Potioneering Test

"Silence!" 

The hall fell into a hushed anticipation as Tyne's voice echoed, the weight of his presence palpable in the air. The magicians, once a cacophony of murmurs and shuffling feet, now stood as silent sentinels, their eyes fixed on the enigmatic figure before them.

Tyne's gaze swept across the room, his eyes piercing through the facade of bravado many had put up. "This is not merely a test of skill," he continued, his voice steady and commanding. "It is a crucible for the spirit. The Four Seasons Garden does not simply seek Potioneers; we seek pioneers who will push the boundaries of the arcane arts."

He paused, allowing his words to sink in, then gestured grandly towards the ornate door. "For those who harbor any doubts, let this be the moment of decision. Stand and face the challenge with valor, or depart with the knowledge that you were given a chance to touch greatness."

The room remained silent, the tension thick as the magicians internalized Tyne's ultimatum. 

It was then that Wade stepped forward, his demeanor contrasting Tyne's sternness with a hint of mischief in his eyes. "And let's not forget," he chimed in, "success in this trial promises more than honor. The Jeffrey's Purifying Potion is a marvel—a testament to one's mastery over the volatile and the subtle. To craft it is to weave magic into liquid form. No entrance fee would be required on your part, should your potion be a success."

Wade's eyes twinkled as he surveyed the room. "But be warned, the cost of failure is not just pride, but coin. Our ingredients are precious, and while the Garden is generous, it is not charitable."

With a flourish, Wade conjured a levitating golden hourglass, its sands a glittering cascade marking the inexorable march of time. "Let this be the measure of your resolve," he declared. "When the last grain falls, so too will the verdict on your aspirations."

As the magicians hastened to their stations, Leylin moved with deliberate grace. His stride was unhurried, his confidence an unspoken challenge to the room. 

The examiners watched carefully, intrigued by the poise of the young mage who had caught Lord Crew's eye. Tyne's expression, however, was a mask of skepticism. 'Let us see if the endorsement of a lord is enough to weather the storm of reality,' he thought.

Leylin, now at his workbench, surveyed his domain. The corner spot he was assigned to offered solitude, a haven where his focus could be absolute. He observed his peers, their hands a blur of motion, their brows furrowed in concentration.

'They dance on the edge of failure, unaware of the symphony of alchemy that plays beyond their senses,' Leylin mused. 'It is time to conduct a masterpiece.'

With a sly grin, he set to work, his movements a blend of art and science, each step a note in the grand opus of potion crafting he was about to compose.

The task at hand was no ordinary feat. It was the brewing of the notorious Jeffrey's Purifying Potion—a concoction so intricate and complex that it had stumped even the most seasoned Potioneers. Its delicate balance of ingredients and the precision required in its brewing process had earned it a reputation as a potion that only the most skilled could master. Yet, for Leylin Farlier, a young Magus of exceptional talent, it was mere child's play to concoct something so mundane.

As Leylin approached his cauldron, there was a serene confidence about him that belied the complexity of the task ahead. His eyes, alight with an unspoken knowledge, held a deep understanding of the art of Potioneering that few could claim to possess. 

With a graceful flourish, he began adding ingredients in a choreographed sequence—a dance of elements, each movement precise and deliberate. His hands moved with the rhythm of a well-rehearsed ballet, each step a testament to his unparalleled mastery.

The two Light Magi examiners, clad in their resplendent robes, watched with growing astonishment as Leylin manipulated the energies within the cauldron. His hands weaved through the air, not unlike a conductor before an orchestra, guiding the energies with an ease that bordered on the supernatural.

"Hmm?" Tyne, one of the examiners who had been sweeping his gaze over the applicants, suddenly uttered a sound of surprise. His eyes were fixed on Leylin, his expression one of disbelief.

"Who is this Leylin Farlier? He's only a third-grade soul aptitude, yet he makes the cauldron come alive with the energies of each ingredient!" Wade, the other examiner, whispered to his friend, his voice a mix of awe and curiosity.

"That Magus... His brewing methods are beyond perfect. I've never seen something like this in all my time as a Potioneer," Tyne finally said after a long pause, struggling to find a term that could adequately describe the level of skill Leylin was displaying.

