They were about to head back to the village when a thought occurred to Kaden. “Hey Sofia… Do I even want to know what you can do now?”

The grimoire turned towards Kaden with an almost demonic smile. Its reflective green scales had visually increased in number and now had a dim green glow to them. Without warning a ninth appendage suddenly struck out towards Kaden stopping just inches from his face as he fell backwards.

“The hell did you do that for?” Anger in his voice. “That is really not funny and fairly dangerous”

A thin version of the tail belonging to a Phinsis had sprouted out from the spine of the grimoire. Its eight spider legs were now accompanied by a very powerful scorpion like tail. “You said something similar last time, anyway don’t you like it? It should be a lot stronger than a regular tail as I combined both of Mothers-bane and Phinsis to create it.”

Sofia decided to show off a little by using the new tail to stab through a nearby tree. This demonstration of power was enough to shake Kaden through to the bone.

“I also combined the Mothers-bane venom and the Phinsis toxin to create something a little more deadly. Anything I bite or sting will be instantly paralyzed and dead in a matter of minutes.” She continued with an excitedly upbeat tone. “Those who go against me will truly have something to fear!” She added an exaggerated maniacal laugh to the end of that last statement.

Perhaps I should go easier on letting her absorb too many creatures; he quietly thought to himself. Kaden wasn’t so much worried that she would hurt him but rather her growing arch villain like tendencies.

They had found some White Chaga mushrooms and Titan Beatles on their way back to the village. Sofia had absorbed them both but wasn’t able to tell if anything had changed. She did mention to Kaden that something must have happened as she felt similar to when she absorbed the shirt back at the village.

“Were you able to synthesize the solution?”

“I was. That information about combining and creating new Genes using DNA you gave me helped a lot. I combined everything successfully and I am sure they will be able to regrow missing limbs.” Her voice sounded like she was trying to convince herself.

Kaden went over to see Padvor and Alia the next day. Padvor had skipped breakfast that morning to monitor Alia’s progress. “That is very impressive”, he said examining her.

They had been doing several tests that morning. “As far as I can tell your muscles are more tightly bound increasing your natural strength. You seems to have gained a significant boost to your stamina. I am especially impressed at how fast it recovers. You’re also healing a lot faster and your immune system is far stronger.” Holding up one of her blood samples, “I am not sure but I think your natural aging has slowed if you’re still aging at all. I can’t tell.

This formula will change life for all of Rakan.” Padvor stayed silent for a moment to ponder the implications of this. He was wondering if they should really hand over this miracle formula or not. Some of the high-born were rumored to be ageless with secret family spells. This certainly had to be true for those that had been alive since the founding of the new kingdom. If this formula got out then the low-born would be able to even that playing field, perhaps they could see real changes in Rakan.

Padvor took a deep breath. No; he thought, this would only lead to civil war. He also wasn’t sure how Kaden had gotten the initial solution in the first place. That mysterious boy was constantly surprising him.

“How are you feeling?” Padvor jumped when he suddenly heard Kaden’s voice.

“I feel stronger then I have ever been. If I only had this back before… Things would have been different.” Alia responded.

“About that, I think I may have a solution”, a slight smile on Kaden’s face.

Alia threw him a questioning look

“I may have figured a way for you to regrow your legs”, Kaden smiled at her then turned to look at Padvor just as he fell off his chair.

Kaden explained a not so accurate and altered version of a story. He had gotten better at altering just the correct amount of facts thanks to Rakhail’s tips. He wasn’t sure how he would be able to explain the basics of altering DNA or Genes to them so he simply left it out.

Kaden is going to be the death of me, I’m sure of it. Here I am wondering the implications of a miracle solution without equal since probably the old kingdom and now less than a day later he brings me another one. He is lying about the method he used to create it but that is understandable. Perhaps he is also worried about the implications and doesn’t want it to get out. Only the high-born have this kind of power and don’t often share it. Padvor got up and straightened himself, “How did you come up with this idea? And is it safe? Everything requires a tradeoff so what is the cost of this one?”

“My people don’t have magic, instead we study something called science. While I can’t explain it all to you I will tell you this. Every advance we have made is based this method…” Kaden drew out a diagram for the scientific method.

