After they had secured their rooms, Justin wasted no time in ordering a hot meal at the counter—a hearty stew of slow-cooked venison, potatoes, and root vegetables, with a thick slice of warm bread and butter on the side. It was exactly what he needed. He couldn’t remember the last time food had tasted so good, though he supposed anything would feel like a feast compared to their rations.
Afterward, he ordered a bath and soaked for a good hour, letting the enchanted stones keep the water at the perfect temperature. The warmth seeped into his bones, and he almost nodded off, but he forced himself to get out before he turned into a prune. He dried off and headed to his room, slipping into a deep sleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
When he awoke, it was to a knock at the door. Justin quickly threw on his coat and opened it to find Eldrin, looking freshly groomed, his beard neatly trimmed. The transformation was impressive.
“It’s time,” Eldrin said. “Lila and the others are already checking out the trading houses.”
Justin nodded, grabbing his pack and cane. “Ready when you are.”
In no time, the duo was out on the street. The bustling crowd hadn’t died down despite the deepening darkness. The lanterns along the streets flickered in the cold wind, casting shadows over the cobblestones.
As they entered Stormgale Alchemical and Sundries, the bell above the door jingled. Erik Stormgale was waiting behind the counter, with a measured smile on his face. Justin read his expression closely—no red flags. Erik seemed genuinely prepared to complete their business.
“Welcome back,” Erik greeted them cordially. “You have the potion with you?”
Eldrin gave a slight nod, as if to assure Justin that he had his back. Justin reached into his pack and carefully pulled out the prismatically colored All-Encompassing Draught. Its swirling colors seemed to glow under the dim light, captivating both men.
Erik’s eyes narrowed as he studied the flask, and then widened in astonishment. “Well, well…this is something extraordinary.”
Justin’s heart skipped a beat. “What can you tell me about it?”
“This,” Erik said reverently, “is an All-Encompassing Draught. I can hardly believe my eyes. It’s incredibly rare and powerful, so much so that it only exists in alchemy legend.” Justin held his breath as Erik continued. “Where did you come across this?”
“It was a reward for clearing a Vault,” Justin replied, being purposefully vague. “The person who gave it to me couldn’t determine its full purpose, though they did say it was valuable.”
Erik’s eyes twinkled with intrigue. “That’s an understatement. This is certainly an All-Encompassing Draught, likely crafted by a Alchemist at least Level 15 or higher.”
Justin supposed that only spoke to Glamshara’s natural talents, since she’d only been Level 12 when she’d created it.
Erik continued. “All legendary draughts require at least six key ingredients, each from one of the Six Worlds of Creation. Since travel between the World Gates hasn’t been accomplished in centuries, that makes this potion even more valuable.”
Justin found himself even more curious about these World Gates and their significance, but that was a question for another day. For now, he was more interested in the potion’s effects. “So, what exactly does this draught do?”
Erik leaned in, his voice taking on a tone of reverence. “The All-Encompassing Draught grants a permanent Mythic Boon called Elemental Affinity. It’s basically eight boons in one.”
“Eight?” Justin blurted, unable to contain his surprise.
“Well, not all at once,” Erik clarified. “You get to choose one Elemental Affinity to align yourself with, and switch to any of the others as needed. Once you switch out of the original, you can’t adopt it again for twenty-four hours.
Justin’s mind raced. “And what do these Affinities do?”
“It’s not set in stone,” Erik explained. “It depends on who takes the potion, and also on the class. Each of the Affinities will tie with one of the Eight Elemental Forces of Creation—that’s the four Physical and four Spiritual elements, one for each of the Old Gods.”
His eyes widened. “Even Death?”
Erik nodded. “Aye. Even Death. It’s probably not something the overly pious should take. I suppose if you have an aversion to Death—as most people do—you could choose not to use that Affinity, while making use of the others.”
Justin wondered how that might work with his Amulet of Equilibrium. It required a “Life Affinity” to function. If he could swap his Affinity at will, would the Amulet stop working once he’d switched away from Life? Would the Amulet reject him, or perhaps even kill him, if he switched to Death?
“What would happen if I had specific equipment that could only be used if I have a certain Affinity? Say I have a ring that only works if I have a Water Affinity. What would happen if I switched to Fire?”
