The week following the argument with Commander Silver went by quickly, with Verdan helping Natalia between long hours of working on the Sigils they’d discovered. Magnus’s axe came together nicely, with Verdan managing to form two Sigil triads. The first was dual-endurance with a binding effect, which they had finally figured out. It was simple, really, the person to wield it simply dripped some of their blood into the Sigil and a link was forged.

  If Magnus died, the axe would break, and if the axe was broken, Magnus would suffer a wound to his soul. Nothing lethal, but dangerous all the same. The positive side of it, however, was that the axe grew more powerful after the binding, and Magnus had full control over its Aether. Any item could be infused with Aether, but this went further, allowing Magnus to draw Aether into it like it was his own body.

  The exact details were still being worked out, but Verdan doubted that any of the Brotherhood Adherents could do that second part. If they could, then there would be no need for the Aethite cores in their weapons.

  Still, it was a monumental discovery, one that would be especially important for the Chosen of Clan Mhorgain and any Wizards they produced.

  The second triad incorporated into the axe was far less dramatic, but just as useful. Inflict alongside activation and force. With those Sigils, Magnus could use his axe as normal, or cause it to hit with empowered force, just like Clan Thrain’s weapons.

  Once they’d tested and ensured everything was working as expected, they did the same for Dirk, simply exchanging the force Sigil for necrosis.

  Finally, Verdan very carefully removed the Sigils from his staff, shaping it with his magic back to its starting form as best he could. Some material was lost, but the shavings of Glaichsteel from carving the previous two weapons were incorporated to balance things.

  Once he had his staff back to its base form, Verdan spent hours carefully inscribing it with two sets of Sigil triads. The first was the same dual-endure with binding, while the second used projection, infliction and fire, with one of the conditional Sigils he’d learned.

  Verdan’s hands had been itching with anticipation when he took the staff to the testing area they’d set up and carefully bled onto it. Immediately, he felt his awareness stretch to fill the staff. It was an odd sensation, like it was part of him now, just as much as his arm or leg was.

  Focusing on that distant sensation of self, Verdan felt how he would trigger the second triad when he wanted. It would be like using a muscle, not applying his will to an item. So strange.

  More importantly, he could feel his subconscious draw of Aether was also applying to the staff. It lacked a gathering spiral, so it wasn’t as fast, but it was a lot better than the gathering Sigils.

  This was such a leap in power and strength, Verdan could barely imagine what a warband of Wizards could do if fully equipped like this.

  Grinning, he turned to the nearest target and pointed his staff at it, flexing that distant muscle to trigger the fire triad. A ray of barely-visible blue Aether leapt from the staff, crossing the space in the blink of an eye to strike the target, which erupted into flames.

  Rather than firing flames at someone, Verdan’s staff inflicted them with immolation directly. Not as good at a concentrated attack, but far better at dealing with hardy enemies. The ray had barely cost any Aether either, as after the initial ignition, the flames were natural. That also meant they would burn out quickly, but once they had been lit, Verdan could take control of them with a secondary spell.

  “That really walks the line between impressive and scary,” Natalia said, walking over to join him and looking at the staff with wide eyes. “I know you’ve been telling me about your work with Sigils, but even so, that was a lot.”

  “We’re lucky that the Brotherhood doesn’t have any Wizards,” Verdan said, grounding the butt of the staff and leaning on it. “They’re far more advanced with Sigils than they are with alchemy. A group of Adherents who could use magic and were backed up by Sigil-enchanted equipment would be a very dangerous foe.”

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  “Thank the gods for that,” Natalia said fervently. “They already seem to have enough advantages; they don’t need anything else.”

  “Speaking of which,” Verdan said quickly, eager to change the subject from the Brotherhood. “How have things gone with your new recipes?”

  Natalia smiled broadly, her face lighting up as they moved onto her favourite subject. “The empowerment potion is doing well, every vial I’ve made has sold almost immediately it seems. I’m restricting sales and not passing on the recipe for the moment, though.”

