Cendikia sat in his quarters, the faint glow of the Forgotten Scholar's grimoire casting shadows across the walls. The ancient runes on the page before him pulsed faintly, alive with a magic that hummed in the air. The Ritual of Protection was written in intricate, archaic symbols that were difficult to decipher, even with his knowledge of the Forgotten Scholar's legacy.
He had been studying the spell for hours, his body weak and trembling from the effort. Each new line of incantation was more complex than the last, and the deeper he delved, the more the system's warnings echoed in his mind.
[Warning:
Failure to properly execute this spell may result in permanent health loss.]
Cendikia clenched his jaw, pushing the warning aside. He didn't have a choice. If he was going to survive, he needed the protection the spell offered. Aiden Drystan had made it clear that he would retaliate, and Cendikia knew Aiden was already rebuilding his power, preparing for the inevitable clash between them.
But this spell was unlike anything Cendikia had attempted before. It required more than just precise incantations. It demanded a part of the caster's essence, a sacrifice of mana and blood to forge the protective barrier. The ritual would bind his life force to the magic, creating a shield around him, but if he failed, the consequences would be devastating.
He glanced at his status window, his health and mana still dangerously low.
------
Name: Cendikia Paramarta
Role: Scholar (Side Character)
Level: 3
Health: 15/100
Mana: 10/70
Stamina: 20/100
------
Skills:
Ancient Language Decoding: Level 2
Knowledge of Forgotten Lore: Level 2
Beginner Combat Skill: Level 3
Forbidden Rites (Dark Magic): Level 3
Arcane Combat Skill: Level 1
------
Active Buffs:
Arcane Combat Skill Unlocked: Minor bonus to combat involving arcane or magical opponents.
Knowledge of the Forgotten Scholar's Power: Temporary boost to magical knowledge related to ancient artifacts.
Active Debuffs:
Mana Drain: Reduced mana pool due to overuse of forbidden magic (-20 Mana).
Stamina Exhaustion: Reduced stamina regeneration (-10 Stamina).
Health Depletion: Significant health reduction due to system punishment.
------
Current Mission:
Learn the Ritual of Protection
Mission Progress: 25%
------
Cendikia closed his eyes, feeling the familiar ache of exhaustion in his bones. He knew that each step deeper into the Forgotten Scholar's legacy was drawing him closer to ruin, but he couldn't stop now. The academy was growing more dangerous by the day, and without protection, Aiden or even Lira could strike him down at any moment.
Taking a deep breath, he reached for the small vial of blood he had prepared earlier. The ritual required a personal sacrifice, and Cendikia knew that without it, the protective barrier wouldn't hold. He uncorked the vial and dipped a quill into the dark liquid, carefully drawing the ritual's runes on the floor in a circle around him.
The air in the room grew colder as the magic began to take shape, the runes glowing faintly as they absorbed the energy from the blood. Cendikia muttered the ancient words under his breath, feeling the familiar pull of dark magic as it coiled around him.
"Let this barrier be bound by blood and will," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the hum of magic.
The runes on the floor flared brightly, and Cendikia felt a sharp pain in his chest as the magic took hold, binding itself to his life force. His breath caught, and for a moment, he thought he had made a mistake. But then the pain subsided, and the magic settled around him like a second skin, forming an invisible barrier.
Cendikia gasped, his body trembling from the strain. He had done it, he had successfully cast the Ritual of Protection.
The system's voice chimed softly in his mind:
[Mission Complete: Learn the Ritual of Protection.]
[Reward: Permanent Shield Against Magical Attacks Unlocked.]
Cendikia leaned back against the wall, his body weak but his mind racing. The protective barrier would shield him from magical attacks, but it had come at a cost. His health and mana were nearly depleted, and the strain of the ritual had left him vulnerable.
But he wasn't defenseless anymore. Aiden would find it much harder to strike him down now, and even Lira, with all her cunning, wouldn't be able to break through his new defenses easily.
