Last True Remnants of Old Valyria

12 From the Ashes, She arises

The time has come for me to depart from this place, but not without fully harnessing the power of this volcano. The prior ritual, "Ritual of the Bloodflame Awakening," has exacted its toll, yet I continue to reap some benefits even after the force's effects have dissipated. The rituals I am to perform will not be on myself this time, as my hands are already occupied with mastering the skills I possess. Donning my tunic and withdrawing my wand from within, I picture the cavern in my mind, and with a creak, I Apparate into the cavern.

Apparition is the spell I've practiced so frequently that I no longer need to perform the wand movement or incantation. Teleporting is an incredibly useful skill to have. In battle, you could Apparate to the other side and surprise your opponents, but this is only advantageous if you've mastered Apparition. Without mastery, it produces a sound both when you depart and when you arrive. Another drawback is that you can only teleport to locations you've previously visited.

In the future, I plan to master the skill to such a degree that I'll be able to teleport to places I've only seen in pictures or can vividly imagine. It won't be long before I reach that level of mastery. In other areas, I've attained a level of proficiency comparable to an Auror in Harry Potter. I can now perform conjurations and use various charms and spells for defense against the dark arts. The spell I've longed to learn is now within my arsenal.

"Protego Diabolica" is a dark charm that surrounds the caster with a protective ring of black fire, incinerating enemies while leaving allies unharmed. The black fire can also manifest as winged creatures, spreading quickly and capable of immense destruction. Despite being a spell that manipulates fire, it is not difficult to master. Now, I can conjure black fire with just a thought.

After mastering "Protego Diabolica," I began studying the "Fiendfyre curse," prioritizing the counter-curse due to its potential variability in this world. A month into practicing Fiendfyre, I have gained sufficient control to use it safely without fear of it becoming unruly. While its flames may serve a purpose in rituals, their dark essence makes me prefer using conjured fire or dragon fire instead.

Next, I have perfectly mastered Occlumency, and I feel that soon I will be able to enter my inner world. As for Legilimency, I have ventured near town and begun reading surface thoughts without harming minds. I am making good progress at a pleasing rate, but I have not yet delved deeply into their minds, so my experience in this area is not as extensive as I would like. However, I believe it will come with time.

Moving on to the rituals, these remain unnamed as I choose not to disclose them. The first ritual, to be performed just once, could make a Valyrian Dragon Lord so proud, were they alive, that they might gladly offer their daughters in marriage. Dragon Lords were fond of breeding and nurturing new creatures. Contrary to common belief, dragons were not created by our ancestors through flesh crafting. Had that been the case, dragons wouldn't be the sole creatures the Dragon Lords possessed.

The flesh pits of Gorgossos were the result of dragon lords' failed attempts to create new breeds or enhance their dragons. In fact, the Valyrians were not known for flesh crafting before the Ghiscari wars, as this magic originated from them. After their conquest, the Valyrians learned this magic and began experimenting for their own purposes, but they never achieved any success. In every Valyrian dragon lord's castle, one could find gargoyles, paintings, and statues of various magical beasts. Valyrian dragon lords even competed among themselves to see who could possess the most exotic and superior specimens of animals. They invested substantial amounts of gold and slaves for animal husbandry. The slaves tasked with animal care enjoyed a higher status than many minor lords of freehold, as Dragon lords always valued talent, and animal husbandry was highly coveted.