Her mana coursed through the crystal, feeling every crack and nook inside. With utter focus, Elizabeth filled all of those little crevices with her mana, carefully supplying a steady stream. With her will, she beckoned that power to linger. She kept that going for a long while before finally withdrawing herself from within and witnessing the result of her efforts. To her amazement, the previously dim glass-like item in her hand was shining ever so slightly. She intently stared at it for a full minute, fully expecting that glow to suddenly vanish, however, it remained.

“I did it!” she yelled out in amazement. Looking to her left there was a dozen of similar crystal, all of them either cracked or partially destroyed. A beaming smile appeared on her face. The learning curve was not very fast, but she still had at least a few weeks left to practice. Although she would not have another free day for a while she could secretly practice in the evening before going to sleep. Elizabeth was absolutely certain: She was going to surprise Irwyn and receive a lot of praise from him for those efforts. With that burning passion in her heart, she reached out for another of those crystals without even looking.

“You are still at it?” she suddenly heard a sleepy voice that no doubt belonged to Alice. Elizabeth looked at the direction from where it sounded, but immediately realised she couldn’t quite see her. In fact, she couldn’t see anything except the barely glowing crystal. With shock she realised that she had apparently been far more focused on the enchantment than she believed, and the day had already turned into a moonless night. That meant that the excited yell earlier definitely woke up the sleeping Alice.

“I am sorry, I didn’t realise it was this late,” Elizabeth immediately apologised for waking up the second person on the list of the people she cared about. In fact, the list currently had only 2 entries and was not exactly written down anywhere, but she liked to classify things under certain lists in her head.

“Didn’t realise?” Alice sounded gobsmacked, “as far as I can tell, sunrise is in about two hours.”

“I am sorry, I will go to sleep right away,” Elizabeth promised. She was surprised it was this late but didn’t doubt what Alice had said. After she had reached the second tier Irwyn had taught her some very basic divinations which Alice had mastered to the point where she would always know what hour of the day it is or when the sun will set or rise.

“I hope you won’t fall asleep during the meeting tomorrow,” Alice made a chuckle which Elizabeth couldn’t quite decipher the meaning of. She did then hear her roommate turn around in the bed, though, so instead of carrying on with the conversation Elizabeth stumbled to her own lodging through the familiar dark room.

The meeting Alice mentioned was rather weird. There was originally nothing scheduled for tomorrow except general training, however, the moment Elizabeth and Alice mentioned the woman called Daisy wanted to see him Irwyn immediately arranged a meeting with her for the next day. It was quite mysterious, to say the least. But she was sure there was a reason Irwyn did that. He always did things for a reason, or at least that is what he always said. He would definitely explain everything to them the following day. Actually it was already past midnight, so today would be more accurate, but Elizabeth did not advance that line of thinking, and finally succumbed to slumber.

In the afternoon Alice and Elizabeth adorned their modest black dresses that represented the Blackburg maids and prepared to depart. Since the meeting was after lunch Elizabeth skipped breakfast, and slept in which allowed her to mostly avoid the most intense tiredness. As soon as the girls left the mansion, Irwyn waved at them from the courtyard where there was already a carriage prepared. At this point both Alice and Elizabeth were completely deadpan like a Blackbrug servant on official business should be. Even though Elizabeth was young she knew how to focus on her role as a personal maid to a Blackburg, otherwise, she would become a source of embarrassment to Irwyn which she desperately wanted to avoid. The atmosphere got a little more relaxed when they entered the carriage and it was just the three of them.

“So who is that woman?” Alice asked. Elizabeth usually let her ask those sort of things. She believed that Alice was just better suited to be the rebel who might occasionally speak out her place in private, while Elizabeth herself was dedicated to staying docile and obedient toward her saviour. She did not condone her friend’s brazenness which to an outsider's eye might border on disrespect, Elizabeth just believed it was not particularly suited to herself.

“Likely the most skilled healer in the North,” Irwyn made his heavenly chuckled which always made Elizabeth’s cheeks slightly burn while in private, “But that is not why I am meeting her.”

“Then what is the reason,” Alice naturally pursued.

“She is also a mother to a boy my age with talent that rivals yours,” Irwyn flashed a picture-perfect smile, and Elizabeth felt that her heart began to beat a little bit faster.

“So you want her son?” Alice asked very bluntly.

