ShadowBound: The Need For Power

A week had passed since Liam had begun attending studies and weaponry training alongside his fellow students. Despite the initial setback, he quickly caught up, proving himself more than capable in both practical and theoretical lessons. His progress didn't go unnoticed, as he demonstrated a natural aptitude in combat drills and an unyielding focus during lectures.

In history class, Liam delved into the dark legacy of the Demon War, a catastrophic conflict that had unfolded two centuries ago. He learned that the Zones in the Western Region of the Continent bore the brunt of this blood-soaked war. Once thriving lands, they had been transformed into barren wastelands—an eternal scar left by the ferocity of battle.

Professor Caelus provided further insight, explaining how the Western Region had also become the entry point for the demon realm during the war. To contain the relentless tide of demons, powerful mages of the past had erected a massive magical barrier, sealing the demons within the desolate zones of the Western Region. For a time, the barrier held firm, maintaining a fragile peace.

However, as the decades turned into centuries, the demons began to evolve. They adapted, growing stronger and more cunning, gradually finding ways to circumvent the barrier. This sinister evolution had led to the current state of the Continent, where demons, though rare, now roamed beyond the Western Region, lurking in the shadows and posing a constant threat.

Back in Mystica's class on Arcane Foundations and Mystical Lore, Liam finally had the opportunity to learn about the last two groups of demons. The lesson focused primarily on the fourth group: the Syncs.

Syncs were known to be the most intelligent and dangerous demons among the first four groups. They were divided into ten distinct species, and Liam had already encountered one of them—the Blood Demons. That encounter had nearly cost him his life, leaving him with firsthand knowledge of just how deadly these creatures could be.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

As Mystica continued her lecture on Syncs, most of the students seemed to dismiss the gravity of her words. Despite her usual playful tone, they assumed that Mystica, one of the most powerful mages in existence, was exaggerating when she spoke about the strength and capabilities of Syncs. After all, if Mystica had been able to defeat two Blood Demons, surely the threat they posed was not as severe as she described. But while the others were skeptical, Mystica's intention was clear—she was making sure the students understood just how formidable these demons truly were.

Ariana and Sheila, however, knew better than to doubt Mystica's words. They couldn't fully grasp the extent of Syncs' power, but they recognized the sincerity in Mystica's warnings. Dylan, on the other hand, did witness the terrifying sight of merged demons in the Eastern District and could tell just how strong they were, but even he didn't fully understand the depth of their abilities.

Liam, however, knew all too well how dangerous Syncs could be. Having fought two Blood Demons for nearly half an hour and coming dangerously close to death, he understood their strength intimately. Yet, he remained silent, knowing it wasn't his place to reveal what he knew.

When Mystica moved on to discuss the fifth group of demons, she gave little more than their name: Demon Lords. She briefly explained that these demons were the most powerful creatures in existence after the Demon King, a fact that sent a shiver through the class. It was clear that even the most skilled and knowledgeable among them still had much to learn about the true nature of their enemies.

Liam's next lessons in Mystica's class focused on basic magic spells that anyone could learn, regardless of their elemental affinity. Mystica taught the class five simple spells:

Whisper is a subtle and useful spell that allows the caster to communicate with another person without speaking aloud. By sending a message directly into the target's mind, the caster can ensure that their words are heard in the target's head, regardless of distance within a short range. This spell is invaluable for discreet communication during stealth operations, in noisy environments, or when the caster is separated from allies. However, it has limitations: the message must be simple, and it cannot convey emotions or images. Additionally, the caster must have the target in mind and within a clear line of sight or a defined range for the spell to work effectively.

Mend is a minor restorative spell that can repair small physical damage to objects or heal minor injuries. It is commonly used to fix torn clothes, broken tools, or alleviate injuries like cuts, bruises, or abrasions after battle. While useful in everyday situations, Mend has its limitations. It cannot repair magical artifacts or heal severe injuries such as broken bones or deep wounds. Furthermore, using this spell repeatedly can drain the caster's myst energy, leading to exhaustion if overused.