"Look! Even though the other magicians are skilled, they tend to falter. However, there isn't the slightest bit of a lapse in his technique or in his movements. Everything is so stable, as if he's bringing a textbook example to life," Tyne continued, his voice filled with admiration.

"No… he's surpassing a textbook example… It's like watching an Alchemy Grandmaster at work!" Wade stared, mesmerized, at the handsome young man in the corner who was leisurely refining a green plant with one hand while seamlessly mixing another ingredient with the other.

The truth was, if Leylin could employ his Dark Tendrils at that moment, he would have already completed the potion. It didn't take him more than five minutes when he truly focused. Normally, it would take a Magus anywhere from four to seven hours to finish such a concoction! The reason for the disparity was simple: it would typically require several different tools for Magi to refine the ingredients for a potion or pill.

But Leylin, who could wield every element without restriction thanks to his perfect understanding of each method through Aralis, could bypass the need for most tools and replicate the effects to an even greater extent, using spells, runes, and incantations. 

His form of alchemy was reminiscent of the kind practiced by ancient Magi of the Golden Era. If the Great Magus Serholm were present, he would undoubtedly nod in approval at Leylin's technique.

Leylin was currently using his right hand to chill the beaker with an Ice element chilling aura, while the fingers on his left hand emitted golden Light element flames. When combined, the color transformed into a striking red.

"This is the Flame Combining Method, unique to the Dark Magi domain, and is a high-level technique used in Potioneering by masters and grandmasters! To think that he's so proficient in such a rare method…" Wade wore an expression of sheer admiration. "It looks like we've found ourselves a future senior member," he whispered to his colleague.

"Indeed. Now I understand why that old sage Crew would recommend such a young Magus. He is truly a one-of-a-kind genius," the enigmatic Tyne could only concede to Leylin's talent. If Leylin claimed to be the second-best genius Potioneer, no one in the entire Light Magi region would dare to claim the first spot.

Wade immediately sifted through the stack of application forms and quickly found the young man's name on the last piece of parchment.

"He hails from the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy in the Poolfield Kingdom, and has incurred the wrath of the Lilytell Family…"

"If that's all there is, it seems like we're going to be welcoming another comrade soon…" Tyne's usually stoic face twisted into a smile.

For the magicians in the Light Magi domain, they were indifferent to the fact that Leylin had offended those in the Dark Magi region. After all, these two factions were inherently at odds with each other.

At times, in order to maintain the guise of unity and solidarity, they had no choice but to reject talented Magi who were on the Light Magi organizations' wanted lists. But Leylin had nothing to fear since that was not his case. His talent was undeniable, and his future in the world of Potioneering was undoubtedly bright.

The Magi were deeply immersed in their craft in the examination hall, where the air was thick with the scent of exotic reagents and the hum of arcane energy. Each one was a master of their own domain, their focus unwavering as they mixed and matched ingredients to concoct potions that bubbled and fizzed with magical potential.

Amidst this symphony of alchemical endeavor, the two Light Magi stood apart, their whispers barely audible over the clinking of glass and the murmur of spells. They spoke in a language of gestures and glances, conveying secrets not meant for the ears of others.

Suddenly, the tranquility was shattered by the clatter of a test tube hitting the stone floor. A Magus, enshrouded in a cloak as dark as the void, let out a gasp as his potion, once clear as crystal, turned to a murky fog within its confines.

"Foul sorceress! You dare to sabotage me?" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the hall like a thunderclap. Dark energy coalesced around his hands, weaving into a tapestry of shadows as he lunged towards a Magus with hair like spun gold, who stood calmly across the room.

"Cease this madness at once!" thundered Wade, his command resonating with the authority of the stars themselves. His hand swept through the air, and a rune etched into the floor glowed with a fierce light, forming an invisible barrier that halted the black-cloaked Magus in his tracks.

"My lord, she has—" the accused Magus began, but Wade cut him off with a dismissive wave.

"I saw no transgression from her, only your unprovoked aggression towards a peer in this sacred hall!" Wade's eyes blazed with righteous fury. "Another outburst, and you shall be cast out from the trial!"

The Magus in black seethed with rage, his eyes burning holes into the back of the blonde Magus. He stood there, fists clenched, as the minutes ticked by, each one a silent battle of wills. Finally, with a snarl of frustration, he released his pent-up energy in a rush of darkness that dissipated into the air.

