Chapter 23
The studio gleams with enchanted backdrops. Gold-lit DNA helixes coil upward in programmed spirals while creatures drift in and out of projection, conjured by hovering crystal orbs that pulse with stored magic.
Madeline Shaw commands the space with effortless gravitas, her copper curls bouncing with each confident stride. Everything about her radiates warmth and authority, from her perfectly tailored suit, to the way her violet eyes seem to sparkle with perpetual delight.
“Luna, darling!” She greets me with an embrace that’s warm enough to register as genuine. “That dress is absolutely divine. Celestial silk, isn’t it?”
I laugh, smoothing the silvery fabric. “You’re too kind, Madeline. Though I must admit, I did want something special for today.”
“And special it is!” Her hand slides to my elbow, a graceful escort to the plush interview chairs. “Shall we?”
The hover orbs reposition soundlessly, angling for optimal exposure. I settle into the posture Alexander and I perfected—spine straight but not rigid, hands folded loosely in my lap, chin tilted to best catch the light.
“Rolling in three, two . . .”
Madeline’s smile brightens to full wattage. “Good morning, Eclipsera! Today we have a very special guest—Luna Ellis, daughter of the renowned magical scientists Cedric and Elyra Ellis—here to discuss a revolutionary breakthrough. Luna, welcome.”
“Thank you, Madeline. It’s a privilege.” My voice carries the perfect blend of professional confidence and youthful enthusiasm.
“Before we plunge into the marvels of magical science, let’s let our viewers meet the woman behind the research. You’ve maintained quite the mystique until recently.”
I dip my head with studied humility. “I’ve always believed the work should speak first. Visibility can be extraneous, when the pursuit itself is so vital.”
“Such wisdom for someone so young,” she coos. “Though I imagine you must step away from the lab on occasion. What anchors Luna Ellis outside the world of breakthroughs?”
I laugh lightly, polished and poised. “I’m dreadfully uneventful, I’m afraid. I enjoy early walks through the Celestial Gardens, and mornings in the research archives. There’s beauty in the quiet things.”
“How wonderfully rare,” she beams. “In an age of constant spotlight-seeking, here’s someone who actually shies away from it. Though I must say, with work this groundbreaking, you may need to get used to attention.”
“As long as the focus stays on the science, on the difference we’re trying to make, that’s what matters. Alexander has been wonderful in helping me navigate this transition.”
“Ah yes,” Madeline leans in, her voice dipped in conspiratorial sweetness. “Working alongside the legendary Alexander Darkmoor. That must be quite the experience?”
“It’s been incredible. His vision for the future of magic, his dedication to progress, it’s truly inspiring. The way he approaches innovation,” I pause, letting genuine admiration shine through. “He sees possibilities where others see limitations.”
“And to be mentored directly by him,” she prompts gently. “That’s quite a vote of confidence.”
“I’m incredibly fortunate,” I say softly, playing up the wide-eyed protégé role.
“Alexander has an extraordinary ability to nurture potential. He doesn’t just instruct, he elevates.
Pushes you to surpass what you imagined you were capable of.
At Darkmoor Industries, we’re not simply reshaping magic, we’re reshaping perception. ”
“Speaking of legacy,” Madeline’s tone turns playful. “Your sister Aria worked with Alexander first, didn’t she? Quite the inheritance to step into.”
I don’t miss a beat, my smile serene. “Aria has always been extraordinary in her own way. But what’s wonderful about Alexander’s mentorship is how he recognizes each person’s unique gifts.
He’s shown me that there’s no need to follow in anyone’s footsteps when you can forge your own path.
I’m excited to make my own mark in magical science, just as I know my sister is pursuing what calls to her heart. ”
Across the room, Alexander inclines his head, barely perceptible to anyone else, but I see it and let my smile linger.
“Now,” Madeline says, eyes gleaming, “tell us about this breakthrough everyone’s whispering about.”
“You know,” I begin with a soft laugh, playing up my youthful enthusiasm, “when I was little, I watched my best friend shatter her arm during a training accident. The healing took weeks—daily blood magic therapy, her mother sobbing through each session.” I pause just long enough for the intimacy to settle.
“It never left me. Even then, I kept thinking: there has to be a better way.”
“And you’ve found one?”
