After figuring out that only the 'seduce' spell could deactivate my 'Veil of Inscrutability' skill, I felt more assured about blending in among humans without being recognized as a demon, especially since I had no intention of seducing anyone.
I possessed this 'Veil of Inscrutability' skill from Cala, but I couldn't recall its exact name. It was yet another gap in my memory. Not knowing its name might explain why it took me longer to activate it; I couldn't turn it on instantly. Moreover, I was unsure if it was even active; I always had to double-check.
Perhaps I should give it a name myself. 'Veil of Inscrutability' sounded fitting, but maybe 'Mystic Shroud' would be better? I sighed, pondering the intricacies of magic. I hoped that naming it wouldn't alter the skill.
Why using the 'seduce' skill affected the 'Veil of Inscrutability' remained one of magic's mysteries. It might have a logical explanation, but it escaped me for now. Perhaps it was simply an incompatibility between the skills, or maybe 'seduce' required revealing more of my magical nature to work effectively, thereby deactivating the other skill?
Well, that's probably why skills and spells were categorized into classes in the first place!
I took a deep breath, pushing thoughts of skills aside. I was safe now, and we were only a day's coach journey away from Guaranga.
Alice had spoken with the innkeeper and discovered that we could travel with the regular coach service. Two coaches ran each day, not the most frequent, but still a reliable option. Additional coaches could be arranged with prior notice. Opting for the coach would get us to Guaranga in a single day instead of the three or four it would take on foot with our previous pace.
Considering their sluggish pace, we were likely to arrive in Guaranga before the Trewars, though I had no intention of meeting them again there. But, you never know.
The only issue with the coaches was that we might need to split into smaller groups, and there was no guarantee we'd all reach Guaranga in one day. We'd have to decide on the spot, as there were no advance bookings and no way of knowing how many seats would be available.
As our destination drew nearer, some of my concerns became more pressing. What to do with my 'mount' once we reached Guaranga? Should I stable him and provide him a cow for lunch? Or should I suggest transforming him into a human? Would that be the right choice? Would he agree? But what if the spell goes awry? Should I not tell him about this possibility?
Lost in these thoughts, I wandered towards the woods, searching for willing candidates to practice the transformation spell on. It was a serene and sunny day, with only a few clouds dotting the sky, as I ventured further from the way station.
As I walked through the woods, the tranquility of nature enveloped me like a comforting embrace. Shafts of sunlight filtered through the dense canopy above, dappling the forest floor with patches of golden warmth. Each step I took stirred the fragrant earth beneath my feet, releasing the sweet, earthy scent of damp soil and fallen leaves.
Around me, the forest teemed with life. Vibrant wildflowers dotted the underbrush, their delicate petals swaying gently in the breeze. Splashes of color adorned the verdant landscape, from the fiery hues of poppies like flowers to the soft pastels of forget-me-nots. Butterflies and other insects flitted from bloom to bloom, their delicate wings creating a soft, continuous hum.
Above, the branches echoed with the cheerful melody of birdsong. Chirps and trills filled the air, a symphony of nature's own making. Hidden among the lush foliage, feathered creatures went about their daily rituals, their songs a testament to the beauty and vitality of the forest.
As I ventured deeper into the woods, my intention was not to stray too far from the beaten path, but rather to find a secluded spot where I could meticulously review the transformation spell, ensuring no errors would mar my casting.
My gaze scanned the surroundings, considering the various creatures that called the forest home. Testing the spell on animals posed its own challenges, requiring a deep understanding of both the magical intricacies and the nature of the target creatures. Before attempting any transformations, I needed to familiarize myself thoroughly with their essence.
Approaching a sunlit glade, I spotted an old fallen tree trunk.
That's a good place to sit! - I told myself
Setting down a blanket from my inventory, I arranged a simple spread of cookies and warm tea, a comforting ritual to center my thoughts. Nestling into the soft fabric, I positioned myself with my back against the log, ready to delve into the mysteries of magic.
With a sense of contentment settling over me, I closed my eyes and savored the warmth of the tea as it trickled down my throat. Taking a cookie in hand, I retrieved the transformation spell-book from my inventory, its worn pages bearing the weight of magical deterioration.
"The Many Forms of Transformation and Transmutation: A Catalog of Metamorphoses by Charmoise, great Shaman of Norsey," I murmured, running a hand over its aged cover. Sighing, I employed a healing spell to mend the book once more, prolonging its fragile existence. Each repair seemed to breathe new life into its weathered pages, and today's damage appeared less severe than before—a promising sign.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
"Well, great Shaman of Norsey, what wisdom do you offer me today?" I pondered aloud, flipping through the familiar chapters. Nibbling on the cookie, I delved into the text, immersing myself in the intricate teachings.
