Malcolm hunched over his workbench in the northeastern corner of the dumping ground, sweat beading on his forehead despite the cool morning air. The sun had barely cleared the Academy walls, casting long shadows across his hidden workspace, but he'd been awake for hours, practicing Sorha's essence manipulation technique until his fingers ached.

  "Come on," he muttered, adjusting the final crystal rod in the elaborate pattern. "Work, damn it."

  The arrangement looked right—three crystal rods positioned at precise angles, each with a small depression at its center containing one of the colored essence powders Sorha had provided. According to her instructions, the correct energy application would cause the powders to rise and form visible orbs, mimicking the extraction process of his void pool without actually using it.

  Malcolm took a deep breath, focusing his energy as he passed his hand over the crystals. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with agonizing slowness, the powders began to stir, wisps of colored mist rising from each depression.

  "Yes!" he whispered, carefully maintaining the energy flow. The misty tendrils thickened, coalescing into three distinct orbs that hovered above the crystal arrangement—red, blue, and green, just like the essences in his evaluation demonstration.

  But almost immediately, things went wrong. The red orb pulsed erratically, its edges blurring. The blue one drifted sideways, away from its intended position. And when Malcolm tried to establish the harmonic pattern between them, the green orb simply collapsed, dissolving back into powder that dusted the workbench.

  "Dammit!" Malcolm slammed his palm against the table in frustration, sending the remaining orbs scattering into formless mist. His supervised demonstration with Lian was scheduled for that afternoon, and he still couldn't reliably reproduce the technique.

  "Temper tantrums rarely improve alchemical results," observed a dry voice.

  Malcolm whirled around to find Master Seiran standing at the edge of his workspace, hands folded calmly within his sleeves. The master's unexpected appearance sent a jolt of panic through him—how long had he been watching? Had he seen enough to realize the deception?

  "Master Seiran! I was just, uh, practicing for my demonstration today." Malcolm hurriedly swept the crystal arrangement and powder residue to one side, trying to look casual despite his racing heart.

  "Indeed." Master Seiran's expression revealed nothing as he stepped under the canvas tarp. "An interesting approach to essence manifestation. Not one I recall covering in our curriculum."

  Malcolm swallowed hard. "It's a... variation on standard techniques. Adapting them to my specific energy pattern."

  "Hmm." Master Seiran picked up one of the crystal rods, examining it with practiced eyes. "Ashkari resonance crystals. Quite rare in Kagetsu. One might wonder how a first-year resource management assistant acquired such specialized materials."

  There was no point denying it—the distinctive spiral pattern etched into the crystal was unmistakable. "A friend helped me," Malcolm admitted.

  "The Ashkari exchange student, I presume." Master Seiran placed the crystal rod back on the table with careful precision. "Lin Sorha has a reputation for... creative interpretations of Academy regulations."

  Malcolm tensed, waiting for the reprimand—or worse, the questions about what exactly he was trying to hide with this alternative technique. But Master Seiran merely circled the workbench, studying the arrangement with apparent academic interest.

  "The crystal configuration is sound," he observed. "But your energy application lacks proper modulation. Hence the instability in your essence orbs."

  Malcolm stared at him in confusion. Was Master Seiran actually offering advice rather than condemnation?

  "You're not... upset about this?" he ventured cautiously.

  "Should I be?" Master Seiran raised an eyebrow. "You are preparing for a supervised demonstration, as required by your conditional status. That you seek alternative methodologies to accommodate your unique energy patterns shows initiative, not defiance."

  Relief washed over Malcolm, followed quickly by suspicion. Master Seiran had already helped him once with the restricted book on Absorptive Nexus theory. Now he was tacitly approving what amounted to a deception of Grandmaster Kaiven's research assistant. Why?

  Before he could form a question, Master Seiran continued, "However, your current approach will not withstand careful observation. The essence formation lacks depth—a critical quality of true extraction that cannot be replicated through surface techniques."

  "I know," Malcolm sighed, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. "But I don't see any other option. I can't exactly show them the real method."

  Master Seiran's gaze sharpened. "And why is that, precisely?"

  Malcolm froze, realizing he'd said too much. "I just meant... the Absorptive Nexus method is difficult to demonstrate clearly in a supervised setting."

  "Indeed." Master Seiran studied him for a long moment, then reached into his sleeve and withdrew a small silk pouch. "Perhaps this might assist your... demonstration."

