The Veil of Darkness
Chapter 359: Brewing A New Potion - First Trial

Chapter 359: Brewing A New Potion - First Trial

The next morning was another one when the snowfall disturbed all their plans and instead of practicing her weapon skills with Silas, Ezra, and Damien as initially planned, Annalise found herself in the company of Esmeray, Valerius, and Elder Elaron who were in the process of preparing a special magical trial for her to test how much she had improved in the past couple of weeks.

Annalise couldn’t help but feel the tension rising in her body as the three men set up the trial for her. Thankfully, Kenric and Damien were there to provide her with the much-needed support.

Having two of her husbands by her side while the third one set up the trial for her seemed like a funny scenario but she didn’t have enough nerves to focus on the funny side.

"This is just a test, don’t be so nervous, Princess," Damien whispered the words softly against her ear, reassuring her that he was there for her.

Not wanting to speak at the moment, Annalise just nodded her head. She was happy to have her husbands’ support even if all they could do was just whisper encouraging words to her.

Eventually, it was time for her to start the test. With everyone wishing her the best, Annalise stepped inside the magical hologram prepared by Elder Elaron, Esmeray, and Valerius, and she was immediately teleported into the magical illusion that was prepared specially to test her.

What surprised Annalise was that instead of a forest or a similar view that she was expecting for her trial, she found herself standing in a small room which immediately changed all her theories regarding what kind of trial she was about to face.

She took a deep breath, surveying the room before her. The wooden shelves, laden with bottles and vials of herbs, beckoned her to explore their secrets. The cauldron, its flames dancing beneath, promised a test of her magical prowess like she’d never faced before. She knew she was being watched by Elder Elaron, Esmeray, Valerius, Damien, and Kenric, but she couldn’t let their presence distract her.

A message appeared in the thin air, written in green ink that said - she needed to brew a potion that could heal injuries, enhance the five senses, and could also help one to get the power of speed.

The hard part of the test was that all these three very different powers needed to be present in one single potion, which was almost impossible to happen. Also, the time limit for the test was merely one hour.

Annalise knew immediately that this particular test was prepared for her by none other than Pristine. Though the test seemed really difficult and impossible, she had yet to give it a chance. Also, she wasn’t one to accept defeat without giving her best till the very last moment. With that determination in mind, she started working.

Even though the message cleared the task and rules, she still heard Valerius’ voice ringing in the room as he spoke first, his voice steady and reassuring. "Annalise, you have one hour to brew a potion that can heal injuries, enhance the five senses, and grant the power of speed. This task may seem impossible, but remember, magic often thrives on the impossible."

Elder Elaron was the next to add - "The ingredients you need are on the shelves. The knowledge to craft this potion lies within you. Trust your instincts."

Esmeray added in a gentle tone, "You’ve got this, Annalise. We believe in you."

Annalise nodded, her heart pounding with determination. "Thank you, all of you. I won’t let you down." With that, she turned her attention to the task at hand.

She approached the wooden shelves, examining the array of herbs and materials meticulously organized. Some were familiar, while others were rare specimens she’d only heard of in legends. Her fingers brushed over jars containing starflower petals, shimmering moonstone dust, and dragonroot extract.

As she began selecting the herbs she required, she heard Kenric’s voice in her head, his warm voice a whisper. "Remember what you learned with Pristine, Little Bird. The key to a successful potion is precise measurements and controlled magic."

Damien chimed in, his voice just as assuring as his brother’s . "And trust in your instincts. You’ve always had an intuitive touch with magic, use it."

Annalise nodded, taking their words to heart. She recalled the ingredients that were required to create the three different potions - healing potion, sense enhance potion, and potion of speed. She wrote down all the ingredients and their amount required in each potion, then she started calculating.

Since all three potions were now needed to be merged in one, there needed to be a slight change in the ingredients and a new balance between all the required ingredients.

It took her around fifteen minutes to sort out the new ingredients and their required amount. She reread through the list, making sure that she wasn’t making any mistake considering she only had one chance to brew the potion in the remaining time limit.

She carefully measured out the starflower petals and dragonroot extract, mixing them in a crystal vial with utmost precision. She could feel the magic humming within her, responding to her focus and intent.

Time seemed to blur as she continued to work. She added moonstone dust to the mixture, which began to emit a soft, ethereal glow. The cauldron simmered, the flames beneath it dancing in rhythm with her heartbeat. Annalise couldn’t afford to waste a second.

Her thoughts raced as she contemplated the final ingredient—the one that would bind the disparate powers together. She closed her eyes briefly, drawing upon her knowledge of ancient spells and potion-making techniques. Then, a spark of inspiration struck her.

She opened her eyes, a determined grin forming on her lips. She reached for a vial containing phoenix feather essence, an exceedingly rare ingredient. It had the power to bridge the gap between different magical properties. With trembling hands, she added a few drops to the mixture.

The cauldron hissed, and the room filled with an otherworldly aroma. Annalise’s senses sharpened, her hearing picking up the faintest sounds in the room, and her vision becoming clearer than ever before. She could feel the magic within her creation, a harmonious blend of healing, heightened senses, and speed. The mere aroma of the potion was giving her the powers and it made her confident that she had brewed the right potion.

With minutes to spare, Annalise carefully bottled the potion and was immediately pulled back from the illusion and into the room where her husbands, Esmeray, and Elder Elaron we’re waiting for her.

Her eyes first found Valerius and the Winter Prince gave her a warm smile that was more than enough to tell her just how happy and proud he was.

Esmeray broke the silence, his voice filled with admiration. "Annalise, you’ve done it. You’ve created a potion that defies conventional wisdom. Pristine’s challenge has been met."

Kenric stepped forward and hugged Annalise tightly. "I knew you could do it! Your creativity and determination shine bright, my sweet Little Bird."

Elder Elaron nodded approvingly. "You’ve not only passed this test but excelled in it. Your potential in potion making is boundless."

Annalise felt a surge of pride and relief wash over her. She glanced at Damien, who was also beaming with pride just like his other two brothers.

Kenric wrapped an arm around her shoulders as he pulled away from the hug. "We knew you could handle anything, Little Bird. You continue to amaze us."

Annalise looked at the vial of potion in her hand before she handed it to Esmeray. "Is this the first time a potion like this has been created?"

Esmeray nodded his head, confirming her guess. "You have guessed it right. You have just created a completely new potion that never existed in this world before today."

Annalise took her time to process his words and felt her heart fluttering in the confinements of her chest. She was improving, and all the constant training and learning was indeed turning out to be fruitful.

"Why this task when there was a chance that I can’t pass it?" She found herself asking.

"Even though this potion never existed before, it was only because no one could come up with the right ingredients and the amount required to balance the three entirely different magical properties. Pristine chose this task for you because she believed if there’s anyone who can make this potion, then it must be you." Valerius answered the question.

Annalise nodded her head in understanding and handed the vial to her husband. Since the first trail was over, it was now the time for her to face the second trail.