A Song For The Ages

The familiar scent of warm iron and bitter herbs still lingered in the air of the meeting chamber, though today, no cauldrons hissed and no furnaces glowed. The circular stone room, normally used for independent practice, had been cleared of its clutter and now held a handful of chairs pulled into a loose circle. The air was pleasantly warm, touched by a gentle ambient heat that wafted from the volcanic mountain beneath them.

Feiyin sat cross-legged with his back to the stone wall, Mu leaning casually nearby with arms folded, the shadows from the flickering sconces playing across his relaxed but sharp features. In front of them were five other third-class outer disciples, apprentice alchemists brought together by curiosity, shared struggle, and Feiyin's steadily growing reputation.

Yuli sat slightly apart from the others, brown hair falling across her cheek as she bent forward with her elbows on her knees, expression focused. Though she had attended a few of their informal meetings before, her posture still held the tension of one raised in the sect's harsh environment.

She listened carefully, grateful but guarded, gradually warming to the shared space and camaraderie. Feiyin could feel her hesitance lingering like a background note, but he also sensed the flicker of trust forming.

Next to her were the two elf siblings, Auren and Lirael. Forest elves from the distant Greenwood Canopy, both had sharp features, fair skin with a faint golden hue, and long hair, his a rich moss green, hers a lighter leafy one. Auren's emerald eyes were filled with quiet thoughtfulness, while Lirael's amber ones sparkled with restless curiosity. Their shared dynamic often brought a playful contrast to the discussions.

They had caught his eye while he was heading to the exchange Hall, since they were the first elves he saw, and after a discussion about their hair color, he sensed that they were trustworthy and genuine enough to bring in.

Then there was Meng, a short, broad-shouldered human with sandy blond hair and hands as thick as smelter's mitts. He bore signs of someone who worked with metal and fire, and his rough exterior often hid some of the sharper insights in their conversations.

He was a no-nonsense individual who approached Feiyin, wanting to pay for a small tutoring session, since he couldn't afford higher classed disciples. Sensing his brutish yet honest way of doing things, Feiyin eventually managed to get him to come for a few times.

Lastly, Zayesh, the red-skinned demon youth with sleek black horns curling back over his head, sticking out from long ash-colored hair. His deep crimson skin shimmered subtly in the lamplight, and his dark eyes missed little. Calm and composed, Zayesh usually waited for the right moment to speak, his words always carrying weight.

Though when Feiyin first approached him, he was pulling at his hair after ruining another batch of materials.

He was a ball of stress, leaking worry like not tomorrow.

Returning to the present, Feiyin shook his head as he glanced around at them all. "Alright. Let's get started. What challenges have you all run into recently? Let's try to figure things out together."

Meng was the first to grunt and speak. "Still having trouble with the reinforced spine guards. I get the alloy melted just fine, but when I try to shape it during tempering, it ends up too brittle."

Yuli tilted her head. "What kind of forge are you using?"

"Standard coal forge, medium-grade."

Feiyin exchanged a glance with Yuli, then nodded. "Try using a steady bellows rhythm to distribute the heat more evenly, and switch to blue stone charcoal if you can. It burns more consistently at the temperature you need for tempered bronze alloys."

"Huh." Meng frowned. "I've been rushing the shaping process. Might be shocking the metal too fast."

"Also," Yuli added, "when you do the final quench, try sesame oil instead of water. It's less violent. Might preserve the grain alignment in the spine."

"Good point," Feiyin said. "Especially if you're going for layered tempering. If the core hardens too fast, it cracks under stress."

Auren leaned forward slightly. "I tried refining that once too. The moment it thickened too much, my control slipped. Switching materials might help."

Yuli added with a nod, "It's not just the metal. Timing the addition of the last catalyst matters too. A half-breath too soon, and it reacts too violently."

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They all mulled it over a moment before Lirael cleared her throat. "I'm working on a blood coagulant pill, and I keep burning the marrow root. The result is dry and brittle."

Feiyin nodded thoughtfully. "Infuse it in a mild water essence solution first, without heat. Then dry it lightly before it enters the cauldron. That should preserve the medicinal property while softening the fibers."

"I've done something similar," Mu said. "But with wind-essence instead. It extracts more aroma but weakens potency. Water might be better for this recipe."

Lirael gave him a short nod of thanks, her shoulders relaxing a fraction more.

Meng leaned back, arms crossed. "So, have any of you tried handling external requests? I heard the other branches sometimes post pill commissions."

