Lorelai stood in the academy study, the morning light filtering through an open window. The study was empty of people at this time of day. There would be no one to witness her transformation. Her heart raced, the excitement of her reunion with Thrax and Aeryn mingling with a tinge of nervousness. She had not seen them since her evolution, and now she was about to reveal to them the changes that her transformed had granted her.

Her wings, brilliant white and shimmering with celestial energy, remained retracted, hidden from view by utilizing her shapeshifting ability. The wings, though new and still unfamiliar, felt natural to her now, part of her essence, but she wasn’t ready to unveil them just yet. Not when she wanted to surprise her friends.

Thrax arrived first, striding toward her with his usual confident, purposeful gait. His humanoid form progressed closer to his draconized form after his evolution; his scales glimmered faintly, visible only on his arms, but the air around him was more imposing now, his stature noticeably taller and his presence undeniably stronger.

“Lorelai,” Thrax greeted her with a nod, his eyes scanning her from head to toe, his gaze lingering a moment longer than usual.

She smiled warmly, but before she could respond, Aeryn appeared, her movements fluid and graceful as she approached. The transformation was unmistakable, her once noble vampiric air now replaced with the undeniable presence of a Vampire Lord. Her crimson eyes seemed to glow with a deeper intensity, and the subtle shift in her posture made it clear that she had evolved.

“You both look like you went through some changes as well.” Lorelai remarked, her voice light but filled with a note of curiosity. Thrax and Aeryn looked at each other briefly before Lorelai undid her shapeshifting ability. Two large snow-white wings erupted from between her shoulder blades, completing Lorelai as a person. The energy around her seemed to hum with something else—something divine. “About those wings,” she began, “I... I’ve been keeping them hidden for now. I wanted to surprise you.”

She took a deep breath, focused her energy, and let her wings unfurl. The feathers were a brilliant, almost blinding white, glowing with a faint radiance that made them appear ethereal and otherworldly. A soft rustle filled the air as they stretched to their full span, and Lorelai could feel the power within them, the divine magic surging through her as her new form settled into place.

Staring into her friends stunned faces she asked “Are you guys capable of evolution too? It's quite the coincidence that we all evolved at the same time.” Lorelai smiled, folding her wings back with ease, allowing them to retract and disappear once more beneath her shapeshifting ability. “I’m still learning to control them,” she admitted, “but they feel... right. Like they’ve always been a part of me.”

Aeryn’s gaze narrowed, her sharp eyes taking in Lorelai’s appearance. There was something subtle about her that Aeryn couldn’t ignore. “You’ve changed, but not just in the way I expected,” Aeryn said, her voice cool yet intrigued. Her crimson eyes flicked over Lorelai, pausing at her chest. “You’re…” she trailed off, then glanced at Thrax with a raised brow.

Thrax’s eyes followed Aeryn’s gaze, and a slow smirk spread across his face. “It seems like evolution brought more than wings for you, who knew that angelic transformations came with some unexpected perks ” Thrax said with a smirk, his eyes briefly flickering down before locking with hers. “I didn’t think angels were known for such... blessings.”

Lorelai’s cheeks flushed at their scrutiny. Her body had indeed evolved—her chest had grown significantly, and though it wasn’t the first thing she wanted to draw attention to, it was obvious. With the way her friends were looking at her Lorelai’s cheeks turned even redder. She couldn’t even hide it.

“I’m still adjusting to it,” she muttered, tugging her shirt a little lower over her chest, but she didn’t feel embarrassed. There was no sense in hiding what had happened, especially when the changes to her body had made it so evident, plus the boost in power that came along with it made it impossible to harbor any negative feelings about it.

“I guess so. I think I’m going to need new clothes soon.” Lorelai said trying to get the now too small shirt to fit right.

"I think we all are, it seems like everyone's body has changed," observed Aeryn. Her lips curled into a knowing smile, her posture shifting slightly as she crossed her arms. “Seems like those wings aren't the only thing you’ve got account for when adjusting your clothes.”

Aeryn giggled and Thrax let out a big bellied laugh when, before any more could be said, the sound of footsteps interrupted them. Avantus and Fiona Windrider appeared with scowls on their forehead, one strong enough for the forehead veins to make an appearance. Avantus’s eyes scanned the trio, his sharp gaze quickly picking up on the energy in the air.

“Good to see you all together,” Avantus said, his tone commanding. “Follow me, we have something urgent to discuss.”

Fiona stepped forward, her usual calm demeanor now edged with concern. “We can no longer remain idle after the discovery of something as troubling as...,” she trailed off, her eyes flicking to each of them. “The devourer that the three of you battled, that's far too close to the academy was a newborn scout. Luckily Avantus was able to kill it, but I hope it was a single instance and not a full invasion.”

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Aeryn stiffened at the mention of the creature, her expression darkening. “A devourer?” she repeated, her voice cold. “That’s what that creature was? Are they that serious a threat?”

Thrax’s posture shifted, his hands instinctively brushing against the handle of his weapon. “My people have heard of them. They are not many in number and no one knows how they reproduce, but they are a big enough threat that when there is a colony of them...every other race will cooperate to destroy them. No matter how at arms they are against each other, there will be a temporary truce.”

