And so, it began.
The days bled into weeks, the weeks into months. Every moment was grueling, an unrelenting storm of physical, mental, and magical trials that tested Raven's willpower. She trained in the art of precision, control, and raw power, learning to wield the dark mana coursing through her veins as if it were an extension of her very being.
Mavis was a relentless mentor, sparing no opportunity to challenge Raven's limits. Every mistake was met with correction, every success was pushed further. There were days Raven could barely move, her body trembling from exhaustion. But each time she fell, she rose again, stronger than before.
Her newfound abilities sharpened with time. She mastered techniques she never could have imagined, combining the raw ferocity of her past life with the cunning and precision granted by her transformation.
Two years later, a shadow emerged from the secluded depths of the chamber.
Clad in her dark cloak, her silver hair gleaming under the faint light, and her heterochromatic eyes glowing with an otherworldly intensity, she was no longer the girl who had entered this place.
She was something else entirely.
Her eyes squinted as the sun's light beamed down on her.
"Three years without the sun and the second I come out, I'm instantly hit with it. Just great." Raven muttered.
Throughout the two years of grueling training, Raven had come to master many new skills and abilities. Yet, out of all the lessons and discoveries, there was one thing she found herself particularly fond of, Mavis's ability to transform into a small, dragon-like form.
The first time Mavis did it, Raven had burst out laughing, unable to contain herself.
"Yeah, you being this way is much cuter," Raven teased, a sly smirk on her lips as she poked Mavis's diminutive snout.
Mavis's narrowed pink eyes glared up at her, their usual intensity somehow even more comical in her compact, scaled form. She crossed her tiny claws in indignation. "Do you want to die?" she growled, her voice maintaining its sharp edge despite her appearance.
Raven stifled another laugh, waving her hands defensively. "Okay, okay! No need to get all fiery about it. I just didn't expect you to have... this in your repertoire."
"This form is a tactical advantage," Mavis huffed, puffing out a tiny plume of smoke. "It allows me to conserve energy and remain inconspicuous. It is not for your amusement."
"Sure," Raven said with a playful grin. "Whatever you say, oh fearsome dragon."
Mavis's glare deepened, but she let the subject drop, instead hopping onto Raven's shoulder.
"You know," Raven said, tilting her head to glance at her new shoulder companion, "wouldn't people notice you? I mean, it'd be pretty weird to have a tiny dragon perched on my shoulder wherever I go."
Mavis tapped her clawed foot thoughtfully against Raven's cloak. "That's true. You've been down here with me so long, you've missed learning some rather essential aspects of this world. Let me enlighten you."
She adjusted herself, making herself comfortable on Raven's shoulder. "In this world, there's a practice called beast taming. It allows people to form bonds with mana beasts, like dragons or other magical creatures. There are two primary methods, taking a beast's core or forming a contract."
Raven raised an eyebrow. "Taking their core? Sounds a bit... brutal."
"It is," Mavis said bluntly. "Beast tamers can extract a mana beast's core upon its death. By doing so, they inherit a fragment of the beast's power, allowing them to use its abilities as their own. However, this method is destructive and one-sided. The beast gains nothing from it, as it requires their death."
Raven frowned. "That doesn't sit right with me."
"Nor should it," Mavis said, her tone softening slightly. "The second method, forming a contract, is far more balanced. It's a mutual agreement between the tamer and the beast. The beast retains its autonomy, and the two can work together, their powers complementing each other. It's a partnership built on trust."
Raven leaned back, processing the information. "So, if someone sees you with me, they'll just assume I've tamed you?"
"Precisely," Mavis replied with a nod. "As far as the outside world is concerned, I'm your contracted mana beast. It's the perfect cover."
"Convenient," Raven admitted, glancing at Mavis again. "Though I have to say, for a terrifying Nytherian Dragon, you make a surprisingly adorable mana beast."
Mavis let out a growl, her tail swishing irritably. "Keep this up, and I'll bite your ear off."
Raven smirked, tapping the little dragon on the snout. "Relax, Mavis. I'm just messing with you."
"Humph," Mavis huffed, turning her head away, though a faint glimmer of amusement flickered in her eyes.
As they walked, Raven found herself marveling at the unexpected companionship she had formed with Mavis. Despite her gruff demeanor and sharp tongue, Mavis had become something of a mentor and, dare she admit it, a friend.
"By the way," Raven said after a moment, "does this mean I'm technically a beast tamer now?"
Mavis glanced at her, pink eyes gleaming with mischief. "Let's just say you're in a category of your own. After all, not every tamer gets to form a Soulbound Convergence with a dragon."
"Lucky me," Raven muttered, shaking her head.
Mavis chuckled, the sound light and airy, a stark contrast to her usual stern tone. "Indeed, lucky you."
"Whatever," Raven muttered, her gaze fixed on the sprawling city below. She stood atop a hill overlooking the bustling streets and illuminated buildings. The city looked vibrant, alive, and somehow unfamiliar. "It's been three years. Everything looks… brighter. Different."
"That's change for you," Mavis said, perched comfortably on Raven's shoulder in her compact dragon form. Her silver scales shimmered faintly in the sunlight, and her pink eyes took in the view with mild interest.
