Infinite Forge: I Can Devour Everything

The commercial zone of the Black Tower Magus Academy was a riot of color and chaos, a magical bazaar that thrummed with the energy of a thousand spells.

Golden Street, its crown jewel, glittered under the glow of enchanted crystal lamps, their light refracting through the air like prisms, casting rainbows across the cobblestones. Every shop here was a fortress of wealth, their signs pulsing with runes that whispered promises of rare ingredients and arcane treasures.

The Arch-Mage Consortiums dominated this stretch, supplying over half the academy's materials, everything from glowing herbs to dragon scales to vials of starlight distilled from the cosmos itself. These consortiums, alliances of mages from distant regions and ancient families, offered goods that could spark the imagination of even the most jaded apprentice. For an Elementary Apprentice like Edwyn, they were both a lifeline and a temptation.

Edwyn strutted down Golden Street, his apprentice robes flapping dramatically behind him like a cape, his red hair tousled just enough to look effortlessly cool. His grin was cocky, carefree, with a glint of mischief that said he was ready for anything.

The rent for a single shop here could bankrupt a small nation, easily tens of thousands of Mana Stones a year. Even Agnes, a High Apprentice with a tidy stash, couldn't dream of setting up shop in this district. Her little alchemy hole-in-the-wall was tucked away in a quieter corner of the zone, far from the glittering excess of Golden Street.

"Mages and commoners? Two different planets, man," Edwyn muttered, his eyes catching the neon-like glow of a crystal lamp shaped like a phoenix, its flames flickering with real heat. The sight reminded him of Earth, billboards, city lights, the hum of a world that didn't run on mana. He shook his head, chuckling. "Guess I'm not on Earth anymore."

His gaze landed on a sleek storefront, its sign pulsing with seven interlocking orbs of light, each a different color.

Seven Luminaries Consortium.

Agnes had pointed him here for affordable materials, warning that their quality was a gamble. With only twenty Mana Stones left, Edwyn wasn't in a position to be picky. Hightower Consortium's premium goods were out of his league, Seven Luminaries was his best shot.

He pushed through the door, and the cacophony of Golden Street vanished, swallowed by a soundproofing magic array that hummed faintly in the walls. The shop was deceptively small, a minimalist setup with a polished obsidian counter, a few shelves lined with sample vials, and a mechanical clerk standing at attention. Her metallic joints gleamed under the soft light, but her lifelike skin and expressive face were uncanny, almost human. Only the lifeless crystal eyes gave her away as an arcane construct.

"Welcome to the Seven Luminaries Consortium, student," she said, her voice sweet as honey, bowing with mechanical precision. "How may I assist you today?"

Edwyn leaned against the counter, one eyebrow raised, his grin dripping with charm. "Well, well, aren't you a shiny piece of work? Gotta say, if it weren't for those gear-grinding joints, I'd think you were the real deal." He scanned her up and down, his tone playful but his eyes sharp, taking in every detail. "I'm here to score some potion materials. Got a list for you."

The clerk's smile didn't waver, programmed to handle cocky apprentices like him. "You must be a first-time visitor. Our consortium stores most materials off-site for security and space. You pay here, and we deliver directly to your dormitory or laboratory of choice."

Edwyn nodded, impressed despite himself. "Fancy setup. Alright, let's do this." He slid a parchment across the counter, his handwriting a mix of bold strokes and deliberate misdirection. The list included the ingredients for his Focus Oil recipe, padded with decoy items to throw off anyone trying to reverse-engineer the formula.

The clerk took the parchment and scanned it with a crystal orb, its surface pulsing with a soft blue glow. A flash of light, and she spoke again. "The total cost for your order is 530 academy credits. Would you like to proceed?"

Edwyn did the math in his head, his fingers drumming on the counter. Five potion recipes, 530 credits. Strip out the decoy ingredients, and each recipe ran about 100 credits. Not cheap, but doable. "Yeah, let's make it happen," he said, pulling a pouch from his robe and counting out the credits with a theatrical flourish. "Gotta keep the potion party rolling."

The clerk verified the credits with a quick scan, then produced a contract etched on shimmering vellum, a standard precaution in the cutthroat world of mage commerce. Edwyn skimmed it, signed with a dramatic swoop of the quill, and gave his dorm address for delivery. But he wasn't done yet. Leaning forward, he flashed his grin again. "One more thing, sweetheart. You got a catalog of bloodlines for sale? I'm in the market for something… special."

"Of course." The clerk retrieved a fist-sized crystal orb from under the counter, its surface swirling with faint, starry light. "Scan it with your mind to access the list."

Edwyn took the orb, his fingers brushing against its cool surface. He closed his eyes, letting his Spiritforce flow into it. A tidal wave of information crashed into his consciousness, bloodlines from over a hundred thousand creatures, from the venomous Whisperwing Moth to the colossal Starfire Dragon, even elemental spirits from the Planes of Fire and Ice. The sheer scale of it made his head spin.

