Bleeding

The amber light of the heavens had begun to wain above Aurelia's head, wet with sweat. Her hands trembled around the cauldron as her shoulders stiffened, and her jaw clenched as she tried with her all not to give in. Her throat tightened as she held on firmly.

Around the cauldron, Arcana began to swell, bending to her will. Veins of energy began to flow endlessly, be it from Heaven and Earth or her very core. Aurelia manipulated the Arcana as if it were part of her body, allowing it to endlessly flow as if it were her blood. She carefully tried to fill the cauldron to the best of her abilities.

Watching on from the staff, Eldritch's Soul Flame trembled as he observed in utter fascination, witnessing a child go from novice to master in the art of Arcane Manipulation in just a few hours.

Her heart began to hammer like drums as she clenched her teeth. She slowly released her hold as she knew holding on any longer would cause her to lose consciousness. Sinking to her knee, she gasped for breath, struggling to fend away the fog filling her sight.

"My word!" Eldritch started, in an unbelievable tone, " my lady, you were amazing! Your Arcane Manipulation is leagues ahead of those your age."

Bathing in her sweat, Aurelia chuckled wryly, barely able to move, but through sheer willpower, she lifted her weary body that felt heavier than a mountain and reached for the cauldron and opened it.

Struck by a heavenly aura permeating the land and skies, the setting sun vanished, and as if the heavens had heard its call, an ocean of multicolored light shimmering with untold colors futtered the night skies.

Eyes glittering, Aurelia peered at the auroras with a look of utter fascination, sensing the bond between the Heavens and what lay within. She peeped her head inside like a curious fox and stared at the golden crystal, bleeding a rich starry light.

"CLOSE IT QUICK!!!!" Eldrich shouted, "It's bleeding! Hurry!"

Snapping into action, Aurelia resealed the lid. ' What happened? What do you mean by bleeding?" She hurridly asked, unsure if she had made a mistake.

"Bleeding is a term we use in alchemy when we create something that releases energy, despite being fully formed."

Aurelia's brow jumped in shock," Why didn't you tell me beforehand that this could happen?"

"That's because it's so rare when making Arcane Crystals no one ever thought it would happen," Eldrich explained, unable to understand what happened. " I mean, no offense, my lady, but you just aren't strong enough or skilled enough to create a pill or crystal that bleeds. If this crystal is bleeding, it can only mean that it's purer than the Heavens that govern you." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "It must be your Sacred Flame. It must have burned away all the impurities."

"That's nice, but how do I stop the bleed?"

"Just leave it there for a few minutes, and it'll be fine. Masters like myself, unless specified, will leave our creation within the cauldron a few extra minutes to ensure nothing bleeds and gets corrupted."

Unease dripped from Aurelia's mind as she stared at the cauldron for a long time: Was it broken? Did it lose its potency? What's wrong?

Thoughts raced through Auralia's mind as the seconds felt like hours and minutes like days. It wasn't until Eldrich had said something that she rushed to open her treasure.

Staring at the golden crystal that had lost some of its lusters, now holding bits of imperfection, Aurelia felt her heart dip in disappointment. Her fingers clenched, and her eyes swelled with anger.

"Damn it."

"My lady," whispered Eldrich. "It's fine. You did the—"

"It's not fine!" Aurelia shouted, biting down. She tasted the copper of blood spill from her gums. "It's not ok. What good is my power, my sacred flame that comes from my blood, if I can't use it? I'm not normal, Eldritch. I'm not! My body is stronger than all those my age and not by a little. Aside from those in the Red Woods, I've not found my equal."

The Lord of Nightmares, when silent. "So you wish to hold yourself to a higher standard?"

"Zariel is perfect."

"Zariel is a fool who strive for perfection, the Mortal Dao of those insane. There will come a time when he might just kill himself to amend his imperfection." Eldrich claimed in a steady tone. "His mother would turn in her grave had she seen what he'd done."

Aurelia froze and stared at the golden crystal as small as her pinky, crystal clear with a few fine points.

She smiled.

Unable to help herself from lifting the Arcane Crystal out of the cauldron that had seemed to have suffered a deep cleansing in the process, the inside looked as if it were brand new.

Such a nuance was all but missed by Aurelia in her haste.

But not Eldrich, who began to understand the power held in the Sacred Flames. It was not just a simple flame capable of smiting evil but purifying anything it touched.

He shuttered, wondering about such a flame's effects on a soul—especially one as corrupt as his.

"My lady," Eldritch finally said, pushing down the unease," That crystal should be more than enough to help you break through many times over. If you'd like, you can make enough to help you rival Zariel cultivation in terms of Acana. "

"It's so simple?" She asked, unable to believe it.

"Not really, but your flames made it that easy," Eldrich stated, a little overwhelmed that a mortal could do such a thing.

Aurelia's golden eyes glowed as she stared at the crystal, "I'll do it. With this, I'll defeat Dumb-Dumb."

"How nice." A sharp voice said. "You made us a—"

Sending the crystal into her Infinity Ring, Aurelia snapped her eye toward Vesryn, standing with a bloodied arm alongside Laris, whose sandy red hair seemed disheveled.

"Tough battle?" Aurelia said, cutting them off, pulling as much Arcana from the air as she could to replenish the lost tank.

'Hand it over, Aurelia," Vesryn calmly said, unsheathing the knight sword at his waist, narrowing his unyielding eyes that didn't carry chivalry this night.

"GRRRRRRRRRRR" Releasing a feral growl, the wolf standing by Aurelia's side as a brave knight stood on all fours.

"How do I use Bloodline suppression?" Aurelia asked aloud.

"You mad? What are you talking about?" Laris spat, snapping his sword from its sheath. He licked his lips and smiled.

"Will it, my lady! Everything comes down to will and intent." Eldrich softly said, "That's all I can say."