The six people in the room wore troubled expressions. Elder seemed the most distraught, his weathered face shadowed by worry.

“I didn’t think the barrier was so weak that such a powerful beast could breach it,” he lamented, his voice heavy with regret.

Grey had already recounted the attack in detail—how the monster had used illusions to break his defenses, how real everything had felt. The room fell silent, the gravity of the situation sinking in.

“That’s why,” Brawl began, his tone steady and deliberate, “I think we should have Grey use the rest of the Central Organs to connect with as many people in the village as possible.”

“You mentioned there was a tool with everyone’s name engraved on it, right?” Keen asked, glancing at Elder. “We should prioritize those with the greatest talent first, regardless of their current roles.”

Shot frowned slightly, her expression betraying a hint of disappointment at the potential delay in her own evolution. But she said nothing, understanding the urgency of the situation. The safety of the village came first.

“I’ll fetch the list and start preparing the elixir,” Elder said finally. “Grey, stay here. The rest of you, return to your homes for now.”

No one argued. One by one, they left, offering brief nods and farewells as they stepped into the quiet village streets.

“I’ll see you in a bit,” Serene said softly as she lingered by the door.

“Yeah,” Grey replied, smiling faintly. “And find out what Tear’s up to—she’s been acting strange lately.”

Serene chuckled, the sound lightening the mood for a brief moment. “I’ll look into it,” she promised before slipping out.

Once the room was empty, Grey turned to his spatial ring, drawing out the cabinets of ingredients needed for the elixir. The lessons he’d received from Elder and the other Will users had left him well-versed in the process. He worked methodically, laying out powders, plants, and vials with practiced precision, ensuring everything was ready by the time Elder returned.

When Elder reappeared, he carried a black stone tablet etched with names. He sat down heavily and began writing on a sheet of parchment, skipping over certain names—likely those he deemed too old, young, or otherwise unsuited for the process.

“You’re too kind, Grey,” Elder said after a long silence. His voice was quieter now, almost resigned. “I know I can’t ask you to abandon your family… but please, understand this: you are our future. If you die, we will be lost.”

Grey felt the weight of the words settle on his shoulders, heavier than anything he’d carried before. The responsibility of the village’s survival, its rise or fall, rested with him. But as Elder had said, he couldn’t abandon Tear, Serene, or Stilra to the beasts. Saving only himself was unthinkable.

“I’m sorry, Elder,” Grey murmured, his voice thick with guilt and determination.

Elder shook his head, his gaze still fixed on the parchment in front of him. “It’s not a flaw to be like you. If you weren’t, maybe as soon as you left, you would forget us all. I wouldn’t blame you if you did. How far could you rise—how quickly—if you didn’t have to carry us with you?”

Grey stared at the back of the ancient figure, the words cutting deeply. “I would never abandon—”

“I know you wouldn’t,” Elder interrupted gently, setting the pen down and finally turning to face Grey. His eyes were tired but kind. “That’s why I can’t hold your actions against you. But you must understand… if the First Elder’s words are true, and the world—or rather, people—haven’t changed, then beasts won’t be the only thing you’ll need to worry about.”

Grey’s mind flickered to the green-robed figures he had encountered. He thought of Drake’s callousness in his sneak attack and the old man’s ruthless efficiency in slaughtering nearly the entire hunting team. The memory sent a shiver down his spine.

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“I understand,” Grey said finally, his voice low but resolute.

Elder gave him a long look before nodding. “Good. Then let’s begin.”

The two worked quickly, adding each ingredient to the cauldron with practiced precision. As the final component—the remaining Central Organs—was dropped into the mix, the brew roared to life, swirling violently before settling into a vibrant golden glow.

Elder picked up the parchment he had been writing on and held it out to Grey. “Here. These are the names you should focus on first. If you still have energy left by the end, we can continue.”

