## Liam''s Perspective


    The morning sun rose over the ruins of what had been my sanctuary. Mariana''s bodyy before me, peaceful in death despite the violence that had imed her. I''d spent the night beside her, unable to leave, unwilling to ept that she was truly gone.


    "I''ll make this right," I promised her still form. "Everyst one of them will pay."


    My new power hummed beneath my skin, eager for release. The Chaotic Body—that''s what Foster had called it. The ability to harness both light and dark energies. A gift and a curse.


    I stood and gathered Mariana in my arms. She deserved better than to lie among the ruins. I carried her to the only garden that remained untouched—her private meditation space with its ancient blossom tree.


    There, I dug her grave with my bare hands. No magic, no shortcuts. Just raw effort as the final respect I could offer. When it was done, I ced her gently in the earth and covered her.


    "Thank you for everything," I whispered. "I won''t fail you."


    The key she''d given me felt heavy in my pocket. Riverbend Town wasn''t far—half a day''s journey at most. Whatever waited for me in her warehouse, it was important enough to be her final request.


    I turned away from the grave and faced the shatteredpound. Bodiesy where they had fallen. Foster''s empty shell still knelt, bound by golden chains that hadn''t faded with Mariana''s death.


    Time to go. Time to begin.


    ---


    Riverbend Town greeted me with ignorant cheer. The locals went about their business, unaware that the world was sliding toward chaos. I envied their simplicity.


    Finding Mariana''s warehouse proved easy enough. It stood near the edge of town—a in, stone building with no identifying marks. Nothing to suggest it belonged to one of the most powerful women in the realm.


    The lock clicked open at the touch of her key. Inside, darkness greeted me, thick and absolute. I summoned a small light to my palm and stepped through the doorway.


    "Well, well," a voice drawled from the shadows. "You''re early."


    I froze, gathering power instinctively. "Show yourself."


    A match struck, and antern red to life, revealing a familiar face—the Man with the Mustache, lounging on a crate as if he owned the ce.


    "Easy there, Knight," he said, twirling his ridiculous mustache. "Mariana stationed me here weeks ago. Said you mighte, said I should help you. Though I expected you''d have her with you."


    The casual mention of Mariana sent a sharp pain through my chest. "She''s dead."


    His hand paused mid-twirl. For once, no quip followed. He simply nodded and stood, all pretense ofziness vanishing.


    "Then we have work to do," he said gravely. "Follow me."


    He led me deeper into the warehouse. The space was deceptive—muchrger inside than it appeared from the street. Shelves lined every wall, filled with rare ingredients, ancient texts, and weapons.


    At the back, a heavy curtain concealed another room. The Man with the Mustache pulled it aside.


    "Mariana''s contingency n," he exined.


    The hidden room contained a single table. On ity three items: a map, a thick leather-bound journal, and a small wooden box.


    "She knew this might happen," I said, understanding dawning.


    "Mariana Valerius saw further than most," he agreed. "She called it her insurance policy. Everything you need to find the girl and deal with the Martial Guild."


    I approached the table, examining the map first. It showed Veridia City, but with markings I didn''t recognize—tunnels, secret entrances, guard rotations.


    "How did she get this?"


    "The Pavilion Master had eyes everywhere," the Man with the Mustache replied. "And she''s been preparing for a conflict with the Martial Guild for decades."


    I opened the journal next. Mariana''s elegant handwriting filled the pages—notes on the Ashworth family, the Martial Guild''s hierarchy, experimental records, and something called "Project Ascension."


    The wooden box was locked. No keyhole, just a small depression on the top.


    "Blood key," the Man with the Mustache exined. "Only opens for you."


    I pressed my thumb into the depression. A tiny needle pricked my skin. The box clicked open.


    Inside was a pendant—jade green, identical to my own but darker in hue. Beneath ity a folded note in Mariana''s hand.


    *Liam,*


    *If you''re reading this, I''ve failed to protect you. But perhaps I''ve seeded in preparing you. This pendant belonged to your mother. Itpletes the pair with your father''s. Together, they unlock your full heritage.*


    *Wear them both. Bear the burden thates with them. Save her.*


    *—M*


    My mother''s pendant. I lifted it with trembling fingers. The stone felt warm, almost alive.


