Claddings of Light : Book 12 of Painting the Mists by Patrick Laplante

Author:Patrick Laplante [Laplante, Patrick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Patrick G. Laplante
Published: 2021-06-29T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21: What Friends are For

Cha Ming was no stranger to pressure. He’d battled invincible monsters and hordes of devils and fiendish demons. He’d laid low kingdoms and thwarted seers, unravelling carefully made plans centuries in the making.

It was this experience that made it so hard to accept that he’d reached his breaking point again. This time, not because of the sake of the world but because he was probably going to lose an alchemy competition.

“I’m not saying he can’t win,” Iridescent Wonder said. “It’s just that every year, there are at least twenty-five competitors that have achieved the iridescent-pill-seal level. The top ten pills always have iridescent seals.” It was him, Iridescent Charity, Iridescent Virtue, and Iridescent Tempest in the room. Iridescent Wonder had chased Huxian and Bifang out long ago in a fit of rage.

“But he makes Grandmist seals,” Iridescent Charity said. “Surely that counts for something.”

“Apologies, Master, but it’s not good enough,” Iridescent Virtue cut in. “I’ve studied the grading system extensively, and it emphasizes raw power, not accommodation. Grandmist seals are rare, yes, but in this competition, they are lacking.”

Cha Ming wanted to pitch in. He wanted to involve himself. It was his life that was at stake. His and Huxian’s. Unfortunately, his mental processes had come to a standstill. His subconscious had taken point in searching for a way forward.

“I’ve looked at the numbers, and he’s right, Charity,” Iridescent Wonder said. “Clear Sky needs to finish in the top ten, but the top fifteen invariably produce top-tier pills with iridescent seals. They’re not some small boost—we’re talking as much as a half-step increase in pill performance.”

“I’ll figure out a way,” Cha Ming said softly with the cold, calm certainty of a man who was bleeding out. “I always do.”

“And we’ll help you,” Iridescent Charity said. “We’ve promised as much. Perhaps we could modify a recipe? Spike it with higher-level ingredients?”

“Risky,” Iridescent Wonder. “But possible.”

“There’s no point in worrying about it,” Cha Ming insisted. “I’m not a strong-enough alchemist to pull it off. Not yet. So I need to keep training. Keep crafting. What’s the point in discussing whether I can modify a top-tier pill recipe if I can’t even craft one in the first place?”

Iridescent Wonder scratched his chin. “He’s got a point. He needs to start somewhere. But eventually, we’ll need to strategize.”

“Don’t forget that we have a fallback,” Cha Ming said.

“We do?” Iridescent Wonder said.

“I can now craft late-grade-iridescence pills,” Cha Ming said. “That means I can attempt more burnings. I could make a few attempts before the competition. Wasn’t that why you introduced me to Ashen Sky?”

“I took you there to gather ingredients and to show you the foolishness of following such a path,” Iridescent Wonder said sternly. “After sixty-six burnings, he still hasn’t gotten anywhere. If there’s one person who could warn you against trying what you’re suggesting, it’s him. You can’t force this.”

“But it’s something,” Cha Ming said.

“It is,” Iridescent Wonder said. “But every time you try increases your chance of death.

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