Elder Glowbright's Arc

Chapter 2 of 7

Elder Glowbright held the glowing beaker up to the morning light. The formula pulsed with steady blue-green energy, brighter than any mixture they had made before. This was it—the compound that would finally protect Primordia from the Draken forever. But one question remained: how long would the glow last? Elder Glowbright needed to store concentrated light energy to keep testing through the coming weeks. They walked outside to the garden where rows of bioluminescent pollen pods hung from low branches. The pods swayed in the breeze, each one glowing soft and steady like a small lantern. Perfect for holding pure light. Elder Glowbright plucked three pods and carried them back to the laboratory. Inside, they poured samples of the new formula into each pod. The containers absorbed the blue-green glow and held it without fading. Elder Glowbright watched the pods pulse with energy, strong and constant. This formula could power their equipment for testing. More importantly, it proved the compound stayed stable over time. The elder set the pods on the work table and smiled. The first real step was complete. Now they could begin testing the formula against actual Draken. The dream of protecting Primordia was finally within reach. But Elder Glowbright needed a safe way to test the formula without putting anyone at risk. They couldn't just wait for Draken to attack the town walls. They needed to draw one in from a distance, in a controlled spot where they could observe. Elder Glowbright spent the afternoon building a wooden perch shaped like a Draken. They carved the wings and head carefully, making it look real from far away. Then they painted it with colors that would catch a Draken's attention. The structure stood firm when they placed it in the clearing beyond the garden. Tomorrow they would coat it with the formula and watch. If a real Draken came close and then turned away, they would know the compound worked. Elder Glowbright stepped back and studied the perch. Everything was ready for the first real test. Before the test could begin, Elder Glowbright needed to understand more about Draken behavior. They had mixed formulas for three seasons, but never studied how the creatures actually moved or hunted. The elder remembered hearing about records kept in an old archive hidden inside a swamp tree. They set out at dawn, following the twisted paths through the marsh. The tree stood massive and ancient, its bark covered in thick moss and tangled vines. Elder Glowbright pushed through the growth and found a hollow entrance. Inside, shelves lined the walls, filled with scrolls and journals. They read through page after page, learning which colors attracted Draken and which sounds made them turn away. The information would help them know exactly what to watch for tomorrow. Elder Glowbright gathered the most useful scrolls and headed back to the laboratory, finally ready to begin.