A Complication

Alexander had Violette sit down in an open area before having all the monster cores placed around her, as close to each other as possible, and then he asked everyone to surround the crystals, forming a last ring.

"All right, Violette. I'll have you focus on the monster cores first. Once you have all that mana inside you, start pushing it toward the mana lobe area, and compressing it. We'll inject mana into you, as well, so the supply doesn't run short.

"Once you have a solid core, tell me. I'll have to focus on forming an Aether particle, which will take most of my concentration, but I'll hear you. And that Aether particle is what will solidify the mana lobe.

"Are you ready?" he asked, after finishing his explanation.

Violette looked a bit out of place, surrounded by crystals of varying sizes, and a ring of people, also varying in sizes, but she nodded toward him.

"I am. We can begin."