“I don’t...believe it.” Iris was amazed as she gazed through her loupe to examine the crystalized blade in her hands. “Are you sure this is the same dagger you showed me before?”
“I saw it myself, Iris.” Master Zoe said. “The jagged edges just crumbled away like charcoal like it was hiding underneath the entire time. All I want to know is, what do you think it is?”
“I’d say it’s very similar to a fire gem, but at the same time it’s not entirely the same. It also differs in both quality and luster, than I’ve previously seen. Although if I had to grade it, last time it was unrefined quality, but now dagger I’d go to say it’s slightly refined at least.”
“What’s the difference between unrefined and slightly refined?” Jason tried to get close enough to examine it with his own eyes.
“Farm boy, even fire gems vary in quality and clarity like diamonds, except instead of measuring their flaws, mineralogists measure purity of sacred metal contained at its core, in this case if it were Orchialcum. Greater beasts contain less than one or fifteen percent purity, your average demon can range from sixteen to forty-nine percent, rare demon classes like a dragon are between fifty and eighty-four percent. Any highest would require the power of Grand Master Earth Mage to reach even near complete purity so what I’m saying its, if I didn’t know better I’d say this blade was came from the body of a Khalkotauroi, the most common demon in the mainland.”
“In other words, its purity is between ten and fifteen percent as opposed to five percent.” Master Zoe nodded her head as this confirmed her suspicions.
“I’d need an Earth Mage to be sure, but yes that’s exactly what I’m saying.”
Jason suddenly looked at the blade in a new light as it was not only a fancy stone dagger anymore but something else entirely.
“How is that even possible?” Selene gathered around with the rest to examine it. “I’ve heard of earth mages who can channel their body’s soul force into demon and great beast skeletons to achieve complete purity. However, even at five percent purity it would take days, even weeks of infusion to achieve this type of purity. You did it one night, and you’re not even a mage?” Selene looked to him with a fair amount of skepticism at everyone’s claims, until Master Zoe stood up to have her say.
“I have a theory, it’s the same theory I had years ago, but until now I’ve never had any proof.” Master Zoe took a seat to begin her talks as everyone in the room began to hear her weave the tale. “What’s the difference between a Chimera and a Red Dragon?”
“Uh, one has scales the other has fur?” Iris answered.
“They’re both demons, except one is rarer than the other.” Jason responded.
“One has a heart containing Orchialcum and the other has a heart containing Asterite.” Anthony answered.
“You’re right Bios, but Jason is also right.” Jason enjoyed his moment of acknowledgement from Master Zoe before he continued on with her speech. “They’re both demons, they both breathe fire, their bodies and organs contain a high amount of Orchialcum content but certain organs in a dragon contain traces of Asterite. Why is it possible that only earth mages mold and control purity when it’s an element associated with Fire Mages? It’s the same reason why fire mages use Orchialcum to enhance their own abilities. I believe Dragons have the access to transmute Orchialcum by the use of a sixth sense that we humans have yet to discover.”
“The Ion.” Clio touched her head and remembered what she saw that night. “When you took the force of that electricity Bios, there was a strange glow at the tip of your forehead.”
“I recall a warm sensation, but are you saying what I felt was me accessing the Ion?”
“It was most likely unintentional, but in that life or death moment you achieved what other scholars have thought was just a myth.” Master Zoe laughed hysterically as she placed her palm on her hand.
“Ms. Gaia are you alright?” Clio asked, concerned about her frantic state.
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“I’m fine, in fact better than ever.” She practically jumped out of her seat upon her wooden leg. “Bios, if you’ll let me, I’d like you to help me study this phenomenon, with your help we could start a new age of understanding. What do you say?” She placed her hand on his shoulder in a friendly manner.
“So, you’re going to experiment on him?” Clio asked in fright.
“Don’t do it Anthony.” Jason said in protest. “I’ve had experience with Master Zoe’s medicine trials, it’s not as safe as she says.”
