Atheria and Bloodhound reached the imposing wooden doors of the throne hall on the fifth floor. Standing before these doors, Atheria commented, "This must be it, the throne hall."Bloodhound nodded and growled with an air of grim determination, "Let's end this."He pushed the massive doors open with a strength that seemed to surge through him, causing his muscles to bulge and his stature to grow by a few inches. The doors groaned in protest before finally yielding.Finally, with a shuddering creak, the door swung open, and an unsettling rush of bats suddenly poured forth from the room, making Atheria curse loudly, "Damn bats! Get away from me!" She waved her arms to fend them off as they swirled around, their tiny, frenzied forms adding to the eerie ambiance of the castle.The throne hall appeared like a place lost in time, forgotten for thousands of years. Mighty stone pillars lined each side of the hall, their surfaces etched with intricate patterns, though age had eroded much of t
Atheria's voice trembled as she stuttered, "Ro-Rosaline? How... how is it possible?"But before any answers could be given, Rosaline, or whatever malevolent force now controlled her form, silenced Atheria with a resounding slap across the face. Atheria reeled from the blow, her cheek burning with pain.Bloodhound, not spared from Rosaline's wrath, received a powerful slap as well. The force of the blow sent him crashing into one of the massive pillars that lined the throne hall. Atheria and Bloodhound, now both dazed and disoriented, found themselves suspended by an invisible force that bound them tightly to the very pillars they collided with.Growling in frustration, they strained against the unseen restraints, their muscles bulging with effort as they struggled to break free. Their eyes, filled with determination and defiance, locked onto Rosaline's malevolent form as they sought a way to escape her clutches."It was me all along! There was never any evil spirit!" Rosaline's voice
Atheria stood frozen in awe as she gazed upon the spectral form of Duke Dregan. He appeared as he must have in life, with dark hair and donned in a regal crimson red attire. In one hand, he held a small axe, a symbol of his authority and determination.Duke Dregan's presence seemed to fill the hall with an aura of authority. His eyes, fierce and resolute, locked onto Roland's spirit, who had backed away under the weight of the Duke's spirit.In a voice that resonated with both command and compassion, Duke Dregan declared, "You and Rosaline will not harm these two," his gaze shifting between Atheria and Bloodhound.Rosaline's vengeful spirit manifested once more, this time wielding the very axe Duke Dregan had thrown earlier. Her spectral form was twisted with rage as she let out a bone-chilling roar. "How dare you show your face again in my castle!" she hissed, her anger making her presence even more sinister.Duke Dregan's gaze remained steady, unyielding. He declared with unwavering
With Bloodhound defeated and Duke Dregan locked in a fierce battle against Roland, there was nothing to prevent the malevolent spirit of Rosaline from seizing control of Atheria's body."Such young flesh... all mine..." Rosaline's voice oozed with chilling malevolence as her spectral form transformed into a wisp of smoky darkness, darting straight into Atheria's vulnerable form.Atheria growled, her senses assaulted by a vile taste and a nauseating stench. But her body was unresponsive; she felt as if she were caged within her own flesh, another, far more sinister presence now in control."HAHAHAHA," echoed Rosaline's eerie laughter, her possession of Atheria's body complete this time. The first instance had been only a partial takeover, but now Rosaline had full dominion."I am complete!" Rosaline's triumphant roar reverberated through the castle, chilling the very stones.Atheria's once vibrant blue eyes turned into ghostly, vacant orbs, their light extinguished."Get out of my body
Duke Dregan, still occupying Xander's body, looked at Atheria with a sense of warmth and wisdom in his eyes. He gently replied to her query, "I have been waiting for you both for a very long time. You see, Rosaline never anticipated that not just one, but two blood mages would come to aid me in ending her malevolent existence."Atheria was puzzled. "But how did you know we would come?"Dregan's smile was soft, almost nostalgic. "It was a hundred years after my death when a mage, a wise and powerful one, found his way to this castle. He spoke to me without Rosaline sensing it, thanks to a potent ritual he performed. This mage told me about Rosaline's ultimate demise being at the hands of two blood mages."A sense of awe and wonder filled Atheria. "So, it was a prophecy of sorts?"Dregan nodded. "Indeed, a prophecy foretelling the arrival of two blood mages who would bring about the end of Rosaline's malevolence. You two are the ones I've been waiting for."Bloodhound, who had been quie
"Let's go. I can't wait to leave this place," Atheria remarked as she moved away from the throne hall. With the vengeful spirits vanquished, Xander regained control of his body, and Bloodhound's personality receded.Together, they ventured toward the library. This time, the castle was devoid of spirits or disturbances. Upon reaching the library, Xander let out a sigh, taking in the chaotic scene."How on earth are we going to find that blasted book in this mess?" Atheria sighed in exasperation. The bookshelves were in disarray, books scattered haphazardly around the room, and the serpent's lifeless body still lay on the floor where they had slain it.Disregarding the thirty-foot-long snake, Xander and Atheria descended the stairs to begin their search for the book."You take one side, and I'll take the other," Xander suggested, and Atheria nodded in agreement. With that, they embarked on their quest to find the elusive book.For the next hour, Atheria and Xander scoured the library in
As Xander and Atheria reached the Diamond City docks, the morning sun cast a warm, golden glow across the city, illuminating its vibrant streets and the shimmering waters of the harbor. The city was a bustling tapestry of colors and sounds, coming to life with the dawn.Xander couldn't help but admire the breathtaking sunrise. He turned his gaze to Atheria, a soft smile on his face. "It's truly beautiful," he remarked, the warmth of the moment seeping into his words.Atheria nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting the serene beauty of the morning. "Yes, it is," she replied, sharing in the quiet appreciation of the city.Turning away from the tranquil sight of the sunrise, Xander and Atheria made their way into the heart of the bustling Diamond City. The city was coming to life; early birds chirped from the trees, and people emerged from their homes.Xander glanced at Atheria as they walked, a sense of anticipation in his voice. "I hope Mathias is already awake,"Atheria let out a sma
"So let me get this straight. Consuming black roots will make a mage powerless for days, depending on the potency. But if they consume too much or too often, they would die. How does this affect the world like you said? It just looks like extra steps to kill a mage," Xander growled.He had thought consuming black roots would rid him of his blood mage powers. However, he had learned that if he consumed too much black root or did so too frequently to suppress his powers, he could die from mana poisoning. Although Xander knew he wouldn't die unless his head was severed or his body burned completely, he doubted he would survive mana poisoning."You're not seeing the full picture," Mathias said."With this knowledge, alchemists will spend their lives brewing potions and weaponizing black roots. Imagine a poison made with black roots that could immediately strip a mage of their powers. It could change the tide of a war. Think about the spells or runes created using the essence of black root