The clock had long since struck midnight, and with the turning of the hour, the last remnants of Loki’s dignity dissolved.
They stood deep within the Duchess’s personal magical workshop. It was a sprawling, subterranean sanctuary lined with humming artifacts, heavy arcane equipment, and the faint, ozone scent of raw mana. This was the very room where Sylvia forged her legendary magic items and meticulously cultivated her core toward the mythical 9th Circle. Tonight, however, it was empty of its usual attendants. Every maid, guard, and watchful eye had been dismissed. Sylvia had ensured absolute privacy—partly to shield Loki’s intense embarrassment, and partly to protect the birth of a new legend.
"Ah… do I really have to be completely naked for this part?" Loki muttered, his voice cracking slightly. "I'm a bit old-fashioned."
He stood shivering in the center of the stone floor, clutching a single, plush white towel around his waist. He was acutely aware that his face was currently matching the fiery red of his hair.
A few feet away, Shade stood with a perfectly flat, professional expression. Yet, her dark eyes were completely locked onto the defined lines of his muscles, tracing the contours of his chest and abdomen. She’s totally a closet pervert, Loki thought, suppressing a groan.
Beside her, Sylvia busied herself with the intricate mechanisms of the magical core awakening chamber. She caught Loki's nervous shifting and offered a gentle, knowing smile. Over the past month, the Duchess had learned a universal truth about her soon-to-be husband: whenever Loki grew anxious, his mouth began running entirely on autopilot, usually charting a direct course into trouble.
At the moment, Sylvia was delicately handling a staggering array of one hundred magical beast cores. She carefully slotted the thumbnail-sized gems into the interior grooves of a massive, silver, coffin-like capsule.
Noticing Loki’s intense curiosity, she paused, gesturing to the glittering stones. "Normally, when a young Mage prepares to form their magic core, we already know their primary element. We gather a hundred 1st Circle cores of that exact type to place inside this device."
She slid another gem into place with a soft click. "However, if my hypothesis is correct, your Air affinity is deeply intertwined with a Life aura. To be absolutely safe, I am using an exact half-and-half mix of both types. In reality, a person can form their core using any random hodgepodge of elements—that is how poor, rogue mages in the wild are forced to do it."
Sylvia stepped back, wiping her hands on a silk cloth. "But the reason noble houses use perfectly matched cores is for purity. Purity dictates your future ceiling. Take me, for instance. I utilized exactly one hundred pure Time cores, ensuring my ascension to the top was entirely unhindered. Had I used mixed or impure cores back then, I might have capped out at the 7th or 8th Circle, taking a lifetime just to manage that much."
She looked at him, her eyes softening with a fierce, protective warmth. "I had Shade fly the airship deep into the wilderness just to hunt fresh Life and Air cores for tonight. Even with a dual-element split, you won't suffer a single drawback. I would never gamble on my future husband's potential. If we had used only Air cores, I am certain you would struggle to break into the 9th Circle later in life. I based this entire setup on Thorin's dual-aura nature; you must balance both elements within your body. You cannot afford to lean purely into one."
Shade finally tore her gaze away from Loki’s eight-pack, coughing clearing her throat. She stepped forward and dropped a handful of spare, unslotted 1st Circle cores into his palm for inspection.
"I had to track down dozens of small Air Elementals, Demonic Eagles, Orcs, and Carnivorous Plants deep within the Demonic Beast Forest to harvest those," Shade noted, her voice steady but a bit breathless.
Loki looked down. The tiny, clear-and-greenish crystals felt refreshingly cool against his skin. From his studies, he knew that monsters naturally developed these cores within their hearts, though the rules varied wildly across species. Demons, for example, lacked physical magic cores entirely, relying purely on the raw aura bound to their flesh. Dragons and Elementals, on the other hand, condensed massive, stable cores that could easily be retrieved after death.
Meanwhile, sentient races—like Humans, Elves, and Dwarves—possessed a fragile magic structure. The moment they died, their core dissolved instantly into their bloodstream. Because of this, their blood was highly valued for alchemical injections and dark rituals, but a physical stone could never be harvested.