  He placed the pouch on the workbench. Inside, Malcolm found a translucent crystal unlike any he'd seen before—clear at its center but surrounded by a swirling multicolored haze that seemed to shift and flow like liquid.

  "A Boundary Stone," Master Seiran explained. "A rare artifact used in advanced soul space research. When activated, it creates a sort of illusion filter—you can access your soul space normally, but observers see only a standardized visualization that matches their expectations."

  Malcolm looked up sharply. "Meaning?"

  "Meaning," Master Seiran said carefully, "that while using it, you may access your soul space normally, but external observers will perceive only what you wish them to see."

  Malcolm could hardly believe what he was hearing. "You're giving me a way to use my void pool without anyone seeing it?"

  "I am providing a research tool used for controlled essence manipulation demonstrations," Master Seiran corrected smoothly. "How you utilize it is, of course, entirely your decision."

  "Why?" Malcolm couldn't help asking. "Why help me like this?"

  Master Seiran was silent for a moment, his gaze drifting over the haphazard collection of salvaged equipment that made up Malcolm's workspace. "The Academy has existed for eight hundred years, Sinclair-san. In that time, our traditions have preserved invaluable knowledge, but they have also occasionally... calcified." He touched one of the crystal rods gently. "Grandmaster Kaiven represents one vision of alchemical tradition—pure, unyielding, precise. It is a vision with merit, but not the only valid approach."

  He looked back at Malcolm, something almost like amusement flickering in his eyes. "Let us say I maintain an academic interest in methodological diversity. Your unique abilities represent a perspective worth preserving, even if they do not align perfectly with current orthodoxy."

  "So you're helping me basically cheat on my demonstration because you think my weird void pool might actually be valuable?"

  Master Seiran's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. "I am providing appropriate resources to a student with recognized special circumstances. Pedagogically sound practice, wouldn't you agree?"

  Despite his nerves, Malcolm couldn't help grinning. "Totally sound. Practically traditional."

  "Indeed." Master Seiran inclined his head slightly. "The Boundary Stone requires specific activation. Place it in your non-dominant hand during your demonstration, and direct a small amount of energy through it before accessing your soul space. The effect lasts approximately twenty minutes—sufficient for standard observation protocols."

  "Thank you," Malcolm said, meaning it. "I won't waste this opportunity."

  "See that you don't." Master Seiran turned to leave, then paused. "One final observation, Sinclair-san. True innovation rarely comes from perfect adherence to established methods—but neither does it come from their complete rejection. The most valuable advances often arise at the intersection of tradition and exploration." His eyes met Malcolm's directly. "Consider how your unique abilities might complement our traditions rather than merely circumvent them."

  With that cryptic advice, he departed as silently as he had arrived, leaving Malcolm staring after him in bewilderment and gratitude.

  The formal demonstration laboratory was nothing like the practical classrooms Malcolm was used to. Located in the Traditional Methodology wing of the Academy, it featured polished stone floors, walls lined with preservation-sealed scrolls, and a central circular platform surrounded by observation stations. The air smelled of sandalwood incense and the faint electrical tang of accumulated magical energy.

  Lian Koda stood at the primary observation station, arranging measurement tools with meticulous precision. Three other senior students were positioned at secondary stations, prepared to document different aspects of the demonstration. Malcolm recognized Riven among them, his tall frame rigid with characteristic formality.

  "Sinclair-san," Lian greeted him with a perfectly correct bow that somehow still managed to convey condescension. "I trust you are prepared to demonstrate the essence extraction and harmonic stabilization technique you employed during your evaluation."

  "As ready as I'll ever be," Malcolm replied, trying to keep his voice casual despite the nervous fluttering in his stomach. The Boundary Stone sat cool and heavy in his left hand, concealed within his sleeve as Master Seiran had instructed. Sorha's essence powders and crystals were in his pouch as backup, though he hoped not to need them now.

  "You will observe formal demonstration protocols," Lian instructed, handing him a scroll. "The procedure is detailed here. Proper methodology documentation is essential for accurate assessment."

  Malcolm accepted the scroll, scanning its contents quickly. The procedure was exactly what he'd expected—a step-by-step breakdown of traditional essence extraction, completely inapplicable to his void pool method. He'd have to improvise while making it appear that he was following the protocol.

