73 Results in the "A Blossom of Flames" category
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Chapter
Chapter 1 – The Burning Tower
Would she ever get enough of it? Even though she knew she was late again, Valentina stood in awe and admired the view. Although she had been at Bridgewater University for several months now, she still hadn’t lost that sense of wonder. The autumn sun bathed the mighty towers of the university's fortifications in a warm golden light. The massive stone walls, their architecture interwoven with shimmering lines of essence, rose majestically into the sky before her. At the center of the sprawling campus stood…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
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As Valentina walked around the counter, she entered a completely different world to the chaotic but reasonably tidy front part of the store. Stacks of books, boxes and crates were everywhere. A thick layer of dust covered every free spot. In one corner stood an old bed with stained sheets, next to it a crooked mirror and a wobbly chair. The whole thing looked like the lair of a miserly hermit who hadn't cared about his own well-being for a long time. Barnaby led Valentina deeper into this private…
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374.8 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 52 – Burning Bridges
They made their way through the slowly emptying hall. Valentina could feel the other students looking at her and heard them whispering. Some looked pitiful, others were gloating. She kept her head down, concentrating only on putting one foot in front of the other. "You have to stay strong," Vyxara muttered in her head. "Don't show them any weakness." When they reached the corridor, Valentina leaned against the cool stone wall and closed her eyes. She felt drained, empty and almost screamed in her…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 34 – Breaking Barriers
Valentina slipped back into the university unnoticed. Once in her room, she pulled the packet out of her bag and looked at it thoughtfully. With trembling hands, she opened it and began to prepare the brew according to Mara's instructions. The scent of herbs filled the small room, a mixture of bitter and sweet notes. Valentina took a deep breath, gathered her courage and drank the brew in one gulp. The taste was surprisingly mild, with a slightly earthy aftertaste. It wasn't necessarily delicious, but…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 61 – The Vault Below
"Four vials for basic stabilization," Valentina muttered, scribbling the number on her already overstuffed parchment. "Plus at least five for the more complex patterns..." "Don't forget the emergency reserve," Vyxara admonished in her head. "You know how Faustus likes to play dirty tricks." Valentina sighed and added more numbers to her list. The soft glow of the Essence lamps in the library made the ink shimmer pleasantly. "Twelve vials," she finally said tonelessly. "Minimum." "And how many…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
Chapter 16 – Forbidden Patterns
Lunch was drawing to a close, and the dining room of Bridgewater was beginning to empty. Valentina and Innogen sat for a moment longer.Their plates were already empty, but they were reluctant to part ways. "I have to go," Innogen finally said, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "Professor Veilford's tutorial on advanced planar geometry is waiting for me. I'll see you later?" Valentina nodded with a smile. "Of course. Have fun with the triangles," she joked. As Innogen hurried away laughing, her long…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
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A week went byand Valentina could feel her influence on Professor Horne growing, how she dominated his thoughts and tormented him with her whispered innuendos. "You've barely scratched the surface, little Weaver," the demon whispered one evening as Valentina pored over her books. "The big test is coming. Now is the time to put all your eggs in one basket." Valentina rubbed her tired eyes. "What do you mean, Vyxara? Professor Horne can hardly think straight now. By this point, I'm sure he's dreaming…
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374.8 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…-
374.8 K • Ongoing
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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,"…
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374.8 K • Ongoing
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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
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