Corvin found himself in an unusually optimistic mood.
His most recent siphons had come from instructors and advanced students possessing high level affinities in Life and Plant magic. Two domains often marginalized within formal magical circles for their perceived passivity and lack of battlefield application. Yet Corvin had long since come to understand that underestimation often concealed latent superiority. In his hands, even the humblest disciplines could be repurposed into tools of dominance.
Life Magic revealed itself to be far more expansive and foundational than any superficial healing art. Rooted in a complex interplay of biology, arcane biofeedback, and metaphysical constructs, it enabled direct manipulation of regenerative processes on both the physiological and energetic planes. With it, Corvin quickly learned to cast diagnostic spells capable of producing comprehensive, real-time somatic and mana-based assessments. These scans did more than visualize trauma. They identified microfractures, mana blockages, immunological anomalies, and even subtle cognitive disharmony.
It reminded him, distantly, of the diagnostic procedures he had once studied in Earth paramedic courses, though the magic here far surpassed any clinical tools of his former world. Where medics relied on stethoscopes and portable ECGs, Life Mages deployed spells that could scan the bloodstream and detect illness before symptoms ever appeared.
His capacity for healing expanded in parallel. Minor abrasions closed instantly. Deep tissue injuries and internal trauma could be reversed with disciplined channeling. He learned to reroute vitality through arcane circulatory channels, accelerating recovery or halting necrosis. His manipulation of bodily integrity became so refined that he began theorizing applications in reconstructive healing and age deceleration.
Most significant, however, was the synergy between Life and Blood magic. When interwoven, these two affinities allowed Corvin to experiment with what could only be termed arcane virology. Initially, he attempted to engineer a viral strain from scratch. Capable of intelligent dormancy and controlled activation. The trials failed, perfectly... But the process illuminated new paths. Instead of inventing, he pivoted toward modification. He identified naturally benign viral carriers and applied spells such as Vital Resonance and Mana Encystment to alter their form and behavior.
The results were sobering. Harmless viral forms were transformed into programmable agents of disease or mutation. With precise tuning, he could determine latency periods, transmission vectors, and physiological targets. This was no longer a theoretical exploration. He had created a platform for biological warfare, subtle and scalable.
He would not deploy such a weapon, not ever. The history he studied on Earth was proof enough. Every act of biowarfare will find a way to bite it's creator. Even the best containment protocols were vulnerable to entropy. Bioengineering on the other hand was winking to him. He wished he had more information on anatomy, chemistry and genetic engineering. Even though he was going to experiment on 'volunteering' subjects to learn in a more hands on experiences.
In contrast, Plant Magic offered a more ecological, yet equally profound, awakening. This school of magic allowed Corvin to form a sensory relationship with the fauna itself. He became acutely aware of subterranean root networks. Forests, meadows, and gardens became extensions of his awareness, their organic matrices responsive to his will.
Through Growth Acceleration, he could transform seeds into full grown trees in mere minutes. Root manipulation allowed him to alter the topography of his surroundings without disturbing surface stability. He discovered that the timing and sequence of his commands affected outcomes. Slow, rhythmic pulsing encouraged sustained growth, while sharp impulses induced defensive mutations.
Advanced applications quickly followed. With spells like 'Fertile Whisper', he could reengineer agricultural zones within hours. He learned to toxify soil with minimal environmental signatures or engineer high yield crops with accelerated reproductive cycles. This gave him the ability to control not only battlefield terrain, but also long term food security. In simulations, he developed a model for siege support in which poisoned grain silos and spontaneous overgrowth could be used to both weaken enemies and support allies simultaneously.
In combat, his range of options expanded dramatically. He could manifest hardwood constructs as armor or shields, entangle enemies in reinforced vines, or disperse pollen clouds laced with tranquilizers or hallucinogens. The latter, when combined with psychic or illusion spells, became especially disorienting.
Together, Life and Plant magic formed the basis of what Corvin began to conceptualize as biological dominion. A style of control that operated quietly beneath the surface, manipulating infrastructure, wellness, and terrain with elegance and precision.
Silent. Invasive. Irreversible.
And in his hands, deadly.
--
His second Gravity lesson unfolded without much fanfare, Corvin used siphoned on three students and kept the rest wisely. He saved the rest for something far more compelling: the brilliance and allure of Aether magic. Both the subject and its smoking hot instructor.
Though his Gravity affinity hadn't yet increased, he could sense the ceiling weakening. One more session would likely tip it over. For now, his thoughts drifted to what he might learn next from Magistra Valyne.