Grey nodded as he scanned the list. Most of the names belonged to people he vaguely recognized; in a village this small, he knew at least something about everyone. The elderly and the very young were excluded, leaving those most likely to benefit from the connection.

After a pause, Grey looked up. “Elder… can you write one more? For the entire village. I don’t know if it’ll work, but maybe when I leave, I’ll still be able to connect to everyone.”

Elder’s expression softened as he considered the request. “Very well,” he said, picking up his pen again. “I’ll write it as you work.”

Grey nodded and stepped toward the cauldron. He took a deep breath, his focus sharpening, and submerged himself in the golden liquid. The world around him faded as his mind slipped into his mental space.

The familiar expanse greeted him, the golden pool shimmering beneath his feet, larger and more vibrant than ever before. Grey stood at its edge, the parchment of names from Elder forming in his thoughts.

He called out the first name—Forge.

The golden pool rippled, its surface rising and shifting toward a red node of light glowing with medium intensity. As the liquid wrapped around the node, it condensed, forming a familiar orb. This one felt similar in strength to Wild’s talent, solid and steady.

Grey watched as the pool receded slightly, its size shrinking. But the pool began to expand again, replenishing itself. With a steady rhythm, Grey continued, calling name after name, watching as the orbs formed one by one.

Each connection took a toll on the pool. The orbs grew smaller as he progressed, their brilliance dimming with each new link. By the time Grey reached the later names on the list, the orbs had diminished to faint specks, barely glowing—reminiscent of the ones he had seen for Aedric and Leora.

Still, he pressed on, determined to use every ounce of energy he had absorbed.

As the golden pool continued to form links, they began to resemble roots spreading from a plant, vast and intricate. A web of golden lines stretched out in every direction, their delicate glow illuminating the expanse of his mental space.

Grey paused, taking a deep, steadying breath, and opened his eyes. The physical world came back into focus. The cauldron before him remained half full, still swirling with vibrant energy, its power untapped.

“Elder, I need more names,” Grey called, his voice resolute as he stood to peer over the massive container he sat in.

Elder, who had been watching intently, stepped forward and handed him another parchment. Grey skimmed the list, quickly memorizing the names before settling back into the cauldron. He closed his eyes, letting the monotonous process pull him in once more.

Name after name, connection after connection—each one drawn from the golden pool like a delicate thread. But as the hundredth link was forged, something shifted.

A deep rumbling echoed through Grey’s mental space, the placid waters of the golden pool rippling violently, as if caught in a sudden storm. The shimmering expanse beyond quivered, responding to an unseen force.

Beneath him, the pool began to rise, its surface breaking upward in a column of light. It grew taller and taller, its liquid form solidifying into a radiant golden trunk. From this trunk, the connections stretched outward like branches and twigs, expanding in all directions. Each link shimmered with a vibrant glow, forming an intricate, glowing tree that pulsed with life.

Grey remained motionless, his breath caught in his chest as the transformation unfolded. He stared in awe at the radiant tree, speechless, its golden light bathing his mental space in brilliance.

The pool still sat at the top of the column, pulsing steadily with energy. But no explanation came to him—no guiding voice, no sudden understanding of what this transformation meant or how he could use it. Its purpose remained a mystery.

“Should I experiment?” Grey wondered aloud. The idea tempted him, but he knew better than to waste the remaining energy. His current task demanded focus. Yet, as his gaze lingered on the newly formed orbs—so faint they were barely visible—he felt a pang of desire. These people had virtually no talent to strengthen their bodies further, perhaps not even a trace of the Giant lineage to call upon.

Resolving to make the most of the energy left, Grey turned his focus to Serene’s orb and called her name. The golden threads responded immediately, the orb trembling before beginning to grow. He concentrated, pouring his power into it, determined to raise it to a suitable level.

As the orb expanded, Grey felt a pang of longing—a wish that he could do more, something greater, something beyond his limits.

And then it happened.

The golden pool atop the tree pulsed violently, the light intensifying until the entire tree seemed to shimmer.