  "Understood," he said, returning the scroll. "Where would you like me to begin?"

  Lian gestured to the central platform. "You will explain your theoretical framework first, then proceed through each step of the extraction and stabilization process. Be precise in your movements and clear in your explanations."

  Malcolm stepped onto the platform, taking a deep breath as he faced the observation stations. The senior students waited, brushes poised over documentation scrolls, their expressions a mixture of skepticism and curiosity.

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  "My approach," he began, falling back on the explanation he'd rehearsed with Sorha, "builds upon the Absorptive Nexus framework described in classical texts. Rather than standard flame-based extraction, my soul space functions through a decomposition and essence isolation mechanism."

  Lian's eyebrow rose slightly. "An obsolete theoretical model, but proceed."

  Malcolm discreetly activated the Boundary Stone as instructed, feeling a subtle ripple of energy spread from his palm up his arm. A slight shimmering in the air around the platform was the only visible sign of its effect—likely imperceptible to anyone not specifically looking for it.

  "I'll demonstrate using these three herbs," Malcolm continued, placing samples of bloodroot, silverleaf, and mountain sage on the demonstration table. "Traditional methods would process these separately due to their conflicting properties. However, the Absorptive Nexus permits simultaneous extraction while maintaining their distinct essence signatures."

  He closed his eyes, heart hammering as he accessed his soul space. The familiar five-meter domain appeared in his mind—so much roomier than the cramped space he'd started with. The meter-wide void pool pulsed at the bottom like a living thing, almost eager after days of inactivity. Malcolm transferred the herbs from the physical table into his soul space, watching nervously as they sank beneath the obsidian surface of the pool. If the Boundary Stone failed now, he'd be completely exposed.

  The decomposition process was instantaneous, far more efficient now with his expanded capacity. Three distinct essence orbs rose from the pool—fiery red from the bloodroot, shimmering blue from the silverleaf, and vibrant green from the mountain sage.

  "Through specialized meditation techniques," Malcolm narrated for his audience, keeping his eyes closed to maintain the connection with his soul space, "I separate the essential properties from their material bases."

  In reality, the void pool was doing all the work automatically, but the observers didn't need to know that. Thanks to the Boundary Stone, they would see only what appeared to be a normal, if unusually efficient, extraction process.

  "The key challenge," Malcolm continued, guiding the three essence orbs into a triangular formation within his soul space, "is maintaining harmonic stability between naturally opposing essences."

  This part, at least, required genuine skill. Even with the void pool's perfect extraction, keeping the fiery bloodroot and watery silverleaf essences from neutralizing each other demanded careful energy control. Malcolm established a circulating pattern, using the neutral mountain sage essence as a buffer between the opposing elements.

  "The harmonic pattern creates a stable energy circuit," he explained, maintaining his focus with considerable effort. "This allows the essences to influence each other without losing their individual properties."

  Once the formation stabilized within his soul space, Malcolm carefully extracted it, materializing the three orbiting essence orbs above the demonstration table. Through the Boundary Stone's effect, the observers would see what appeared to be a normal externalization process rather than the actual transfer from his soul space.

  He opened his eyes to find all four senior students leaning forward, watching the swirling essence formation with undisguised fascination. Even Lian's carefully maintained expression of skepticism had given way to intense concentration as he studied the perfectly balanced orbs.

  "The final step," Malcolm said, reaching for a small bowl of purified water on the table, "is application. When properly stabilized, these opposing essences can be combined into a single remedy without neutralizing each other's properties."

  He lowered the essence formation into the water, where it dissolved with a flash of multicolored light. The liquid shimmered briefly, then settled into a clear solution with a faint opalescent quality.

  "The resulting compound," he concluded, "treats inflammation, fever, and respiratory congestion simultaneously—a combination impossible through conventional processing methods."

  A heavy silence fell over the laboratory as he completed the demonstration. Lian approached the table, performing several quick tests on the solution with crystal rods and essence-reactive papers. Each test confirmed what Malcolm already knew—the remedy possessed properties that should have been impossible according to traditional alchemical theory.

  "Your extraction efficiency exceeds established parameters," Lian said finally, his voice carefully neutral. "And the essence stability pattern contradicts accepted oppositional principles." He made several notes on his scroll. "Yet the results are... undeniable."

  "Different approach, different results," Malcolm said with a shrug, trying not to look too pleased with himself. "The Absorptive Nexus model may be old, but it works with my particular energy pattern."

