Lorelai’s eyes fluttered open to the familiar darkness of the dorm room. They had left the cold, damp dungeon for a soft, warm bed. She lay on her back, her head had stop spinning from the magical strain of the battle with the Goblin Champion, but still retained a small headache. The giddiness over her new spell-work hummed faintly in her mind; electromagnetism, gravity, and lightning—her mind a whirlwind of possibilities.

She inhaled slowly, wincing at the soreness in her limbs as she shifted her position. Despite her throbbing muscles, she felt significantly less fatigue and her increased END stat was probably a contributing factor to it. Lorelai couldn’t help but smile, she had done it. She reminisced about the feeling she had unlocking two new branches of magic, combining lightning and gravity to open doors that she hadn’t even known existed.

Beside her, a faint rustle of fabric signaled Aeryn’s presence. Lorelai blinked against the light filtering in through the window, adjusting her eyes to the sight of the vampire. Aeryn was sitting on the edge of the bed across the room, her back to Lorelai as she methodically sharpened her weapon; a black-bladed rapier that looked like it had been forged in the dark depths of the earth itself.

The Blood Witch, that’s what they called her. Lorelai had learned of Aeryn’s reputation quickly, both through their shared dormitory life and whispered rumors from other students. She wasn’t just any vampire; Aeryn had mastered the art of blending blood magic with blade craft. Aeryn’s combat style was devastating. A perfect blend of precision and brutality, like the strike of a serpent’s fang. It was a culmination of old traditions and ancient magic.

Lorelai stretched her arms above her head, loosening the ache in her joints. The vampire had been silently observing her growth ever since they met. Lorelai could feel the intensity of Aeryn’s scrutiny measuring her, testing her. There was something in Aeryn’s eyes, a mixture of admiration and that of a predator.

“So, you’re awake,” Aeryn said, her voice cool but with an underlying warmth. “How’s the magic hangover treating you? Or have you already recovered?”

“I’ll be fine,” Lorelai replied with a giggle, sitting up, "I’ve never used so much mana before. But it worked... I actually did it.”

Aeryn didn’t look up from her blade, but there was a sharp edge to her voice. “We didn’t just do it, Lorelai. We leveled up three times in one go. That’s...unheard of even if we took out a floor boss designed to challenge four people. You’ve got a good amount of talent to unlock not one, but two branches of magic.”

Lorelai blinked, taken aback by the weight of Aeryn’s words. She hadn’t thought of it that way. To her, it felt like everything was happening too fast, that her body and mind were barely keeping up with the rapid growth of her powers. Aeryn was right, it was incredible. The system, the notifications, all the new skills she had unlocked felt foreign, yet natural at the same time. Lorelai flexed her fingers, feeling the residual crackle of electricity, the weight of gravity magic pressing down on her. There was so much she didn’t yet understand.

Aeryn set down her blade with a soft thud, the sound cutting through the silence. “So, Electromagnetism and Gravity... they’re both potent, but you don’t know the half of it, do you?”

Lorelai raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Aeryn’s lips curled slightly, her eyes glinting in the dim light. “It’s not just about what you can do with magic. It’s about how you push the boundaries. How you shape your magic to fit your needs like how you did with that spear.” She leaned back slightly, her fingers brushing the hilt of her sword absently. “I’ll show you what I mean.”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

With a graceful motion, Aeryn rose from her seat, her movements fluid as she stepped into the center of the room. She raised her hand, and a thin crimson line of blood began to appear in the air, tracing an intricate pattern before fading into nothingness.

“Blood magic,” Lorelai murmured, awed.

Aeryn nodded. “It's not just blood magic. I combine it with my blade craft, its the base of my class Blood Witchblade.” She let the words linger, then continued. “Blood magic works by manipulating the essence of life itself—controlling, shaping, and directing blood to enhance physical abilities, healing, and combat. It can be used for offense, defense, and even enchantments. I can turn blood into a weapon, my class works best in large scale battles where the blood is aplenty.”

She retrieved her rapier, and for a moment, Lorelai thought it was just an ordinary sword. But then the air around it seemed to shift. It wasn’t just metal—it was alive, glowing faintly with a red aura as if it had been forged from the very blood of its wielder. The blade hummed with magic.

“I can use blood to augment my weapons,” Aeryn explained, her voice low but with a lethal edge. “The more blood I give, the sharper, the stronger, the faster they become. As you saw in the dungeon, I can also forge blades entirely out of blood. I can create chain's, stack bleeding debuffs, and with enough blood create an army of bloody dolls to fight along side of me.”

Lorelai’s eyes widened, amazed at the Witchblade's versatility as she watched Aeryn twirl the blade with effortless precision, cutting the air around her in perfect arcs. The weapon moved as though it were an extension of Aeryn’s own body; fluid, graceful yet deadly. It was a dance of violence and beauty.

“I can also use the blood in others,” Aeryn added with a flicker of something darker in her eyes. “I can manipulate blood in living beings to cause pain, heal, or even paralyze them. I can turn the tide of battle by turning an enemy’s blood against them.”

Lorelai took a step back, impressed and slightly intimidated. “That’s... that’s incredible.”

“This class only really works for me because I'm a vampire, it's also a rare hidden class so I doubt you'll run into another one,” Aeryn reassured with a half-smile, sheathing her blade. Lorelai nodded solemnly, absorbing Aeryn’s words. It was easy to get caught up in the allure of power, especially with the new abilities she had unlocked.

“Well, I can't be the only one doing all the improving,” Lorelai said, trying to change the tone back to something lighter. “I’ve got electromagnetism and more gravity magic now, what did you receive for your dungeon boss reward?

Aeryn’s lips curved into a smirk. “Don’t get cocky. You’re not the only one with new tricks up her sleeve. You're correct, I received Sanguine Slash/Stab. Its either a flying sword slash or shooting a pressurized line of blood for piercing enemies at a distance.” She tilted her head toward the open window. “Its our rest day today, I suggest you get a replacement for the spear.”

Lorelai turned her gaze toward the academy beyond their dorm room window. She had passed the dungeon’s trials, unlocked new magic, and grown stronger than she ever imagined. The academy’s trials were going to become far more complex and ruthless.

“I guess it’s time to face what’s next,” Lorelai muttered, more to herself than Aeryn. “I'll have to find out who this Demos is and see whatever else he has waiting for me.”

Aeryn’s eyes sharpened, the glimmer of something ancient and dangerous flickering in her gaze. “Don’t be fooled, devils are incredibly crafty creatures, my family has had to deal with a few."

For a moment, they stood in silence, the weight of unspoken thoughts passing between them. Aeryn had made it clear that Lorelai wasn’t alone in this journey, but the path ahead felt uncertain. It was a path that would test not just her ability, but may provide clues to her very identity.

The sound of footsteps approaching outside the door broke the silence, followed by a knock. Aeryn raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a predatory smile. “Looks like the academy’s calling your name. Time to see if your new skills are as impressive as you think.”

Lorelai stood, her muscles still sore but her resolve hardening. She had made it this far, and she wasn’t about to back down now.

“Wasn't today supposed to be an off day,” she said, her voice steady.

"Hey, the two of us just defeated a boss that is supposed to take four people. They may be presenting us with merit or inviting us to the annual competition." Aeryn explained.

"Sigh," Lorelai exhaled, "Let's get this over with."