Chapter 16: The Crucible of Synchronization
Mark did not linger in the city. The Tri-Weave Reliquary was a temporal bomb—he needed to master it before its existence drew unwanted attention, or before Thorne decided to use his remaining influence to silence the Master Broker. With his remaining 15 Silver Shillings, Mark purchased enough dried rations for two weeks and headed out of Port Elmswood, avoiding the main roads.
He found his training ground in the secluded foothills leading toward the Whispering Peaks—the ruins of an ancient, forgotten watchtower, its stone walls overgrown with moss and ivy. It was far enough from civilization that his inevitable magical bursts would go unnoticed.
The three-month training regimen—The Crucible—began immediately.
The goal was simple: Channel the raw force of Pyre Casting (Fire, Lvl 1), the precision of Tidal Flow Casting (Water, Lvl 1), and the stability of Basic Stone Skin (Earth, Lvl 2) into the Tri-Weave Reliquary simultaneously, allowing the artifact to fuse them into a single, stable energy stream.
The reality was a disaster.
The first attempt was catastrophic. Mark summoned Fire in his right palm, focused Water in his left, and channeled Earth through the amber catalyst into the Reliquary. As the three energies touched the ceramic vessel, they fought. Fire immediately boiled the Water, and the resulting superheated steam blew back into Mark's face, searing his skin and causing the Reliquary to vibrate violently.
Mark dropped the Reliquary just before it exploded, clutching his burned hands.
"Warning, Host! Elemental divergence detected! Fire and Water are diametrically opposed forces; the Reliquary can only fuse them if the input flow is perfectly balanced and stabilized by a third, neutral element. Failure probability remains 99% with current methodology," Jarvis reported, his mental voice strained.
Mark's Endurance 9 was severely tested over the first few weeks. He suffered minor burns, near-drownings from uncontrolled water bursts, and the dull, grinding pain of channeling Earth energy improperly, resulting in muscle spasms. He was physically weak, and the magical discipline drained his reserves utterly.
"Jarvis. I can't brute-force this like Ignis taught me. We need to apply the Master Broker principle. This is a logistics problem, not a power struggle. Analyze the flow rates," Mark commanded, wiping soot from his eyes.
"Recalibrating methodology. Utilizing Logistics Optimization (Lvl 1) to find the perfect flow equation. The sequence must be: Earth (Stabilizer) → Water (Moderator) → Fire (Initiator). The flow rate of Water must be exactly 1.3 times the flow rate of Fire to achieve thermal neutralization before convergence," Jarvis calculated.
Mark spent the next eight weeks internalizing that equation. He began treating his body as a set of magical conduits and the Reliquary as a fusion engine. He had to feel the Earth element—the cold, patient stability—first, anchoring the Reliquary. Then, he had to introduce the Water flow with excruciating precision to begin moderating the vessel's internal temperature before injecting the volatile Fire.
It was an exercise in mental gymnastics and ruthless control. His Intelligence 20 was the only thing keeping the conflicting elements from tearing him apart.
As the weeks turned into months, Mark's body adapted. His burns healed, replaced by a subtle, shimmering resilience in his skin. His movements became economical and precise. He was constantly running on empty, but the persistent mental strain began rewarding him with experience.
Two months into the training, Mark achieved his first moment of genuine success. For five full seconds, he held the three elements in perfect, simultaneous flow. The Reliquary did not fight the elements; it sang, emitting a low, harmonious hum, and fused the three raw energies into a single, clean stream of Tri-Weave Elemental Energy.
[Logistics Optimization (Lvl 1 → Lvl 2)]
Grants 20% increased efficiency in all resource, energy, and pathway management systems.
The synchronization training became easier. Mark was no longer forcing the elements; he was simply regulating their efficient flow. By the final week, he could maintain the Tri-Weave Energy stream for minutes at a time, directing it to carve perfect, miniature sculptures in the bedrock surrounding the watchtower.
[Core Elemental Skills Synchronized]
(Pyre Casting, Tidal Flow Casting, Basic Stone Skin → Consolidated)
[Skill Acquired: Tri-Weave Convergence (Lvl 1)]
Grants the ability to channel Fire, Water, and Earth simultaneously via a catalyst. Required for Aetheric Core activation.
It was the dawn of the final day of the three-month training period. The Vernal Equinox. Mark stood atop the ruins of the watchtower, physically exhausted but mentally primed. The sun was just rising over the distant, bustling skyline of Port Elmswood.
He had 0 XP pending and his skills were honed to a razor's edge.
---
[Host Profile: Mark Noax]
Class: Master Broker (Tier 2)
Level: 6 (1850/2500 XP)
Health: 85% (Recovering)
Attributes:
Strength: 6
Agility: 7
Endurance: 9
Intelligence: 20
Charisma: 15
Skills:
• Basic Negotiation (Lvl 2)
• Advanced Analysis (Lvl 2)
• Logistics Optimization (Lvl 2)
• Elemental Focus (Lvl 1)
• Tri-Weave Convergence (Lvl 1)
---
His capital was virtually zero—just a few stray copper coins left from the rations. But he now held the final piece of the Aetheric Core puzzle: the Reliquary and the Tri-Weave Convergence (Lvl 1) skill.
"Jarvis. The sun is up. The window for activation is short—the peak of the Equinox alignment lasts only four hours," Mark said, pulling his now-worn cloak tightly around him. "We head straight for the Central Obelisk. What is the contingency plan for dealing with the Royal Academy guards?"
"Analysis: A direct confrontation is unacceptable. We must use the Master Broker's ultimate weapon: misdirection and structural vulnerability. The most logical point of entry is the rarely-used Underground Water Cistern Access. We will utilize the city's own infrastructure against it," Jarvis confirmed.
Mark grinned, a tired but lethal expression. The Master Broker was going to seize control of the city's power source by breaking into a glorified plumbing access hatch.
"Let's go, Jarvis. Time to collect the collateral."