CHAPTER 47: ALCHEMY CLASS

{Volume 1 Finale}

Lucian Crowe continued, "The Crimson Thorn is not a name to be sullied by failure. You are not here to survive your mistakes you are here to uphold the name. You are not loyal if you allow shame to touch us."

He released John slowly, stepping back. "Look at Mors. See how fear sharpens attention, how respect ensures obedience. Do not forget discipline is kindness in disguise. Pain without purpose is cruelty; guidance without intent is meaningless. I have shown you both the difference."

Mors and John were trembling, flushed with the intensity of Lucian’s controlled presence. They could barely comprehend the lesson, but deep down, they knew it would stay with them far longer than any scolding or punishment.

Lucian’s voice softened slightly, but the weight of authority remained. "Mors... John... you failed today. But you are not worthless. You are my friends, not merely subjects. And as a friend, I will not allow you to harm yourselves or sully the Crimson Thorn through negligence. Do you understand?"

"Yes..." Mors whispered, barely able to form the word.

Julie stepped forward carefully, supporting Mors. Lucian Crowe placed a steadying hand on his shoulder, his eyes scanning the room to ensure all fifty students understood the lesson without a single additional word.

"Take care of each other. Learn from this. I do not wish to see such failure repeated," Lucian Crowe concluded. He helped Mors to his feet fully, allowing Julie to stabilize him. The boys’ bruises, both physical and mental, would heal in time but the lesson, the lesson of respect, fear, and loyalty, would remain far longer.

Lucian Crowe finally leaned back against his sofa, smiling faintly. "Good. Now, back to your duties. Remember this day. Remember why the Crimson Thorn exists."

The students dispersed quietly, shaken, yet oddly inspired. Mors and John followed Julie Wartin, hearts pounding, minds racing. Pain had been inflicted not by fists, but by sheer force of presence, authority, and unyielding expectation.

And somewhere in the back of Mors’s mind, a small thought lingered: I am not a loyal subject... I am a friend. And perhaps, that is more terrifying than anything else Lucian Crowe could ever do.

After the demonstration of Kael Vi-rel’s training technique a while ago, rumors had begun to spread through the academy like wildfire. Students whispered in hallways and lounges, half in awe, half in disbelief, painting Kael Vi-rel as both an unpredictable genius and a dangerous anomaly.

Naturally, the first whispers were about him challenging the top student of the school.

"That he’s trying to take down the top-ranked student?" a girl muttered behind cupped hands, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"What kind of nonsense is he pursuing in a magic academy?"a boy scoffed. "Isn’t he just an attention seeker?"

"Maybe," another voice admitted hesitantly, "but... he’s different. Really unique."

In truth, Kael Vi-rel had always been different. And today, in the alchemy classroom, it would be obvious why.

Alchemy was notorious for its difficulty. Accurate measurement was essential off by a single centimeter, and the result could fail catastrophically. Timing was crucial, down to the very second, and even slight temperature fluctuations could ruin hours of careful preparation. Most students dreaded it. The subject was enough to turn a talented mage into a frustrated, anxious mess in less than a week.

Clara Winslet, like many others, had enrolled in alchemy class to gain skills. She kept her head down, following instructions with the precision her careful mind allowed, and avoided experiments that might end in chaos.

"Today, we will craft the ’ Recovery Potion’ I’ve developed," Edel Ty announced, her tone calm and professional, yet threaded with the excitement of someone who loved her craft. She moved gracefully between the workbenches, her eyes bright with anticipation. "Start by adding a spoonful of fairy’s honey to the powdered green leaves, then stir gently in a clockwise motion until the mixture emits a faint silver shimmer. Precision is everything."

The students bent over their benches, hands steady as they measured, poured, and stirred. Clara followed the instructions without difficulty, her movements careful, deliberate. Within minutes, her potion glimmered softly, radiating a subtle warmth.

Edel Ty approached her bench, examining the concoction with a critical eye. "Excellent," she said, a genuine smile forming. "Well done, Clara."

Clara offered a small, polite smile in return, her attention already drifting back to her own work.

Annie, an assistant hovering nearby, leaned dangerously close, curiosity written across her face.

"Annie! Step back, that’s dangerous!" Edel Ty called.

