Chapter 4: Crystal Crafting

"You're improving," Lyra said, watching the crystal glow in my palm. She tilted her head, her violet eyes narrowing slightly in thought. "But I've been wondering… what exactly is your ability? Is it just storing and releasing mana, or is it something else?" She leaned forward, her elbows resting on the table. "You mentioned feeling energy around you earlier. Did you sense it or… change it?"

I paused, the weight of her question settling in. I hadn't fully explained it, partly because I wasn't sure I understood it myself. "It's not just storage," I began slowly, turning the crystal over in my hand. "It's… conversion. I can take one form of energy and turn it into another."

Her eyebrows shot up, and she leaned back, clearly surprised. "Conversion? That's not something you hear every day. Most mages work within a single energy type. Even the talented ones just refine what's there." She tapped the table with a finger, her gaze sharp. "What can you convert? Mana into what?"

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "I'm still figuring it out," I admitted. "I can turn mana into kinetic energy, heat, even light. But…" I glanced down at the crystal. "It's harder to convert to more unstable energy."

Lyra's eyes lit up, and she leaned forward again, her curiosity palpable. "That's… unprecedented. Most mages are limited by their affinity. If you can truly convert energy freely…" She trailed off, her mind clearly racing. "Caius, do you understand what that could mean? You could bridge gaps between disciplines. You could—"

"I know," I interrupted, feeling a flicker of excitement despite myself. "But it'll be two years before I can log into the Expanse Realm."

She nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. "Maybe you can start small. Test the boundaries. See to what extent you can convert now, like Celestial Essence."

"Celestial Essence?" I echoed, the name unfamiliar. "What's that?"

Lyra's eyes gleamed. "It's incredibly rare, even in the Expanse Realm. A pure, almost divine energy source. Said to be used in creating artifacts of immense power. Some even believe it fuels the core of the Realm itself." She leaned forward, her gaze intense. "Imagine, Caius, converting mana into something so potent. Think of the possibilities."

I frowned. "Sounds amazing, but…" I trailed off, realizing the flaw in her suggestion. "I can't convert mana into something I've never experienced. Without a sample, it's impossible to replicate."

Lyra sighed, disappointment coloring her voice. "I figured as much. Still, it's an idea worth considering. Maybe you could… trace the energy signatures of Celestial Essence artifacts. Find patterns, maybe?"

"Trace energy signatures," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. Lyra's idea was brilliant, but also terrifyingly difficult. "Even finding a trace of Celestial Essence would be a challenge."

"I know, right?" Lyra agreed, her voice laced with frustration. "Those artifacts are practically museum pieces. Even getting a glimpse would cost a fortune. Mom barely covers our expenses as it is; we'd be lucky to scrape together enough for a decent life."

I nodded, the reality sinking in. Access to high-level artifacts, let alone their energy signatures, was reserved for wealthy, influential mages. Our meager finances wouldn't cut it.

"Maybe," I started, weighing my options. "Maybe we could borrow…"

I trailed off, realizing how unrealistic it sounded. Even asking someone to loan a device capable of analyzing Celestial Essence felt presumptuous.

"Borrow?" Lyra's voice was tinged with skepticism.

I sighed, the weight of our predicament settling on my shoulders. "You're right, Lyra. Borrowing is probably not an option. We need to find another way."

Lyra nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Well, if we can't get our hands on Celestial Essence, maybe we can work with what we have." She tapped the glowing crystal in my palm. "You said you can convert mana into different forms of energy, right? Why not start there?"

I considered her suggestion, turning the crystal over in my hand. "You mean, like, making elemental crystals?"

"Exactly!" Lyra's eyes lit up with excitement. "Mages are always in need of high-quality crystals for their spells. If you can produce them consistently, we could sell them and start building up some capital."

The idea had merit, but I couldn't help the skepticism that crept into my voice. "It's not that simple, though. Crafting strong elemental crystals takes a lot of skill and precision. Not to mention the time and effort involved."

Lyra waved a hand dismissively. "I know, I know. But you're not just any mage, Caius. With your energy conversion ability, you could streamline the process. Make it faster, more efficient."

She leaned forward, her expression earnest. "Think about it. If we can produce high-quality crystals at a lower cost, we'd have a competitive edge. We could undercut the market and still turn a decent profit."

I mulled over her words, the gears in my mind turning. She had a point. My ability to convert energy could give us an advantage in the crystal-making business. And with the right approach, we might be able to accumulate enough funds to eventually pursue more ambitious goals.

"Okay," I said, nodding slowly. "Let's give it a try. What kind of crystals do you think would be in the highest demand?"

Lyra's face lit up with a grin. "Well, fire and lightning crystals are always popular. But I'm thinking we should start with something a little more versatile…" She tapped her chin, her brow furrowing in thought.

I took a deep breath, trying to channel my focus as I held the mana-infused crystal in my palm. Lyra watched intently, her violet eyes alight with anticipation.

"Alright, let's start with something simple," I murmured, closing my eyes to better feel the energy coursing through the crystal. Slowly, I began to manipulate the mana, coaxing it to shift and transform.

The crystal pulsed with a soft glow as I directed the energy, shaping it into a new form. Sweat beaded on my brow with the effort, but I refused to falter. After a few tense moments, the glow intensified, and the crystal took on a vibrant, amber hue.

"There," I said, opening my eyes and presenting the crystal to Lyra. "A fire crystal, just as you suggested."

Lyra's face broke into a delighted grin as she took the crystal, turning it over in her hands. "Caius, this is amazing! The quality is incredible." She held it up to the light, watching the flames dance within. "This could easily fetch a premium price at the market."

I allowed myself a small smile, feeling a sense of pride at my accomplishment. "I'm glad you think so. It was a bit tricky, but I think I've got the hang of it now."

"Then let's not waste any time," Lyra said, already rising from her seat. "I'll take this one to the market and see what kind of offers we get. Who knows, maybe we'll even catch the eye of a high-end collector."

I nodded, already mentally preparing the next batch of crystals. "I'll keep working on producing more. Maybe we can experiment with some other elements as well."

"Sounds like a plan," Lyra said, flashing me an encouraging smile. "I'll be back as soon as I can with the earnings. This is going to be the start of something big, Caius, I can feel it."

With that, she hurried out the door, the fire crystal clutched tightly in her hand. I watched her go, a sense of determination settling in my chest. This was our chance to build something meaningful, to carve out a place for ourselves in this strange new world.

I turned my attention back to the mana, already shaping it into the beginnings of a new crystal. The possibilities were endless, and I was determined to explore them, one element at a time.