Nightblade (Darkest night)-Chapter 223: Change of mind

Talia carefully mixed a small amount of moonflower in the glass flask she was holding.

She was fully decked out in a protective suit and a second gas mask beneath the bulky suit.

It just went to show how hazardous the project they were currently working on was.

She'd decided to continue studying alchemy and chemistry after careful consideration.

And while the rudimentary knowledge that they had hadn't been of much help in Tenebris, she'd come to appreciate the benefit of creating her own advantages against foes that were much stronger than her.

What truly mattered in the end was who remained standing.

All around her, several others struggled to get the mixture of the potent concoction just right.

The numbers for this particular class were still abysmally low but then again few of the younger assassins had gotten the opportunity to appreciate the effect of a particularly potent alchemical compound at work so it couldn't be helped.

Professor Lilia slowly moved around the class observing each of them and giving pointers.

Standing next to a flustered-looking youth, she gently pointed out where he was going wrong.

"Stir it slower. Stir the mixture too fast and it'll just keep turning into gas."

Turning away from the youth she pointed out similar errors.

"The heat must be perfectly controlled."

"That's too much diluent."

In fact, if it weren't for the gas masks we're wearing most of you would now be writhing in pain."

What they were making was a unique mixture of several Tenebruan and Earth plants, a blend that was capable of inflicting pain on the victim.

An algesic that was dubbed Sunfyr.

Even if a less experienced assassin stumbled upon a much stronger foe, with the chances of them winning significantly reduced, such a potent weapon would buy enough time for them to escape.

Sunfyr could dramatically increase the body's sensitivity to pain without killing the person with its effectiveness decreasing with higher ranks of assassins.

Apparently it felt as though the person was being g hurned from the inside out hence the name.

The body temperature would rapidly increase and with every movement, the muscles would ache with such agony that it would feel as though they tearing apart from the inside out.

The skin itself would become hypersensitive to even the slightest of touches making every blow and touch excruciatingly agonizing.

From the tests conducted, most powerful Maestros were able to shrug off the effects after a few minutes.

Novices would be immobilized for at least a few hours and apprentices would be out for at least a few days.

Having such an asset during the upcoming Veilrend games would be particularly worth it, especially if her beloved Hawk and Echo used projectiles laced with Sunfyr.

Eventually, most of the students

managed to reproduce the deadly algesic bit were strictly forbidden from using it without authorization.

Talia tiredly stepped out of the alchemy lab.

After spending nearly half of the day in the protective suit, her body felt as though it'd been slowly baking itself alive.

She tiredly making her way to a different part of the academy.

One where she'd only recently gained special access because of her connection to a certain someone.

After a short walk, she arrived at a massive plaza. An imposing large complex stretched for several kilometers in every direction.

The entire thing vividly resembled a palace. Small robots whirred about

cleaning and mantaining the lavish courtyard at the centre of the complex.

Pristine white tiles arrayed the courtyard from one end to the next at the center of which an imposing fountain of crystal clear water flowed from twin lions clearly carved from whole blocks of stone.

Small streams of water flowed from the lions' gaping maws into small channels that formed an intricate pattern that merged to form the Pyreptar academy symbol.

The exceptional architecture gave birth to the illusion of a liquid rose at the centre of the courtyard that bloomed again and again.

These were the living quarters of the academy's prefectorate body.

The home of the most Talented and undoubtedly the deadliest students at the Pyreptar academy.

A familiar white haired youth appeared in the distance, sparing her a glance.

His striking emerald eyes lingered on her for a few moments.

He casually raised his hand slightly in salutation then made promptly made his way towards a different part of the large complex.

Talia nodded then continued on her way.

"Scott McAllister..."

He must have undoubtedly heard about the events that had transpired in Tenebris until the disappearance of his dear cousin.

His demeanor was to be expected.

Talia briskly strode through the corridors for a few moments before arriving

at what was unmistakably a dojo.

After stopping outiside the massive doors for a brief moment, she

purposefully made her way inside then froze in shock.

Two man shaped blurs rapidly moved across the padded floor, rapidly exchanging several blows eith every passing second at an inhuman speed.

"How the hell is he here?"

With her arrival, the spar came to a brief pause.

Lucian slid back panting slightly. Small rivulets of sweat rolled down his forehead but his expression remained calm.

The dark haired youth opposite him wore a relaxed smile.

He slowly rolled his shoulders waving breezily at her.

"Talia, glad you could join us."

Talia ignored him completely storming off to Lucian stood.

"I thought you'd refused to join us for he training."

Lucian plopped down , grabbing a water bottle from one the small robots.

After tentatively taking a small sip, he nonchalantly shrugged.

" I changed my mind."

Talia comically stared at him for a few moments.

"What?!"

"Yep."

" Why?"

Another shrug.

"I was bored. So why not?"

Smiling cheerfully, Xander clapped his hands.

"Yes. He decided to join of his own free will."

Something in his gaze changed slightly.

" You should get changed as well. From where I'm standing,

there's quite a lot that we have to work on if we're

going to get both

of you in shape for the Veilrend games."