Witchcraft Rising [ONC 2020]

Vallus, Segitta, Luxen (side story)

When I returned to my Incantations class on the second floor, I slid into my seat behind my desk just in time before Professor Amarok began a quick introduction of what we would be doing today.

   Over the past few classes we had spent time developing our skills and creating an incantation of our own. Once the instructions had been given, we all rose from our seats and Professor Amarok pushed them to the sides of the room with a gust of blue wind. Giving one another plenty of room, each of my classmates began practicing, warping the air in front of them or summoning magical forces.

   I practiced a few simple incantations to warm up my magic before I sighed and stretched my hands briefly, then cracked my neck. I had crafted my incantation after Tenebris, inspired by the night she had turned into a shadow on my wall and had still managed to affect the physical world.

   Professor Amarok strode over after checking with the student next to me who had summoned a miniature maelstrom into the room. That was going to be hard to beat. My own incantation hadn't been entirely successful so far, I had spent the last few classes changing words here and there.

   "Go ahead, Anveya." His ice-blue eyes pierced mine, almost as if a layer of frost lived in his gaze. He motioned a pale hand in front of him towards the empty space. It wouldn't be empty for long.

   I took a deep breath and began reciting the incantation, drawing a bit on Tenebris' magic still nestled beside my own in my soul. The shadows around the classroom darkened, pulsing towards me in rhythmic tendrils as if drawn in by an invisible song only they could hear. The light filtering into the room through the towering windows flared brightly before individual beams separated from the sun's rays like strings, weaving around students before joining together with the shadows and spearing towards me.

   I stretched my hands towards the ground, commanding the shadows and light to merge and take form before me. Several students gasped loudly, distracted from their own tasks as the swirling mass grew with the sound of sand slithering and light bursting out occasionally from the ever-solidifying shadows. Until soft growling filled the air and a paw took form, stepping out of the vibrant shadows. Even Professor Amarok lifted his pale brows in awe as more of the beast's body took shape and stepped out until not one but three giant wolves stood before me, shadows swirling like smoke and light eddying underneath their forms.

   Their alpha raised it's massive head and opened glowing eyes of blessed fire to look down at me. I was the only one who didn't take a step back as radiant claws of blessed fire slid free as well, marring the wood floors slightly. My mouth hung open of its own accord as I raised a hand tentatively. I knew I controlled them but still―

   The shadow wolf didn't wait, immediately pressing it's snout against my palm, purring deep in it's chest where a sphere of my magic glowed. I let out a small laugh as I raised my other hand and stroked the side of its face, pressing my forehead against its own when it lowered its head for me. I wondered what their teeth looked like.