Avantus nodded grimly. “Exactly, we can’t risk waiting. We need Thrax and Aeryn to pick up a fighting style tome, similar to the ones Lorelai has, so you two are better prepared for what's to come.”

Lorelai glanced at the others, “We’ll have to bolster our strength in order to stop it,” she said, her voice firm with resolve. “Whatever it takes.”

Fiona’s eyes softened for a moment, a brief flicker of emotion crossing her stoic expression. “We’ll face it together, but we must hurry. I hereby grant Pyrothraxus and Aeryn access to the athenaeum for a combat tome.”

Thrax cracked his knuckles, a grin spreading across his face. “Let’s make sure it’s ready for us when it comes.”

The group exchanged determined glances, a silent agreement passing between them. No matter the challenge, no matter the darkness they faced, they were stronger united. With renewed purpose, they turned as one, heading toward the academy’s library to prepare for the battle that awaited them. Together, they would face whatever dangers lay ahead.

The Athenaeum buzzed with a quiet, ancient energy, the air thick with the hum of floating tomes and the faint glow of runes etched into the walls. Lorelai walked ahead, her steps measured but her demeanor exuding authority. The only incongruity was her clothing—her top strained against her newfound curves, the fabric visibly failing to contain her dramatically increased chest.

Trailing behind, Thrax’s eyes weren’t on the tomes. He let out a low whistle, a grin splitting his face as he openly admired Lorelai. "Lorelai, if those buttons give way, I might have to declare this the best library trip I’ve ever been on."

Lorelai stopped, turning sharply, her cheeks flushing pink even as she glared at him. "Thrax. Focus. You’re here to learn, not ogle."

He spread his hands in mock innocence, the grin never leaving his face. "I am focusing. Just appreciating the view while I decide which book will make me even more ferocious on the battlefield."

Aeryn sighed, rolling her eyes. "You’re insufferable."

"Insufferable?" Thrax shot back, turning his grin on Aeryn. "I think you mean charming. Besides, I’m not the one who keeps stealing glances at our teammate."

If a vampire could blush she would have, but Aeryn ignored him, moving to browse the shelves with a determined look. Thrax, meanwhile, approached a section where massive tomes floated, radiating palpable power. His eyes scanned the titles, his usual bravado slipping as his brow furrowed in thought.

Lorelai stepped beside him, her sharp gaze softening slightly. "What’s the matter? Are there not many with enough pictures?"

Thrax reached for a tome with a silver-and-gold cover depicting a warrior wielding a massive greataxe, cleaving through enemies with terrifying force. He held it up, the title glowing faintly: Titan's Fury: The Cleaving Edge of Damnation.

"This one," he said, his voice quieter but still confident. "It feels right, but instincts only get you so far. What do you think?"

Lorelai folded her arms, the motion drawing Thrax’s eyes for a moment before he snapped his attention back to her face. She ignored it, stepping closer to inspect the tome.

"You fight like this book reads," she said, nodding toward the glowing text. "Overwhelming. Devastating. You rely on raw strength to overpower your enemies, but you do it with precision—not recklessness. Titan’s Fury synergizes well with you, every swing of your axe can be a calculated, earth-shattering blow. It’s about becoming a disaster incarnate: a battlefield cataclysm; dangerous, destructive, and unstoppable."

Thrax chuckled, the grin returning to his face. "Damnation, huh? You’ve got a way with words, Lorelai. I might just let you write my guild master speech."

Lorelai rolled her eyes, but a faint smile tugged at her lips. "If you survive long enough to need one, I’ll consider it."

Nearby, Aeryn approached with two slender tomes in hand. Her movements were deliberate, her focus absolute as she turned to Lorelai. "I’ve narrowed it down to these two. I want something that helps me move faster, strike faster. Something that can bring out the full potential of my strengths."

Lorelai took the tomes, her keen eyes examining each. After a moment she handed one back to Aeryn; the cover purple and silver. It shimmered in the dim light, the book titled Phantom Requiem: The Dance of a Thousand Blades.

"This is what I see when you fight," Lorelai said, her voice assured. "Fluid. Unpredictable. You fight like grass in the wind, evading strikes and slipping through defenses. Phantom Requiem teaches how to evade incoming attacks with fluid, almost ethereal movements while delivering a relentless flurry of precise strikes. It’s all about maximizing the number of strikes in brief opportunities, until they fall apart."

Aeryn took the tome, her expression softening into quiet determination. "That’s exactly what I need. Thank you."

Thrax leaned against a shelf, his grin as cocky as ever. "Look at us, getting all serious. Who knew Aeryn would pick a book focused on more speed instead of trying to get more powerful blows to cover a weakness in her style?"

Aeryn shot him a look, but her tone was measured and she was unbothered by the comment, "It has to do with my bloodline ability, otherwise I would have done just that."

Thrax laughed, unabashed. "Why not do both? Besides," he added, turning back to Lorelai winking, "mixing things up is part of the fun."

The trio left the Athenaeum, tomes in hand. Each had found a path to enhance their strengths, though it was clear that their dynamic; Thrax’s boldness, Aeryn’s perceptiveness, and Lorelai’s drive, was as much a weapon as the knowledge they carried.