    "She never told me about my mother," I said quietly.


    "Some secrets weren''t hers to tell," the Man with the Mustache replied. "But she left you the means to find answers yourself."


    I slipped the pendant over my head, letting it rest beside my father''s. The two stones touched—and power surged through me, so intense I gasped.


    Visions flooded my mind: a woman with fierce eyes and gentle hands; a man whose face I couldn''t see clearly; blood and fire; a baby crying; a promise whispered.


    When the visions faded, I found myself on my knees. The Man with the Mustache watched me with unusual seriousness.


    "Back to thend of the living?" he asked.


    I nodded, rising slowly. "We need to move quickly. ording to what I took from Foster''s mind, the Guild is elerating their ns with Isabelle."


    "Then you''ll want to know what happened at the Celestial Apothecary Guild while you were having your little nap," he said, reverting to his typical manner. "It''s not pretty."


    "Tell me."


    "After Mariana was captured, the First Elder dered himself the new Master." His mustache twitched with disgust. "Half the alchemists resigned on the spot. He killed one as an example."


    Fury stirred in my chest. "Names. I want names."


    "I thought you might." He handed me a folded paper. "The loyal ones are marked. Those who sided with the coup have stars by their names. Your friend, the Fifth Elder, is ying along to survive. He''s the one who told me to expect you."


    I scanned the list. Nearly seventy percent of the Guild had chosen loyalty to Mariana over self-preservation. My respect for them deepened.


    "We''ll need allies," I mused. "The Guild coup and Isabelle''s abduction are connected. Same yers, different moves."


    "That''s why we''re here." The Man with the Mustache gestured to arge trunk in the corner. "Mariana left you more than information. She left you an arsenal."


    The trunk contained specialized weapons, poisons, antidotes, and cultivation resources—enough to outfit a small army.


    "Who else can we trust?" I asked.


    "Besides me?" He stroked his mustache thoughtfully. "The Fifth Elder has awork still in ce. A few of Mariana''s old friends might answer a call, though most will wait to see which way the wind blows."


    I nodded, formting a n. "First, we secure the loyal alchemists before the First Elder decides to make more examples. Then we use the Guild as our base to n the rescue."


    "Bold," hemented. "Storming the Celestial Apothecary Guild with just the two of us?"


    I lifted my gaze to his, letting him see the darkness that now dwelled within me. "Not storming. Reiming what''s mine."


    He studied me for a long moment, then smiled. "You''ve changed, Knight. It suits you."


    "Necessity," I replied simply. "Pack what we need. We leave within the hour."


    ---


    Twilight cast long shadows across the Celestial Apothecary Guildpound as we approached. Guards patrolled the perimeter—more than usual, and heavily armed.


    "New security measures," the Man with the Mustache whispered as we crouched behind a outcropping. "First Elder''s not taking chances."


    I watched the patrol patterns, noting the gaps. "The eastern wall, between rotations. We have a thirty-second window."


    "Tight."


    "We''ll manage."


    When the moment came, we moved. Not with stealth or hesitation, but with purpose and speed. Over the wall, across the grounds, into the shadow of the main hall.


    Inside, voices echoed. I recognized the First Elder''s imperious tone immediately.


    "...expectplete loyalty! The Pavilion Master is gone. ept reality or join her!"


    We slipped closer, finding positions near the entrance where we could observe without being seen. The great hall was filled with alchemists—those who remained after the purge. The First Elder stood on the dais, nked by guards.


    "Tomorrow, representatives from the Martial Guild arrive to formalize our new alliance," he continued. "I expect each of you to demonstrate proper respect. The days of Mariana Valerius''s independence are over. This Guild now serves greater interests."


    Murmurs ran through the crowd, not all of them pleased. I caught sight of the Fifth Elder near the front, his face carefully nk.


    "Furthermore," the First Elder raised his voice, "anyone with knowledge of Liam Knight''s whereabouts is ordered to report it immediately. The man is a fugitive and enemy of the realm."


    I''d heard enough. I nodded to the Man with the Mustache, who grinned and reached into his pouch.


    "Showtime," he whispered, flicking something small into the center of the hall.


    The tiny object burst with a blinding sh and deafening bang. As confusion erupted, I strode through the main doors, power radiating from me in palpable waves.


