Fall of Autumn, Week 5, Day 7

Drained.

Physically, emotionally, intellectually, magically.

It was a miracle I was able to climb up to the clock tower in my state after finishing the exams.

For once, I was famished, so I'd swiped a platter of food from the dining room. It was still warm, and the maids in the room had tried to get me to stay—to eat alone at the oversized table.

I opted instead for the nook my spirits and animations had built. It felt like home—more so than the Love of Zorya ever had, even though the staff had done their best to prepare it for me.

Snuggling into the pile of blankets I'd crafted, I quickly sent my intent to claim them out. My vision came alive with the sight of dozens of crocheted animals, blankets, and random crafts being able to be claimed.

One by one, I made sure everyone knew that Nora of Fellan loved her creations, no matter how small or mundane, from the blanket wrapped around my shoulders to the coaster under my drink.

They all read the same.

[Crafted by: Nora of Fellan]

I was mostly recovered, to be honest. My body wasn't so stiff from the rush of adrenaline, my Vitality easily overcoming such things. And my magic was welling within my mana veins. Even my mind was restoring its focus.

All the fatigue I felt was a phantom pain.

I knew I should feel it—so I did. But I was also acutely aware that it wasn't genuine. The aches weren't true.

And so, I leaned back against the stone wall of the clock tower and used a Skill.

[Shadow Animation]

Around me, animals came to life. Spirits inhabited spiders, chickens, and lizards. They danced as bears, bunnies, and birds. As they chattered and played, I stared up at the starless sky, where Revel hung with her eerie green light.

[Inspect] [Inspect]

[Shadow Grimoire: You bend shadow to your will, your intent clear as crystal. But will and intent take time. Use the Shadow Grimoire to hold your intent for you. Consumes mana to summon. Increased focus per level. Increased volume of spells per level.]

[Shadow Grimoire: 3rd Tier Skill. Immediate activation. Cooldown of 6 hours. Current number of Spells able to be contained: 25. Current number of Runes able to be contained: 10. Current number of Spells known: 0. Current number of Runes known: 0. Current Level [1] out of [80]]

[System Notice: Due to actions in combat, User is able to learn [3] Spells. Would the user like to review Spells?]

I felt my mouth twitch into a smile.

Yes.

[The System Acknowledges the use of three separate Spells:

Shadow Bolas: Utilizing Weave of Darkness, Shadow Conjuration, and Shadow Manipulation, you will automatically be able to activate all three Skills in a limited capacity to summon a bola made of shadows.

Shadow Explosion: Utilizing Shadow Conjuration and Shadow Manipulation, you will automatically be able to activate both Skills in a limited capacity to surge mana through all shadows within range and send spikes of shadow mana out.

Shadow Guide: Utilizing Shadow Animation and Shadow Conjuration, you will automatically be able to activate both Skills in a limited capacity to direct weapons of shadow to hone in on an enemy.

Please select which Spells the User would like to inscribe into the Shadow Grimoire.]

I looked at the green system notice for a long moment. So long, I forgot myself. So long, I nearly forgot a question was being asked. So long, the System decided to ask me again and jolt me out of my trance.

[Please select which Spells the User would like to inscribe into the Shadow Grimoire.]

All three.

[Now inscribing [3] Spells into the Shadow Grimoire.]

I laughed, a tickling sensation sinking into my skin, as I said, "Thank you."

Leaning back into the plush stack of blankets, pillows, and knit animals, I looked up at Revel. I took in the way her rings circled her. And I felt at peace.

"[Shadow Grimoire]"

Within me, [Mana Sense] allowed me to watch as my magic swelled and pulled in my mana veins, congregating at my belly button before rushing out of my skin and coalescing into what was distinctly not a book. In fact, it was more of a booklet, like one of the many I had for my courses. Only, this one was pitch black and inscribed with the emblem of a crescent—

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"Is that Revel?" I said, grabbing the booklet from the air and taking it into my hands. "It has to be, I mean, it has rings. And Revel is the only moon in Gargantua."

The cover was soft, with ridges around the emblem, and the emblem itself seemed as if it was carved out of void—yes, the booklet was a dull black, but the likeness of Revel looked like the opposite of existence. As if it were the abyss.

Flipping through the pages, I looked at what the first spell inscription looked like. Only to rear back in shock.

"That is—"

I cut myself off as the ache in my skull made itself known. Whoever was nearby, watching over me, wasn't meant to hear such things.

That is a mathematical proof. With runes and symbols I've never seen, yeah, but it is a proof all the same.

There were three of them, written in a language I knew and couldn't understand. The tops of the pages were labeled with the spell name, and the proofs took up anywhere from two pages, the Shadow Bolas, to five pages, for the Shadow Guide. I saw volume metrics, flow rates, and squiggles I couldn't identify.

[Inspect]

[Shadow Grimoire, Tier 3, Rare]

[A book of shadows, this grimoire contains the intent of a Young Lady of Darkness. Can only be used by those with Shadow contracts and affinities.]

I took a deep breath, remembering my time in Twilight, how I had to break down items to their parts to advance in the trial. Then, I focused my eyes on the ink, on the way power flowed through specific symbols at different rates, and the way some had no mana at all.

[Inspect]

[Runic Arithmancy]

[A written language of magic used to quantify and qualify the effects of mana without aid from REDACTED.]

I blinked, closing the book and placing it next to me.

"Okay, then. I will not be prying into that."

Looking back up to Revel, I wrapped my arms around my knees before turning to watch the animations live their lives stuck within themselves.

I took a deep breath.

"Commander, come here," I said, calling out to the rolling bear with deep blue and purple yarn and brilliant iridescent eyes.

It toddled up to me and I smiled. "I'm sorry, Senka, I didn't mean to make you wait."

As what once was Commander was freed from his bindings, the bear fell to the ground, leaving behind a deep blue and purple swirling shadow.

"I, who once was Commander, happily take the name, my Lady," his voice wrapped around me, as his shadows slipped over my shoulders. "Senka is the name of the next great leader."

I huffed a laugh, bringing my hand up to run my fingers over his spine. "The next great command, huh?"

"I am sure that wherever you take us will be just so."

I turned my gaze to a burnt orange spider that was watching us closely. I could feel the spirit dwelling within.

"Advocate, please, come closer. And know yourself as D'arcy."

Stepping out of the spider was a matching shadow, an orange so deep it was indistinguishable from the shaded region of the knit animal it inhabited.

Next came Entrepreneur.

"Tenebris."

Then, Debater.

"Nyx."

Virtuoso.

"Nero."

Architect became "Ember," and Executive became "Mara." Mediator became "Yin," Campaigner was "Beal," and Protagonist became "Tamsin."

Logistician was "Ronan," and Consul became "Jett."

Last was Logician, and as the shadows twirled around me, I named her, "Sombre."

Shadows of different hues and swirls of darkness surrounded me, and as they did so, I felt myself become more.

[Congratulations! The System has recognized your feat as Worthy. You have defined your position in Gargantua further. Divinity Awarded. You have received 13 points of Divinity!]

I stood, lifting the shadows that clung to me with ease. They covered me like a cloak, each of the spirits refusing to let go. Trying to crawl under my skin like ducklings clinging to their mother. It was warmth in my stomach and chills on my skin. It was magic and mana and everything I had once refused to love about this world. About Gargantua.

I twirled, laughing at the way they jumped off and twirled with me.

They took the shapes of their original hosts, some growing in size and becoming child-sized bears, or a spider taller than I was, or a mimicry of myself. That was Noir. He grabbed my palms and we danced a familiar dance.

One I had once told him a story of.

We danced the Oscarian Six Step, and who once was Virtuoso, but now was Nero, sang in the tune of chirping birds. We laughed and chatted, and the exhaustion of the day was forgotten.

The horror of blights twice as tall as myself did not sink into my subconscious. They did not find me in nightmares. They did not haunt me as I haunted myself for a season.

No.

For all that had happened, I was happy. I was more than happy. I was strong, even if I had to wait for Cthari to Tier up. I was loved, by my knights, who were now truly mine. And by Juniper, even if it was only in relation to herself. I had what were quickly becoming friends in Uriel, Remour, Beck, and Louis.

I had a life.

People to love and protect, and who loved and protected me.

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