"This is where theory becomes reality," Loryn said, his voice carrying something approaching reverence. "Where components become life."
He led Jack to an active pool, one where the blood churned more violently than the others.
The surface bubbled and frothed, responding to the magic circles that pulsed with increasing intensity.
"Watch," Loryn commanded. "This one should emerge in moments."
The blood began to move in patterns, spiraling inward toward the pool's center. The churning intensified, and something started to form in the depths, a shape that grew more defined with each passing second.
The surface broke.
A hand emerged first, clawed and dripping with blood, reaching upward as if grasping for something.
Then an arm, shoulder, head, the rest of the body following in a smooth motion that suggested this wasn't birth so much as arrival.
The demon stood in the center of the pool, blood streaming off its body in sheets.