He shot one last venomous glance at the blonde Magus before turning away, his hands already reaching for a new set of ingredients. He would not be deterred; his resolve was as unbreakable as the ancient stones that surrounded them.

Leylin, meanwhile, observed the scene with a detached curiosity. His hands moved with practiced ease, grinding, pouring, and stirring without a moment's hesitation. Yet behind his calm exterior, his mind was alight with strategic calculations.

He had sensed it—the faintest whisper of a spiritual assault, so subtle it was almost imperceptible. It had been directed at the black-cloaked Magus, a nudge at just the right moment to send his potion into chaos.

Such a tactic was devious; the slightest error could spell disaster in the delicate art of potion-making. The black-cloaked Magus had been caught off-guard at a critical juncture, and his work had crumbled to nothing in an instant.

A less attuned Magus might have missed the attack entirely, but Leylin was no ordinary practitioner. He knew the signs, the telltale shiver of energy that spoke of covert warfare.

[Could it be that the test allows one to strike covertly, but it cannot cross a certain margin nor be too obvious?] Aralis pondered the implications. 

The Four Seasons Garden was renowned for its rigorous trials, but this—this was a test of a different caliber. It was a game of shadows and subtlety, where the line between success and failure was as thin as a spider's silk.

Leylin's lips curled into a smirk. 'Let these monkeys play their games; I am above such nonsense. My goal is clear: to emerge victorious, to prove my superiority to the Four Seasons Garden. And nothing will stand in my way.'

The recent disturbance had indeed set off a domino effect, and within moments, two more Magi faltered.

A chilling, malevolent light flickered in Leylin's eyes. He sensed two feeble ripples of Spiritual Force targeting him.

Their aim was the Potion he was perfecting, which was on the cusp of completion. While the other contenders were still wrestling with the basic refinement of ingredients, Leylin was applying the final touches to his concoction. It was no wonder he was perceived as the prime rival.

'A dual assault?' Leylin couldn't suppress a chuckle. When it came to the nuanced manipulation of Spiritual Force, Leylin, now the true descendant of the Giant Kemoyin Serpent, had no equal.

A sinister smile played on Leylin's lips. Shortly, a surge of Spiritual Force, tinged with a shadowy aura, collided with the two approaching forces.

At the juncture of their meeting, Leylin's Spiritual Force swiftly coalesced, morphing into a serpentine form. Its modest power began to accumulate, and after several iterations, its force momentarily surged exponentially.

The two intruding Spiritual Forces disintegrated upon contact with Leylin's spectral serpent. Moreover, Leylin's Spiritual Force pursued the remnants of the two forces, initiating a relentless counteroffensive.

Two abrupt shrieks echoed through the hall. The concoctions of the black-robed Magus and the fair-haired female Magus were reduced to dust. Additionally, twin rivulets of blood trickled from their nostrils and mouths.

They then writhed on the ground, succumbing swiftly. Leylin had unleashed his full might clandestinely, seizing the moment they lowered their guard, underestimating the speed of his retaliation. Unbeknownst to them, Leylin's Spiritual Force was immensely denser and stronger. Coupled with the malevolent potency of his Arcane Core, his Spiritual Force became akin to a poisoned bullet, lethal in any scenario.

'Their earlier ploy to divert my attention was laughably weak. Their collusion was transparent. After all, what benefit would they reap from attacking one another rather than concentrating on me, their evident superior?' Leylin pondered with icy detachment, relishing the sight of the two deceased Magi, their bodies still twitching on the floor.

Leylin's smirk widened. His Elemental Essence Conversion had undergone a significant amplification. This meant that anyone whose EEC did not match or surpass his own stood no chance of purging his pernicious influence. Dispatching them became trivial once their Spiritual Force destabilized. Their error was in assuming parity with him. Otherwise, their demise would not have been so effortless and inconspicuous to the overseers.

"It seems they ultimately brought about each other's downfall. How tragic," Wade remarked somberly, activating a rune that transported the cadavers to another chamber for disposal.

Unquestionably, both evaluators were aware of the unfolding events, yet they chose not to interfere or bear any grudge against Leylin. He had protected himself, adhering to the tacit rules of the examination. Even though Light Magi were perceived as more 'ethical' compared to their Dark Magi counterparts, it didn't imply they lacked ruthlessness or strategic calculation. After all, their identity as Magi remained constant, regardless of the path they chose.