  Riven stepped forward, making his own measurements of the solution. "The harmonization index is remarkably high," he observed, genuine academic interest overriding his usual stiffness. "Traditional stabilization catalysts cannot achieve this level of integration between opposing elements."

  "Maybe traditional methods aren't the only valid approach," Malcolm suggested, instantly regretting his boldness when Lian's expression hardened.

  "Tradition exists for a reason, Sinclair-san," Lian replied coldly. "Centuries of rigorous development and refinement have established the optimal methodologies for alchemical practice. That your unorthodox approach produces interesting results does not invalidate that foundation."

  "I never said it did," Malcolm backpedaled, remembering Master Seiran's advice about finding the intersection of tradition and innovation. "The classical texts are full of valuable insights. I'm just... adapting them to my specific abilities."

  Lian studied him for a long moment, clearly not entirely convinced. "Your demonstration is noted," he said finally. "I will prepare a full report for Grandmaster Kaiven, including the observed deviations from standard extraction protocols."

  That didn't sound promising. "So, did I pass or fail?" Malcolm asked bluntly.

  "This was not an examination but an observation," Lian replied. "Your conditional status remains unchanged. However," he added, making one final note on his scroll, "your results warrant further investigation. The Absorptive Nexus model may indeed offer insights worthy of reconsideration, regardless of its obsolescence in current theory."

  Coming from Lian, this was practically a ringing endorsement. Malcolm struggled to keep his expression appropriately serious, resisting the urge to pump his fist in victory.

  "Thank you for the opportunity to demonstrate my methods," he said with a carefully measured bow. "I look forward to further academic exchange."

  As the senior students packed up their observation equipment, Riven approached Malcolm, his tall frame bending slightly as he spoke in a lowered voice.

  "Your soul space development continues to defy conventional patterns," he said, his tone academic but with an undercurrent of genuine curiosity. "The expansion rate alone suggests an unconventional energy utilization method."

  Malcolm tensed. "I've always been a fast learner."

  "Indeed," Riven replied, clearly unconvinced. "Tairo family records include research on specialized soul space manifestations dating back twelve generations. Perhaps we might discuss historical precedents sometime."

  Before Malcolm could formulate a response, Riven straightened and walked away, leaving Malcolm to wonder whether the offer had been genuine academic interest or a subtle form of investigation.

  "So you actually pulled it off," Sorha said later that evening, perched on a stack of discarded cultivation pots in Malcolm's workspace. The setting sun slanted through gaps in the canvas tarp, turning everything a warm amber color. "Even Lian had to admit your results had merit."

  "Thanks to Master Seiran's Boundary Stone," Malcolm replied, still amazed by his narrow escape. "Without it, I'd have been exposed for sure."

  "Interesting that he would help you so directly," Sorha mused. "The political implications are... significant."

  Malcolm looked up from the arrangement of essence orbs floating above his workbench—extractions from his void pool that he was experimenting with now that the demonstration was over. "What do you mean, political?"

  Sorha adjusted her position, her casual posture a stark contrast to the rigid formality of most Kagetsu students. "Master Seiran and Grandmaster Kaiven represent opposing philosophical approaches within the Academy. Their disagreements over methodological orthodoxy go back decades."

  "So I'm what, a pawn in their academic chess match?" The thought made Malcolm uncomfortable.

  "More like an unexpected piece that doesn't follow the normal rules," Sorha corrected. "Seiran values innovation within tradition. Kaiven believes deviation weakens the foundation. Your abilities challenge core assumptions about what's possible, making you valuable to Seiran's position."

  Malcolm considered this as he guided two essence orbs together, watching as they merged into a swirling combination of vibrant colors. "I just want to develop my void pool abilities without being treated like some kind of heretic. Is that too much to ask?"

  "In an institution that's valued unchanging tradition for eight hundred years? Yes." Sorha's bluntness was refreshing after weeks of Kagetsu verbal dancing. "But that doesn't mean it's impossible. You've already survived an evaluation and a supervised demonstration. Your conditional status gives you legitimate space to explore your abilities."

  Malcolm sighed, letting the essence orbs dissipate back into his soul space. "I guess. But I'm tired of hiding and pretending. Do you have any idea how exhausting it is to constantly watch every word and action?"