When he entered the Aether hall, the room shifted. This time, there was something different in the air. Instead of silent stares or hushed avoidance, two students broke ranks. A young woman adorned in silvery arcane tattoos and a tall boy dressed in deep blue robes made their way to him.
They bowed slightly.
"Sir Blackmoor," the girl said carefully, "your explanation from last class, about converting Aether into thunderbolts. Would you be willing to go over it again?"
The boy added, "There were parts we didn't fully understand, especially the shaping of the energy field and the polarity manipulation."
Corvin tilted his head. These weren't challengers. No arrogance. No fear.
Just curiosity.
He gave a brief smile. "Alright," he said a nd added in his mid to keep it in Verthalis terms. No science lectures from Earth.
He walked them through the concepts, keeping the structure rooted in arcane principles. Phase resonance, field shaping, volatility indexing. A few more students edged closer. Then a few more. Soon, a quiet semicircle had formed around him.
That was when the door opened.
Magistra Valyne entered.
Turquoise eyes swept the scene. Students gathered, Corvin speaking, no one misbehaving, yet something unusual taking place. The sight of her famously cautious class sitting like disciples around Corvin was... unexpected.
She cleared her throat.
The students scattered like startled birds.
Valyne approached the front of the room, brow arched. "Thank you for supporting the class, Mr. Blackmoor," she said, her tone dry with amusement. Then her lips curved like a bloom of a flower. "If you keep this up, perhaps I should make you my assistant."
Some of the students laughed. One even clapped softly.
Corvin leaned back in his chair. "Only if it pays well," he replied. "And comes with a sabbatical." 'To be spend with you' he murmured in his mind.
"Oh, I'm sure we could arrange something," she said, eyes glinting.
The class officially began, but the dynamic had shifted.
Valyne lectured on how Aether served as a supportive and stabilizing element, enhancing regeneration, improving spell durability, and enabling energy conservation across multiple schools. Fire burned longer. Ice shattered less. Lightning struck with higher charge. She explained how passive Aether integration reduced mana waste and increased harmony among affinities.
Corvin took notes, not just mentally, but structurally. He began to weave those applications into his existing spells. Aether, he now saw, wasn't just versatile. It was essential.
And Valyne?
She seemed, for the first time, pleased not just as a teacher, but as a mage witnessing something rare: someone who listened, understood, and improved her field in real time.
The class felt different now.
Because Corvin had become part of it.
--
Far from the Arcanuum, the Conclave Chamber stirred as the Arbiters took their seats. Human Arbiter, Gareth of the Iron Mantle cleared his throat. Elven Arbiter, Solen Vaen'thal regarded him with arched calm. Demon Arbiter, Malzarek sat rigid, and Ysirael of Aetherborne observed serenely. Feralis Arbiter, Vhyra Scaledclaw of Dragonkin tribe flexed her claws.
Gareth began, voice firm: "The Sanctified Council demands accountability for the Church of the Crimson Chalice massacre. Pilgrims were slaughtered in Holy Verranate. This cannot go unanswered."
Vhyra's scales shimmered. "Blame your own inquisitors, Gareth. Feralis had no hand in that work of art. Yet we applaud the responsible party. Your holy Verrenate is nothing but a xenophobic slavers. Do not misuse this Circle to absolve your own errors."
Solen's lips curved. "Ah, the sweet irony. Humans deflect their Purifiers' zeal and call on Feralis to pay for their sins. Meanwhile, Korvath marshals his legions against Velkoth. Nefrath fractures into civil war."
Malzarek slammed a fist to the armrest. "This is not mere infighting! Velkoth's envy has spilled the blood of Korvath's Dark Sovereigns and his psychic vanguard. I'm sure your Synod's zealots are still celebreating the slaughter of the psychic demons! The Archdemons teeter on open war!"
Solen inclined his chin. "I find it poetic. Demons at each other's throats while mortals and beastkin squabble over sacrilege. Truly, the world reveals its priorities."
Ysirael raised a gentle hand. "Esteemed colleagues, our duty is to the accords, not personal vendettas. I propose an Aetherborne led commission to investigate both the Church incident and the Archdemon dispute, reporting findings to all seats."
Vhyra exhaled, tension easing. "I will assign my kin to serve on that commission, if it ensures Feralis is exonerated and Temple's leadership disciplined accordingly!"
Gareth nodded reluctantly. "Very well. Let it be so."
Solen's mood lifted by simply thinking of the Synod using this opportunity to infiltrate both Argyll and Nefrath to pay them back for the atrocities committed in Thalasien.
Malzarek's claws retracted. "Then we begin. The Circle must hold."
A hush fell until the Veiled Presider's calm voice echoed: "Enough."
With that, the tension abated, each Arbiter contemplating the work ahead.