Days turned into weeks.
Their mornings were filled with lessons in Arcane History, Magic Language, Fundantals of Magic Zone, Transformation Harmonization, and many others.
Then, their afternoons brought clubs…
Amaya in the Tea Appreciation Club, Vin in the Spirit Crafter's Club, and Brannic in the Writer's Club. But evenings belonged to the Animus Haven.
Slowly, their minds adapted. Their spellcraft grew sharper, their control beca even better…
They learned to refine the demonification spell without succumbing to the madness it brought… They were also able to obtain the essence without letting it consu them.
Yet the corruption would always test them.
It was as if they had beco Dark Arts Practitioners instead of Transformation Artists!
Still, they didn't give up…
They resisted the constant attempt of the essence from turning them into mindless demons…
Perhaps it was also thanks to the Animus Haven Circle, as it kept pulling them back to reality whenever they felt like giving up…
Almost three months passed quickly…
The vials were nearly empty as only a few drops remained.
After a few more days, when they had completely emptied the vials, a shadow appeared at the edge of the magic circle.
It was Vale's Avatar.
***
The three prodigies froze as the shadow stepped forward.
The figure was unmistakable.
They had seen his image carved into marble statues outside the academy…
The sharp features, the calm gaze, the aura that seed to command the darkness…. this was Vale, the Shadow Immortal!
Of course, they did not know it was only an avatar. To them, it felt as if the legend himself had descended into the training hall.
Their knees bent instinctively, and they bowed low.
"Congratulations, young ones," Vale's Avatar said. "You endured well. But I still have to see the fruits of your hard work."
The three lifted their heads as they felt excited.
Vale's Avatar studied them for a long mont before continuing.
"Do you know why I have given you this chance? Why I have allowed you to consu the Blood and Essence of Demon Saints?"
None of them dared to answer.
"Because in three more months, the Arcanist Academy Competition will begin. Every academy across the continent will send its finest. Each of the twelve Arcane Paths must present three participants, all under the age of fourteen. And I intend for you three to represent the Transformation Arts if you're able to show satisfactory results."
The words stunned them for a mont but they imdiately felt excited.
Vale then stepped closer.
"That is why you must show now. Show that you can wield the demonic corruption without being consud. Show that you can transform… not into mindless demons, but into warriors who embody the strength of Demon Saints while retaining your humanity."
The three exchanged glances. They had trained for months. However, they weren't sure if they could reach the stage that would satisfy Vale, but they were all prepared to do this now!
Vale's Avatar clapped…
"Alright… Enough of that, each of you will attempt the transformation. I will judge whether you are worthy."
"Let try first!"
Amaya was the first to move. She stepped into the magic circle…
She inhaled deeply, recalling every lesson, every drop of essence she had consud.
Soon, the corruption surged within her.
She activated one of the Transformation Spells, the Essence Adaptation Spell, one of the Academy's Foundational Spells.
After a few monts, her body started morphing. It did not sprout claws or horns. Instead, her aura shifted. Shadows coiled around her… Soon, her soul resonated with the Demon Saint essence, but she remained herself. It had rely changed the color of her skin and eyes!
However, this was not a failure!
Vale's Avatar nodded. "Good control and understanding of the Demon Saint's Essence… That's right… You are not a beast, you are a hunter who chooses when to strike."
Amaya stepped back, trembling but proud.
Next was Vin. He also stepped into the circle and took a deep breath to calm his nerves.
Soon, he began his Demon Transformation Spell!
The corruption pressed harder against him than against Amaya.
He clenched his fists as he stabilized the energy surging within his body...
Soon, his aura beca more deathly as scales started faintly appearing across his skin before fading…
Thankfully, his Faction's Foundational Spells helped him a lot. The Primal Shift Spell controlled his madness!
Instead of succumbing, he stabilized the duality within him. His aura beca balanced! He didn't look like a Demon at all. Aside from having longer hair, he just looked like his normal self!
Vin exhaled, relief flooding him as he stepped back.
He did the transformation!
"It looks rough for a mont, but you did well," Vale muttered.
Finally, Brannic strode forward… Soon, the corruption surged like fire in his veins, urging him to smash, to roar, or to destroy.
But Brannic rembered the Writer's Club. He rembered the quill in his hand, the stories he wanted to write, the legacy he wanted to leave. He rembered restraint, the power of words over violence.
Indeed, the reason he joined this club was also control his emotions!
He invoked Primal Shift, channeling strength without letting it overwhelm him.
For a mont, the corruption threatened to twist it into a demon's visage, but Brannic forced it back, shaping it into a guardian living within him instead of a monster.
Just like that, he completed the transformation. However, instead of looking like a beastly Demon, his eyes just changed and his nails beca longer and sharper.
Still, he felt more power flowing into his veins.
Vale's Avatar's voice rang out. "Very well done!"
Brannic stepped back, sweat dripping, but his eyes glead with pride.
The three stood together once more, their auras still faintly resonating with the Demon Saint essence.
Vale's Avatar regarded them silently, then spoke.
"You have proven yourselves. You have endured corruption, refined your spellcraft, and shown that you can transform without losing your humanity. You are ready!"
"Rember," the Avatar continued. "this was only the first step. The Arcanist Academy Competition will not be forgiving. You will face prodigies of other Academies, and you have to train more…
"But don't worry. This ti, I will guide you all personally." Vale said.
As the three celebrated, all this ti, Darlene Arkwright was actually listening...
User Comments
0 comments from readers