73 Results in the "A Blossom of Flames" category
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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 an…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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Valentina stood in front of the small tarnished mirror in her room, the strands of her hair still lying disorderly over her shoulders. Distant laughter drifted up to her from the lower floors, where some students were having a good time. She often felt jealous that she couldn't carouse with the other students. But not tonight. Tonight she only wanted to be in Innogen's room, where they would celebrate Innogen's birthday together with Crispin. With a deep breath, Valentina pulled the comb through her hair…
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424.1 K • Ongoing
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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 brighten up…
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424.1 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 10 – The First Favor
"That was quite amusing," Vyxara commented in her head. "Your professor, the horny goat, seemed quite surprised by your sudden... expertise." "Shut up," Valentina murmured quietly as she tried to find her way through the stream of students all hurrying to their next lectures. "Val! Hey, Val!" A familiar voice made them pause. Innogen made her way through the crowd, closely followed by a breathless-looking Crispin. "Oh, hello, you two," Valentina said, trying to put on a smile. "How was your…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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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…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 9 – A Dangerous Bargain
The dining room hummed with life as Valentina entered with Innogen. The smell of bread and hot porridge filled the air. Students crowded around the long tables and benches, their conversations mingling into a constant background noise. Valentina mechanically took her breakfast, her mind still foggy with fatigue and the events of the night. She followed Innogen to an empty seat, nodding absently to the greetings of her fellow students. "Fascinating," Vyxara murmured in her head. "So many young minds, so…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 8 – Eyes in the Darkness
The demon before her had unfurled from nothingness, like a boil that burst into reality, leaving layers of Essence that overlapped and disappeared again. Its body was false, as if it existed in multiple planes, none of which quite harmonized with the other. Grotesque limbs stretched at impossible angles, disappearing and reappearing as if they were in a bizarre dance that seemed to disregard the sheer concept of space. But the worst part was the eyes. A web of eyes began to form in the demonic presence.…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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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…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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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 that…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 5 – A Letter from Home
The large bell in the Burning Tower struck midday as Valentina and Crispin streamed out of Professor Greycloak's lecture on the history of EssenceWeaving. The smell of roasting meat and fresh bread wafted through the corridors, luring the hungry students towards the dining room. "I'm starving," moaned Crispin as they descended the wide staircase. "I could devour a whole ox. With tail." Valentina smiled weakly. Her own stomach growled audibly, but she tried to ignore it. Breakfast seemed like ages ago,…-
424.1 K • Ongoing
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