Eden was there too, standing near one of the reading tables with Sol perched on his shoulder. The phoenix had grown slightly overnight. The difference was noticeable, but not entirely crazy.

Merath stood nearby, his expression unreadable. "There are strange men outside waiting for you two. But before you go," Merath said, walking over to a nearby table. "I have something for you."

Lumi turned his attention to the ancient magician. "The potions?"

"Indeed." Merath gestured, and several vials floated over from a storage area, arranging themselves neatly on the table. "I completed them last night as promised."

Lumi approached the table, examining the collection. There were two distinct sets of potions, easily distinguishable by their appearance.

The first set consisted of three ornate glass vials filled with a shimmering golden liquid that seemed to swirl with internal light. These were clearly the permanent enhancement potions.

The second set was much larger. Dozens of smaller, simpler vials filled with a bright red liquid that pulsed with energy.

Merath picked up one of the golden vials. "These are the permanent magical strengthening potions I crafted from the pixie hearts. Three sets, as requested."

"How strong is the effect?" Lumi asked.

"Significant." Merath replied. "Each potion will permanently increase your magical capabilities. I estimate it will enhance every aspect of your raw magical power."

Lena leaned in to examine the golden liquid more closely. "Permanently? Like, forever? It’s like I’m saying words! Something some people can’t do! So, forever like, ever ever? What I mean to say is, suppose we get strong enough. Like you! Would the potion still affect us then?"

"..." Merath took a moment to remember. Yes, that was Lena. So he entirely ignored the additional ’funfact’ in the middle there, and answered.

"Forever." Merath confirmed. "The pixie hearts contain concentrated life force and magical essence. When properly processed, they can fundamentally strengthen someone. You ask regarding if it will stay. Yes."

He began explaining. "When it comes to external influences, like a potion, it has to be understood that the mechanics of strengthening a person works in rather similar ways regardless of what the item is. Perhaps in the future you’ll come across, say, a shrine to bless your power. But because that shrine would have given you power the same way this potion did, it won’t do anything for you."

"Woah, what. Wait, wait wait. Hold on." Lena stopped him, then asked for elaboration. "What you mean to say is... this is like a one time thing, I can’t take another. And even if I do something different, as long as it works similar to this, it won’t do anything?"

Merath inclined his head slightly, acknowledging she had landed on the correct shape of the idea.

"Yes," he said simply. Then, after a pause, he added, "And no."

Lena blinked. "That is not helpful."

A faint crease formed at the corner of Merath’s mouth. "You are thinking of it as if the magic is in the object. It is not. It is in the change it causes within you."

He tapped one of the golden vials lightly with a fingertip. The liquid inside shimmered brighter for a moment. "When you consume this, your body and mana pathways are enhanced to a higher baseline. That is permanent. The structure of you is altered. So if you attempt to apply the same type of alterationagain, it finds nothing new to change."

"I see." Lena nodded. "I see, I see, I see I. I could make that into a thing, but I won’t. Thank you for the explanation!" She stepped aside, and gestured for Lumi to walk forward.

He did. He scanned the item.

[T4 Organic Enhancement Magician Strengthening Potion - Master Craftmanship]

[Permanent Effect]

[+30 Magic Attack]

[+30 INT]

[+6% INT]

[Facilitates sensing mana]

Lumi turned to his allies. "There’s three for a reason. One for each of us."

Eden looked uncertain. "And you want me to drink one too? Is that... okay?"

"Of course." Lumi said. "You need every advantage you can get."

Merath held up a warning hand. "However, I must caution you. These potions are made from pixie parts. The process was... unpleasant to create. And the taste will reflect that."

"How bad are we talking?" Lena asked nervously.

"Quite bad." Merath said bluntly. "But the benefits far outweigh a few moments of discomfort."

Merath handed each of them one of the golden vials. "Drink when ready. The effects should manifest within seconds."

Lumi uncorked his vial first. The liquid inside had a faint, sickly sweet smell that made his nose wrinkle. Not quite pleasant, but not overtly repulsive either.

He smiled. "Time to get stronger."

"Wait for me!" Lena uncorked hers quickly.

Eden hesitated longer, staring at the golden liquid with obvious trepidation. Sol chirped at him encouragingly.

"On three?" Lena suggested.

"On three." Lumi agreed.

"One... two... three!"

All three of them drank simultaneously.

The taste hit Lumi immediately. It was absolutely vile. Like drinking concentrated flower petals mixed with something metallic and bitter, with an aftertaste that his brain desperately wanted to forget.

He forced himself to swallow the entire contents, grimacing the whole time.

Lena made a sound of pure disgust. "Oh that’s HORRIBLE! You know what it’s like chat? It’s like I’m eating meat. But raw meat. Now you might be thinking, ’Lena, you love raw meat’ which is true! However, this is more like the mushy insides of a bug!" 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Eden had gone pale, his hand covering his mouth as he fought not to gag. "This is... this is really..." He managed to keep it down, but barely.

"I did warn you." Merath said, though there was a hint of amusement in his tone.

Then the effect hit.

Lumi felt a surge of warmth flood through his body. It started in his chest and spread outward through his limbs, his head, every part of him. His internals felt like they were expanding and strengthening. The ambient mana in the air suddenly felt more vivid.