Haliori Mana-Crystal Focus

Crown-cut Haliori crystal hangs in white gold and living silver—clear as frozen breath until a hand closes around the cage. Violet fractures spread with the pulse, anticipating the next magical gesture by half a heartbeat. Attunement costs fasting, a salt bath, and one private name surrendered to the crystal. Feed the cage silver solution weekly; neglect makes the living metal bite. Solaris prohibits private possession; Haliori diplomats recognize Crown cutting at a glance. Forty-five thousand buys the artifact, forged provenance, and maybe one season before somebody notices.