"Sorry!" Annie leapt back, flushed with embarrassment.

While these minor disturbances unfolded, Kael Vi-rel worked silently at his bench, a strange, almost gleeful smile tugging at his lips. Herbs, powders, and liquids moved under his control with precision that seemed almost theatrical. He chuckled softly to himself as he stirred, low and insidious, a sound that somehow blended mischief with absolute confidence.

Edel Ty’s sharp eyes could not help but notice. She stopped beside his bench, her gaze narrowing slightly in interest.

Kael Vi-rel paused, glanced up, and the faintest smirk played across his face. His potion shimmered in the air, richer and more vibrant than any other student’s. Edel Ty leaned in for a closer look, immediately struck by what she saw.

"Well... well, this is impressive," she said quietly, her voice threaded with awe. "Kael Vi-rel, you’ve modified the formula... and yet, the potion is far superior. Tell me, why did you alter the ingredients?"

Kael Vi-rel shrugged casually. "I thought it would improve the effect."

Edel Ty raised an eyebrow but did not frown. Instead, she examined the mixture carefully. The way the honey combined with the green leaves, the precise layering of herbs, even the subtle variations in temperature it all contributed to a solution that seemed to hum with vitality.

"This... this is exceptional," Edel Ty said, her voice now rising so that the other students could hear. "You’ve taken a standard recipe and refined it into something far more effective. Your control over every variable the stirring pattern, timing, even temperature is remarkable. Truly remarkable."

She straightened, her gaze sweeping across the classroom. "This is the kind of initiative and understanding that separates a competent student from a master in the making. Kael, you didn’t just follow instructions you understood the principles and improved upon them. That is what true alchemy requires."

A ripple of awe passed through the students. Whispers of astonishment spread like wildfire. Even Clara, who had kept her focus on her own potion, could not hide the shock on her face. Kael Vi-rel, who had seemed almost reckless, had executed a level of alchemy beyond their comprehension.

Kael’s smile widened, calm and controlled. There was no arrogance, only confidence earned from skill and insight. Edel Ty allowed herself a small, satisfied nod.

"Keep this up, Kael. Your skill and intuition are exceptional. If you continue along this path, you will set a new standard for this class."

A hush fell over the classroom. Students glanced nervously at one another, measuring their own abilities against his. The air seemed charged, heavy with admiration, curiosity, and the subtle thrill of witnessing talent in motion.

Even though Kael Vi-rel, absorbed in his notes, barely noticed the commotion. Annie, the supervising instructor, started to scold him, but the words fell flat. Kael Vi-rel merely hummed softly to himself, already planning his next experiment in quiet amusement.

Edel Ty’s eyes, however, remained on Kael, scanning, analyzing, approving. "You have an intuitive sense for how materials interact," she continued, her tone deliberate and instructive for the benefit of the other students. "Most mages would have followed the recipe exactly, afraid of failure. You... you innovated, and it worked. That is the mark of a true alchemist."

Kael Vi-rel inclined his head in acknowledgment, his workbench already prepared for his next experiment. The other students whispered amongst themselves, some nervously, others with awe-struck admiration.

Even Clara Winslet found herself glancing at him, realizing that his "mad laughter" and playful attitude were not signs of recklessness, but confidence in the mastery of his craft. He had walked through dungeons, defeated monsters beyond the expected capability of most students, and here he was again, performing feats of alchemy that defied expectations.

The classroom seemed to hum with new energy, filled with the potential of discovery and the thrill of witnessing excellence firsthand. Edel Ty watched Kael return to his work, a satisfied smile touching her lips.

"This is only the beginning," she murmured, almost to herself, but loud enough for the class to hear. "If he continues like this, he will redefine what is possible in alchemy."

The lesson continued, but the focus had shifted. It was no longer just about following instructions or avoiding mistakes it was about observing brilliance in motion, about seeing what could happen when skill, intuition, and courage came together. And Kael Vi-rel, humming softly to himself as he worked, had become the undeniable center of that revelation.

Kael Vi-rel leaned back slightly, watching the murmurs of admiration ripple through the classroom. A small, confident smile tugged at his lips. This was only the beginning. Whatever challenges the academy or the world threw at him next, he knew one thing for certain: he was ready.

{Volume 1 Ended}