Purify is a spell focused on cleansing impurities, toxins, or minor curses. It can be used to purify food and water, making them safe for consumption, or neutralize mild poisons. This spell is essential in hostile environments where contamination or poison is a concern, or during minor rituals to ensure safety. However, Purify cannot address complex magical poisons, powerful curses, or large-scale contamination. Its power is limited to minor cleansing tasks and does not extend to dealing with severe or enchanted substances.

Detect Myst allows the caster to sense the presence of myst energy in the surrounding environment. When cast, it highlights magical traps, enchanted objects, or hidden mystical entities by causing them to glow or shimmer in the caster's vision. This spell is vital for identifying enchanted objects, spotting cloaked enemies, or locating areas rich in myst energy, which might be useful for training or resource gathering.

The limitations of Detect Myst lie in its ability to provide only general information about the presence of myst, rather than specifics like the type of magic or its purpose. The spell also has a limited range based on the caster's skill and experience.

Myst Transference is a supportive spell that enables the caster to transfer their myst energy to another person. This transfer can help refuel an ally's magical reserves or stabilize someone suffering from myst exhaustion. It is particularly useful in combat situations, where an ally may run out of energy or when a healer needs extra myst to continue their work. However, Liam hated this spell due to its obvious draw back. Your journey continues with empire

The caster must sacrifice a portion of their own myst, which can leave them weakened or unable to act effectively if used too often. Prolonged use of this spell can also leave the caster too drained to defend themselves or continue supporting others.

In weaponry training, Liam continued his daily sessions with Max, with Charlotte occasionally joining in for sparring at the end of each session. While Charlotte was an invaluable sparring partner, Max was the one who focused most on refining Liam's technique.

Thanks to the self-taught knowledge he had gained and the guidance Max provided, Liam had begun to master a more technical approach to weapon wielding, moving beyond his natural talent. He appreciated the precision and control that the technical methods brought, but he didn't lose sight of his instinctive fighting style. This combination of instinct and technique allowed him to blend both approaches, making his fighting style unpredictable and fluid.

Over time, Liam came to realize just how skilled Max was with a scimitar, even though it was only a wooden practice blade for training. Occasionally, Liam would spar with Max, and each fight reaffirmed his belief that Max might very well be the best weapon wielder among the first years. While Max's main weapon was a dual scimitar, his expertise wasn't limited to that. Max was also adept with a variety of other weapons—long staffs, swords, daggers, and even spears.

Liam, who had been trained with a sword and later a pair of daggers from Draven, had largely neglected the sword. However, after seeing Max's versatility, he gained a new appreciation for all types of weapons, realizing that mastery in one could translate to understanding others.

Through his lessons with Max, Liam also discovered something intriguing—Max was one of the few individuals Mystica had told him about, those rare individuals with the ability to maintain Myst Amplification indefinitely. Unlike most mages, these individuals couldn't wield elemental magic. Instead, their affinity lay in a specialized skill called Enhancement Magic.

This unique ability allowed Max to augment his physical capabilities far beyond the limits of ordinary humans. The revelation added another layer of respect for Max's combat prowess.

(See Chapter 87 for reference)

Despite his initial intentions to help Liam with his training, Magnus found himself lazily procrastinating each day, observing how well Max was already teaching him. After all, why put in the effort when someone else was already doing things exactly the way he would have wanted?

Magnus wasn't one to impose on the students' training. He preferred to take a laid-back approach, letting them go at their own pace while he relaxed and indulged in his cookies. His role was more about observation—though he often couldn't resist offering dark humor and sarcastic commentary on the students' progress.

However, today was different. After finishing his last cookie with exaggerated delight, Magnus leapt down from his perch, his movements like that of a cat—if a cat had an unhealthy obsession with sugar and sarcasm.

"Alright, my lovely collection of wasted potential," he said with a grin that was equal parts mischievous and menacing, "today we're moving on to a real lesson. Brace yourselves for disappointment."

He cracked his knuckles and gave the students a look that suggested he might just be doing them a favor by showing up. "Get ready to learn something new... or, you know, just sit there and waste your time as usual." His voice was dripping with mock enthusiasm.