Erik smiled patiently at Justin’s question. “Good question. Elemental Affinity doesn’t actually change your core nature. Think of it as a ‘magical overlay’, a kind of mask that aligns you with the chosen element for the moment. It’s like wearing a cloak—when you put it on, people see the color of the cloak, not what’s underneath.”
Justin’s brow furrowed. “So, switching to, say, Fire Affinity wouldn’t mess with a ring that requires a Water Affinity?”
Erik shook his head. “No, it won’t mess with it. Though it would be strange for a human to have a Water Affinity. Most of us, unless we are raised outside the Church, tend to have a Life Affinity. But rest assured, your equipment doesn’t see that magical layer. It only recognizes your core essence.”
Justin nodded thoughtfully. He’d just have to take Erik’s word for it. He could experiment by switching to a “safer” Affinity first, something that wasn’t death. “Thanks for the explanation.”
Erik grinned. “No problem.”
Eldrin, standing beside Justin, seemed impressed. “If I had a potion like that, I wouldn’t hesitate to drink it.”
“I’d do so in a safe spot,” Erik advised. “Potions like this that grant a powerful, permanent effect have the tendency to send the drinker into a deep sleep. It’s not always the case, but generally speaking, the more powerful the effect, the more rest required to enact it.”
“How long would I be knocked out?” Justin asked.,
Erik shrugged. “Hard to say. I’d take it right before bed, in a safe place. Clear your schedule. Most potions like this require twelve hours to take effect. A full day if you want to be safe.”
Justin’s heart fell at the news. If he needed twelve hours of rest, and up to twenty-four, it would make leaving tomorrow all the more difficult, if not impossible. He supposed he could do it if the others failed to secure a caravan in the morning.
Justin watched Erik closely. “Can this draught be shared?”
“No,” Erik said. “It must be imbibed in its entirety to take effect. And trust me, something like this is beyond value. People would kill for it.”
Justin felt a chill run down his spine, despite the warmth of the shop. He had been incredibly lucky to obtain such a potion, and now he understood just how dangerous that luck could be.
“Any drawbacks?” Justin asked cautiously.
“Other than the fact that people will kill you for it?” Erik gave a wry smile. “None that I know of. The effects are permanent, and the benefits immense. However, I can’t tell you exactly what will happen once you drink it. As I said, it varies by class and even individual. I can only tell you that it will have something to do with the Eight Elements of Creation.”
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Justin nodded slowly, the weight of the decision pressing on him. He glanced at Eldrin, who gave a slight nod of encouragement.
“I’ll think about it,” Justin said. “But first, let’s finish our business with the Alchemist Core.”
“Of course,” Erik said.
Justin reached into his pack for the Alchemist Core, while Erik went beneath the counter and retrieved a large leather satchel. He opened it to reveal seven five-gold pieces, each as thick as Justin’s thumb, along with three single-crown coins. The amount of wealth on display was staggering, even Eldrin raised his eyebrows in surprise.
Erik slid a bill of sale across the counter. “This document officially transfers ownership of the Alchemist Core to me. I’ll sign here.” He pointed to the bottom of the page. “And if you’re satisfied with everything, you can sign here to finalize the transaction.”
Justin and Eldrin scanned the paper quickly, finding everything in order. It was a straightforward agreement, and he saw no reason to delay. He signed and handed over the core, and Erik passed the money across the counter, along with a stack of five papers. Each letter of recommendation was already written and signed by him. Once Justin told him each name to write, Erik did so.
“All yours,” Erik said with a smile. “It was a pleasure doing business with you. My advice is, head back to wherever you’re staying and drink the potion immediately.”
Justin wasn’t even going to bother asking how much he would pay for it. If the man wasn’t even making an offer, then it stood to reason he couldn’t afford it or find a buyer safely.
“Thanks,” Justin answered, beaming as he placed the gold into his enchanted coin pouch. Even with its expanded capacity, the bag was almost bursting.
“Let’s head out,” Eldrin said.
Once outside the shop, Justin let out a breath in the frigid air. His head was spinning from what he’d learned.
“No time to ponder things,” Eldrin said. “Let’s head back and see if the others have news.”
Within minutes, they were reentering the Star of Elara and found the others gathered by the fire, with cups of warm mulled wine. They had the cozy corner to themselves.
