A soft glow enveloped the two pieces, threads of ethereal light weaving between them like living veins. The air hummed with a low vibration, and for a split second, the fragments seemed to resist—then merged seamlessly. The result was a single, slightly larger crystal, now veined with swirling blue-white patterns. It pulsed gently, warmer to the touch than either original had been.
Julian held it up, examining it closely. "Success. The energy density has increased by approximately 20%. No instability detected."
Fey's eyes widened as she leaned in, snatching it from his hand with uncharacteristic eagerness. "Whoa. Okay, that's... cleaner than I expected. The structure's stabilized—look at these veins. It's like the Aethel residue amplified the base crystal's storage capacity without adding any weird mutations." She passed it back, nodding approvingly. "Not bad for a starter. What's the play? Absorb it, or...?"
