Kapitel 21: Changes

It had been a year since Mavis performed the Soulbound Convergence spell. Though she had claimed it might take days or weeks to complete, deep down, Mavis had known the truth—it would take no less than a year for the process to finish. If she had told Raven the actual timeframe, she had no doubt the girl would have balked at the idea entirely. But now, after a long slumber that felt eternal, Raven stirred, her body awakening to a new reality.

Her fingers twitched first, brushing against the cool stone beneath her. The air around her felt heavier, charged with something unfamiliar yet tantalizingly potent. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, and her mind struggled to catch up with the strange sensations coursing through her body.

Raven's once-ash-gray hair now shimmered like liquid silver in the faint light, cascading past her waist in silken waves. Wisps of bangs fell over her forehead, softening her sharp features. Her reflection in a nearby crystal shard startled her; her eyes had undergone a dramatic transformation. Her right iris glowed with an otherworldly golden hue, bright as the dawn, while her left burned a deep crimson, vivid and intense like blood. Heterochromia wasn't entirely foreign to her, but this wasn't natural—this was a mark of the spell.

She rose unsteadily to her feet, swaying as she adjusted to her new height. Gone was the lithe frame of a 5'7 warrior. Now, she stood taller, her frame sleek yet powerful at 5'10. Even her old clothes hung awkwardly on her, too short at the sleeves and too tight across the shoulders.

Mavis's voice cut through the haze of Raven's disorientation, calm and steady. "Here. Take this."

A dark cloak was draped over Mavis's outstretched arm, the fabric rich and smooth like shadows woven into cloth. The hood and mask were designed to obscure most of her face, leaving only her eyes visible—a strategic design, no doubt, to hide her new, inhuman features.

Raven accepted it wordlessly, pulling it over her shoulders. The mask settled just beneath her eyes, and she felt oddly comforted by the concealment. But her body was a riot of sensations. Her limbs felt alien, stronger yet unfamiliar. Her mana, which had always been a steady presence, now roared within her like an untamed beast. It felt... darker, rawer, and far more potent than ever before.

The memories came next. They hit her in a storm of fragmented images, glimpses of Mavis's life. Chains bound to Mavis's wrists, the searing pain of betrayal, her kind's cold stares as they turned their backs on her. And then, the hooded figures—their faces hidden, their hands raised in ominous gestures. But just as Raven's mind reached for more, the vision ended abruptly, leaving her breathless.

"Ugh," she groaned, clutching her head. Her surroundings tilted as though the ground itself were unstable. "This is... by far the worst I've ever felt. The world is spinning."

"You'll get used to it," Mavis replied, her voice steady with the authority of someone who had experienced it all before. "Your body is still adjusting. You've undergone a profound transformation—one that cannot be undone. Allow me to explain while your senses recalibrate."

Mavis moved closer, her silver hair gleaming under the dim light. Her tone was neither gentle nor harsh, but somewhere in between, as though she were speaking to an equal.

"First, your mana," she began. "You'll notice it feels different—because it is. Pure dark mana now flows through your veins, potent and untainted. It's unlike anything a mortal could wield. My soul fragments have fused with yours, granting you abilities far beyond what you once possessed."

Raven flexed her fingers experimentally, her senses prickling with newfound clarity. She could feel the currents of mana in the air around her, delicate threads that wove through the fabric of reality.

"You'll also notice your perception has sharpened," Mavis continued. "Your right eye, the golden one, grants you an enhanced connection to the world's mana. You can now sense its flow, see it as others cannot. It will make you an unparalleled force in both combat and magic."

"And the red eye?" Raven asked, her voice raspy but curious.

Mavis's lips curved into a faint smile. "That eye binds you to me. Through it, we share a telepathic connection, allowing us to communicate without words. More importantly, it's a conduit for my power. In moments of desperation, you'll be able to channel my abilities as if they were your own—and I, yours."

Raven's mind reeled at the implications. She touched her temple instinctively, as though she could feel the connection to Mavis thrumming beneath her skin. "So... we're connected now. Truly connected."

"Yes," Mavis said simply. "Our souls are intertwined. You're no longer merely human, Raven. You've become something greater—a vessel of both mortal will and draconic strength."

