A day later, the group entered the Origin Society under Veylin's guidance.
A vast, brightly lit space greeted them.
The floor was made of flat gray stone, and the walls had been polished smooth.
Dozens of glowing crystals were set into fixed recesses in the ceiling, casting an even white light.
There were no strange potion odors in the air, only a faint cool, dry freshness.
Long metal tables stood in neat rows, covered with glassware and metal instruments they had never seen before.
Everything exuded a profound sense of order.
Ora Stonebeard's steps faltered noticeably. Accustomed to dim taverns and battlefields, he could barely keep his eyes open beneath the white light.
The place felt unfamiliar to him, even a little unsettling.
"Welcome to my laboratory." Veylin's voice rang especially clearly in the space.
Several researchers in matching gray uniforms wheeled over a metal trolley. Lying on it was the captured young giant crocodile.
It was no longer struggling. Several runes flickering with faint blue light were attached to its belly; it had evidently been subjected to a Paralysis Spell.
"The preliminary physical analysis is complete." Valerius hurried forward and handed Veylin a sheet of parchment.
Veylin lowered his gaze to read it.
[...Scale density thirty percent higher than others of its kind; weak point remains the belly...reinforced by the muscle layer...fears low temperatures, which significantly reduce physiological activity...]
"Leo, what have you found?"
"My lord, I tested it with a Sound Wave Spell!" Leo could barely contain his excitement. "I discovered that casting within an extremely narrow, specific frequency range has an extraordinary effect on the Gray Swamp Crocodile-it triggers fear!"
Veylin's eyes lit up, and he nodded at Leo approvingly.
"Excellent."
He turned to Valerius.
"What about the blood sample? Any abnormalities?"
"Abnormalities? Oh, no,