All three looked up as Justin and Eldrin approached.
“Well?” Lila asked.
“Your news first,” Eldrin said.
“Sure,” Lila said, exchanging glances with Kargan and Bohemond. “It was the same at Whitepeak Mercantile. Nothing going east, but they do have a caravan heading west the day after tomorrow. They’ll hire us as long as we have a reference. Only problem is, their main office is closed until tomorrow morning.”
“And the Ghostwater Collective?” Justin asked.
“Closed,” Bohemond grunted. “Either that, or they weren’t letting us in.”
“Did you sell that core?” Lila asked.
Justin nodded. “I did.”
The others congratulated him, and though he smiled and accepted it, his mind was still preoccupied with the All-Encompassing Draught.
“And what about that potion?” Kargan asked. “Did you sell it, too?”
For now, Justin decided to keep things close to his chest, especially with Bohemond present. “I’m holding onto it for now. We’ll see.”
He offered no more explanation, and before they could press for more details, Eldrin came to his rescue. “I know it’s still early, but it might be best if we all turned in. It’s been a hard few weeks.”
“Great idea,” Justin said quickly. Lila watched him curiously, but Kargan and Bohemond seemed to accept the suggestion without question. “Think I’m going to turn in.”
“I’ll be back down in a moment,” Eldrin said.
Eldrin followed Justin up the stairs to his room. Once inside, the Ranger closed the door behind him.
For a brief moment, Justin had the strange thought that if Eldrin wanted to rob him and run off with the potion, now would be the perfect opportunity. He felt guilty for thinking it, but the notion crossed his mind, nonetheless. Eldrin, ever perceptive, gave him a long, considering look.
“Well, day after tomorrow is the soonest we can leave, assuming the Ghostwater Collective remains a dead end. We’ve gained some ground, so it’s likely the Baron is still behind us. But waiting another day…it’s risky.”
“You’re thinking of heading out tomorrow?”
Eldrin looked troubled. “I’m not sure what the right move is, lad. Waiting another day should be fine, but it’s playing with fire. South would be suicide with the Baron. And going west would take us on a long detour through Kulrath Pass, and then Daeloria. In theory, we’ll be fine once we’re south of the Seraphims.”
“Bohemond made it sound like a long journey by sea after that,” Justin said. “I know sea travel can be dangerous.”
“Well, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Eldrin said. “For now, if you’re going to take that potion, this might be your best opportunity.”
Justin nodded. “Yeah. It could take up to twenty-four hours, like Stormgale said.”
“If the others ask, I’ll tell them the truth. If something goes wrong, we’ll adapt. The choice is yours.”
Justin made his decision. “I’m going to take it. It’s a risk, but if the potion is as powerful as it seems, it’ll help all of us.”
“I agree. In that case, you should have someone to keep an eye on you. I can send Lila up, if that’s okay.”
“Of course.”
Eldrin clasped his shoulder. “Good luck. We’ll be ready for whatever comes.”
Once Eldrin left, Justin sat on the bed, waiting. A few minutes later, Lila entered and latched the door behind her.
“Eldrin said you’re about to take that potion, and it might knock you out?”
Justin nodded. “Yeah, that’s the gist of it.”
He briefly explained everything Erik Stormgale had told him and his reasoning for taking the potion.
“It’s a risk,” he admitted, “but I think it’ll be worth it.”
Lila folded her arms. “Well, I’ve got your back, whatever happens. Do you trust this Stormgale guy?”
Justin nodded. “Thanks to my Insightful Gaze boon, I’m confident he’s telling the truth. The only real danger is if I’m out longer than expected, and the Baron catches up.”
“A risk,” Lila repeated, “but it sounds like your mind’s made up.”
Justin had made his decision. If he kept waiting, there was no guarantee they’d reach another safe place to use the Draught. The time was now.
Sitting on the bed, Justin kicked off his boots and pulled out the prismatically colored All-Encompassing Draught. The swirling colors inside the flask almost seemed alive.
“Bottom’s up,” he said.
Before he could second-guess himself, he downed the potion in one gulp. The liquid was cool, with a faint sweetness, almost like honey and mint. It left a pleasant tingle in his throat.