    "You called for me?" I projected my voice across the chaos. "Here I am."


    Silence fell as every head turned toward me. The First Elder''s face contorted with shock, then rage.


    "Knight! Seize him!"


    Guards rushed forward. I didn''t move. I simply released a fraction of my newly awakened power.


    The pressure drove them to their knees before they reached me. Some cried out, clutching their heads as if in pain.


    "Is this how you honor Mariana''s legacy?" I asked, addressing the room atrge. "By bowing to the very people who murdered her?"


    "She was a traitor!" the First Elder shouted. "She harbored you—an abomination!"


    "She was twice the leader you could ever be," I countered. "And she died protecting this Guild from bing a puppet."


    I stepped forward, and the guards scrambled back. Fear had reced their confidence.


    "I offer a choice," I announced. "Stand with me—with Mariana''s vision—or stand with those who betrayed her. There is no middle ground anymore."


    The Fifth Elder was the first to move. He walked deliberately to my side, then turned to face the others. <mark ss="meta-ref-static">Check My Virtual Library Empire (*) for thetest updates.</mark>


    "I choose Liam Knight," he dered firmly.


    One by one, others joined us—first a trickle, then a flood. Alchemists of all ranks moved to stand at my back, until more than half the room had dered their allegiance.


    The First Elder''s face purpled with fury. "This is treason! I''ll have all your heads!"


    "No," I said calmly. "You won''t."


    I moved toward him, no longer restraining my speed. One moment I stood near the entrance; the next, I was before him on the dais.


    He stumbled back, raising his hands in a defensive posture. "Stay back! I am a half-step Martial Marquis!"


    "And I am Liam Knight," I replied simply.


    Fear flickered in his eyes. "Guards! Kill him!"


    None moved. They''d seen what happened to their colleagues.


    Abandoned, the First Elder drew a hidden dagger and lunged at me. The attack was desperate, clumsy.


    I caught his wrist and squeezed. Bones cracked beneath my grip. The dagger ttered to the floor as he howled in pain.


    "Mariana Valerius showed me mercy once," I told him quietly. "She believed in second chances. In her honor, I''ll offer you one."


    His eyes widened with desperate hope.


    "Leave. Never return. Speak of nothing you''ve seen here."


    Relief washed over his face. "Yes, yes of course. Thank you—"


    "But know this," I continued, voice hardening. "If you betray this mercy, if you align yourself with my enemies again, I will find you. And what I do then will make you beg for death."


    I released him. He clutched his shattered wrist, backing away.


    "Go," Imanded.


    He fled, taking a handful of loyal supporters with him.


    When he was gone, I turned to face my new allies. Uncertainty showed on many faces, fear on others. They had witnessed something beyond their understanding—power that shouldn''t exist in someone my age.


    "The Celestial Apothecary Guild stands at a crossroads," I began. "Our Pavilion Master is dead. Our independence threatened. And darker forces move than most of you realize."


    The Fifth Elder stepped forward. "What would you have us do, Master Knight?"


    The title caught me off guard. I wasn''t seeking leadership. But looking at their expectant faces, I realized they needed someone to follow. Someone to give them purpose in this chaos.


    "Prepare," I answered. "The Martial Guild believes they can simply absorb us. They''re wrong. We will show them the true power of alchemists united."


    Nods of approval rippled through the crowd.


    "Fifth Elder," I continued, "gather our most trusted members. We have ns to make."


    "And the representatives arriving tomorrow?" someone called out.


    A cold smile touched my lips. "We''ll give them a reception they won''t forget."


    The Man with the Mustache appeared at my side, grinning broadly. "Now that''s what I call a hostile takeover. Mariana would be proud."


    Perhaps she would. Or perhaps she would caution me against the dark satisfaction I felt. Either way, I had taken the first step toward fulfilling my promise to her.


    The Celestial Apothecary Guild was mine. And soon, Isabelle would be free.


    But as the crowd dispersed to carry out my orders, doubt crept into my thoughts. The Veil Breaker''s words echoed in my mind:


    *Save the girl and doom the world, or sacrifice her and save millions.*


    What choice would I make when that moment came? And what would it cost me to live with that decision?