Padvor examined the diagram and found it elegant, this process was so simple and yet so precise.

“Using what you taught me and everything else I know I was able to create this”, Kaden handed Padvor a water skin. “I don’t know if it will work and it would be a lie if I said there wasn’t any danger but I want to give everyone a chance.”

Taking a moment, “As for the cost… I don’t know. I need someone to test it on”

“I volunteer”, Alia’s voice chimed in. “Do I drink the whole thing or just take a sip?”

“Hold on second Alia, we don’t know”

Alia immediately interrupted him, “Padvor, I have made my choice. If this works it will help all of us”

Taking a deep breath, “I suppose I will not be able to talk you into even slowing down. I want to test them on other non-human creatures first.”

“Padvor we don’t have time, just how long do you think is left till the next Spine-back attack.” She countered.

“Do what you will”, he knew there was no point arguing and they would have to test it on someone eventually.

Kaden took a tiny vial from Padvor and poured a little of the serum in. “I think your legs will regrow back but I do not know what the long term effects of this will be. I don’t know if it will only work on part of you or all of you. Only time will tell.”

“Thank you, I appreciate all you have done and will do for the village. I don’t want to be a burden to anyone and if this even has the slightest chance to change that, I will take it.” She took the vial from Kaden and swallowed.

“That is the most disgusting thing I have ever tasted.” Closing her eyes trying to keep the vial substance down.

“Anything different so far?” Kaden asked.

“I am starting to feel a little warm”, the warm sensation she was experiencing started to intensify. A few seconds later she felt as if a fire was coursing through her entire body. It was especially concentrated towards the stumps of where her legs use to be.

“They are growing”, Padvor’s voice sounded astonished.

The skin at the end of her legs started to grow longer, her muscles and bones started to extend. The entire process took only a few minutes.

“This is amazing”, those words couldn’t really describe the joy in her voice or begin to express the emotions she was feeling. “I don’t know what to say, thank you, thank you for everything Kaden. You have given me back so much…” Her words trailed off when she noticed Padvor and Kaden staring at her legs. “What’s wrong?” a slight panic just hit her as she more closely examined her legs.

“No, nothing is wrong. I may… Um” Kaden pointed towards a spot on her legs. Her legs were a lot lighter than the rest of her skin. It was a very pale misty white compared to her own tanned skin tone.

A look of relief came to her face, “O that, don’t worry. I have legs again, who cares if the colours are mismatched”

Kaden bent down and pointed to a more specific spot. Then she saw it. On a much closer inspection she noticed several very tiny reflective scales. They were all white in colour with some having ranges from light blue to light purple around their edges. A few even had some greens mixed in. They seem to be randomly placed in tiny sporadic clusters over her newly formed legs.

Padvor bent over to examine them. “They seem to be very tough, almost like armor. Do you feel it when I touch them?”

“Yes, I can feel it.” She responded.

“How about if I push down on them? Stop me if it starts to hurt” Padvor started tapping the scales with a tiny hammer like tool. Lightly at first then slowly increased the pressure.

“I can still feel it, I don’t feel any pain”

“They seem to be distributing the force somehow.” It must be similar to how Phinsis scales work.

“Can you try walking?”

Alia managed to stand up with a little difficulty. Taking a step was another matter entirely. It took her a little bit before she finally managed to gain control of her new muscles and she was able to move unaided.

The celebration the village held that night was beyond anything Kaden had ever experienced. There was music, dancing, a huge bone-fire, alcohol and food; lots of alcohol and food. Kaden being hailed as the village hero was the center of attention.

“We should wait a few more days to see how Alia is doing before giving out your miracle heal to those who need it. But, I think we can start giving everyone the strengthening serum starting tomorrow. You have given me a lot of work to do over the next few days”, Padvor’s had to raise his voice over the music.

“Haha, you know me. Got to keep you on your toes”, Kaden responded finally getting the chance to sit down after dancing nonstop.

“That you do”, Padvor laughed.

Kaden managed to excuse himself from the party deciding to head to bed finally. On his way back he noticed Alia standing at the edge of the village staring into the dark of the jungle.

“I can see it”, she said noticing him even without glancing in his direction.

“See what?” he was slightly confused.

Pausing a moment before she finally responded, “everything.”