I stood over the basin in my quarters, washing blood from my hands. The seven golden cores I''d harvested glinted in themplight, their power calling to me. With eighteen cores now in my possession, I was significantly closer to my goal.


    "You''re making quite a mess of the Avery estate," The Man with the Mustache remarked from the doorway.


    I dried my hands. "They started it."


    "Seven Military Marquis." He whistled. "That''ll cause a stir."


    "Tilda''s handling it," I replied, carefully storing the cores in my spatial ring. "She''ll tell Edward some story about rival families sending assassins."


    He twirled his mustache thoughtfully. "And the real reason they died?"


    "They were useful to me." I met his eyes. "I need every advantage I can get if I''m going to save Isabelle."


    He didn''t argue. The Man with the Mustache might be entric, but he understood the stakes.


    "The final presentation is tomorrow," I said, changing the subject. "Colin McDaniel thinks he''s won already."


    "Has he?" The question hung in the air.


    I smiled. "Let''s find out."


    ---


    Dawn broke clear and crisp over the Avery estate. After a night spent refining my pill, I was ready for the final confrontation. The presentation hall buzzed with anticipation when I arrived. Nearly thirty alchemists had gathered, each hoping their creation would earn Edward Avery''s favor.


    I spotted Colin near the front, surrounded by admirers. He caught my eye and smirked. Whatever game he was ying, he believed himself the victor.


    The double doors at the end of the hall swung open, and Edward Avery entered with his sister Tilda at his side. Their elegant robes and confident bearing marked them as true aristocrats. Several guards followed, no doubt a precaution afterst night''s "assassination attempt."


    "Wee, distinguished alchemists," Edward announced, his deep voice filling the hall. "Today concludes our search for the perfect pill."


    He took his seat on a raised dais, with Tilda beside him. "As you know, I seek a very specific creation – the Concentric Pill, with precise specifications. Only those who have produced this exact form will proceed to the final consideration."


    A murmur ran through the crowd. Many faces fell as they realized their variants wouldn''t qualify.


    "Please present your creations for inspection," Edwardmanded.


    One by one, alchemists approached the dais, disying their pills. With each presentation, Edward''s frown deepened. He dismissed them with curt words: "Not concentric enough." "Too much Fire essence." "The pattern is incorrect." <var ss="in-imprint-b">The authentic version is on *.</var>


    Within an hour, twenty-six alchemists had been eliminated. Only Colin McDaniel, myself, and one elderly woman remained.


    The woman stepped forward next, her hands trembling slightly as she presented her pill. It was well-crafted, with clear concentric rings, butcked the distinctive shimmer of true mastery.


    Edward examined it closely. "Close, but the energy pattern is unstable. I''m sorry."


    She bowed and retreated, disappointment evident in her stooped shoulders.


    Now only Colin and I remained. The room crackled with tension.


    "Master McDaniel, Master Knight," Edward addressed us. "You''re our final candidates. Who wishes to present first?"


    I gestured toward Colin. "After you."


    Colin''s smile was triumphant as he approached the dais. "Lord Avery, I present the true Concentric Pill, exactly as specified."


    He unveiled his creation with a flourish. The pill sat on a velvet cushion, perfectly formed with five distinct rings radiating from its center. It glowed with a subtle blue light, indicating potent spiritual energy.


    Edward leaned forward, clearly impressed. "Exceptional work. The concentric pattern is perfect."


    "Thank you, Lord Avery." Colin bowed deeply. "I''ve dedicated years to mastering this form."


    Tilda examined the pill closely. "The energy bnce is remarkable. This is precisely what we seek."


    Colin straightened, his expression smug. "I believe there''s no need to continue thepetition. Master Knight clearly doesn''t possess the necessary form."


    Edward nced at me. "Master Knight? Your response?"


    I remained silent, letting Colin enjoy his moment of supposed triumph.


    Taking my silence as defeat, Colin pressed his advantage. "In fact, I believe Master Knight came here under false pretenses."


    The room went quiet.


    "What do you mean?" Edward asked.


    Colin''s eyes gleamed with malice. "He''s been desperate to obtain the form, going so far as to spread rumors about possessing it himself." He turned to face me directly. "Isn''t that why Jeremy Thornton ended up dead? Because you couldn''t extract the form from him?"