“You make it sound like I’m gonna cut him up and serve him in a vial or something.” She sneered at Jason’s snarky remark. “I’m talking about trial testing. That last time was reflex, involuntary, but I want to help you master it, maybe find out if it’s possible to duplicate it, but to do that I’m gonna have to make a trip to Iasera.”
She began to head toward the door, before Selene suddenly stopped her in her tracks.
“Iasera, in the Kenos region? You don’t mean...”
“Yes, I’m gonna need a major withdrawal from the Bank of Menander in Iasera.” Selene rubbed her head in frustration, much to Anthony’s curiosity.
“That’s the bank that she left to work here and now it’s run by her eldest brother.” Jason whispered to him discreetly.
“Well there’s not time to waste, we’ve gotta start chartering a wagon.” She opened the door out of the room and stepped into the hall. “Clio you’re in charge of the shop wagon and horses, don’t let Jason use it for anything other than business. Jason you’re in charge of the store and make sure everything is locked up, if I hear you’re slacking I’ll be docking your pay. Iris, you’re gonna help Jason, but don’t let it interfere with your manufacturing. Selene you’re coming with us, I need you negotiating skills if I’m going to secure a loan for the equipment I’ll need to begin testing. Bios, you’re coming to and bring all those orders you receive from the guild hall, it’s a seven day journey from here to Iasera. We can meet with several guild offices, maybe you can fill some of those orders and sell the rest to the locals along the way.”
“Master Zoe.” Anthony spoke up suddenly. “There are also some effects I have stored away in Kosa. It's along the way to Iasera. Would it be alright if we made a detour in our excursion?”
“So long as you don’t mind my first pick of the prize materials. We’re gonna need all the collateral we can get if I’m gonna make this happen. I’ll see if I can teach you a thing of two about my observation from your little fight. It might help with discovering the source of the Ion.”
She left into the halls immediately packing her things leaving everyone with uncertain feelings.
“Once again, I’m minding the store.” Jason complained.
“Ugh, my big brother.” Selene was annoyed at the mention of him.
“I’d pick a few mineral samples as well.” Iris practically pleaded. “If what I have in mind is true, perhaps this Ion thing could mean more than just a revolution for fire gems, but others as well.”
Of all the voices that pass into the halls, Clio was the meekest. She had not had much to say, much during the whole conversation, but something weighed heavily on her soul. He could see it in her eyes, a strange feeling of dread that something about this trip seemed very foreboding.
“Is there something weighing on you Ms. Clio.”
“It’s difficult to explain, but it’s more the feeling I got that night at the farm.” She took a deep breath to collect her thoughts. “Remember when I said that I found Ida in the woods. Well...that wasn’t entirely true.” Anthony listened closely for what she had to say. “Before that, I felt something I’ve never sensed before. I thought it might have been fear in the woods or some Greater beast had found us, but this was something different. It was like pressure pushing me away, something that shook my very spirit. It didn’t occur to me until later, but if I was right then it had something to do with your access to the Ion you were talking about.”
“You’re saying accessing it had some sort of repellent effect on you?”
“I’ve heard legends that high level Water Mages can compress their spirit like a crushing effect, allowing them to subdue weaker opponents without lifting a finger.”
“I’ve heard that technique is similar to the force of void that earth mages use to use Electromagnetism and Telekinesis techniques.”
“Ms. Gaia informed me there is an old saying that Water Mages have in regards to that comparison...The force that pushes you down can also pushes you toward unexpected encounters.” She grabbed his hand and kissed it gently. “May the Kings protect you, for what may lie ahead.”
Anthony was left with this strange message, but had little time to dwell on it. There was much to get ready before the day's end, bags to pack, wagons to charter and supplies to get ready for the trip to Iasera. When all was ready and good, and preparations were set, Iris, Jason and Clio were at the door waving at their friends as they left on their charter trip. The wagon driver was kind enough to meet them at the door and ride off on the roads down to the Middling states. Now, it was just a matter of whether they would make it in a timely manner with many miles and little time to idle, since the driver was charging by the day.