"Holy crap," he muttered, smirking. "How many planets did you guys conquer to get this kind of inventory? This is nuts."

He scrolled through the list mentally, his focus narrowing until he found it: Two-Headed Troll Bloodline. Required for Stage Two of his Black Knight Alchemy path. Price: 500 Mana Stones.

Edwyn let out a low whistle, rubbing his chin. "Five hundred stones? That's a kick in the wallet." With his current funds, Stage Two was a distant dream. He handed the orb back, his grin masking his frustration. "Thanks, doll. I'll be back when I'm feeling richer."

Stepping out into the bustling street, Edwyn didn't head back to his dorm. Instead, he made his way to the lab zone, where the air crackled with the residue of spent spells. The public testing field was a wide, open space ringed with protective wards, its ground scarred from countless experiments. In the center, a short-haired girl was weaving magic with fierce precision. Elia.

Boom!

A cone of flame erupted from her hands, bathing a metal target in searing heat. The steel glowed cherry-red, then melted into a bubbling pool of molten iron in seconds. Edwyn's grin widened as he strolled up, clapping slowly. "Well, damn, Elia! You're out here setting the world on fire, literally. That's some spicy Evocation magic."

Elia spun around, her auburn hair catching the sunlight, her eyes sparkling with a mix of pride and mischief. "Edwyn! Didn't expect to see you in the lab zone." She smirked, brushing a strand of hair from her face. The spell she'd cast was Burning Hands, but not the basic version, Edwyn recognized the advanced modification from notes he'd snagged during a late-night study session. "Not bad, right? Bet I could roast you in a duel now."

Edwyn laughed. "Oh, you're throwing down the gauntlet? Careful, princess, I might just take you up on that and make you eat those flames." He crossed his arms, his grin daring her to push back.

Elia rolled her eyes but stepped closer, playfully looping her arm through his. The sudden warmth of her touch sent a jolt through him, but he kept his cool, even as his heart did a little flip. "Shouldn't you be nose-deep in a book right now, Mr. Joron's Star Pupil?" she teased, her voice light but her grip firm.

Edwyn shrugged, leaning into her touch just enough to keep the vibe playful. "Books are great, but I'm running low on Mana Stones. Figured I'd hit the field, maybe pick up a mission or two to keep the cash flow going." He winked. "You know me, can't stay cooped up too long. Gotta keep the action hot."

Elia's eyes lit up, her smile turning competitive. "A mission? Count me in! My mentor's been drilling me on new spells, Evocation and Curses. I'm pretty sure I'm stronger than you now, hotshot." She poked his chest, her tone half-joking, half-serious.

Over the past year, Edwyn and Elia had teamed up for a handful of missions, their teamwork growing tighter with each job. They weren't raking in fortunes, but they had a rhythm, her fiery spells and his quick wit made them a solid pair. Edwyn raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Your mentor's finally warming up to you, huh? I heard she's got ties to the big boss, the Chancellor of Black Tower, not just the Vice. That's some serious clout."

Elia pouted, then perked up, her enthusiasm infectious. "Not a formal apprentice yet, but she's been way nicer lately. No more death glares when I mess up a spell." She leaned in close, her breath warm against his ear, sending a shiver down his spine. "Word is, she's the Chancellor's direct student. A Grand Overlord's apprentice. If I play my cards right, I could be the Chancellor's grand-apprentice. How's that for untouchable?"

Edwyn whistled, stepping back to give her a mock bow. "Well, damn, Lady Elia, I better start kissing up now before you're too big to remember me." His grin was all charm, but his mind flickered to her words. The Chancellor's grand-apprentice? That was a ticket to the top. "Guess I'll have to step up my game to keep up with you."

Elia giggled, sticking out her tongue. "You better! I've got guys like Joseph chasing me now. You know him, formal apprentice, alchemist, Arch-Mage's kid. He's practically your twin, except, you know, fancier."

He'd heard the name, another alchemy prodigy, born with a silver spoon and a mage lineage to back it up. "Fancy, huh? Sounds like he's trying too hard. Me? I'm all natural, baby." He struck a pose, flexing dramatically, making Elia laugh.

"Oh, please," she said, swatting his arm. "You're ridiculous. But…" She slipped her arm through his again, her smile softening. "Dinner tonight? My treat this time. Gotta celebrate my soon-to-be-grand-apprentice status."

Edwyn's heart skipped a beat, but he played it cool, extending his hand with a flourish. "Lady Elia, it'd be my honor to dine with royalty. Lead the way, and I'll try not to embarrass you too much."

She laughed, tugging him toward the edge of the testing field. "You're impossible, Ed. Come on, let's go."