Raven's fingers tightened on the edge of her cloak as she scanned the city below. Her heterochromatic eyes—one golden, the other crimson—reflected the sunlight, a reminder of the power she had gained but also the time she had lost.
"Three years," Raven repeated, her voice softer now. "It feels so long and yet… it doesn't. Everything down there moved on without me."
"It's what life does," Mavis replied, her tone even. "Time doesn't stop for anyone, not even for those who wield power like yours."
Raven exhaled, her gaze lingering on the towering spire of the Adventurer's Guild, standing tall among the city's skyline. "I wonder what they'll think of me. Lumina, Arielle… even Celia. They probably stopped looking for me after a while. Maybe they even forgot me."
Mavis shifted slightly on Raven's shoulder, her small claws brushing against the fabric of the cloak. "Forgot you? Unlikely. Mourned you? More probable. But that's not something you can control now, is it?"
"No, I guess not," Raven said, her tone tinged with bitterness. "Still, it's strange. Three years ago, I disappeared from their lives. Now, I'm about to walk back into the world like nothing happened."
Mavis's pink eyes narrowed as she glanced at Raven. "You're not walking back into anything. You're not Raven Vermillion anymore. You are Wraith now, a new identity, a new purpose. If you cling to what was, you'll only weaken yourself."
Raven clenched her fists, the leather of her gloves creaking softly. "I'm not clinging to anything. I just... I want to know how they're doing. If they're okay."
"And you will, in time," Mavis said, her tone softening slightly. "But for now, your focus needs to be on the present. The past is a lesson, not a chain. Don't let it hold you back."
Raven let out a slow breath, nodding. "You're right. First things first. We head to the Adventurer's Guild. That's where it starts."
"That's where Wraith starts," Mavis corrected, her voice firm. "Raven Vermillion has no place there. Remember that."
Raven adjusted the dark cloak around her shoulders, pulling the hood lower to shadow her features. Only her piercing, mismatched eyes shone through. "Fine. Then let's do this. No looking back."
With Mavis perched lightly on her shoulder in her small dragon form, Raven began her descent from the hill toward Eldoria. The city loomed ahead, a sprawling metropolis encased in high stone walls reinforced with shimmering runes that glowed faintly in the daylight.
As they neared the gates, the hum of life grew louder—vendors shouting, children laughing, the rhythmic clatter of hooves on cobblestones, and the steady din of countless conversations blending into a symphony of urban chaos. The scent of roasted meat and spiced vegetables wafted through the air, mingling with the sharper tang of molten iron from nearby forges.
"Eldoria," Raven murmured, taking in the sight of the bustling city. It was far livelier than she remembered, more colorful, yet somehow overwhelming.
The gates themselves were an impressive structure, forged of reinforced iron with intricate carvings of winged beasts—dragons, griffins, and phoenixes. Guards clad in polished armor patrolled the entrance, their eyes scanning the incoming travelers with practiced precision.
"Keep your head down," Mavis whispered, her voice resonating in Raven's mind.
Raven pulled the cloak tighter around herself, her steps measured as they passed under the towering gates.
Inside, Eldoria unfolded like a living tapestry. The streets were paved with smooth cobblestones, bordered by half-timbered buildings with colorful awnings that cast patches of shade over the bustling crowds. Children darted between vendors, their laughter rising above the chatter of merchants advertising their wares—glimmering trinkets, vibrant fabrics, enchanted baubles, and fresh produce arranged in neat displays.
A street performer juggled orbs of glowing mana, drawing an awestruck crowd that clapped and cheered with each flourish of his hands. Nearby, a bard strummed a lively tune on a lute, her voice weaving through the air like a melody enchanted to linger in the ears of passersby.
Despite the lively scene, Raven felt a prickle of unease. Her senses, heightened by her training and Mavis's influence, picked up subtle details others might miss—the flicker of a watchful gaze in an alleyway, the faint shift of mana rippling through the air.
"Eyes forward," Mavis said telepathically. "You're drawing too much attention."
"I'm just looking," Raven replied under her breath.
"Looking leads to lingering. Lingering leads to questions. And questions lead to trouble."
Raven shook her head slightly, forcing herself to focus. Her destination lay ahead—the towering spire of the Adventurer's Guild, its marble walls gleaming under the sunlight. It was a stark contrast to the city's earthy tones, its grandeur an unmistakable symbol of power and opportunity.
The closer they got, the more the atmosphere shifted. Adventurers of all kinds crowded the area around the spire—some clad in shining armor that reflected the sunlight, others in dark, practical garb meant for stealth. Weapons of every variety hung from belts or rested against backs, from broadswords to crossbows to magical staffs etched with runes that pulsed faintly with power.
"This is where it begins," Mavis said, her voice a mix of excitement and caution. "The birth of Wraith."
Raven paused briefly, her gaze fixed on the Guild's entrance. Large double doors, carved with symbols of heroism and conquest, stood open, inviting and foreboding all at once. She took a deep breath, letting the energy of the city flow through her. It was electric, alive with possibilities—and dangers.
"Let's see what this place has to offer," Raven muttered under her breath.