Into the Cauldron

Simon pointed to the sealed wall.

"As you can see, placing a door here would be madness. We can't risk opening it by mistake. The heat in that room is lethal—we'd be ashes before we even realized we were burning. The only safe way in is through magic."

Billy blinked in disbelief.

"So… what are we going to do?"

Simon with a condescending smile

"We? Oh, Mr Billy… For someone so brilliant at business, you're surprisingly slow.

We're not doing anything — that's why I brought the magicians."

Billy swallowed his irritation, replying only with a thin, diplomatic smile.

The two magicians began drawing a circle around the girl, then motioned for the men to step back so they wouldn't be transported by mistake. A brief incantation followed—a flash of light surged—and the girl vanished.

The four approached the observation glass. Inside the room, the air shimmered and writhed as though it were boiling. Breathing in there meant instant death—lungs scorched, fluids evaporated in seconds. The girl twisted in agony, her mouth wide in a scream no one could hear. Her vocal cords had already burned away. Then her flesh began to ignite—from the inside out.

Billy watched with unsettling satisfaction.

"I'd say that's proof enough."

Simon chuckled again.

"Perhaps. But this is merely the first part of the test."

Billy arched an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

Simon pointed toward the center of the furnace-room, where a large metal cauldron sat over the Baissu's magical flames.

"The real test begins there."

"The cauldron? What's inside?"

"Umbresca oil. We placed it there a week ago."

Billy's face darkened. Umbresca oil—black as void, reflective of nothing. A substance known to manipulate souls—heal them… or rip them apart.

"How are you going to get her into it?" Billy asked.

Simon replied calmly,

"When we were in the hall, the magicians placed her under a mild hypnosis. Simple, but effective. One signal, and she'll walk into the cauldron on her own."

He gave a subtle nod. One magician snapped his fingers.

The girl, still writhing, began to crawl—slowly, deliberately—toward the cauldron, as though obeying an order she couldn't resist.

Simon noticed something odd. Her body… it was regenerating faster than expected. Where it once took months, then days, now even amid the searing heat and fire, her form was holding together.

He thought to himself:

Is her regeneration just fast enough to match the rate of destruction? If so, this isn't normal. Perhaps a curse… or something else guiding it. Or maybe… maybe she herself is the secret. The key to the cure.

The girl reached the base of the cauldron. A small iron ladder led upward. Simon gave the command. She began to climb, her hands leaving strips of cooked flesh on every rung. The heat was enough to melt iron. Even reality itself seemed to shimmer around her.

Simon whispered,

"If she survives this… she's the one I've been looking for."

Billy ordered her to jump. She obeyed—without hesitation.

All eyes turned to the glowing scrying orb.

The girl was still alive.

The heat and pressure were enough to annihilate any living thing… but her soul had not departed.

One magician whispered in awe,

"This is… terrifying. Power like this should not exist."

Simon grinned in relief.

"Bring out the candy. I want to see it."

The magicians spoke a command. A light flared… and all that remained was a skeleton.

Billy frowned.

"Is she dead? Or did the orb fail?"

Simon shook his head.

"The orb doesn't fail. It's magic. And the fact that her skeleton remains intact… that's a miracle. Her soul should have been erased. That she endured even this… it's impossible."

Billy's voice brimmed with excitement.

"So… shall we discuss the paperwork?"

Simon raised a hand impatiently.

"Soon. We'll go upstairs and finalize everything."

Billy clapped. A woman entered—long black hair, sharp elven ears, dressed in a maid's attire.

Simon addressed her,

"Take the remains to a private chamber. Monitor them. Record every change."

The elven woman bowed and carried the skeleton away. The four men followed her to the upper level.

Once seated, Simon leaned forward.

"So… what's your price?"

Billy smiled.

"Fifty-seven billion gold pieces."

Simon's eyebrows rose.

"That's quite the sum."

Billy shrugged.

"On the contrary. Think about it. You could harvest an organ from her every month and make hundreds of thousands. With your resources, the profits would multiply. A billion a month—meaning you'd recover the full cost in less than five years. Your wealth makes this price look like pocket change. And more importantly…"

He leaned in, lowering his voice.

"You might be able to extract the Elixir of Life from her."

Simon's eyes widened.

"So you figured it out, Mr. Billy."

Billy nodded with quiet confidence.

"I had my suspicions. Most of your collection is tied to immortality. I guessed you were experimenting… and disposing of the failures."

Simon chuckled.

"You're sharp. I'll give you that. But tell me—how do you intend to transfer the money? No carts, I hope."

Billy waved a hand.

"I'll bring a billion now, then purchase a pocket dimension and return for the rest."

Simon nodded.

"Your gold will be ready in two days."

And so, they parted ways—

A new deal inked in the shadows.