healing magic on himself, reinvigorating him and enabling him to stand up.
There wasn't much difference physically, but Lucas felt the knowledge of his new powers in his mind.
Impressioncraft - Combining the powers of Illusion Creation and Spirit Manipulation, not only are they enhanced, but the Ringmaster can now manipulate the target's mind, implanting illusory thoughts and beliefs.
True Veil Sight - A Ringmaster can see all that is hidden from the sight of the audience. Combining the powers of reading minds and Veil Sight (Enhanced), whether it be seeing through illusions, remnant magic, or Memory, both surface and deep, A ringmaster sees all.
Pseudo Thread-Tugging - The user can see the spiritual threads that compose emotion, will, memory, fear, etc. Subtle tugs on these threads allow momentary shifts in behavior, instinct, or perception. Does not override free will but gently guides it off course.
He didn't try to test his abilities, feeling it would be better to do so when his mind wasn't so tired. While he could reinvigorate his body, his mind remained exhausted. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the tarot card, wanting to see what exactly the next sequence would be. Especially since, from what he learnt, this would be the sequence that transcends him from mortal to immortal.
Sequence 4 – The Illusionist
Ritual: Drink the potion at a boundary of the veil.
This was different from normal; whenever he checked the fool card, it always gave a name, materials, and abilities. But now it was just a name and something new, a ritual. Worse still, he couldn't think of how he could accomplish this. He thought of the grey mist he first witnessed when finding the tarot card; maybe that place would count, but he had never been able to return there; there was no connection, no power that could be used.
Still, Lucas put the card away, and got up. He would figure it out later; his focus should be on completing sequence 5. With this in mind, Lucas returned to the hearth, where he saw the Di'Angelo twins meeting with Luke and the rest, Ethan sitting on the side, being bugged by Elizabeth into talking with her. Seeing this small group, Lucas couldn't help but feel some of the tiredness vanish from his mind.