"Lords Wade and Tyne... I concede!" A Magus, shrouded in a black cloak, cast a fearful glance at Leylin, evidently aware of the recent events, and promptly averted his gaze, too intimidated to meet Leylin's stare.

"And I as well!" Another Magus declared.

"Indeed. You failed to even reach the concoction's final phase. Disappointing," Tyne responded, his tone laced with disdain.

The two Magi hastily bowed to Tyne and Wade and scurried from the hall. Surprisingly, they harbored no grievances nor cast any resentful looks.

Sorcerers respected and feared only power. Leylin discerned that those two Magi's EEC did not exceed 5%, indicating their recent advancement. They posed no threat to him.

It was evident they recognized this truth and promptly withdrew from the evaluation. Leylin surmised that these two deserters had also conspired with the pair he had vanquished. Witnessing their scheme's collapse, they retreated hastily to evade Leylin's fury.

[At least they know their place.] Aralis observed.

Leylin dismissed their conduct. He was effortlessly navigating the trial, biding his time to reveal his ace in the hole.

"Did you witness that? Such a remarkable display from that prodigy Leylin!" Wade exclaimed, his grin wide as he turned to Tyne.

"Indeed, his Elemental Essence Conversion is exceptional. And his mastery over Spiritual Force is extraordinary." Tyne agreed, his solemn expression softening. "To think I suspected him of espionage... It seems ludicrous now; no organization would dare risk such a talent."

"Is this your final judgment?" Wade's eyes twinkled with curiosity. It was rare for Tyne to express such high regard for anyone.

"It is," Tyne affirmed, a rare smile breaking through his stoic demeanor.

Wade, well-acquainted with his colleague, understood the man's icy facade was but a ruse. Beneath it, Tyne harbored a playful spirit. Wade, appearing the more conventional of the two, often found himself atoning for Tyne's antics.

"The Jeffrey's Purifying Potion is complete," Leylin suddenly announced, his gesture commanding attention.

A reverent quiet fell over the chamber, Leylin's words resonating against the venerable stone. The Light Magi examiners, adorned in their ritualistic white robes, shared a look of astonishment before approaching, their gaze locked on the vials in Leylin's grasp.

"Three vials of the potion…! And they are all flawless!" Tyne whispered, his voice a blend of incredulity and admiration. His colleague simply nodded, the awe evident in his expression.

The other contenders, previously engrossed in their own potion crafting, now stood transfixed, their faces a tapestry of envy and respect. Murmurs spread like wildfire, Leylin's name invoked as if it were a spell of marvel.

Approaching Leylin, the examiners scrutinized each vial, lifting them towards the light. The potions' milky contents shimmered, casting a celestial glow upon their faces

"Impeccable execution, uniform texture, and the potency is unparalleled... Each vial would sell for at least two hundred and fifty magic crystals!" Wade proclaimed, his declaration reverberating through the hushed hall. "Such craftsmanship is the hallmark of a true Potioneering master! Congratulations, Lord Leylin!"

A chorus of shocked praise echoed from the assembly, the competitive tension momentarily displaced by a shared recognition of a momentous feat.

Yet Leylin remained steady, his demeanor serene. "This is merely one milestone on the path to mastery," he stated, his tone imbued with humble resolve. "The genuine challenge is to innovate upon these formulas for the benefit of all."

With a measured motion, Leylin placed the vials upon the examiner's desk, his action a silent summons for others to aspire to the standard he had established.

"Very well, you may now leave. In ten days, present yourself at the guild registration office to receive your final evaluation," Wade instructed, his smile radiating warmth.

"My gratitude," Leylin responded with a courteous bow, then exited through the main doors.

He was acutely aware that the trial was behind him. Barring any unforeseen complications while evaluating him, the Four Seasons Garden would assuredly welcome him.

Outside of the communal center, the wide streets of the Second Zone awaited. The ceaseless throng of passersby illustrated the vibrancy of the district.

Given that all who had completed registration and submitted the requisite documents were permitted residence in the Second Zone, Leylin found himself amidst a diverse crowd, where mortals were far more prevalent.