  Verdan caught a flicker of unhappiness cross her face and was quick to put a hand on her shoulder. “I know that spreading knowledge is important to you. I don’t want you to act against what you feel is right.”

  “I know, but what you’ve said about how it can be abused has stuck with me. There was a time when I’d have said it didn’t matter, as Sorcerers wouldn’t bother with something like it. Now, though, I know better. The Brotherhood will use any advantage they can get their hands on, and I can’t stand the idea of my work being used like that. Besides, you need enhanced Dryd to make the potion, and as far as we know, the Brotherhood are the only other ones who have such a machine.”

  “True, but Magnus and I are making progress in understanding the one we have,” Verdan said with an expansive gesture. “Its complexity is in its construction, not the knowledge behind it. We could take it apart, of course, but there’s no guarantee it would go back together.”

  “I’d rather we didn’t risk that quite yet,” Natalia said, her smile dimming slightly. “Unless you need to?”

  “No, no, it’s yours to do with as you want.”

  “Oh, good.” Her smile returned in full force as she relaxed. “I’ve got so much more I want to make, and some of my potential recipes have the other alchemists excited. There are even some people coming in from outside the city for the next demonstration.”

  “That’s great news!” Verdan enthused, pleased that she was getting the recognition she deserved. “What’s the next one you have ready to show off?”

  “It’s a potion of farsight. It should let you see further, and with more clarity!”

  “Excellent for scouting and hunting, if nothing else,” Verdan said, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully. “What about anyone with a visual impairment?”

  Natalia hesitated, her face falling before she slowly shook her head. “I’m sorry, Verdan. I don’t think a potion will…..”

  “No, no, not for me.” Verdan fought to keep the now fragile smile on his face. “I meant someone who is short-sighted, losing their vision or otherwise impaired.”

  “Hmm.” Natalia gave it some thought before nodding slightly. “I’m not sure in the long term, but a single use would certainly work as intended. The effect wouldn’t be as great, though.”

  “Wait, what do you mean about not being sure in the long term?”

  “Well, this is a powerful potion, if it works. Who knows what concentrating large amounts of magic in their eyes would do?”

  Verdan blinked in surprise before pursing his lips in thought. She had a point. The Aether wouldn’t be directed to healing, but in the process of improving the eyes, it might well spill over. One potion alone wouldn’t have much effect, but multiple might well do something interesting.

  “We’ll have to test that at some point,” Verdan said eventually. “I think you might be right, though. So when will you be showing off this potion?”

  “The outside alchemists will be here in a week, so we’ll be doing it then. I’ll try to have a few ready, but that will depend on getting the parts I need.”

  “Do you already have bounties up at the Adventurer’s Guild?”

  “Oh yes,” Natalia said with a laugh. “I’ve got so many I’m forgetting which are which. Some of the Airta are even hunting specific monsters for me in return for potions, which is something I never thought would happen.”

  “What? Giving potions to the Airta?” Verdan cocked his head to one side, a little confused.

  “No, not that.” Natalia rolled her eyes. “Having this sort of setup where people come to me directly because they know who I am and what I do. I’ll be honest, at first I thought it was because of you, but Zhalia came by and ordered a whole case of potions. I told her she’d be better going to a more established business, but she said that my work is more stable and I get more from the ingredients.”

  “High praise from a Cleric of her capability. She definitely knows what she’s talking about as well.” Verdan smiled, enjoying Natalia’s blush. “You’ll be known far and wide before long.”

  Natalia’s smile faded a little and turned nostalgic. “It used to be like this before… everything that happened. My father was a master of his craft, and the things he made showed it. If only he’d had access to these new discoveries, I’ve no doubt he would have made something truly wondrous.”

  “Perhaps he would, but I have faith that you will do just as well,” Verdan said, not doubting it for a moment.

  Natalia’s smile blossomed and she leaned in for a kiss before shaking her head. “Flattery will get you nowhere, Mister. I’ve got some work to do, but I’ll see you later for dinner?”

  “Of course, I wouldn’t miss it.” Verdan couldn’t fight off his grin as he turned back to the targets. He needed to finish testing the new Sigils on his staff.