Mio waited in her room until the inn was quiet and the deep stillness of the night settled over the town. Aron and Reina had long since gone to bed, leaving Mio alone with her thoughts. She checked the small clock on her nightstand; an hour had passed since she’d bid them goodnight. Satisfied that she wouldn’t be noticed, she rose from her bed, slipping her cloak over her shoulders and reaching for her staff.

Tonight, she had more in mind than just a stroll through town. She had spells to test, experiments to conduct. Ever since awakening in this world, Mio had been cautious with her power, only casting spells when necessary or during training. But tonight was different—she needed real subjects, not imaginary ones. These were spells she couldn’t risk trying on Aron or Reina until she’d thoroughly practiced their effects.

As she stepped out of her room, she cast Shadow Step, her form melting into the dim shadows lining the walls. Moving like a wraith, she slipped down the stairs and past the sleeping innkeeper’s quarters, exiting the inn without a sound. Outside, a gentle breeze rustled through the narrow, dimly lit streets. The town was deserted, as most people were tucked away in their homes at this late hour.

Mio moved toward the darkened alleys near the edge of town, letting her presence linger in the shadows, just noticeable enough to be seen by anyone lurking in the dark. Her experience in her old world had taught her that these kinds of places often drew the worst of society. And she was right.

Within moments, she heard footsteps echoing softly behind her, followed by the low murmur of voices. She kept her pace slow, feigning ignorance, as the footsteps quickened. Three men emerged from the shadows behind her, their faces half-hidden in the dim light. They reeked of arrogance and cheap liquor, and their expressions were filled with greed and malice as they sized her up.

“Well, well,” said the tallest one, stepping forward with a sneer. “A little lost lamb wandering alone at night. Dangerous place for someone like you.”

The second man chuckled darkly, moving closer. “Why don’t you hand over your coin, sweetheart? Then we might let you walk away.”

Mio let them surround her, not moving or responding, simply observing their movements, their stance, and the overconfidence in their eyes. She suppressed a smirk; they had no idea who they were dealing with.

“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?” the third man taunted, his grin widening. “Or maybe you just need a little… persuasion.”

As he reached out, Mio finally acted, raising her hand. She cast Silence and Control Darkness simultaneously, plunging the alley into an eerie silence and total darkness. The men froze, eyes wide as they found themselves suddenly unable to see or hear anything. They glanced around, growing more nervous by the second, their bravado quickly evaporating.

Mio’s voice cut through the silence, cold and steady. “You were looking for easy prey. Unfortunately for you, you found something else entirely.”

The tallest man cursed under his breath, stumbling back, his hand reaching for a weapon. But Mio was faster, with a thought turning the darkness around them into tendrils that restrained all three men. She raised her hand toward him, channeling her mana as she cast Chimera from the Creation school. She focused on his strength, enhancing it, feeling the power surge through him as his muscles tensed and grew.

He struggled against the darkness restraining him, his newfound strength evident as he fought with increased force. For a brief moment, he seemed almost on the verge of breaking free. But Mio’s control was absolute, her mastery of Control Darkness keeping him firmly in place.

“Fascinating,” she murmured, watching him strain. To ensure there were no side effects, she cast Analyze Soul, her gaze sharpening as she peered into his essence. His body was strong, but his soul was shallow, tainted by greed and cruelty.

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Satisfied with her analysis, she made a quick decision. With a flick of her fingers, she cast Death from the Destruction school. A dark energy enveloped him, and in an instant, his body crumbled to dust, leaving only a faint echo of his presence lingering in the air.

The two remaining ruffians, though unable to see or hear, seemed to sense what had just happened. The third man’s breathing grew ragged, a faint tremble running through him as he tried to back away, but Mio moved toward him with calm, deliberate steps.

She cast Analyze Soul on the second man, discovering that he had a faint trace of mana—barely enough to cast a low-tier General spell, maybe once a day. She noted this with interest; the man was clearly unaware of his own latent potential.

Time for the next part of her experiment. She cast Chimera again, this time focusing on enhancing his magical aptitude. She felt the spell take hold, his body shivering as he instinctively tried to channel the unfamiliar energy. To test his newfound abilities, Mio implanted the memory of a basic Water spell into his mind.

He raised a shaking hand, his gaze unfocused as he struggled to cast the spell. A faint chill spread around him, the air cooling as he managed to create a weak aura of frost. The chill was weak, his control shaky, but it was enough to show that the spell had worked.

A faint smile touched Mio’s lips. “Interesting. You have potential, even if you’ll never live to realize it.”

With a final, decisive gesture, she cast Death again, reducing him to dust like his companion. The last man was now alone, trembling uncontrollably in the oppressive silence. He couldn’t see, couldn’t hear, and could only feel the heavy darkness surrounding him as his fate closed in.

Mio regarded him thoughtfully. This one would serve a different purpose. She approached him, feeling no pity as she cast Destroy Memories. His eyes glazed over, his entire being going blank as his memories and sense of self were erased, leaving him a hollow shell.

“Perfect,” she whispered, her voice soft but satisfied.

She extended her hand, casting Surpass Death from Necromancy, her mana wrapping around him as she transformed his lifeless body. His muscles hardened, his form growing larger and more imposing as his humanity faded. His skin paled, and his face contorted, taking on a skeletal appearance as she molded him into a formidable undead warrior.

But Mio wasn’t finished. She cast Complete Creation, conjuring armor from the shadows, crafting it piece by piece around his body. Dark plate armor encased him, each segment fitting perfectly over his newly enlarged form. For the final touch, she summoned a greataxe, placing it in his hand, the weapon gleaming in the dim light as he gripped it tightly.

Before her stood her first Death Knight, a loyal minion bound to her will, a silent sentinel awaiting her command. She took a step back, admiring her work, feeling a rush of satisfaction at the sight of her creation. She used Create Memories to transfer some of her knowledge of the world into the undead before her.

“Your orders are simple,” she said, her voice commanding. “You are to guard the area where I first arrived in this world. Remain there until I call for you.”

The Death Knight nodded, its hollow gaze unwavering. With a final incantation, Mio cast Teleportation, sending the creature to the forest clearing where she had first awakened in this world. Her Death Knight vanished in a swirl of dark energy, its silent obedience a testament to her mastery over it.

Alone in the now-empty alley, Mio let out a quiet sigh, a sense of accomplishment settling over her. The experiment had been successful, her understanding of her own powers deepened, her confidence bolstered. She had tested her spells on real subjects, gained valuable insights, and created a loyal minion. Tonight had proven fruitful.

She activated Shadow Step once more, moving swiftly through the alleys, retracing her steps back to the inn. The town remained quiet, oblivious to the events that had unfolded in the darkness. She entered the inn, her movements soundless as she made her way back to her room.

As she closed the door behind her, she leaned her staff against the wall and took a deep breath, feeling the satisfaction of her work settle into her bones. She had taken yet another step forward, expanding her abilities and proving her strength in this world.

With a small smile, Mio slipped back into bed, her mind already racing with new possibilities. Her spells were powerful, versatile, and she knew there was much more she could achieve. Tonight had only been the beginning.