The forge was quieter now. After the excitement of handing out weapons and armor, the group had dispersed—each of them eager to test their new gear in their own way. Only Kalem remained, standing near the forge, deep in thought.
The embers in the hearth still glowed, casting a soft orange light against the cool metal of the workshop. He leaned against the workbench, fingers drumming against the surface. His mind wasn't on the weapons he had just given out, nor on the academy.
It was on what came next.
He had turned down research collaboration, much to the confusion of Alaric and the others. To them, it must have seemed reckless, even foolish. The academy had extended an opportunity—a rare one, at that. But Kalem wasn't interested in being tied down by expectations.
"I already have what I need," he murmured to himself.
Most people thought of wealth in terms of coin, land, or titles. Kalem had once thought the same. But the more he worked, the more he understood: knowledge was the greatest form of wealth.
The resonance crystals were proof of that.
When the academy had offered him compensation, he had accepted—but not in coin, as they had expected. He had asked for something specific, something seemingly mundane yet rare in its own way.
And now, it was time to test whether that choice had been worth it.
Reaching into a locked compartment beneath the workbench, Kalem pulled out a small metal container. It was unremarkable in appearance, no engravings or embellishments. But when he twisted the seal and lifted the lid, a faint hum filled the air.
Inside, a handful of silver-white powder shimmered in the dim light.
Resonance Infusion
This was what he had asked for as his tournament prize—refined resonance crystal dust, a controlled and purified version of what naturally occurred in resonance stones.
It wasn't as immediately impressive as a rare weapon or an enchanted artifact, but it was infinitely more valuable to him. Resonance crystals held potential that few understood, and he was determined to push that potential further.
He took a deep breath, then carefully measured out a small amount, sprinkling it onto a thin sheet of tempered metal. The moment the dust made contact, the metal vibrated slightly—barely noticeable, but it confirmed what he suspected.
It reacts to external forces. Good.
Kalem grabbed a hammer and lightly tapped the metal. The vibration intensified for a moment before settling. He adjusted his grip, struck it again—harder this time. The reaction was stronger, but still within control.
If he could integrate this properly into weapons, armor, or even constructs, the applications were limitless.
A blade that sharpens itself over time.Armor that redirects kinetic force away from the wearer.Tools that respond dynamically to pressure, reducing material strain.
His mind raced through the possibilities, but he knew better than to get ahead of himself. Theory was one thing. Application was another.
And for that, he needed testing.
Just as he was about to start the next phase of his experiment, a voice called from the entrance.
"Still working at this hour?"
Kalem turned to see Garrick standing in the doorway, arms crossed.
"You're back already?" Kalem asked. "I thought you'd be testing your armor."
Garrick shrugged. "I did. It's solid. No complaints."
He stepped inside, eyeing the metal sheet on the workbench. His brow furrowed slightly. "What are you up to?"
Kalem debated for a moment whether to answer, then decided there was no harm in it. "Testing the effects of resonance crystal dust on tempered metal."
Garrick exhaled sharply. "Figured it was something complicated."
He leaned against the nearby workbench, watching as Kalem tapped the metal again. "You always push yourself like this?"
Kalem smirked. "That's how you make progress."
Garrick studied him for a moment before speaking again. "So… why did you refuse the research collaboration?"
Kalem didn't look up from his work. "Because I don't want my research to belong to someone else."
Garrick raised an eyebrow. "Is that really it?"
Kalem finally looked at him. "And because I don't trust them to see the full picture."
Most scholars treated discoveries like pieces of a puzzle, each valuable on its own but meaningless without the full set.
Kalem didn't see it that way. To him, knowledge was a foundation to be built upon, expanded, refined. If he handed his research over, they would take what they needed, discard what they didn't understand, and potentially ruin the very thing he was trying to create.
He wouldn't let that happen.
Garrick nodded slowly. "I get it. You don't want anyone else dictating how your work is used."
Kalem chuckled. "Exactly. And besides, I have other plans."
Garrick smirked. "Of course you do."
The two stood in silence for a moment before Garrick spoke again.
"That metal. Think it can handle a real strike?"
Kalem's eyes lit up. "Only one way to find out."
He gestured for Garrick to grab a hammer from the nearby rack. The blacksmith complied, selecting one of the heavier ones.
"Go for it," Kalem said.
Garrick didn't hesitate. He raised the hammer high and brought it down in a forceful arc. The impact rang through the forge like a bell, and the metal sheet shuddered—vibrating wildly before settling almost instantly.
Garrick frowned, examining the metal. "It should've dented more."
Kalem grinned. "That's the point."
The resonance crystal dust had absorbed and redistributed the force across the entire sheet, preventing a single point from taking the full brunt of the impact.
"Imagine that effect on armor," Kalem mused. "Or weapons. Or even buildings."
Garrick let out a low whistle. "Yeah. I can see why you kept this to yourself."
Kalem leaned back, satisfied with the results. The resonance infusion had worked exactly as he had hoped—but this was only the beginning.
There was still much to refine, many experiments to conduct. And for that, he needed time.
Garrick clapped him on the shoulder. "Just don't forget to sleep sometime, genius."
Kalem smirked. "I'll sleep when I'm done."
As Garrick walked out of the forge, Kalem turned back to the metal, his mind already racing with the next steps.
He had chosen knowledge over money, independence over sponsorship.
And soon, the world would see why.