Infinite Forge: I Can Devour Everything

Edwyn clutched the crystal orb, its cool, smooth surface humming faintly under his fingers as he probed it with a pulse of Spiritforce. The orb pulsed back, and a shimmering blueprint unfurled in his mind like a cosmic scroll, detailing an Arcane Artifact called the Pale Mask. Its design was intricate yet eerie, swirling runes, jagged edges, and a faint aura of mystery that promised power but whispered danger. Edwyn's silver hair glinted under the dim light of Joron's lab as he tossed the orb lightly in his hand, his trademark grin spreading wide.

"Well, damn, old man," he said, locking eyes with Master Joron, whose compound pupils gleamed like a swarm of tiny stars. "A mask, huh? What's it do, make me look prettier? 'Cause, I mean, that's a tall order." He struck a pose, one hand on his hip, the other spinning the orb like a basketball.

Joron's expression didn't shift, his voice flat as slate. "Make the Pale Mask and deliver it to me. You have three months. Fail, and you're not the prodigy Agnes thinks you are." He cast a sidelong glance, those unsettling eyes boring into Edwyn like a drill through butter. "Understood?"

Edwyn's grin didn't waver, but he felt the weight of that gaze, like a predator sizing up prey. "Loud and clear, boss," he said, snapping a mock salute. "Three months to whip up your fancy faceplate. Piece of cake."

Joron waved a hand, dismissing them without looking up from his notes. "Go. I have experiments to run."

Agnes tugged Edwyn out of the lab, the heavy iron door slamming shut behind them with a clang that echoed through the tower's stone corridors. Outside, Edwyn let out a long, theatrical exhale, raking a hand through his hair. "Man, that guy's stare could peel paint. Felt like he was lookin' right through my soul, pickin' apart my breakfast choices and all."

Agnes rolled her eyes, her dark hair glinting as she crossed her arms. "Don't be dramatic. Joron restrained his life radiation because you're just an Initiate. If he didn't, you'd be on the floor drooling. Focus on the task. The Pale Mask isn't hard for someone with your skills. I expect results in three months." Before Edwyn could reply, she vaulted over the stair railing, her robes billowing like a storm cloud as she descended with the grace of a falling leaf, levitation magic carrying her down the tower's spiral.

Edwyn leaned over the railing, watching her vanish into the shadows below. "Damn, that's a slick exit," he muttered, scratching his chin. "Gotta get me some of that levitation mojo."

Then it hit him.

He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "Yo, Agnes! You forgot to pay me, lady! I didn't haul that boom juice up here for free!"

His voice echoed through the tower, earning a few annoyed glances from passing apprentices. A moment later, Agnes's voice floated up, sharp and exasperated. "Meet me at the base, you greedy brat!"

---

Tracking down Agnes was like chasing a storm. By the time Edwyn caught up with her in the tower's bustling atrium, his boots were scuffed from sprinting, and his grin was wider than ever. Agnes stood near a glowing fountain, its waters shimmering with enchanted runes, and tossed him a leather pouch that jingled with promise.

"Count it," she said, her tone clipped but not unkind. "One hundred Mana Stones for the Red Quicksilver, plus ten extra for the purity. That stuff's better than anything I've seen in years. And, since we might be lab mates soon, consider this an investment, refine more for me later."

Edwyn caught the pouch mid-air, spinning it with a flourish before peeking inside. The Mana Stones glowed faintly, their surfaces etched with arcane sigils, each one a small fortune.

"Well, hot damn," he said, whistling. "One-ten? Agnes, you're loaded! I'm startin' to like you." He tucked the pouch into his robes, already mentally spending the haul. "Deal on the Quicksilver gig. I'll whip up more of that spicy juice, no problem."

Agnes raised an eyebrow but said nothing, turning to leave with a swirl of her robes. Edwyn watched her go, shaking his head. "Rich and scary. My kinda woman."

His first stop was the dorms to square things with Elia. He'd burned through his last Mana Stones on library binges and Bloodline Alchemy supplies, even borrowing from her to keep his experiments going. Now, with his pouch bulging, it was time to settle up. He knocked on her door, the wood creaking under his knuckles.

Knock knock knock.

"Who is it?" Elia's voice came through, sleepy and muffled.

"Your VIP, baby," Edwyn called, leaning against the doorframe with a grin. "Open up, I come bearing gifts."

The door clicked open, revealing Elia in a thin nightgown, her blonde hair a tousled mess, her eyes half-lidded with sleep. The gown clung to her frame, slipping slightly to reveal a glimpse of pale skin, but Edwyn kept his gaze locked on her face, his grin unwavering.

"Mornin', sunshine. Or, uh, evening? Here's your Mana Stones."

Elia rubbed her eyes, yawning. "What's up, Edwyn? You look way too chipper." She took the small pouch he handed her, tossing it onto her bed without a glance. "Five stones, right? What, you think I'm gonna count it? Trying to scam me or something?" She smiled, leaning against the doorframe, mimicking his pose.

"Nah, I'm a gentleman," Edwyn said, winking. "Just squarin' the books. Got a mentor now, Joron's crew. They gave me a job, so I'm kinda swamped. Catch you later?"

Elia's smirk faltered, her eyes narrowing. "Joron? You met Agnes, didn't you? I can smell her on you. That Red Quicksilver stink clings like a curse."

Edwyn sniffed his sleeve, catching the faint, metallic tang. "Damn, you got a nose like a bloodhound. Yeah, Agnes is my ticket in. Pretty intense, huh?" He gave her a thumbs-up, already backing away. "Gotta jet. Places to be, artifacts to craft. You know how it is."