  "As a matter of fact, I do," Sorha replied, her voice taking on an edge he hadn't heard before. "Three years at Enshin as the only Ashkari student, constantly having my traditions dismissed as 'primitive' or 'undisciplined.' At least you have the advantage of looking somewhat like them."

  Malcolm felt a twinge of shame. He'd been so caught up in his own struggles that he hadn't fully considered what Sorha had endured as a visible outsider. "Sorry. That was self-centered of me."

  "It was," she agreed, but without rancor. "But understandable. The important thing is what you do next."

  "What do you mean?"

  Sorha leaned forward, her eyes intent. "You've demonstrated your abilities under supervision, established historical precedent through the Absorptive Nexus theory, and earned academic credibility through results they can't dismiss. The foundation is laid. Now you can build something meaningful."

  "Like what?" Malcolm asked, intrigued despite his fatigue.

  "That's up to you." Sorha gestured to his collection of perfectly extracted essence orbs. "But consider this—what can your void pool do that traditional methods can't? What problems might it solve that have resisted conventional approaches?"

  Malcolm thought about it, remembering the countless hours he'd spent processing discarded materials through his void pool. The perfect separation, the pure essences, the refined base components—all reclaimed from what others considered waste.

  "It can extract value from things everyone else throws away," he said slowly, the beginnings of an idea forming. "Perfect essences from damaged herbs, pure metals from contaminated sources..."

  "Exactly," Sorha nodded encouragingly. "The Academy dumps literal tons of 'imperfect' materials every month. Materials that still contain valuable essences if they could be properly extracted."

  "Which they can't do with traditional methods," Malcolm continued, excitement building, "but I can with the void pool."

  "Now you're thinking like an innovator rather than just a survivor," Sorha said with a smile. "Prove your methods have practical value that serves the Academy's interests, and even traditionalists like Kaiven will have to acknowledge their merit."

  Malcolm's mind raced with possibilities. He could establish a formal reclamation program, processing damaged or contaminated materials that would otherwise go to waste. The pure essences and refined components could supply students and researchers, reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

  "I'd need more official access to the dumping ground," he mused, thinking aloud. "And some kind of workshop setup beyond this hidden corner."

  "Your conditional status already modified your resource management duties to focus on reclamation," Sorha pointed out. "Request the resources you need to fulfill that responsibility effectively. Frame it as serving the Academy's interests rather than pursuing your personal research."

  Malcolm grinned, Energy bubbling up inside him like it used to before his parents' deaths. For the first time since arriving at Enshin, he felt like he might have found a path forward—one that didn't require constantly hiding his abilities or pretending to be something he wasn't.

  "This could actually work," he said, gesturing excitedly. "I could process damaged materials right under their noses, explain the results through the Absorptive Nexus theory, and let the practical benefits speak for themselves."

  "A sustainable approach," Sorha agreed. "Though you'll still face resistance. Tradition doesn't yield easily, even to demonstrable results."

  "Maybe not," Malcolm admitted. "But Master Seiran said something today that stuck with me—the most valuable advances happen at the intersection of tradition and exploration." He ran a hand through his perpetually messy hair, thoughts crystallizing into a plan. "I don't need to reject their traditions to develop my own methods. I just need to show how they can work together."

  As darkness crept across the dumping ground, Malcolm and Sorha hunched over his workbench, refining their idea into something that might actually work. Malcolm had pulled a few essence orbs from his void pool, and they hovered overhead like strange lanterns, casting patches of green, blue, and amber light across their excited faces as they sketched out a proposal for a formal reclamation program.

  For once, Malcolm didn't feel like an outsider trying desperately to fit in. He felt like himself—someone with unique abilities and perspective, someone who might actually have something valuable to contribute to Enshin Academy, if only they were willing to look beyond tradition to see it.

  "You know," Malcolm said as they gathered their things to leave, "my dad had this saying back home. He'd tell me, 'Mal, innovation doesn't come from following someone else's rules—it comes from solving problems nobody else has figured out yet.'" For the first time in months, Malcolm felt his father's presence—not as a painful absence, but as a guiding force. He straightened his shoulders. "First thing tomorrow, I'm talking to Elder Mozu about setting up a real reclamation station. It's time I stopped trying so hard to fit their system and showed them what mine can actually do."

  Sorha smiled in the fading light. "Now that sounds like an approach worth pursuing."