“Not only want. I need him,” rarely did Irwyn’s smile disappear as it did now, but it always meant the situation was grim, “To heal the wounds from my childhood I need the help of an awakened healer. However, not a single such being appeared in the past 1000 years.”

“So you want to create one yourself,” Alice quickly concluded.

“We will bring him over,” Elizabeth also spoke as determination glittered in her eyes. There was no question whoever that person was he would become Irwyn’s subordinate. No matter the means.

“I thank you for your enthusiasm, but I already made all the necessary arrangements. For now, I will just lend a helping hand,” Irwyn said, the smile returning to his face, and he patted the seat next to him. There laid a black suitcase with a clear Blackburg sigil.

“What’s inside?” Alice asked.

“An important gift. You will get to see it in a bit,” Irwyn acted mysterious, probably just teasing Alice, “We are almost there,” Irwyn said with surety even though this carriage did not have windows. It was really not much longer before the carriage stopped by the Black city’s gate. No one dared question a Blackburg carriage so they were let inside immediately before heading straight to a nearby inn where the woman called Daisy was apparently awaiting them. It was not a horrible establishment, but it was definitely the worst of the best, as by far the cheapest inn in the richer district of the city.

They were not noticed by many in the streets as they trod among the crowd, however, as soon as they entered the inn they stood out. After all two obvious Blackburg maids would already stand out, yet what caused the most turmoil was the young man who clearly wasn’t wearing servant clothes, and arrived with them. Irwyn had been laying low after the festival of Dragoncull, and he had grown significantly older, so it was not surprising that only a few people among the patrons recognised him. Although the people did not recognise him, a dreadful silence descended onto the previously cheerful place. No one dared speak in front of Irwyn. Meanwhile the noble in question quite literally swaggered to the bartender who was obviously nervously sweating.

“I believe I have a meeting arranged,” Irwyn smiled at him. Alice and Elizabeth were as usual exactly 1 step behind him.

“Yes, lord Irwyn. The person is waiting in my best room, I can personally escort you,” the man was very slightly trembling in the presence of Irwyn. Elizabeth considered it only natural, someone like Irwyn would cause awe or terror in all who met him.

“No need, I can find my way,” Irwyn just nonchalantly waved him off, and before the man could reply walked by the man, deeper into the establishment. Alice and Elizabeth did not spare him another glance. Irwyn led them along the halls as though he knew the layout by heart, and soon enough they arrived in front of a room on the second floor. Upon entering they found themselves in a spacious, but not very well-decorated room. In the middle stood a large round table with 8 chairs, and on the furthest end sat a woman who Elizabeth immediately recognised as the one from the day before.

“I am thankful you would come meet me so quickly, lord Irwyn,” the woman humbly bowed her head.

“Don’t mention it. I had nothing more important to do anyway,” Irwyn humbly said and beckoned Alice and Elizabeth to sit down with them. Usually they would stand by the corner or behind him, however, they did not question Irwyn’s decision.

“These two?” Daisy looked up, and her eyes widened when she noticed the two girls who promised to relay her message before.

“They are my personal maids. Is there a problem?” Irwyn smiled but managed to look genuinely worried. Elizabeth knew he faked being worried, as Irwyn would never let something like that unintentionally appear on his face.

“No, it’s fine,” Daisy shook her head “I…”

“I know why you are here,” Irwyn just kept smiling and placed the suitcase from the carriage on the table. That was rather weird because he was definitely not carrying it around when they entered the inn. Elizabeth would ask Irwyn about that later, but she didn’t disturb their conversation here, “You came here to ask for a catalyst for your son’s trial.”

“Uh,” Daisy seemed gobsmacked after being seen through almost instantly, but after a while nodded her head in agreement, “Yes, you are right. I have managed to get my hands one some money, so…”

“There won’t be any need for that,” Irwyn chuckled “you saved my life when I was younger after all. What sort of person would I have to be to require payment? Here,” he pushed the case in Daisy’s direction, “A first-class light catalyst with emphasis on healing.”

“This, how can I just accept…” Daisy seemed to be flabbergasted about what just transpired.

“Don’t worry about it, and just take it, they are not that rare,” Irwyn said. That was probably not true considering how much trouble it took them to get something like that for Alice, “However, if you insist on paying me back you could deliver a letter in exchange,” he said when Daisy still seemed hesitant, and took out a black envelope from beneath his clothes, “I have not seen Minet in over 4 years. Let me relay my sincere invitation in 2 months time when he succeeds in advancing into the second tier.”