A well-lit potion lab somewhere in the Lionheart duchy.
Various arrays had a range of cauldrons from big to small placed right at their array eyes. There were test tubes, scrolls, and various ingredients scattered across many tables and platforms placed at multiple corners of the lab.
Sounds of potions bubbling. Smells of various kinds could make the inhaler wonder whether what they were inhaling was aromatic or not.
Suddenly, a caldron exploded. The concoction it held within itself was going to spill everywhere. Just then, the array beneath the cauldron lit up and created an energy shield around the cauldron, preventing the potion from spreading everywhere.
The same thing happened with the second cauldron. Then the third. Then the fourth.
This was a regular day in this potion lab. It was run by a halfling after all. A halfling potioneer who was trying to combine an elf's way of making potions and human recipes.
So far, the results weren't promising.
"Fuck balls. I was this close this time."
Someone mumbled after they saw the state of their failed experiments. They were standing not too far away from the cauldron and array setup. The raised platform at 5m from the ground helped the observer look after even the distantly placed cauldron with ease.
The platform also served as the control center for the arrays. The control center could be used to spatially transfer the ingredients into any of the cauldrons present in the lab.
The observer had spent most of their time over the last few years developing this array-driven setup. They had worked tirelessly in this endeavor even at the cost of being undermined by their organization for all the effort they took.
One could imagine the level of frustration they must have felt at that time. This halfling smiled mirthlessly and took a long breath before controlling the smaller array-prints that served as the control of this big setup of 50 cauldrons.
"Marie, you shouldn't overwork yourself, you know."
After a long wait, someone finally opened the big door behind the control room and entered the potion lab, bringing fresh air in. The halfling paused what they were doing and chuckled a bit before turning back.
"Ma Cherie, I'm glad you finally decided to come here and meet me."
When Arizihana Agnoth saw Marie look at her with her mild smile, she also returned the gesture and smiled. She quickly closed the distance between them and embraced her.
"I missed you too. The city of Silvermoon has been put into disturbance once again. This time by a different cultist organization. So it took me some time."
Ari explained the reason behind her delay while being embraced by Marie. The latter ignored everything and kissed her lover on the lips. And released her from her hug only after planting a peck on her cheeks.
But then the duo got serious.
"Do… do they know?"
Marie asked Arizihana. Upon which the latter shook her head in denial before responding verbally.
"I don't think so. Otherwise, their attacks on the city would have been more daring. I think they are just probing. Not sure what they are looking for."
Marie nodded before sighing.
"Beast Bloods tried to eliminate you by giving you a spiked recipe since they knew you were let in on this by me. But they can't keep this thing a secret from everyone forever.
Sooner or later, someone will find out."
Ari nodded at her lover's statements and followed her towards the control room. Knowing that Marie was busy with her potioneering, she did not stop her from finishing what she had started before their time together.
"How are the experiments coming along?"
Ari asked worriedly. She didn't care if the experiments failed. She was just worried about the impact failure would have on Marie. The latter also understood what Ari meant and what she was asking about. So she clarified it for her.
"I was kind of expecting these rounds of failures anyway, Ari. It's not easy mixing two schools of potioning, you know. I can feel that I'm doing everything right. I can feel that my research is heading in the right direction.
It's just that I think I'm missing an ingredient. Something that would act as a pacifier between these two methods."
Marie spoke passionately with a glint of mad scientist madness in her eyes. She closed her eyes and adjusted herself before reassuring Ari.
"Don't worry Ma Cherie. I'm not downhearted by my failures. If anything I'm even more excited than I was the last time. Because I can feel that success is within my reach.
Hehehehe. I'll end elves' monopoly over elven ales if my experiment succeeds. I'll also show teacher Levine that her decision to cat me out just because of my halfling status was not the right one at all."
Marie sighed and was about to begin the last step of her experiments when she heard Ari speak of a different matter.
"How's Beast Bloods faring against the Illuminati?"
There was a cold war between two cultist groups, the Beast Bloods and the Illuminati. At this point, both sides had forgotten what they were fighting for. But the ones who were present at the scene that had started the whole thing couldn't help remembering that scene over and over again in their minds.
"Illuminati shouldn't be underestimated. Instead of directly combating the Beast Bloods, they have employed roundabout tactics. They are making the local forces under the control of various city lords take action against us.
Beast Bloods are especially getting targeted in various cities despite there being cultists from other organizations present as well. And the net is getting cast wide."
Ari just nodded at her but didn't say anything. She knew Mari would add more.
"That being said, Beast Bloods has a few tricks up its sleeves. The backer behind the organization is also trying to increase its presence in the kingdom of Edinburgh it seems.
The Ancients are not leaving any stones unturned in their quest to have a complete grip over the kingdom's scattered local forces. It is employing the same strategy as the Illuminati. But nobody knows what their true motives are.
The Ancients supporting Beast Bloods was not a revolutionary thing per se. However, they have increased their support for the Beast Bloods after the conflict with the Illuminati. So we'll have to see which sides come on top and stay on top in this whole matter."
He added some ingredients to the last 4 cauldrons that had not blown up yet. She knew that these cauldrons were going to burst too. She just wanted to know how much time they would take before that.
She needed to find out what she was missing in her potioneering.
