The worktable was set up at the edge of the lake, on a natural platform of white stone that extended several meters above the water. The Lúmen'Thyr embedded in the ground reacted to Malunes's presence almost instantly, while other fragments were spread across the table, their blue-silver veins pulsing more intensely as she approached.
"Let's see which one we start with."
The items were carefully lined up: Kai's Sword resting on the table; Valença's Staff, simple in appearance but with an extremely sensitive magical core; and finally, Enrico's Ego Bow. The first two weapons were the ego weapons of the two of them. They had decided to improve the existing ones instead of creating new ones.
'Well, he can still create an ego weapon, since his soul is absurd.'
[Protagonists most of the time always have those absurd things.]
Malunes crossed her arms. Her eyes weren't analyzing only the materials they were made of. She was trying to see how far they had come by fighting alongside her benefactor and his friends.
'This sword is different.'
Kai's Sword didn't react immediately, but when Malunes passed her hand a few centimeters from the blade, an invisible pressure spread, making the lake water ripple slightly. The blade possessed an absurd affinity with concepts far too broad to be shaped by common techniques.
'This sword has been here for many generations… it's going to be difficult.'
"Benefactor, could you come closer with the fragments?"
Enrico approached with some fragments of Lúmen'Thyr. He was observing Malunes's movements to put his own ideas into practice. As soon as the material came close to the sword, something unusual happened: the rock didn't synchronize as it should have.
"Tsk, it didn't work. I tried to prepare some beforehand while you were in the house, but it seems it didn't work."
"That's bad. Let me take a look."
Malunes frowned slightly as she looked at the weapons. This was going to be harder than she thought, but at least now it was time for her benefactor to try something. And she would use this to improve herself even more.
'By observing this prodigy, I'll reach a new level.'
[I feel like someone is thinking you're a prodigy again.]
'Let them keep thinking that.'
Looking closely at how the fragments were mixed, he realized this was his first idea that he would put into practice. In the original story, this perfect mixing of fragments was only possible for a Senior-level Alchemist. He had planned to start that way, but Malunes arrived first.
'Good thing she arrived first.'
[What luck you had. You were so close to embarrassing yourself in front of the girls.]
This mixing of fragments that Alchemists did allowed them to merge with items as they fused, even with hard materials like diamonds, giving birth to rare weapons such as diamond swords. The problem was that Lúmen'Thyr rocks were something more spiritual than physical when used to create weapons.
'Alright, let's go to my second idea.'
He took some fragments and began inserting a portion of fire into his own bow. Setting the bow aside, Enrico let the fire potency increase. Meanwhile, he looked at the fragments and began to gather them.
'Kai, Valença, could you imbue your own magic into your weapons as much as possible?'
"But of course, Enrico."
'Incandis, I'll have to go check on your father, so be careful.'
Kai approached his own weapon to begin. Valença, who had been creating some fire animals in front of Incandis to play with, stood up, while Incandis herself waved and jumped up into a tree, wanting to find a real animal nearby.
"Elaris, could you put a bit of blood with your magic into the fragments?"
"I already had blood prepared in some vials, so yes, I can."
"I expected no less from the princess."
With a small smile, she walked closer. The first fragment she put blood on shone brightly, and Enrico placed it into a small container. After adding a few more into the container, he sealed it and did the same with three others.
"Now we wait a few hours."
"How long?"
Malunes approached with great interest on her face. It only took a few glances for her to already understand what he was doing.
"I'd say until it turns white."
Those containers were not normal. They absorbed the essence little by little from the objects to turn it into mana stones. Of course, this could fail because Lúmen'Thyr rejected this type of action, which was why he asked Elaris to put blood on some and then combine them inside.
"And if it doesn't work, what do we do?"
"Then we combine your idea with mine."
"Smart. That might work. Then I should already start preparing—but what if that doesn't work either?"
You could see on Malunes's face how curious she was. These questions weren't because she doubted it would work. It was simply curiosity to learn more. She genuinely wanted to know if he had more plans.
"Then I have ten more in my head to test, because I always have to think of something to evolve."
Malunes seemed to tremble slightly for a few seconds before breaking into an even wider smile. To her, this kind of attitude—always wanting to evolve and already having plans to continue—was what most defined an Alchemist. At least, that was her opinion.
"Are you sure you want to be a mage? You know, an Alchemist is much better than mages—"
"Who are you to try to deny the dream of my future husband?"
"Sorry, Miss Gilberia, but could you not try to interfere with my subordinate's path?"
"Are you trying to steal my rival from me, glasses girl?"
Three terrifying shadows appeared behind Malunes. Valença, Elaris, and Kai all disliked Malunes's attitude. To them, this was impossible to allow, because Enrico's very attitude showed that he wanted to become the strongest in the world—or at least, that's what their selfish minds believed.
'I won't let them take away my subordinate's potential title of strongest in the world.'
'He said he likes strong women, and he wants to become stronger, so I won't let anyone interfere with the path for me to stand by his side as the strongest.'
'My rematch.'
The pressure in the air was undoubtedly strong, but Malunes didn't seem affected at all by the threatening aura emanating from the three. With an innocent smile, she clasped her hands together in a gesture of challenge.
"And who said being an Alchemist prevents someone from being the strongest?"
Her face grew a little darker with that smile, while the three were left speechless. She had the courage to say that for only one reason—she herself had that dream.