The next evening, the fourth floor of the Student Council building was empty.
Amara had cleared the level under the excuse of a classified audit. One of the council's reinforced training rooms was locked from the inside, and the recording runes along the ceiling were dark.
She stood in the center of the room wearing a grey training tank and loose trousers. Her uniform jacket and wire-rimmed glasses rested on a metal bench nearby.
Arthur leaned against the wall near the door, his arms crossed.
Amara held the vial. The liquid inside shifted endlessly between deep blue, bright gold, and rich violet. She did not hesitate this time. She pulled the cork, raised the glass to her lips, and swallowed the Elixir of Potential in a single motion.
For three seconds, nothing happened.
Then the vial slipped from Amara's fingers and shattered across the tiles.
