73 Results in the "A Blossom of Flames" category
-
Dawn crept slowly through Valentina's small attic window as she awoke from a restless sleep. Her head throbbed and the worries of the previous day still weighed heavily on her. "Good morning, little Weaver," Vyxara's voice purred in her head. "Did you sleep well? Have you thought about what you want to do yet?" Valentina moaned softly and sat up. "Please, Vyxara. Not right now. I need to clear my head first." "Oh, but right now is the perfect time," the demon insisted. "Your mind is still…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
Chapter 50 – Under Pressure
After a hasty breakfast, where Valentina could barely get a bite down, she made her way to the main hall with a pounding heart. The corridors of Bridgewater University were filled with the excited murmur of students moving like a stream towards the venue. When Valentina reached the massive wooden doors of the hall, her breath caught in her throat. Thefamiliar room had been transformed into some sort of arena, kind of like the legendary ritual sites of the great EssenceWeavers of the past. Complex…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
Chapter 32 – Between Two Worlds
As the bell of the Burning Quill rang for the last round, Valentina, Innogen and Crispin realized how quickly time had passed. The tavern had emptied noticeably, with only a few stubborn revellers still holding out at their tables. "I think it's time for us to go," Innogen said with a yawn that she tried to hide behind her hand. Valentina nodded in agreement, but at the same time felt a pang of regret. The evening had been so beautiful, so liberating. Part of her didn't want to let go of that feeling…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
Chapter 6 – Forbidden Pages
The heavy oak doors of the library closed behind Valentina with a muffled sound that briefly broke the silence of the room. The familiar smell of old leather, parchment and dust enveloped her like a warm blanket. The tall bookshelves stretched seemingly endlessly in all directions, their shadows dancing in the flickering light of the Essence-powered lamps. Valentina took a deep breath and felt an inner calm slowly settle over her again. Here among all the knowledge, she felt safe. She had the feeling…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
Chapter 14 – Entangled Desires
The next few daysflew by, a whirlwind of lectures, exercises and clandestine Essence practices. Valentina found herself in a strange balance with Vyxara, the demon's constant presence in her mind becoming almost normal. In Professor Veilford's lecture on advanced planar geometry, Valentina surprised everyone, including herself, with a brilliant solution to a complex Essence pattern. "Impressive,Valentina," Veilford praised, his bushy eyebrows raised in surprise. "I must confess, I've never seen such…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
Chapter 41 – Competitive Minds
"Faustus," she said, her voice icy. "I think we need to talk." He turned to her, one eyebrow raised dismissively. "Oh? What about, Valentina? Are you going to congratulate me on my brilliant presentation?" "You know exactly what I'm talking about," she hissed. "My Essence pattern. Someone tampered with it. And I hardly think it was a coincidence." Faustus' smile widened, but his eyes remained cold. "My goodness, Valentina. Are we being a little paranoid? Maybe your project just wasn't as stable as…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
Chapter 7 – What Lies Beyond
Dusk was falling over Bridgewater University as Valentina descended the steps of the main building. The day had been a mixture of lectures, secretly studying the forbidden book, gathering needed materials for the summoning, and growing tension. She needed a moment of calm to organize her thoughts. Her feet carried her back to the university gardens almost as if of their own accord. Here and there, students scurried past, engrossed in quiet conversations or books. A black cat was prowling through the…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Valentina awoke with a soft groan, her body cramped under the thin blanket that offered little protection against the first winter cold that crept through the thin walls of her tiny attic room. Her eyes opened reluctantly, still hazy from sleep but immediately filled with the gnawing fear that had accompanied her into slumber. "Good morning, little Weaver,"Vyxara's voice whispered in her head, soft as velvet, but with an undertone that made Valentina shudder. "Are you ready for our big…
-
374.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Chapter
Chapter 51 – Trials of Fire
"Next task!" announced Professor Emberfell. "Create a self-sustaining resonance chain from all eight Essence types. Time: ten minutes!" Valentina took a deep breath and prepared herself. The strange Essence patterns danced before her eyes, but by now they felt almost familiar. With practiced movements, she began to weave, creating intricate structures of Leb and Ard, interwoven with flowing streams of Wazzer and Luvt. Suddenly, Vyxara's constant stream of comments in her head stopped. The silence was…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
-
-
Valentina lay awake in her narrow bed early in the morning, her eyes fixed on the ceiling, while the events of the previous night swirled through her head like autumn leaves in the wind. The visit to the Burning Quill had stirred something inside her. The frank conversations with Innogen and Crispin about love, intimacy and expectations had touched a side of her that she had kept carefully closed off. And then there had been Hobkin, with his seductive smile and sparkling eyes, who had made eyes at her…
-
374.8 K • Ongoing
-
- Previous 1 … 5 6 7 8 Next
