Fenric stayed seated for several minutes.
He did not move right away.
He checked his breathing.
Slow.
Steady.
Then he checked his Aura.
It flowed smoothly through his channels.
No blockages.
No sharp pain.
That was important.
He carefully shut down the refinement circle.
The chalk lines faded.
The stabilizing crystals cracked and turned dull.
Fenric picked up the refined core and held it in his hand.
It felt heavier than before.
Denser.
When he sent a thin thread of Aura into it, the response was immediate.
Sharp.
Clean.
Controlled.
No resistance.
No backlash.
"Good," Fenric said quietly.
He placed the core back into its container and stood up slowly.
His legs were weak, but they held.
He drank some water and sat on the bed.
That night, he did not cultivate.
He let his body rest.
The next three days were the same.
No missions.
No training.
Only light Aura circulation to help his body adjust.
On the fourth day, Fenric returned to the guild.