“We have.” I smile. “We’re calling it Evolution Through Innovation.
Imagine the same fracture healed in seconds, instead of weeks.
No daily blood sacrifice, no drawn-out pain.
” I gesture toward the hovering display, where a phoenix’s DNA unfurls in gilded spirals.
“Through precise study of phoenix essence, we’ve developed treatment protocols that do exactly that. ”
“But how does it work?” She asks, eyes following the shimmering helix. “The science behind this must be astonishing.”
“It truly is.” I let the wonder color my voice, knowing I need to make this complex enough to sound credible but simple enough to be enticing.
The projection dances behind me, a mesmer that masks the horror it’s built on.
“My parents made the initial discovery through their work with magical creatures. What they found was groundbreaking. Magical essence isn’t just energy—it’s encoded directly into the genetic structure of certain species.
While humans require blood to channel magic, creatures like phoenixes are magic. Every cell woven with innate power.”
Madeline’s eyes glaze slightly at the technical terms while the audience leans forward, captivated by the display.
Give them just enough science to trust, not enough to question.
“Through years of research,” I continue, brushing my fingers along the light-wrought helix, “they proved that magical essence could be isolated and stabilized at a molecular level. My parents discovered something extraordinary. Each magical creature’s essence carries unique properties, but what’s revolutionary was proving these essences could be successfully merged.
In our earliest trials, we demonstrated how one creature could safely incorporate another’s abilities through careful essence integration. ”
The screams, the mutations, the catastrophic failures, the discarded hybrids . . . all remain exactly where they belong. Out of sight.
“Phoenixes, for example, are embodiments of renewal. When they undergo rebirth, every wound, every fracture, is erased in an instant. We isolated that regenerative signature, stabilized its expression, and began the first cross-species integrations.”
Madeline exhales, a soft noise of awe. “That sounds extraordinarily complex.”
“It is,” I say lightly, transitioning to simpler language, “but at its core, it’s a matter of convergence.
Every living being has two blueprints: DNA and magical essence.
Magical creatures are unique in that these systems operate in perfect cohesion—essence flowing without resistance or sacrifice. Our work builds upon that harmony.”
I let my voice drop, laced with wonder. “What we’re most excited about is the potential for human application. If hybridized creatures can host multiple integrated essences, what’s stopping us from evolving past blood sacrifice altogether?”
“So theoretically, this would eliminate the need for blood magic in healing spells?”
“Exactly,” I say, smiling with quiet triumph. “Instead of bleeding for every spell, your body would become the conduit, naturally attuned to channel magic without cost or consequence. Self-sustaining healing. Immediate recovery. No pain. No loss.”
“And it’s safe?”
“That’s where the years of research come in,” I say warmly, about to tell my most calculated half-truth yet.
“We’ve extensively tested essence integration, starting with inter-creature studies to prove viability.
” Truth, technically. Even if most trials ended in incineration or disfigurement.
“The results exceeded every projection.”
And by we, I mean my parents. The human trials haven’t begun yet, but they will, as soon as the Lower Ring volunteers are processed.
“We’re already seeing stunning compatibility with early-stage human tissue models,” I finish smoothly. “The future is closer than anyone realizes.”
I catch Alexander’s approving nod from the shadows. The perfect alchemy—scientific enough to sound credible, simple enough to inspire awe, meticulously sculpted to obscure the truth beneath layers of controlled jargon and promises of a brighter future.
“The results have been remarkable,” I add smoothly, delivering the final stroke.
“In our trials, injuries that once demanded weeks of intensive blood magic healed near-instantly.” I don’t mention that it’s all still theoretical—projected data mapped from stabilized tissue samples, not living subjects.
They can believe we’re further along. Let them cling to hope.
By the time the truth surfaces, the outcome will validate the cost.
After all, Alexander taught me that the most persuasive lies are draped in just enough truth to make them irresistible.
“Before we wrap up,” Madeline leans in, her smile tipping into something conspiratorial, “I have to ask about those whispers making the rounds. Your sister Aria, engaged to Dominic Blackwood. Any truth to the rumor?”
“Oh, Madeline,” I giggle, the sound perfectly calibrated despite the acid in my stomach. “You know I couldn’t possibly comment on my sister’s private affairs. That’s her story to tell.”