"They do," Auren confirmed. "Usually through the Exchange Hall, with specific rank requirements. Only registered second-class disciples and above can take them."

"And your seal matters," Zayesh added. "A proper signature helps build reputation. People start recognizing your work by your mark."

Feiyin nodded. "Eventually, yes. That's the path when you can make tier 2 products. Right now, it's about learning, growing, and building a foundation."

Yuli tilted her head. "You say that like it's easy. But most of us don't have time to experiment beyond the quota."

"That's the point of this," Mu interjected, his voice calm but firm. "We help each other. Share tricks. Save each other's time. Eventually, we all benefit."

Meng snorted. "If only it was so easy. But I have been in the outer sect for more than a year already, and to me, you sound like a damn idealist."

"He is, as I am," Feiyin said, smiling. "But he's not wrong. If we want to survive... no, if we want to thrive, we need more than individual skill. We need to stand together."

There was a pause.

Feiyin looked around at the group, then leaned forward slightly. "You've all hit walls in our work before we started meeting, haven't you? Meng, your alloy shaping's improved since you adjusted the quenching process. Yuli, you've refined more batches than before, finally reaching your quota. Auren and Lirael, you've both made breakthroughs in your precision control techniques. Zayesh, your pills stabilization has increased by a good margin, so you're not burning through your points anymore. We're each growing, because we're learning from each other."

The room quieted, thoughtful.

Feiyin let the silence hang, then continued. "I want to take this further. Not just meet casually, but make this official. A circle, a collaboration. A place to grow stronger together and carve out a place in the Saint Alchemy Branch that isn't dictated by fear or quotas."

Zayesh's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why formalize it? What's in it for you?"

Feiyin met his gaze with a smile. "Nothing more than what I'm already putting in. I'll keep contributing. Helping. But with shared effort comes shared strength. And if we organize, we'll have more leverage. Better access to resources. Protection from predators, of which we all know there are many."

Meng scratched his chin. "And what do we have to do? Pledge loyalty?"

Mu scoffed softly. "No cult robes required, Meng. That's for sure."

Feiyin chuckled, "I don't believe in forced loyalty, rather, I see this as an opportunity for us to work closely together, build something that could benefit us all."

Auren nodded slowly. "I see the point. We pool what we know. Maybe build a reputation together."

Meng looked unconvinced. "Until someone screws it."

Feiyin didn't flinch. "That's always a risk. But we're already at risk every day. I'd rather take a chance on building something. You can walk away whenever you want. This isn't a binding oath, it's a chance."

Yuli's voice came quiet. "We already rely on each other, more than most. If making it official helps us push further, I'll try."

Zayesh's finger tapped against his arm. "I'll stay. I have nothing to lose anyway"

Lirael looked at her brother, then nodded with a smile. "I'm in. Can't be worse than working alone."

Meng grunted but nodded. "Alright. But I expect this to stay practical. No grand speeches."

Feiyin gave a small grin. "Deal. Then from today on, we're no longer just a bunch of third-class apprentices. We're a group of future Alchemists. Let's forge our place in this furnace together."

As if on cue, Mu gently set down a steaming teapot at the center of the circle. Lirael had brought the tea leaves as a gift, a family tradition, and Mu had carefully brewed it while they spoke. Feiyin, rising briefly, passed around small ceramic cups, each one slightly mismatched, clearly made by different hands. The simple gesture grounded them.

"Before we drink," Lirael said with a playful smirk, "shouldn't we name this circle of ours? Something fitting?"

Meng rolled his eyes. "What, like the League of Extraordinary Apprentices?"

"Alchemical Assembly?" Auren offered.

"Forge Circle?" Zayesh mused.

"Tea Leaf Conspirators," Mu deadpanned, making them all chuckle.

Feiyin tilted his head thoughtfully. "Since we're all aspiring alchemists, how about something ambitious? The Runeweaver Circle? Runes are born from the essence of the world to bless the best of crafts , and to be able to weave them into our own sounds like something fitting for those who aim for the peak of alchemy."

Lirael arched a brow, then chuckled. "Now that has a nice ring to it. I like it, The Runeweavers. It sounds like something that could last."

A few approving murmurs followed, and even Meng gave a faint nod.

"Alright then," Auren lifted his cup. "To the Runeweavers."

Everyone joined in, cups clinking softly together, the warmth of the tea spreading in tandem with the warmth of a shared moment.