Max slowly opened his eyes.
The paper in his hand no, wood now felt solid. Real. He turned it slightly, watching the wooden surface catch the light. A grin spread across his face.
"It worked," he said, half-laughing, more to himself than anyone else.
Jack was the first to react. "No freaking way… you donut." He stepped closer, eyeing the piece like it might bite. "You actually turned paper into wood?"
Max looked up, still blinking in disbelief. "I think so. I mean... it feels like it."
Alina rose from the bed and walked toward him, a curious, thoughtful look on her face. "Let me see."
Max handed it over without hesitation. She turned it in her hands, tapping it lightly with her fingernail. The sound was dull and heavy not hollow like paper. Definitely wood.
"This isn't an illusion. Or some fake alchemy trick," she murmured. "This is real transformation. Definitely not temporary... it even carries the same mana texture and code normal wood should have."
