Chapter 46: Price of power
As the door clicked softly behind Selene’s exit, Lucas let out a long breath. The moment of silence that followed was dense, his mind cluttered with fragments of emotion and strategy. Whatever bond remained with Selene was strained now, threadbare, delicate. But he couldn’t afford to dwell on it. Not today.
Rising to his feet, he brushed off the thoughts and busied himself preparing the workspace for what truly mattered, his cultivation. He laid out the utensils and containers needed for potion brewing, his focus sharpening with each movement.
Roughly an hour passed before he sensed the familiar, calm rhythm of Lira’s approach. The door opened with a creak, and Lira entered, arms carefully cradling a cloth-wrapped bundle. Her hair was tied into a low braid today, and her face lit up with a soft smile the moment she saw him.
"I got everything on the list," she said, placing the wrapped bundle on the table.
Lucas moved toward her and gently placed a kiss on her forehead, catching her off guard. A light blush warmed her cheeks. "Thank you, Lira. You’re always dependable."
She bowed slightly. "Of course, Young Master. I made sure to show the Alden crest at every stop. No one gave me trouble."
"Good," Lucas said as he unwrapped the bundle, revealing small vials of refined spirit water, jars of dried mystic root, phoenix orchid petals, scaled jade bark, and a few other rare herbs. Everything he’d asked for was there. He gave a nod of approval.
As he began setting up the brew station, he glanced over at Lira. "Stay with me while I do this. I want you to watch closely. These mixtures aren’t just for healing, they’re for stabilizing one’s path in cultivation. You might learn something that’ll help you down the line."
Lira nodded eagerly and took a seat nearby, eyes attentive.
Lucas started with the first potion, a mild balancing tonic meant to harmonize the recently surging energy in his body. The yin he’d absorbed had already been utilized in his advancement, but residual shifts still stirred within his core. He added the spirit water and jade bark into the iron cauldron first, watching the liquid bubble with a subtle green shimmer.
He stirred slowly, carefully maintaining the right temperature using a small rune stone beneath the cauldron. He crushed the mystic root between his fingers, letting the powder fall in like dust. Then the phoenix orchid petals were dropped in, each one fluttering as if resisting the flame.