At first, nothing seemed to happen. But then, it was as if his mind was being lifted out of his body. He looked down and saw himself lying on the bed, with Lila standing beside him, a concerned look on her face. For a moment, it felt as though he were a ghost, and panic seized him—memories of the dwarven ghosts they’d encountered flashed in his mind.
But the sensation passed as he continued rising. He soared out of the inn, into the cold, wintry air above Kaldrath Island, its lights glowing dimly beneath him. Higher and higher he rose, until the entire continent came into view, then the vast oceans, and finally, the world itself.
It didn’t stop there. He rose even higher, until the world became a distant sphere, and soon, other celestial bodies came into view—the Six Worlds of Creation. Their presence filled him with awe.
Then, everything became dark. He floated in a void, his mind disconnected from his body. It was here that the voice of the System—Veyrith, he supposed—entered his mind, more powerful and resonant than ever before.
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[You have gained Elemental Affinity, a Mythic Boon!]
Elemental Affinity: Switch freely between One of Eight Elemental Affinities: Death, Life, Harmony, Chaos, Fire, Earth, Water, or Air. Once you switch Affinities, the original Affinity can only be adopted again after twenty-four hours. Elemental Affinity does not change your base Affinity but works as a veil on top of your current one.
Each Affinity, while active, will grant you the following benefits:
Morvath’s Aspect (Death): You exude a cold, unnerving aura that taps into the fear of mortality. The living are more susceptible to your Intimidation attempts and Fear-based skills and spells.
Lathalon’s Grace (Life): Gain increased passive healing and immunity to Poison and Deathtouch effects.
Seraphis’ Clarity (Harmony): Your focus is sharpened, boosting your Evasion against all damage by 10%. Gain immunity to Mind Control.
Nyriss’ Frenzy (Chaos): Your words naturally sow passion and discord, amplifying your ability to instill Berserk and Charm effects.
Vorthak’s Flame (Fire): Wreath yourself in harmless, ethereal flames that provide illumination and warmth. Immunity to Freeze and Darkness effects.
Terridan’s Resolve (Earth): You become as unyielding as the earth itself. You cannot be knocked down or staggered by a hostile attack.
Ulthara’s Calm (Water): Become utterly serene, no matter the danger. Grants immunity to Fear and Petrification effects.
Elea’s Whisper (Air): Send a whispered message through the air to any known person within one mile and hear their response. Immunity to Slow and Sleep effects.
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Justin felt a rush of exhilaration. This was beyond anything he’d imagined.
[Please choose your first Affinity.]
Justin considered each option. He realized that adopting an Affinity wasn’t permanent, and he could change as needed. He understood just why it was called the All-Encompassing Draught; it allowed him to adapt to a variety of situations at need with an extremely powerful bonus, courtesy each of the Old Gods.
However, once he switched, he wouldn’t be able to return to the same Affinity for twenty-four hours.
So, the only thing that was left was to decide on his first one.
Some seemed stronger than the others, but even the “weaker” ones because invaluable in the right situation. In particular, Seraphis’ Clarity stood out to him for the increased evasion. It would always be generally useful. It stacked nicely with his Gentleman Focus and would essentially allow him to dodge 20% of all damage. Even if he already had immunity to Mind Control from his top hat, it was still a solid choice.
Here in this northern climate, Vorthak’s Flame opened up many possibilities. Plus, walking around covered with flames but not getting hurt would be undeniably cool.
He decided that Seraphis’ Clarity would be the most useful starting point. The boost to evasion stacked with his Gentleman Focus, and he could always switch to something else when needed.
[Affinity adopted: Seraphis’ Clarity.]
That was when another voice entered his mind, something deeper and more resonant than the one he was used to, who he assumed to be the voice of Seraphis himself:
“Balance is the key to mastery. Seek Harmony in all things, and the true path will reveal itself.”
A warm, calming sensation spread through Justin’s mind, as if the Affinity had integrated seamlessly into his very being. His thoughts became clearer, sharper, and his senses heightened.
The voice of Veyrith returned:
[With Elemental Affinity, you have unlocked the power of the Eight Old Gods. Use it wisely! Go forth, Brave Adventurer, and weave the forces of Creation into your destiny.]
With a sudden jolt, Justin’s mind snapped back into his body.