The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 170: Refining the Disaster

Chapter 170: Refining the Disaster

"Master Mike won."

Someone in the crowd mumbled. Who? That would remain a mystery for soon many were shouting those words.

No one cared that the title associated with Mike Northson’s name wasn’t official. A refiner who could refine for nearly two weeks without a single mistake had to be a Master. No Adept could claim such a feat.

Hex smiled at the loud cheers. He appeared thankful for them but inwardly he remained calm. Those cheers didn’t influence his mood. He knew many of these mouths cheering his victory might have jeered at him thirteen days ago. The jeers didn’t shatter his heart and the cheers didn’t inflate it.

He saw Tarquin, Gabriella, and their refiners rush up to him. Elsa never visited. Hex was grateful for that. He didn’t like her gaze nor had he forgotten her facial transformation.

"Mike! You are great. Who would have thought you would be so skilled?"

Tarquin smiled from ear to ear. He could boast to his father about his vision to recruit a newly-tested Adept with skills on par with a Master.

"Indeed, who would have thought." A beautiful voice said from the side. Hex glanced at Laila but remained silent, pretending to be weary. He expected the Union to appear. They wouldn’t allow Tarquin to lay sole claim on the genius refiner.

"Miss Laila," Tarquin greeted a bit frigidly.

"Young lord," Laila replied. "You seem worried. Don’t be. We won’t disturb Master Mike today or tomorrow. After all, it would ruin the refinement of a Disaster crystal, wouldn’t it?"

She sounded polite and sweet but the people present felt goosebumps instead of joy listening to her voice. She laughed and walked away at the sight of Tarquin’s face. He controlled his expressions, trying to appear only irritated but Hex didn’t miss his dark face.

’He is put on the spot. Even though they call me Master, they haven’t witnessed me refine a Disaster crystal. He is afraid I am not experienced enough.’

Hex didn’t need to be an expert to read Tarquin’s mind. Similar to him, Tarquin needed the Disaster crystal to increase his chances. He wouldn’t wish to risk it with a newbie Master.

Laila’s words put him on the spot. He might have hoped to make excuses or postpone the refinement but he was afraid Hex wouldn’t wait. And excuses might be used by the Union to rope in the Master class refiner.

"Ahum," Hex scraped his throat weakly. "I need some rest. As Miss Laila said, we can’t ruin your crystal tomorrow."

Hex didn’t let the opportunity slip away. He faked a weary look and excused himself, appearing excited and concerned simultaneously. Tarquin’s hideous, crying-like smile nearly made him lose composure.

’It seems I was right.’

Hex smirked inwardly as he staggered out of the Temple. A coach with the Union’s shield waited on him. He didn’t see Laila or Bella.

’Those cunning merchants.’

Hex boarded the coach and gave the Embrace as his destination. Both, the Union and Tarquin were aware he stayed there.

At the Inn, he was received by Ember who brought him to his room. She eyed him admiringly but never asked anything.

Hex washed, feeling rejuvenated after so many days of bathing with a wash towel. He dove into bed and slept peacefully. He was blissfully unaware that his name was known in every nook and cranny of the city. People who knew he stayed at Embrace, stormed toward it but were stopped by the guards. And when stronger people appeared, stronger guards appeared.

Hex slept like a log. He woke in the morning and showered. After breakfast and small talk with Ember, he left Embrace. He didn’t sense the eyes watching him from above. When he arrived at the Temple, it was jampacked once again.

The clerks didn’t mind the crowd. After all, the unwritten rule was that visitors parted a bit of their wealth as a donation to help support the Heavens. More people meant more support for the clerks.

The moment Hex entered, people moved to make way. To Hex’s shock, some people lay on the floor and kissed his feet. One person among them was someone he saw kissing Master Lucas’ feet when he arrived at the Temple and accepted the challenge.

’People are a mystery. Why are they so willing to lower themselves before others so willingly?’

Even as an orphan and an abandoned child, he never begged or accepted anyone else as superior. He struggled, he craved food, he required training, but he never groveled.

The first row was different today. He saw priests, government officers, and the Duke. Beside him stood Tarquin and Gabriella.

"You deserve this," the Duke said, flicking a crystal at him. Hex caught and nearly cursed. Who would be crazy to toss a Disaster crystal as if it were a pebble?

"I do," Hex replied, without looking away or showing his emotions. The Duke stared at him for a second then nodded.

Tarquin fidgeted but still gave him an ugly smile. No one talked. They waited for Hex to start and more importantly to finish. Many wished to know whether he deserved the unofficial title of Master.

Hex held the crystal tightly and walked up the platform. Today, no one was refining. Everyone wished to witness Hex refining a Disaster crystal.

Standing before the monolith, Hex glanced at the staring facing before him. Some were curious, some admired him, some frowned, while others were nervous. Only a select few, like the Duke, watched without care.

Hex raised his palm and rolled the crystal between his fingers. ’I already have energy comparable to nine hundred ninety-nine drops. This should push me above a thousand.’

Hex took a deep breath, throwing everything around him to the back of his mind. He placed his hand on top of the monolith and focused. The thick, viscous liquid inside the crystal wriggled slowly. It seemed almost unwilling to exit the crystal but Hex applied more suction. It crawled and took its time but finally flowed out of the crystal. As soon as it entered Hex’s body, his heart activated.

Boom!

The chaotic energy was sucked into the heart. An unimaginable pain assaulted Hex. Blood trickled from the corner of his lips. The last time he lost control. This time, he would fight against it.