Elia's cheeks flushed, a mix of irritation and something softer. "You didn't even come in! I got Green's Red Tea from the commercial zone, fancy stuff!" she called after him, but Edwyn was already halfway down the hall, waving over his shoulder.

"Next time, Elia! Promise!" he shouted.

Behind her closed door, Elia stomped her foot, her face red as she flopped onto her bed. "That blockhead! Heart of stone, I swear!"

She grabbed her worn copy of Geography of the Magus World, clutching it like a lifeline.

"Knowledge, you cruel temptress," she muttered, flipping it open. "Stealing all the good ones with your mysteries. How's a girl supposed to compete?"

---

The commercial zone was a chaotic bazaar of arcane wonders, its cobblestone streets lined with shops selling everything from glowing herbs to cursed trinkets. The air buzzed with mana, and the chatter of apprentices haggling with shopkeepers filled the space. Edwyn wove through the crowd, his pouch of Mana Stones jingling as he scanned the blueprint in his mind. Low-grade Wind-Patterned Stone, Sticky Mushrooms, Black Mercury, Poisonbark Ink, Ten-Year-Aged Enchanted Wood…

He hit shop after shop, his charm in full swing as he bartered with grizzled merchants and starry-eyed clerks. By midday, his satchel was stuffed with components, the air around him thick with the earthy scent of mushrooms and the sharp bite of ink.

The cost? A cool 3,500 academy coins, 35 Mana Stones. He winced as he handed over the payment, his pouch noticeably lighter.

"There goes my tavern fund," he muttered, but his grin didn't fade. "Worth it for the Pale Mask."

The last item, though, was a problem. "Black-Striped Water Python's skull?" The clerk at the final alchemy shop, a wiry man with a perpetual scowl, shook his head. "Out of stock. Those snakes are nasty, and their skulls don't exactly grow on trees."

Edwyn slid ten academy coins across the counter, his grin sly. "C'mon, buddy, you gotta know something. Where's a guy like me supposed to find one?"

The clerk pocketed the coins with a quick glance around, his scowl softening into a conspiratorial smile.

"Blackstone Mountains. That's where they slither. Not too tough for an Elementary Apprentice like you. Pro tip: check the academy mission board. If there's a patrol task for the Mountains, you can hitch a ride on the airship for free. Saves you a ticket."

Edwyn tipped an imaginary hat. "You're a lifesaver, my man. Blackstone Mountains it is."

At the mission hall, a cavernous chamber lined with glowing crystal screens, apprentices swarmed like ants, scrolling through tasks ranging from potion brewing to demon hunting. Edwyn found a promising one: Survey the habitat of the White Crystal Deer in the Blackstone Mountains. Perfect. He swaggered to the counter, only to be shot down by the clerk, a bored-looking Mage Apprentice with a crystal orb at her side.

"Sorry, hotshot," she said, glancing at the orb's readout. "This mission's got a danger rating. Initiates and Elementary Apprentices need a partner."

Edwyn's grin faded into a scowl. "A partner? C'mon, I'm a one-man wrecking crew."

"Rules are rules," the clerk said, rolling her eyes. "Find a buddy or pick another mission."

Edwyn massaged his temples, frustration creeping in. He'd kept to himself since arriving at the academy, his only real friend being Elia. Socializing wasn't his thing, too much like work when he could be tinkering with alchemy or dodging library fines.

"Elia, huh?" he muttered. "Guess I'm draggin' her into this."

Before he could leave, a voice piped up behind him. "Hey, friend! Lookin' for a teammate?"

Edwyn turned to see a chubby apprentice in oversized Mage robes, his round face beaming with earnest enthusiasm. "Name's Loken. I'm headed to the Blackstone Mountains too. Wanna team up?"

Edwyn eyed him warily, his paranoia kicking in. The timing was too perfect. "Uh, no offense, big guy, but I already got a partner," he said, flashing a polite grin before turning to the clerk. "Right?"

The clerk sighed, clearly done with him. "Temporary team-ups are standard, Mr. Paranoid. Don't overthink it."

"Nah, I'm good," Edwyn said, already backing away. "Catch you later, Loken." Teaming up with a stranger in the wild? No way. He'd rather face a python solo than risk a knife in the back.

Back at the dorms, he knocked on Elia's door again, his grin back in full force. Knock knock knock.

Elia opened the door, her expression a mix of hope and exasperation. She'd swapped her nightgown for a fitted robe, but her hair was still a mess.

"Edwyn, what now? You forget something?"

Please say you're here to hang out, her eyes seemed to plead.

Edwyn rubbed the back of his neck, his grin sheepish. "So, uh, I got a mission to the Blackstone Mountains. Needs a team. You free? It's 300 academy coins, split fifty-fifty."

Elia's heart did a backflip, but she kept her face cool, leaning against the doorframe.

YESYESYESYESYES!

Elia screamed internally.

"I'm free. What's the job?"

"Survey some deer, maybe hunt a snake," Edwyn said, shrugging. "Easy money, plus I need a python skull for my artifact. You in?"

"Deal," Elia said, a smile tugging at her lips. "Give me a minute to change." She shut the door, and Edwyn could've sworn he heard a muffled squeal of excitement. He chuckled, shaking his head. "This oughta be fun."

As he waited, his mind drifted to the Pale Mask. Three months to craft an Arcane Artifact, hunt a snake, and prove himself to Joron. No pressure.