The system remained silent, but Cendikia could feel its presence lingering, as if waiting for him to push too far once again. He had completed the ritual, but he knew that each success brought him closer to the system's next punishment.
He didn't have time to dwell on it. There was still so much to do, and the academy was already shifting around him. Aiden's power had been shattered, but Cendikia knew that his rival wouldn't stay down for long.
The next day, Cendikia moved carefully through the academy's halls, keeping a low profile. The whispers had grown louder, and he could feel the weight of the other scholars' stares as he passed. Rumors of his confrontation with Aiden had spread quickly, and now, everyone was watching to see what would happen next.
But something else was happening. The atmosphere in the academy felt tense, as if something was brewing just beneath the surface. Cendikia could feel it in the air a sense of unease that hadn't been there before. He couldn't shake the feeling that the academy itself was reacting to the shifts in power, as if the magic within its walls was stirring in response to the growing conflict.
As he made his way to the library, Cendikia's thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.
"You look different."
Cendikia turned to find Lira Calwyn standing in the shadow of one of the academy's stone pillars, her eyes sharp and calculating as they flicked over him. She stepped closer, her gaze lingering on him as if searching for something.
"You've done something, haven't you?" Lira said, her voice smooth but laced with suspicion. "Something that makes you… harder to kill."
Cendikia forced a smile, though his pulse quickened. Lira was perceptive, she was too perceptive and he knew she could sense the change in him. The Ritual of Protection had shielded him from magical attacks, but it also left a faint trace of dark magic that someone like Lira would notice.
"I've been working on my defenses," Cendikia replied casually, trying to deflect her suspicion. "It's a dangerous place, after all."
Lira's eyes narrowed slightly, though her smile never wavered. "It is. And with Aiden in such a… vulnerable state, it makes sense that you'd want to protect yourself."
She stepped even closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "But you should be careful, Cendikia. Magic like that, it draws attention. And not just from Aiden."
Cendikia stiffened, the weight of her words settling heavily on him. Lira wasn't just warning him, she was reminding him that his actions had consequences. The academy's magic was ancient, and the deeper he delved into the Forgotten Scholar's legacy, the more likely it was that others would take notice.
"I'll keep that in mind," Cendikia said, his voice steady despite the tension between them.
Lira's smile widened slightly, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Good. Because I'd hate to see you make a mistake that could get you killed."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Cendikia standing alone in the shadow of the academy's towering spires.
As the day went on, Cendikia couldn't shake the feeling that Lira's warning wasn't just about Aiden. She was right, he had drawn attention to himself, and now, the academy's magic was watching him more closely than ever.
He returned to his quarters that evening, his mind heavy with thoughts of what lay ahead. Aiden's retaliation was coming, but Cendikia knew that wasn't the only threat he faced. Lira was circling like a vulture, and the academy itself seemed to be shifting, reacting to the power struggle that was unfolding within its walls.
Cendikia sat at his desk, his eyes lingering on the Forgotten Scholar's grimoire. The ritual had worked, but the cost had been steep. His body was still weak from the strain, and the system's punishments loomed over him like a dark cloud, ready to strike the moment he pushed too far.
But he couldn't stop now. The game was already in motion, and the only way to survive was to stay ahead of his enemies.
As he closed the grimoire, the system's voice chimed softly in his mind:
[Warning!!!
The deeper you delve into the Forgotten Scholar's legacy, the closer you come to their fate. Proceed with caution.]
Cendikia's breath caught. He had heard the warning before, but now, it felt heavier, more urgent.
What was the Forgotten Scholar's fate? He still didn't know, but he could feel it creeping closer, like a shadow at the edge of his vision.
He stood, moving to the window and staring out at the academy below. The night was dark, the stars barely visible through the thick clouds that hung over the spires.
He had the power to protect himself now, but the price of that power was becoming clearer with every step.
And soon, he would have to face the consequences.