"Why do we need a hundred individual 1st Circle cores, though?" Loki asked, rolling the cold gems between his fingers. "Wouldn't it be easier to just use a few higher-level ones?"
Sylvia finished securing the last capsule slot and turned around. "Think of smaller, weaker cores like well-chewed food. Your body can easily swallow and digest them in small, manageable bites. If you were to start with a 2nd Circle core or higher, it would be the equivalent of a normal human trying to swallow a whole, raw one-pound steak in a single gulp. Your body simply cannot process that volume of dense energy as a 0-Circle Mage."
Shade stepped up beside Loki, her hand gently but firmly gripping his arm to guide him toward the silver awakening chamber. "The sheer cost and scarcity of these cores is exactly why Mages and Immortal Cultivators are so rare. Every single one of us requires a massive initial investment of a hundred cores just to open the door to magic."
Fwoosh!
Before Loki could mentally prepare himself, Sylvia and Shade guided him backward into the silver capsule. In a smooth, lightning-fast motion, the Duchess reached down and deftly yanked the white towel from his waist.
Loki froze, completely exposed to their shamelessly curious eyes. He instinctively moved his hands to cover himself, his face burning. The women, however, looked entirely pleased with the view.
Sylvia let out a soft, amused hum. "You know, the Eastern Immortal Cultivators don't actually use this mechanical method. They slowly absorb their spirit stones and cores one by one, spending painful, agonizing years solidifying their foundation. We Western Humans prefer efficiency. Why waste years when you can achieve the exact same result in one simple go?"
Realizing that modesty was a lost cause, Loki sighed, dropped his hands to his sides, and simply nodded. In his memories of Earth, he had read countless web novels about cultivation worlds where people sat in caves for decades absorbing 'Spirit Stones.' Hearing that beast cores worked the same way made the concept feel instantly familiar.
Shade made absolutely no effort to look away from his lower body. Sylvia, attempting to maintain some semblance of aristocratic dignity, blushed furiously and quickly averted her eyes, pretending she hadn't been staring.
To cover her tracks, the Duchess quickly grabbed the heavy silver lid and pulled it shut.
"Just close your eyes and meditate on the elements surrounding you," Sylvia’s muffled voice echoed through the metal. "Focus on pulling the raw energy directly into your heart. The chamber will handle the automatic formation of the core. It should take about ten to fifteen minutes. The door will click open once the element mist is fully absorbed."
Loki felt the chamber tilt backwards. It came to a rest at a precise 45-degree angle, a position designed to keep his blood flowing perfectly during the transition.
Click.
The heavy locking mechanisms engaged, plunging the capsule into near-total darkness. The only illumination came from a soft, ethereal glow radiating from the dozens of tiny intake holes peppering the chamber walls. Inside those holes, the hundred beast cores were already beginning to dissolve into pure, liquid energy.
"Phew… thank God I'm not claustrophobic," Loki muttered into the dark. "Otherwise, my magic career would have ended right here. Alright, let's do this. Time to focus."
A thick, vibrant green mist began to swirl into the chamber, pushed forward by a gentle, artificial draft. Loki took a deep breath, inhaling the vaporized Life and Air elements. The mist felt incredibly soothing, seeping effortlessly into his open pores and tingling across his skin. Air magic was naturally breezy and light, while Life magic was the most gentle, revitalizing energy a Mage could ever experience.
Loki closed his eyes and sank into a deep meditative trance. Without even realizing it, he didn't just push the magic toward his heart; he actively activated his own internal Life Aura. The two forces met in his bloodstream, instantly recognizing each other. They melted together seamlessly, transforming his mana signature. A true, balanced, dual-element magic core began to crystallize within his chest, altering the very nature of his power.
Click-Swoosh!
Time became meaningless in the dark. It felt as though only a few heartbeats had passed before the heavy locking pins retracted and the capsule lid slid open.
When Loki opened his eyes, he was greeted by the sight of Sylvia and Shade leaning over the rim, their faces tight with nervous anticipation.
Loki flashed them a confident, cheeky grin and gave a sharp thumbs-up. "Ladies, you’re in luck. You get to marry a bona fide Mage-Knight. I’m officially a 1st Circle spell-caster, though I still need to figure out the finer details."
Shade’s cheeks flushed a bright pink as she quickly tossed him his clothes. Meanwhile, Sylvia pointed toward a raised stone platform tucked away in the corner of the massive workshop.
"Excellent," the Duchess said, her voice dripping with pride. "Now, we test your element affinity and official class."
Loki stepped out of the silver tube, casually pulling on his garments right in front of them without a hint of his earlier shyness.
The three of us walked over to the testing pedestal. It was a solid block of carved stone, standing about four feet high and a foot wide. Resting on the top was a thick, silver-metal slab wrapped in an intricate border of faintly glowing, ancient runes.
Sylvia took Loki’s right hand, guiding his palm flat against the center of the cold metal. "This part is the simplest, but it is the most important step of our lives. I hope you become the man I need you to be, Loki, but..."
Shade stepped up to his other side, leaning her shoulder against his. It was clear the two women had shared a quiet, anxious conversation while he was in the tank. "Loki, Sylvia and I will marry you no matter what this stone says. Even if it says you failed. I believe in you."
Loki nodded, feeling a strange, unshakeable wave of confidence washing over him. As Sylvia released her grip, he let his power flow.
Buzz-Hummm.
A brilliant, swirling emerald light erupted from his palm, mimicking the way he usually channeled his knightly aura. The magical plate absorbed the energy instantly, and within seconds, the test was complete.
The ambient light dimmed as sharp, glowing runes etched themselves across the silver plate, spelling out a clear message in their native tongue:
[ Element: Air & Life ]
[ Magic Core Type: Summoner ]
Sylvia’s grip on his right arm tightened so fiercely it nearly bruised. To his left, Shade’s hand began to tremble against his sleeve. Both women stared at the glowing text in absolute, stunned silence.
Sylvia’s eyes were completely glued to the final word, a title so rare and reality-shattering that it completely overshadowed the fact that he possessed a legendary dual-element core like Thorin.
"Another… Summoner?" she whispered, her voice cracking with pure shock.
Shade swallowed hard, trying desperately to maintain her stoic guard demeanor despite her racing heart. "Loki… you really are the second male Summoner in history."
To be completely honest, Loki wasn't exactly thrilled. He would never admit it aloud to them, but he had secretly harbored dreams of becoming a flashy, destructive battle mage—the kind of guy who could summon giant meteors and blast entire armies with elemental fire. He let out a silent, internal sigh. A summoner, huh?
"Now that it's real, it doesn't even feel like it's happening," Loki murmured, scratching his head.
Sylvia and Shade locked eyes, realizing he didn't grasp the earth-shattering weight of his own class. The Duchess took a deep breath, forcing her royal composure back into place.
"There is no time to waste. You must immediately engrave your three baseline 1st Circle Summoning spells, Loki. I already have the necessary tomes prepared: <Element Bolt>, <Call Summon>, and <Share Master's Skills>!"
She gripped his shoulders, her tone turning dead serious. "Before you attempt to call a single creature, you must master all three. Do not leave this estate until you do. Furthermore, you are to tell absolutely no one about your elements, your class, or your dual-aura nature until after you have secured your first official contract."
Sylvia checked a pocket watch. "You can use my private meditation room to absorb higher-tier cores and accelerate your growth. While you study and imprint these spells, Shade and I will handle the final wedding arrangements."
A sharp, calculating glint returned to the Duchess's eyes. "We will hold the ceremony tomorrow evening, right as the sun sets on your birthday. We will invite your family, the highest city officials, and the top military brass. We need the news of our union to ripple all the way back to the royal capital before anyone can try to stop us."
Loki rubbed his nose, looking between the two formidable women. "I've never actually stayed over at your mansion before. Where exactly am I supposed to rest and meditate?"
Mwah!
Before Loki or Shade could even blink, Sylvia leaned in and firmly pressed her lips against his.
She pulled back just as quickly, a faint, victorious smirk playing on her lips as if the answer was completely self-evident. "You are my husband now. You will stay in the master bedroom—which is exactly where my personal high-grade meditation array is located."
"Wait, I—"
Pinch!
