47 Chapter XX: Ritual

The following day I spent pretending to be going about my business as usual, while spying on Edrasa's movements and planning on how exactly I would get her out of the college for an interrogation.

Getting no immediate ideas I decided to focus on other things for now, I visited my usual blacksmith and bought the most jagged dagger I could find, apparently I was a very petty mer when it came to taking revenge.

Xelzaz thankfully left me with some instructions for the poison, it would remain on the weapon for up to three days, so I took some time to coat the dagger thoroughly in preparation for what was to come.

My murderous preparations were however interrupted by the Archmage popping into existence right next to me, this time I didn't react as I learned to sense the disturbance slightly after the last time he did it.

He noticed this and seemed to pout like I took his toy away, but quickly gathered himself "Getting ready for sweet sweet revenge I see Reyvin"

I shrug "It isn't really revenge, it's more like natural selection at this point. A dumbass who deigns to try and control me with his flimsy ass enchantments should obviously be removed from the gene pool for the good of all"

Savos snorts before saying "Yes, your generosity knows no bounds oh great lord of Dagoth, but I am not here to talk about that"

"Obviously, this is great house business." I say with great amounts of sarcasm.

He rolls his eyes "Naturally, as I was saying one of the requests you made for the animanculi schematics is ready" He then takes a pose as if making a proclamation "Using my mighty and endless experience-"

I facepalm "You aren't Shalazar, it doesn't work"

He pouts again "Oh come now, I have enough charm to pull it off!"

I just give him a half-lidded stare.

He sighs in defeat "Yeah yeah ruin my fun why don't you? In any case, the ritual you requested has been mostly finished, I just have one last question."

I move my hand as if to say 'go on'.

He nods "Most of the early enhancement rituals have the same basic components, but the final parts need the least amount of preparation while actually having the most influence on the ritual itself. Basically, you have a choice, I can infuse you with the explosive strength and night vision of a saber cat or the durability and slight regeneration of a troll."

I scratch my recently regrown stubble in thought for a bit before asking "Side effects?"

He nods "There are some, the saber cat would make your eyes a bit more feline and extend your canines a bit, the troll would in turn bulk you up and make your hair grow faster and be rougher."

"So nothing life-changing but still noticeable"

"Indeed"

I think for a bit, and while stacking healing and regeneration would be good, I already was very durable and able to heal myself relatively fast. On the other hand, being stronger and faster is something that I always seemed to lack, except when boosting myself with magic but that Magicka could be used for other things if I was already strong or even boost me further.

After a couple of minutes, I finally decide and turn to Savos "I choose the saber cat"

"Very well" he stands up from his chair and claps his hands, teleporting us to what I guess are his quarters, and let me tell you they are more opulent than what little of Ulfirc's palace I managed to gleam.

He signals me to follow him to a ritual circle, filled with all manner of ingredients. He starts pulling out different parts of a saber cat from his storage magic, filling some indentations with blood mixed with something else, he even pulls out four rubies and places them around the circle.

Damn, this must be very expensive to do, but realistically this is chump change for him compared to what he is getting in return.

After about ten minutes of meticulous work, Savos is finally done. He turns to me and waves his hands "Well, what are you waiting for? Into the center you go."

I follow his instructions and position myself in a central circle that connects all the other parts of the ritual, I nod at the Archmage and start channeling my Magicka.

Nothing happens for a good ten minutes but then all the ingredients start reacting, slowly and steadily melting into a red ball in front of me, this takes another twenty minutes of me constantly having to channel Magicka and follow the circle perfectly.

Finally, everything seems to fit together, and the blob of the blood-looking substance launches itself into me and is absorbed into my body in less than a second.

Surprised, I raise my eyebrow, thinking it is over, but then the itching starts.

My life for the next hour is hell, some of my skin falls off while my canines grow a bit making my mouth slightly uncomfortable with the unusual sensation.

My sight becomes sharper and I see the shadowy corners of the room more clearly but also blinding me a bit whenever I look at the windows.

The worst part however is the constant, merciless itch in my everything! At this point, I might have preferred pain, at least I would feel victorious for enduring it pain! This would just leave me feeling disgusting.

Blessedly the ritual comes to a close and I start rolling on the ground with Savos laughing his ass off nearby.

[Str: 11.5 => 15]

[Dex: 13 => 16]

[Trait gained: Night vision]

I get up slowly while glaring at the older mer which just seems to entertain him more "Thanks for that old man"

He clutches his heart "Oh you hurt me Reyvin, I thought we were buddies!"

I roll my eyes "Yeah whatever, see you later."

I am about to pass next to him but he stops me with a hand and says in a serious tone "While I cannot directly interfere, that doesn't mean I can't or won't help you. The little worm dared attack one of my students, if I don't have at least a bit of a hand in his punishment I would be disgusted with myself" before taking off a ring from his hand and giving it to me.

I raise an eyebrow and he laughs "Oh I still want it back, that one is expensive even for me"

"You do realize I am going to copy everything carved into it down to the last detail, right?" I ask.

He looks at me and winks, apparently, that was the intent.

"Thank you Archmage, truly" I give him a slight bow and go to leave.

Just before I close the door I hear "Good luck Reyvin, give him hell" I smile and go toward the dorms, finally having gotten an idea on how to get Edrasa alone.

----------------------------

If you have enjoyed reading this donate a stone for the reconstruction of the sixth house.

If you want to support me directly and get access to 20ish chapters in advance visit my patreon page patreon .com/Rastislav156