The morning light filtered through the windows as the lesson classes wound to a close. Tyris, her thoughts filled with something she wished to discuss with Tista, stepped toward her. However, just as Tyris opened her mouth to speak, something strange happened.
Tista, along with Friya, Phloria, Quilla, Yurial, Arthur, and Morgan, all suddenly collapsed to the ground. Their bodies convulsed violently, and for a moment, the room seemed to pulse with a dark energy. Their screams echoed through the chamber, intense and filled with agony, though there was no apparent cause for their suffering. The sound was enough to rattle even the strongest hearts.
For two hours, they lay on the floor, writhing in torment, their collective screams reverberating off the stone walls. The air grew heavy with the intensity of their pain, and the rest of the room seemed to hold its breath. Tyris stood frozen, unable to move, her eyes wide in confusion and concern.
Finally, the screams began to subside, and a haunting silence took over. Yurial was the first to break it. He rose shakily to his feet, his body trembling, his face contorted in confusion.
"What the hell just happened?" he demanded, his voice hoarse from the screams he had endured.
Arthur, still recovering from the ordeal, forced himself to stand. His expression was grim, and his voice strained. "The evolution spell," he began, "was never meant to keep our bodies in that state forever. It was intended to protect us--help us avoid awakening too soon and perishing. It was a safeguard to guide us along the path of evolution. But now…" Arthur trailed off, his gaze distant. "Now, we're just human again. We've been stripped of whatever was holding us in that state. Perhaps one day, if we're able, we can awaken our bloodlines once more."
Yurial opened his mouth to argue, but before he could say anything, Tyris stepped forward, her voice steady.
"Enough, both of you," she commanded, her sharp gaze moving between them. But before she could continue, Tista interjected, her voice thoughtful and calm.
"When people look at my brother and sister," Tista began, her tone reflecting her usual introspective nature, "they often think they're geniuses. But the truth is, they're just regular people. Their minds work faster than most, that's all. Take my sister--she can fight and defend others at the same time, effortlessly. My brother, on the other hand, thinks so quickly that he can cast spells and even create entirely new branches of magic without breaking a sweat." She paused for a moment, allowing her words to settle. "But at the heart of it all, there's something they believe--that without hard work, you won't achieve anything. It's not magic that makes them special. It's their relentless drive to push the limits of what's possible."
The words seemed to linger in the air, hanging heavily with meaning. The group stood in silence for a few moments before the tension in the room finally broke.
The following day, the lesson began again, but this time, things were different. Arthur stood at the front of the room, his eyes scanning the faces of the apprentices and guardians in the room. He let out a deep breath, his expression unreadable.
"This next part of the lesson," Arthur said, his voice strong and clear, "is only for my family." His gaze shifted toward Friya, Phloria, Quilla, Yurial, Brago, and Valeron. "The rest of you must leave for now."
The apprentices and guardians exchanged glances but did as instructed, slowly filing out of the room. The air was thick with the unspoken tension of what was to come.
Arthur then turned to Valeron, his expression serious but respectful. "I do have a quest for you, Valeron, if you are willing to hear it."
Valeron, ever composed and measured, nodded solemnly. He had come to respect Arthur's wisdom over the days, and there was little he would turn down for the good of their family.
"I'm listening," Valeron said.
Before Arthur could speak, Morgan, who had been standing quietly by, stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with both curiosity and determination.
"Arthur," she said softly, "Can you teach us Spirit Magic?" Her tone was filled with an unspoken request, the need for knowledge, the drive to understand a force that had eluded them for so long.
Valeron met Morgan's gaze, his expression unreadable for a moment before he gave a slow nod.
"Yes," he replied, his voice rich with authority. "I will teach you. But know this--Spirit Magic."
Morgan's face brightened, but she didn't speak. She had always known that true mastery required time, sacrifice, and patience. Valeron acceptance was a victory, but it was only the first step in a much longer journey.
As Arthur and Morgan stood tall before them, the weight of the words just said hanging in the air, Tyris glanced toward Valeron, her eyes filled with both respect and a sense of anticipation.
"I think it's time," she murmured softly.
And so, the next phase of their journey began--not just in the study of magic, but in the pursuit of something far greater. They were about to step into a realm of power and understanding that few had ever touched before.