Capítulo 394: Peak of Alchemy
I stepped into the room behind Rachel, the subtle scent of aged parchment and alchemical reagents hanging in the air. My gaze immediately fell upon the woman lounging on the couch with an ease that spoke of confidence earned through mastery.
She had silver hair that cascaded over her shoulders, glinting faintly in the light. A pair of glasses perched on her nose, framing eyes that gleamed like polished sapphires—cool, analytical, and unrelentingly sharp.
This was Priscilla Creighton.
The world's foremost alchemist, a legend in her own right. Her reputation wasn't built merely on her mana rank—though being a low Immortal-rank was no small feat, equal to the Tower Master of the Tower of Alchemy—but on her unparalleled genius in alchemy. Where others saw barriers, she saw possibilities. Where others stumbled, she crafted breakthroughs.
Priscilla was the peak. The kind of figure who rewrote the rules of her craft while others were still learning them.
And she was the only person who could help me modify my potion to work against someone as formidable as Maximus.
Her eyes flicked to me, assessing in a way that felt more invasive than even the most meticulous mana scan. A faint smirk tugged at her lips as she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose with a single finger.
"I came here because my lovely niece insisted," she said, her tone light but edged with mischief. "But tell me did you want to show off your lover?"
Her words landed like a stone dropped in a still pond, rippling outward as I caught the faintest flicker of amusement in Rachel's expression.
Priscilla's gaze lingered on me, waiting, probing. She wasn't asking a question—she was issuing a challenge, a verbal sparring match cloaked in casual banter.
"No," I replied, keeping my voice steady and calm. "I came because I need the help of someone who's unmatched in alchemy. And from what I hear, that's you."
Her smirk widened, her blue eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and intrigue. "Flattery will get you far, Arthur Nightingale, but not everywhere. Tell me, why should I bother helping you? My time is rather valuable, as you might imagine."
Rachel interjected with a cheerful grin. "Aunt Priscilla, don't be mean. He's not here to grovel. Arthur's got something interesting to show you—don't you, Arthur?"
I nodded, reaching into my coat to pull out a small vial filled with a shimmering, pale liquid. The potion I'd crafted, imperfect though it was, still exuded a faint aura of intricacy.
"I need help refining this by turning it into a compounding dosage potion," I said, stepping closer and holding the vial out for her to examine. "It's designed to interact with the mana signature of someone at high Ascendant-rank. I don't have the skill to modify it without risking failure."
Priscilla leaned forward, plucking the vial from my hand with the same delicacy a jeweler might use to examine a rare gemstone. She tilted it, watching the liquid swirl under the light, her expression unreadable.
"For a beginner, this is... interesting," she said after a moment, her tone betraying a grudging note of respect. "A recipe like this would be difficult even for an Elder alchemist to handle, let alone modify. And yet, here you are."
"I had some guidance," I admitted, "but I'm still far from capable of doing this alone."
Priscilla set the vial down on a nearby table, folding her hands in her lap as she regarded me. "What exactly are you trying to accomplish with this potion, Arthur? And don't insult my intelligence by giving me half the story."
Her question hung in the air, sharp and deliberate. There was no room for evasion here, not with someone like Priscilla.
"I need to affect a high Ascendant-ranker," I said plainly, meeting her gaze. "Specifically, I need to bypass their body's natural resistance to invasive potions."
Her brows lifted slightly, her curiosity evident. "And this Ascendant-ranker—what makes them worth the effort? A personal vendetta, perhaps? Or something more... ambitious?"
"It's part of something bigger," I said, my tone firm but guarded. "The details aren't something I can share fully, but it involves stopping something dangerous before it becomes unstoppable."
Priscilla studied me for a long moment, her expression inscrutable. Then she leaned back, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I'll help you. Not because of your niece—though I'm fond of her, of course—but because I'm curious. You've piqued my interest, Arthur Nightingale. Let's see what you're capable of."
Rachel beamed at her aunt's words, practically glowing with pride.
"Thank you," I said simply, inclining my head in respect.
"Don't thank me yet," Priscilla said with a wry grin. "If this fails, I'll be sure to remind you that I warned you."
Priscilla picked up the vial, holding it up to the light. The liquid inside shimmered with faint luminescence, shifting as though alive under her scrutiny. "Now then," she said, her voice brisk and matter-of-fact, "I'll get to work. You, on the other hand—get lost."
I blinked, caught off guard, but before I could formulate a response, I found myself unceremoniously ushered out of the room. Priscilla wasn't exactly one for lingering goodbyes or pleasantries. The door shut behind me with a decisive click, leaving me standing in the hallway, slightly bemused.
"Sorry about that," Rachel said with an apologetic smile, rubbing the back of her head as she fell into step beside me.
"Not your fault," I replied, shrugging off the abrupt dismissal. "She's... efficient."
Rachel laughed, the sound light and easy, as we strolled through the sprawling Creighton estate. The grounds were a testament to the family's wealth and influence—manicured gardens stretched out in every direction, interspersed with paths leading to various buildings, each more grand than the last. It was a small city unto itself, steeped in history and magic.
As we walked, I turned to her, a question on my mind. "I've been meaning to ask—how does your new strength feel?"
Her crimson eyes brightened, and she flexed her fingers as though testing her grip. "Amazing," she said, her voice carrying a mix of pride and wonder. "I scaled the Wall by conceptualising the Astareus method."
"So how strong are you now?" I asked, curious about the extent of her growth.
"Strong enough to help you," she replied with a playful grin. But then her expression softened, a note of honesty creeping into her tone. "But not at your level. Not yet."
Her words hung in the air for a moment, unspoken layers of meaning passing between us. She wasn't bitter—far from it. There was a quiet acceptance in her voice, an understanding that strength wasn't just a race to the top but a journey shaped by choices and experiences.
"Well, I'm glad you're here," I said simply.
Her smile widened, and she bumped her shoulder lightly against mine. "I know. And you can count on me, Arthur. Always."
We walked on, the estate stretching endlessly around us, but for a moment, it felt like the world had narrowed to just the two of us. Rachel's unwavering presence was a reminder that, no matter how heavy the burdens ahead, I didn't have to carry them alone.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder