73 Results in the "A Blossom of Flames" category
-
The first rays of the morning sun filtered through the small skylight into Valentina's room and danced across her face. She slowly opened her eyes, blinked against the bright light and stretched with pleasure. For a brief, blissful moment, everything was as it had always been. Then the realization hit her like a blow. "Good morning, little Weaver," Vyxara's voice rang in her head, velvety and amused. "Did you sleep well?" Valentina froze, her heart racing. So, it hadn't been a dream. The demon was…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
When Valentina awoke,she opened her eyes slowly and stretched carefully. Her body felt heavy, as if she was carrying an invisible burden on her shoulders. Two days had passed since her encounter with Barnaby, and yet it seemed like an eternity. The initial shame that had enveloped her like a suffocating blanket had given way to a steely resolve. She sat up, her gaze falling on the bottle of Distilled Essence on her desk.Worth the sacrifice. At least, she hoped it was. "Good morning, little Weaver,"…
-
374.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
Chapter 39 – Into the Arena
In her small attic room, Valentina awoke from a fitful sleep. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest as she realized what day it was and that the second round of the Greystone competition was coming up. She sat up and rubbed her tired eyes. The smell of fresh bread came through the cracks in her window – the kitchen had already started preparing breakfast. Normally this smell would have made her stomach growl, but today she only felt a nervous knot in her stomach. "Good morning, little Weaver,"…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
Chapter 53 – The Professor’s Pet
"...and so we see that the resonant patterns of Leb and Viur Essencewith the desired effect are in a complex but predictable relationship," Professor Horne explained, his thin fingers dancing over the shimmering Essence threads in front of him. Valentina sat in the front row, her eyes fixed on thepatterns he visualized for them. She felt a self-satisfied smile steal onto her lips. The lecture was a challenge for most students, but for her it was almost too easy by now. "Boring," Vyxara muttered in…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
Chapter 67 – Independent Mind
When Valentina woke up on the first morning of the exam week, still half asleep, her first instinct was to feel in her mind for Vyxara's familiar presence, for the demonic force that had so often paved the way for her in recent months. "Ah, you're awake, little Weaver," Vyxara purred in her head. "Ready for the first test?" "Yes," Valentina said quietly, sitting up in her narrow bed and getting ready to discuss what she was about to tell Vyxara. "But I've decided to try it on my own. Without your…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
The days flew by, and Valentina found herself in a strange rhythm with Vyxara. Every morning she woke up with the demon in her head, whose comments on everything and everyone she almost expected by now. "Ah, another bright day in Bridgewater," Vyxara remarked sarcastically as Valentina looked out the window and saw the gray sky. "Perfect for a bit of Essence Weaving, don't you think?" Valentina rolled her eyes as she got dressed. "Do you have to do that? Every morning?" "I'm just trying to…
-
374.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
Chapter 26 – Echoes of Ambition
The next day, after the lectures, Valentina returned to the library. The excitement of her newfound ability tingled in her fingertips as she went to her secluded spot. The slight headache from the day before had given way to nervous anticipation. With trembling hands, she unpacked her books, trying to look like she was working concentratedly. "Are you ready, little Weaver?" whispered Vyxara in her head. Valentina nodded imperceptibly and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and let her senses…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
Chapter 4 – A Gift of Warmth
In her small attic room, Valentina woke slowly from a restless sleep in the early morning. She blinked at the faint light streaming through the tiny window and suppressed a shiver. The night’s air had brought with it the chill of approaching winter, and the thin blanket offered little protection against the coldreaching through the cracks in the old walls. With a soft sigh, Valentina swung her legs out of bed and put her bare feet on the cold wooden floor. She winced, longing for the warmth of her…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
Chapter 54 – Horne of Plenty
The next morning, Valentina met Crispin in the library, where they had arranged to meet so that Valentina could prepare for the tie-break. "Good morning, Val," Crispin greeted her with a shy smile. "I've alreadyreserved usa table in the corner." Valentina returned the smile. "Thank you, Crispin. You really are a treasure." They sat down and spread out their documents. Crispin had already laid out several books on advanced EssenceTheory. "I thought we could focus on the theory of resonance…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
Chapter 68 – Healing Hands
In her small attic room, Valentina sat at her table and stared into a medicine book, reading the same paragraph for what must have been the third time. She let go of the book and began to rub her eyes hard. The exhaustion of the day lay heavy on her limbs, and for the first time in hours she allowed herself to think of the doubts she had been pushing back all day. "You're brooding," Vyxara noted. "That's never a good sign." "Tomorrow is the last exam," Valentina murmured. "Essence-Enhanced…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
-
- 1 2 … 8 Next