Raven looked at her hands, the subtle glow of dark mana radiating from her palms. It was terrifying, exhilarating. She could feel the raw power surging through her veins, tempting her to push her limits.

But something Mavis had said earlier nagged at her. "Why didn't you tell me it would take a year?" she asked, a hint of irritation creeping into her tone.

Mavis chuckled, folding her arms. "Would you have agreed if I had?"

Raven scowled but couldn't argue. A year felt like an eternity, yet now that she stood here, transformed, she couldn't deny the results.

"And those memories," Raven said, her gaze sharpening. "The hooded figures I saw... who were they?"

Mavis's smile faded, replaced by a shadow of something darker. "That, Raven, is a story for another time. But know this: the world is far more dangerous than you realize. And the power you now possess is both a gift and a curse."

Raven clenched her fists, the cloak fluttering slightly as she moved. "I didn't agree to this to sit idly by, Mavis. If this power is meant to be used, then I'll use it."

"That's the spirit," Mavis said, an approving smile curving her lips. "But right now, you're weak. Power like ours isn't something you can wield effectively without discipline. It's raw, volatile, and just as likely to destroy you as it is to destroy your enemies. You'll need time to learn how to control it—even if you can't use it to its full potential yet."

"I guess that's fine," Raven muttered, her gaze shifting to the katana resting beside her. The blade gleamed faintly in the dim light, a silent reminder of her past self.

"And as I said earlier," Mavis continued, her pink eyes locking onto Raven's, their intensity sharp enough to cut through the lingering fog in her mind, "it's been a year."

"I know...?" Raven replied, feeling antsy under Mavis's unyielding stare.

Mavis leaned in slightly, her voice dropping just enough to make her words pierce deeper. "That means you, Raven, have been dead to the outside world for a year."

It was as if a bolt of lightning struck her mind, jolting her into a realization she hadn't considered. Down in this secluded place, there had been no one else—only Mavis and the silence of the hidden chamber. Even if someone had searched for her, it was likely Mavis's power had been enough to shield this place from any intruders.

That meant her friends—Lumina and Arielle—must have thought she was dead. Her sister, Celia Vermillion, as well as her parents... they must have believed the same.

"I..." Raven's throat tightened, words failing her as countless thoughts collided in her mind. Guilt, worry, and frustration clawed at her all at once.

"When you return to the outside world," Mavis said, her tone calm but unyielding, "you cannot return as Raven Vermillion. Not yet. The girl who vanished a year ago must remain a memory for now."

"Then what?" Raven asked, her voice trembling slightly despite herself.

"You will be known as Wraith," Mavis declared, her tone final. "I've already devised a plan for you to integrate yourself into the world again, step by step, until the time comes when you can reveal your true self."

Raven bit the inside of her cheek, forcing herself to push aside the storm of emotions swirling within her. There would be time to address them later—there had to be. For now, there was no choice but to focus on the present.

"Okay," she said finally, her voice steadier than she felt. "What do I have to do?"

Mavis's lips curled into a sly smile. "First, we make you stronger. As you are now, even a fly might bite you and send you to an early grave."

Raven blinked, taken aback by the unexpected remark, before narrowing her eyes. "Did you just... make a joke?"

"I've lived for centuries," Mavis replied, an amused glint in her eyes. "If I were to become a comedian, the entire world would fall under the dominance of my unparalleled humor. Fortunately for you, I'm not a comedian."

Raven couldn't help herself—she laughed, the sound breaking through the tension like sunlight piercing through storm clouds.

"Alright," she said, a faint smile lingering on her lips. "Let's get back to the serious stuff. This training—how long will it take?"

Mavis tilted her head, tapping a finger thoughtfully against her chin. "Three years at most. But knowing you and the remnants of your past life's strength, I'd wager two years should be enough."

"Two years," Raven repeated, a mix of determination and resignation settling over her. "Alright, then. Let's get started."

Mavis nodded, stepping back and motioning for Raven to follow. "Good. We'll begin immediately. But know this: this will not be easy. I will push you to the edge of your limits, and then I'll push you further. You will break, and you will rebuild. Over and over again."

Raven's heterochromatic eyes gleamed in the dim light, the fire of resolve igniting within them. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

Mavis smirked, a flicker of approval crossing her features. "Then let's see what you're truly made of, Wraith."

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