The Chronicles of a Scalebound Sage: Wandmaker Vol.2

WM [62] Woman of Yuhia

Tanisha took her seat cautiously, her every move measured as Bjorn settled beside her. Across from them, Sigrun's eyes roved over Tanisha in a way that felt unnervingly intimate, as if she were studying every facet of her being. It wasn't lust or admiration, but fascination. Now that Sigrun knew Tanisha was a greater wendigo, not a demon, her curiosity was palpable despite the regal mask she wore. But Tanisha wasn't fooled. She could feel the weight of that gaze, analyzing her, assessing her potential.

Tanisha, however, kept her own gaze sharp and unwavering. Her eyes locked onto the First Princess with the focus of a hawk, refusing to stray for even a second. She wasn't sure if she could outrun Sigrun or her Domination Sorcery, but if things went wrong, Tanisha was prepared to try. Every muscle in her body was tense, ready to spring into action. But Sigrun's posture remained calm, almost relaxed—there were no signs of imminent hostility.

"Hello, Tanisha," Sigrun greeted her. Her voice was smooth and measured, but beneath the formal tone was a note of excitement. "You do prefer Tanisha, or should I call you Sif or Freja?"

"Tanisha is preferred, yes," she replied, her voice steady, though her insides churned with tension.

"Good." Sigrun leaned back slightly, folding her hands on the table. "There's a tradition among royals when we meet under circumstances like these. I know you're unaware of it, as it's different from how we handle the subservience of nobility. But since you are now our peer, it would be rude not to teach you. There are two parts: the first is the Power Display. It's a brief exchange of controlled aura. I will release mine first, and then you will do the same. Keep it contained between the two of us. This allows us to sense the Domination Sorcery we share—something unique to the royal family. For you, it will allow us to feel your magic and gauge its potency."

Tanisha's heart skipped a beat. She had known this was coming, but the formality of the request still sent a ripple of apprehension through her. Before she could respond, Sigrun continued.

"The second part is the sharing of bloodwine, or a gift from our travels, as a means to commune." Sigrun gave a slight smile, but the tension in the air was thick. "Shall we get started?"

Without waiting for an answer, Sigrun unleashed her aura.

It was like being hit by an invisible tidal wave. There was no outward sign, no dramatic explosion of light or sound, but Tanisha felt it immediately. Her magical senses were overwhelmed, her entire body instinctively bracing against the sheer force of it. She could feel it pressing down on her like the weight of a mountain. Surprise flickered across her face despite her best efforts to remain composed.

Without any conscious thought, her skill Identify activated.

Identify

Name: Sigrun Al Velidein Qar
Species: Wendigo
Level: 422
Vocation: Sorceress of Domination
Highest Stat: Sorcery: 2337

Tanisha stared in disbelief. Sigrun's aura was so powerful, so oppressive, it registered as though the princess had physically touched her. She could feel the sheer magnitude of Sigrun's power—something far beyond anything she had faced before. Even Joha, even Ingrid, paled in comparison to this.

She swallowed dryly. If Sigrun wanted to take her, wanted to force her to stay, there was nothing Tanisha could do to stop her. She could capture them both with ease, crush them beneath the weight of her sorcery. Yet, the princess hadn't done so. She was going through this formal dance, adhering to tradition rather than using brute force. That was what unnerved Tanisha the most. Sigrun was choosing negotiation, respect even, when she could have simply taken what she wanted.

The aura retracted, and Sigrun leaned back, watching her expectantly. Tanisha's turn.

Taking a deep breath, she gathered her own magic. Unlike the typical wendigo, her aura didn't project outwards. Instead, ambient mana around her was drawn inward, mixing with her own reserves of mana, maya, and aether. It swirled within her, creating seiðr, a magic unique to her. Slowly, it began to circulate around her in a dense, invisible vortex, an event horizon where all mana in the vicinity was absorbed and converted into something entirely her own. It wasn't just a display of power; it was transformation, creation, an act of pure will.