    I maintained myposed expression, which seemed to frustrate Colin.


    "I even took pity on him," Colin continued, addressing the room. "I provided him with what he imed was a dispel poison pill form, but was actually a basic fever reducer." Heughed. "Did you really think I''d give you anything valuable?"


    Several onlookers gasped at this admission of deception.


    "And that business about Jeremy Thornton working with the Veridia City Martial Guild?" Colin shook his head, chuckling. "Another lie. Jeremy was just a mediocre alchemist who stumbled upon the Concentric Pill form. I simply got to him before you did."


    Edward''s expression darkened. "These are serious usations, Master McDaniel."


    "But true nheless," Colin replied confidently. "Ask him to present his pill. I guarantee it''s either nonexistent or a poor imitation."


    All eyes turned to me.


    I finally allowed myself to smile. "Are you finished?"


    Colin blinked, momentarily thrown by my calm demeanor.


    "Because if you''re done with your performance," I continued, "I''d like to present my own creation."


    I stepped forward, reaching into my spatial ring to retrieve a small wooden box. The simple container offered no hint of its contents.


    "Before I show you my work," I said, "I''d like to rify something. Master McDaniel is correct about one thing – he did lie to me about the dispel poison pill form."


    Colin''s smile widened.


    "However," I continued, "I never believed him in the first ce."


    His smile faltered.


    I opened the box, revealing not a pill but a small formation te. With a surge of spiritual energy, I activated it. The te began to glow, projecting an image above it – a perfect recreation of the pill-making process.


    "This is what happened when I refined my pillst night," I exined.


    The projection showed a cauldron surrounded by dancing mes. Inside, ingredients melded together in a mesmerizing disy. As the process reached its climax, a brilliant light erupted from the cauldron, forming what alchemists called a Pill Cloud – a rare phenomenon that urred only during the creation of truly exceptional pills.


    Gasps filled the room. A Pill Cloud was the mark of a master alchemist at the peak of their craft.


    "Impossible," Colin whispered. "You couldn''t have—"


    I interrupted him by deactivating the formation and producing another box. This one was made of jade, inscribed with protective runes.


    "The Pill Cloud was impressive," I said conversationally, "but The Man with the Mustache thought it was just an alternative, not the concentric pill you sought."


    Colin''s face paled as I opened the jade box.


    Insidey a pill that made his creation look like a child''s attempt. Where his had five concentric rings, mine featured nine perfect circles, each glowing with a different hue that harmonized into a mesmerizing whole. The spiritual energy radiating from it was so dense that several onlookers stepped back involuntarily.


    Edward Avery rose from his seat, eyes wide. "Nine rings? That''s beyond Master level. That''s—"


    "Grandmaster level," Tilda finished, her voice hushed with awe.


    I lifted the pill carefully. "You specified the Concentric Pill. You never mentioned how many rings it should have."


    Colin''s face contorted with rage and disbelief. "That''s not possible! No one can create a Nine-Ring Concentric Pill without decades of experience!"


    "And yet, here it is," I replied calmly.


    Edward descended from the dais, approaching my pill with reverence. "In all my years, I''ve only heard legends of the Nine-Ring Concentric Pill. Its medicinal properties are said to be miraculous."


    "They are," I confirmed. "This pill can cure any poison known to man. It can restore vitality to the dying. It can even repair spiritual pathways damaged by cultivation idents."


    Colin''splexion had turned ashen. "This is some trick. It must be!"


    "No trick," I said. "Just skill."


    Edward turned to Colin, his expression hardening. "You imed to be the superior alchemist. You even admitted to sabotaging a fellowpetitor."


    "I... I..." Colin stammered, backing away.


    I watched him calmly. "You were so confident in your superiority that you revealed your true nature. Deceitful. Maniptive. Willing to let others die for your ambition."


    Colin''s eyes darted around, seeking escape. "You can''t prove anything about Jeremy!"


    "I don''t need to," I replied. "You''ve damned yourself with your own words."


    Edward signaled to his guards. "Master McDaniel, your behavior dishonors the noble art of alchemy. You will be escorted from my estate immediately."


    As the guards surrounded Colin, he pointed a trembling finger at me. "This isn''t over, Knight! I''ll expose you for what you really are!"


    I met his gaze steadily. "Fortunately, I didn''t believe your lies from the beginning."