The pain from the summoning still burned beneath his skin, but Adrian barely noticed it. His mind was focused entirely on the next step: engraving the **Vritas Runes** into his bones.
Adrian had never experienced anything like it before. The **Vritas Runes** were a forbidden technique, one designed to imbue the body with unnatural strength and resilience. In theory, they could make a person nearly invincible—provided the person could survive the process of engraving them. And given that Vincent Astor had never even considered such a radical act, it was clear that Adrian had already deviated from the original story in ways Vincent could never have anticipated.
But there was no turning back now.
The altar in front of him, smaller than the one used for the summoning, was lined with tools of ancient make. Several of them gleamed faintly under the torchlight—daggers, needles, and other implements designed to carve into flesh and bone. Adrian had no doubt the process would be excruciating. The runes themselves were designed to rewrite the very structure of the body, carving new pathways into the bones and muscles, imprinting them with magical symbols that would elevate a person's physical and magical prowess.
But first, he needed to carve the runes, and the pain would be unlike anything he could have imagined.
He gripped a slender, curved dagger, its blackened steel reflecting the dim light. The blade seemed to hum with the power that it had held for centuries. Adrian took a deep breath and pulled his sleeve up, exposing his forearm. He had no intention of doing this halfway—he would inscribe every rune on his body if it meant surviving the nightmare he had found himself in.
With a steady hand, he pressed the blade to his forearm and began.
The first rune burned into his flesh, and the pain was immediate. It was like someone had set his arm on fire from the inside. He gritted his teeth, keeping his breath steady despite the agony. The rune was a simple one, the symbol for strength—**Viritas Alpha**—but the moment it was carved into his bone, it felt as though his arm had become both heavier and stronger. His muscles tightened, bulging with newfound power, but his body was already protesting, trembling from the strain.
Adrian could feel his heartbeat pulsing through the rune, sending waves of searing energy through his entire body. His vision blurred, and sweat poured down his face as he continued the process.
"Focus," he muttered through clenched teeth, trying to block out the pain.
But the next rune was worse. As the blade pressed into his wrist, carving through the bone, his entire body convulsed. The rune was designed for resistance—**Viritas Sigma**—and the moment it began to etch itself into his bone, Adrian felt every fiber of his being fight against it. His muscles seized, and for a brief, terrifying moment, he thought his arm would snap. The bone felt as though it were splintering under the pressure.
He screamed in pain, the sound echoing off the cold stone walls of the sanctum. His vision swam in and out of focus, and he nearly dropped the blade. His mind screamed at him to stop—**this is too much**—but he refused to give in. He couldn't afford to fail. Not now.
With every ounce of strength left in him, he forced himself to continue, the rune dragging deeper into his wrist. Finally, with a violent, final motion, the rune was complete. As the pain subsided, Adrian could feel the change immediately. His body was flooded with a strange sense of resilience, as though every cell in his body was reinforced with steel. The weakness he'd always felt as a normal human was gone, replaced by something far more primal.
But the next rune would be even more excruciating.
He paused, gripping the edge of the altar with shaking hands, trying to center himself. The **Viritas Delta** rune was the most dangerous—it would enhance his physical capabilities beyond mortal limits, turning him into something far stronger. But the engraving of this rune also came with the risk of it consuming his very life force. Adrian had already summoned gods into his soul; the last thing he needed was to burn away his humanity completely. But he had no choice.
He took another deep breath and pressed the blade to his ribs, carving the symbol for fortitude. His whole body shuddered as the blade sank into his flesh, tearing into his ribcage. This was the worst yet—the pain was all-consuming, hot and searing like molten iron poured into his veins.
The world tilted, spinning out of control as he etched the rune deep into his bones. Blood poured from the wound, mixing with the sweat now pouring down his face. His body screamed for him to stop, but Adrian pushed forward with every last ounce of willpower.
Finally, with a final, anguished scream, the rune was complete.
He fell back, crumpling to the ground as the weight of what he had just done settled over him. His whole body trembled, and he could feel his bones vibrating with the force of the runes. His mind was foggy from the pain, but as he lay there, gasping for breath, he could sense a change in the air—an unmistakable energy thrumming through his veins.
The power was undeniable. He could feel his muscles growing more compact, more powerful, and every breath he took was like drawing strength from the very air itself. His vision was sharper, his senses keener, and his body felt invincible. But it wasn't enough.
Adrian gritted his teeth and pushed himself to his feet, though his legs trembled beneath him. He staggered to the mirror that stood against the wall, his reflection hazy from the blood loss. The person staring back at him was not the same. His body was leaner, more defined, but the glow of the runes beneath his skin was undeniable. He was no longer entirely human, and though his mind screamed that the price was too high, a dark part of him reveled in the raw power he now wielded.
The final rune—**Viritas Omega**—was not one he would inscribe tonight. That rune would require a soul sacrifice, and Adrian wasn't ready for that yet. He still had too much to lose.
But as he looked at the runes glowing beneath his skin, he knew one thing for certain: **he was no longer powerless.**
He had survived the most painful trial of his life, and now, as the stars near his heart pulsed faintly, he could sense Vysindras stirring in his mind. The dragon's presence was comforting, yet unsettling. The power he had gained was vast, but it came with limitations. Vysindras' flames, the very flames that could incinerate his enemies, would tear through him if used too recklessly.
But Adrian was no longer the weak human who had once lived as Adrian Cross. Now, he was Vincent Astor—heir to the Astor family, son of the Witch of Evernight. His fate was not yet written, but it would be his to control.
The Academy awaited.
And with his new strength, Adrian was ready to face whatever came next.
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