"Animorphosis: The art of assuming the shape and characteristics of animals," I read aloud, absorbing the words with renewed interest, delving deeper into the chapter, trying to grasp the nuances of this spell.
As I mulled over the pages of the spell-book, my thoughts turned to the reverse of the animorphosis spell—a task I wanted to achieve, but not quite as straightforward as one might imagine. The runes for the spell and its reverse were etched clearly in my mind, yet the reverse process was not as simple as directly transforming a beast into a human. Instead, it involved undoing the effects of the previous spell which transformed the human into a beast.
Therefore I needed to define quite a new spell based on the animorphosis spell, but transforming the beast into a human. That should be possible to do, I only needed to replace the source and target definitions.
With each passing moment, I felt as though I was peeling back the layers of the runes, delving deeper into their true essence. Could this newfound understanding guide me in crafting the right transformation for Lynx? I was hopeful yet uncertain.
I knew the Lynx intimately as my mana did encompass him so many times, it was as if I would have him in front of my eyes, yet envisioning his human counterpart was a challenge.
While I could picture the anatomy of a man with ease and I knew our boys' anatomy by heart, I couldn't quite picture him. The rules of transformation seemed to operate differently. Altering Lynx's future human form to match my expectations risked veering into the realm of transmutation—a concept that the spell-book warned against.
According to the book, the transformation process required a vague definition of the target, emphasizing species over specific traits. This uncertainty dampened my enthusiasm, adding an unsettling element to my efforts. The question lingered: How would Lynx appear as a human? It was a matter of profound concern, one I couldn't ignore. I yearned for him to assume the most flawless human form possible!
Moreover, Charmoise's words echoed in my mind, reminding me of the profound impact that transformation would have on Lynx himself. "Transformation is becoming," the passage read. "Once transformed into a beast, you will always carry that beast within you." This meant that Lynx would not only physically change but also internalize the essence of his new form—a notion both intriguing and daunting.
Contemplating the implications, I couldn't help but question whether this was truly what I desired for Lynx. Was I ready to bear the responsibility of such a decision? Would he welcome such a transformation, knowing that it would fundamentally alter him?
A small note on the page under the reverse spell caught my eye:
“If you want to transform a beast into a humanoid*, this is possible with the same spell, you only need to define the target as a human. While the human form may help, in some situations, increase its intelligence, you will be still facing the beast with its loyalties and habits. Even if the spell will address its mobility, and it will soon move unconstrained as a humanoid, don't be confused by that, it still has the soul and the mind of a beast!
*This spell is anathema under various religious movements and governments, and may lead to your imprisonment or worse!”
I shrugged. There, Charmoise answered my question. I was on the right path with my spell!
Just as I was pondering all those questions, I saw a deer emerging from the woods, peacefully grazing. It lifted its head, meeting my gaze with its beautiful brown eyes before returning to its grazing.
It felt like a sign from the Gods, calming my doubts.
"The perfect test subject is just volunteering to become a girl!" I thought.
I smiled contentedly as it flicked its ears. Closing my eyes, I observed it through my mana sight. It drew nearer, intrigued by my presence, studying me as I rested on the fallen trunk. It must have been in the glade for some time, now deciding that I posed no threat.
So, if I wanted to transform Lynx into a human, it would be akin to transforming this deer into a girl, given that it was female. Once satisfied with the experiment, I could easily revert her back into a deer! What could possibly be wrong or bad about that?
As I let my spirit soar above, observing the tranquil scene below, I allowed the mana to flow, preparing to begin my work.
In that moment, however, my head suddenly exploded, and my body fell with a thud onto the blanket, blood spilling out like a fountain.
Was this a backlash from the spell? I wondered at first.
But I hadn't even cast the spell yet!
I was utterly baffled, struggling to comprehend what was happening. There had been a sudden jolt of blunt pain, but beyond that, everything was a blur of confusion.
Am I dead? I wondered, my thoughts racing as I tried to make sense of the situation. But then, why could I still see the environment around me? Was this my spirit, detached from my body after death, observing the scene below? It resembled the experience of dying in the game, yet I hadn't received the clear message: "You are dead!"
True, everything appeared in grayscale, and my vision was limited to the immediate ten meters around me. But I could see, hear, and even smell everything, including the metallic tang of my spilled blood.
Wait a minute, this is my mana sight! I must still be alive! But how?
"Is she dead?" a voice echoed my question from somewhere not far away in the woods.