Loki’s mouth snapped shut as a sudden, agonizing burst of pain flared in his side. Shade had reached over and delivered a brutal, twisting pinch right to his flank. What terrified him most was that her fingers had somehow completely bypassed his passive <Toughness> ability—a defensive skill he had spent grueling months training as a Vanguard Knight.
The pain was so intense it completely drove the shock of the Duchess's sudden kiss out of his mind. So much for Sylvia's grand promises of a 'nominal marriage' where she wouldn't force him into anything.
Yet, as his side throbbed, Loki realized something else. The moment Sylvia’s lips had touched his, a genuine, uncontrollable spark of happiness had flared deep in his chest. This wasn't going to be a mere political arrangement. This marriage was going to be entirely real.
Even Sylvia looked slightly stunned by her own impulsive actions, her cheeks flushing as she looked away. Shade’s immediate punishment made perfect sense now—the fierce guard knew she was going to have to share her man with her boss and closest friend.
Loki offered a silent, apologetic thought to the strict monogamy lessons of his past life on Earth. Sorry, Earth. I was born in the world of Myst now, after all.
By the time Loki finally sat down on Sylvia's incredibly soft, massive canopy bed, the clock had long passed one in the morning. The room was silent save for the crackle of a nearby hearth as he flipped through the heavy leather pages of the magic tomes.
The text detailed the three fundamental spells of his new life:
<Element Bolt>: The most foundational attack magic shared across all three casting disciplines. However, due to Loki's unique dual-affinity, this single spell matrix actually branched into three separate attack forms. He could cast a swift <Wind Bolt> or a piercing <Thorn Bolt>. Alternatively, if he channeled both elements simultaneously—expending 50% more mana—the spell evolved into a unique variant: <Wood Bullet>. It compressed the elements into a dense projectile that struck with double the destructive force of the standard bolts. The execution was simple: extend a palm, mold a baseball-sized sphere of elemental energy, and fire.
<Call Summon>: Widely regarded as the most volatile and dangerous magic in all of Myst. A mere 1st Circle Summoner possessed the theoretical capability to tear open the veil and pull a terrifying 9th Circle entity across the 13 planes into their service. Such a feat could instantly obliterate rival mages and knights of equal level. However, the spell carried a lethal catch: the wider the gap between the Summoner's level and the creature's Circle, the less control the master retained. The only saving grace was an absolute cosmic rule—a Summoned beast could never directly harm its Master. Anyone standing near the Summoner, however, was fair game. Furthermore, if the Master died, the contract would violently claim the Summon’s life 24 hours later. Conversely, if the Summon perished, the caster's soul suffered a backlash, locking them out from calling a replacement for a full year.
<Share Master's Skills>: A passive, arguably broken ability unique to high-tier Summoners. It allowed the master to instantly imprint their own hard-earned skills directly onto their contracted beast. The creature would wield these abilities at the exact proficiency level of the Master.
Loki ran a finger down the extensive list of skills his future summon would instantly inherit from his soul:
<Archery>, <Animal Husbandry>, <Knife Use & Corpse Processing>, <Wing Chun (Earth's Martial Art)>, <Brewing>, <Swimming>, <Mounted Riding>, <Basic Survival Skills>, <English Language (Earth)>, <Science Knowledge (Earth)>, <Mathematics (Earth)>, <Gambling>, <Locksmith (Earth)>, <Basic Geography>, <Monster Lore>, <Both Human Languages (Western & Eastern)>, <Singing>, <Diplomacy>, <Magic Lore>, <General History>, <Human Nobility and Customs>, and <Basic Magic>.
Yeah, this is absolutely ridiculous, Loki thought, a slow smile creeping onto his face. Any creature that bound its soul to him would instantly transform into a hyper-educated, martial arts-using, multilingual prodigy. Of course, they also inherited the terrifying risk of dying right alongside him.
Snap.
Loki closed the final tome and set it gently onto the nightstand. He crossed his legs, cleared his mind, and sank back into his inner consciousness.
Slowly, carefully, he began the delicate process of engraving the three complex spell matrices directly onto the surface of the glowing magic core nestled within his heart.
He closed his eyes. It was going to be a long, grueling couple of hours before dawn.
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