I stood frozen in place as Bryce Blackthorne strode into the Great Hall. From the gasps around , I wasn't the only one surprised by this turn of events. But my shock ca from a different place—I knew this man. Not as Dashiell's brother, but as Jeffrey Anderson.
"Knight," he said with a smirk, his voice hauntingly familiar. "It's been a while."
The last ti I'd seen Jeffrey, he'd been a prideful junior alchemist at the Eldoria Traditional Chinese dicine Association. We'd competed once, and his humiliating defeat had sent him storming away with promises of revenge.
But the man before now barely resembled that person. Jeffrey—or Bryce, whoever he truly was—looked gaunt, with hollow cheeks and dark circles under his eyes. His skin had a sickly pallor that not even his expensive robes could disguise.
"Jeffrey Anderson," I said, keeping my voice level. "Or should I call you Bryce Blackthorne now?"
He laughed, a brittle sound that echoed through the hall. "Jeffrey Anderson was a worthless nobody. I prefer my real na."
The crowd murmured in confusion. Clearly, this twist wasn't part of anyone's expectations.
Mariana Valerius raised her hand, silencing the spectators. "If the candidates are ready, the competition will begin."
I bowed to her, then turned back to Jeffrey. "What happened to you?" I asked quietly.
His eyes flashed with hatred. "You happened to , Knight. You shattered my pride that day. Made realize I needed power at any cost."
"So you went to the Blackthornes?"
"They recognized my talent, unlike you and those other fools." His smile turned cruel. "They gave resources beyond imagination. Techniques that would make your primitive thods look like child's play."
I noticed then what I hadn't seen before—the subtle tremor in his hands, the beads of sweat on his forehead despite the cool temperature of the hall. Whatever "techniques" the Blackthornes had taught him were taking a physical toll.
Mariana's voice cut through our exchange. "Competitors will now begin the refining process. Each will create one pill of their choosing. You have three hours."
Two identical workstations had been set up in the center of the hall, each with a furnace and an array of ingredients. I moved to one, Jeffrey to the other.
"Watch closely," Jeffrey sneered as we took our positions. "Your victory over was the last thing you'll ever celebrate."
I ignored his taunt and focused on my preparations. For this competition, I would refine the Nine Transformation Pill—a challenging but powerful creation I'd perfected during my recent training.
Jeffrey reached into his robes and withdrew a small, ornate box. When he opened it, a collective gasp rose from the audience.
Inside lay a flickering blue fla, dancing above a crystalline base.
"Blue Spirit Fire," Fifth Elder whispered from his seat. "A rare treasure from ancient tis. The Blackthornes must truly want this position to part with such an heirloom."
The blue fla cast eerie shadows across Jeffrey's face as he placed it beneath his furnace. His hands moved with practiced precision, selecting herbs and asuring ingredients with expert care.
I had to admit—his skill had improved dramatically. This wasn't the sa sloppy alchemist I'd defeated before.
But as I ignited my own furnace and began my work, I pushed those thoughts aside. This competition wasn't just about becoming an Elder anymore. It was about proving that true skill couldn't be bought with family connections or shortcuts.
For the next two hours, we worked in focused silence. The hall remained hushed, observers leaning forward in their seats as our pills began taking form. Jeffrey's blue fla gave him a clear advantage—spiritual fire could enhance a pill's potency tenfold.
I'd have to compensate with perfect technique.
As we entered the final hour, I sensed Jeffrey's gaze on . I glanced up to see him watching my progress, his expression a mix of contempt and—was that fear?
"Your technique has improved," he conceded grudgingly. "But it won't be enough."
I returned to my work without responding. The Nine Transformation Pill required absolute concentration in its final stages.
But Jeffrey wasn't done talking.
"You know what happens if I fail today?" he asked, his voice lower now. "The Blackthornes won't have any use for anymore."
I looked up again. Sothing in his tone had changed—the bravado cracking to reveal genuine dread.
"That was your choice," I replied.
"Was it?" His hands trembled more violently now. "When you've tasted real power, there's no going back. They promised everything—position, respect, wealth. All I had to do was defeat you."
The Blue Spirit Fire beneath his furnace flickered suddenly, as if responding to his distress.
"Careful," I warned, noticing the fluctuation. "That fire—"
"I know how to control it!" he snapped, but panic laced his voice.
As my pill entered its final transformation, emitting a golden glow, Jeffrey's control over his fla wavered further. The blue fire surged unpredictably, licking at his ingredients with too much intensity.
I completed my final step, drawing the furnace's energy into perfect balance. My Nine Transformation Pill rose from the crucible, glowing with completed potency.
A cry of frustration ca from Jeffrey as his herbs blackened. The Blue Spirit Fire had grown too hot, incinerating his creation in seconds.
"No!" he scread, trying desperately to salvage what remained.
But it was too late. His pill was ruined.
Mariana rose from her seat, examining both our stations. "Liam Knight has successfully refined a Nine Transformation Pill of exceptional quality," she announced. "The position of Elder is awarded to him."
A cheer erupted from the crowd, but I found no joy in the victory. Not when I saw the terror spreading across Jeffrey's face.
"You don't understand," he whispered, backing away from his furnace. "They'll discard now. I'm nothing without this position."
The Blue Spirit Fire, no longer controlled by his alchemy, began to climb up his sleeves.
"Jeffrey!" I moved toward him, but it was too late.
The blue flas engulfed him, clinging to his body like living things. But instead of burning him, they seed to sink into his skin, disappearing beneath the surface. His eyes bulged in horror as blue veins spread across his face. S*po@t& an er!r.or&? Vi-si#t* the ori*gin.a&l post on M#&V%LE&M%PY!&-R.
"No—this wasn't supposed to happen," he gasped. "The fire... it's consuming from inside!"
The hall erupted in chaos as Guild mbers scrambled back from the horrifying spectacle. Jeffrey doubled over, his body contorting as the Blue Spirit Fire coursed through his system.
"Help !" he scread, his eyes finding mine. "Knight, please!"
I rushed toward him, but Mariana's voice cut through the panic. "Stay back! Blue Spirit Fire can't be extinguished by conventional ans!"
Jeffrey straightened suddenly, his eyes now glowing with the sa blue as the fire. "I don't want to die," he whispered, looking at his trembling hands, now wreathed in blue fla. "I don't want to die!"
With a howl of desperation, he lunged at , fists blazing with spiritual fire.
"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!"
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