Kaelith found herself suspended, with only the upper half of her astral form visible, drifting in an endless void of darkness. The sensation was not unfamiliar; she had experienced it many times before. The darkness was thick and all-encompassing, swallowing any sense of direction or time. Despite her familiarity with this state, it remained one of her least favorite. The oppressive stillness of the void seemed to stretch each moment into eternity, leaving her with nothing to do but endure the passage of time, which trudged forward at an agonizingly slow pace.
Then, without warning, the void shattered. The darkness peeled away like strips of charred skin, revealing a blinding light that forced Kaelith to squint her eyes. Her once again fully formed body plummeted through an endless expanse of clear blue sky. Wind whipped her waist-length white hair into a halo around her head as gravity claimed her.
Kaelith's lips parted in a gasp that transformed into exhilarated laughter. The transition was always the most thrilling part! The moment of rebirth into a new world ripe for her corruption~!
Her translucent dress billowed around her like gossamer wings, the fabric catching the sunlight and refracting it into colorful shards across her pale skin.
Far below, a metropolis sprawled across the landscape like a massive living organism. Towering walls of gleaming white stone encircled the city, the tops of them brimming with what appeared to be magical defenses that shimmered with iridescent energy even from this height.
Within those barriers were countless buildings clustered together. They consisted of domed structures of gold and silver, as well as soaring spires that pierced the clouds, and labyrinthine streets that pulsed with the movement of thousands upon thousands of people.
"How magnificent," Kaelith purred, her fall slowing as she instinctively reached out with her consciousness to test the atmosphere. The air around her vibrated, thick with mana that caressed her skin like a lover's touch. It seeped into her pores, filling her with delicious vitality that made her flesh tingle and her blood dance.
Unlike the dreary, magically barren realm she'd just left behind, where her talents had been so frustratingly limited, this world positively overflowed with arcane energy. She could taste the sweetness on her tongue, promising lasting possibilities for one with her particular appetites.
Kaelith extended her arms, fingers splayed as she manipulated the ambient mana. The air shimmered around her, slowing her descent until she drifted downward like a feather riding a gentle breeze. Her crimson eyes narrowed as she studied the city beneath her, already cataloguing potential weaknesses, power centers, and prey.
"Who shall I be this time?" she whispered to herself, her voice melodic against the rush of wind. The question sent thrills of anticipation through her frame. A priestess, perhaps? A lost noblewoman? A foreign sorceress seeking sanctuary? The options unfurled before her like petals of a tainted flower.
As she descended toward the eastern part of the city, where elegant spires indicated wealth and influence, Kaelith noticed something peculiar. Threads of golden energy weaved through the air, linking certain individuals who moved through the streets below to creatures either close by or at a distance away. She could see these mystical bonds even from her great height, passing them off as something she'd come to understand soon.
"How interesting," she murmured, her smile sharpening into something predatory. "A society bound by magical contracts? Or perhaps soulmates? Either way, such connections are always so delightfully fragile."
The closer she drew to the city, the more details revealed themselves. Guards patrolled the massive walls, their armor glinting in the sunlight. Markets bustled with commerce, the colorful canopies of merchant stalls creating a patchwork of many differing colors. In what appeared to be a central plaza, a massive crystal obelisk pulsed with raw magical energy, sending waves of mana outward in rhythmic pulses.
Kaelith adjusted her trajectory, aiming for a secluded courtyard adjacent to what appeared to be a temple or academy. The massive structure's architecture was impressive, to say the least. It spanned numerous acres of land, all sweeping arches and spires that seemed to defy gravity. Perfect for her entrance.
Her bare feet touched down on cool marble with barely a sound. The courtyard was mercifully empty, allowing her a moment to compose herself. Kaelith closed her eyes, feeling the world's magic seep into her being, adapting to its particular frequency. She would need to understand the rules before she could effectively decide whether or not to follow them.
When her eyes opened again, they gleamed with malicious intent. She smoothed her hands down her dress, the fabric transforming beneath her touch. The material solidified, taking on the appearance of fine silk in deep shades of midnight blue, embroidered with silver constellations that seemed to move when caught by the light. A suitable attire for her first impression.
"Now then," she whispered, her voice creamy.
Kaelith studied the imposing structure before her, sensing the currents of magic that flowed through its very foundations. This was no mere temple, as the concentration of arcane energy pulsing from within suggested something far more significant. The elegant script carved above the nearest entrance confirmed her suspicions: Imperial Academy of Magical Arts.
Perfect. A breeding ground for power and young ambition.
She closed her eyes, drawing a deep breath as she focused her essence inward. The transformation began at her core, rippling outward through her body in waves of tingling heat. Her alabaster skin warmed to a sun-kissed golden hue, while her stark white hair retracted into her scalp, only to emerge as cascading golden locks that tumbled past her shoulders. The crimson of her irises bled away, replaced by a cornflower blue so innocent and guileless that they practically radiated trustworthiness.
When she opened her newly azure eyes, she examined her reflection in a nearby decorative fountain. A young woman, appearing perhaps twenty-four or twenty-five years of age, gazed back at her with a face that perfectly balanced scholarly seriousness with approachable warmth. Her features were pretty but not distractingly beautiful, the kind of face that invited confidence rather than suspicion.
"Much better," she murmured, her voice now lighter and melodious, with just a hint of an unplaceable accent. "Something suitably qualified, I'd say."
Students streamed through the academy's various entrances, most appearing to be young adults, though she noted a few faces that seemed barely out of childhood. The golden threads she'd observed from above were even more apparent now, these being connections linking some students to magical beasts, or to what she now recognized as familiars: creatures of various shapes and sizes that accompanied their bonded humans.
Kaelith straightened her midnight blue dress, feeling the constellation patterns shift subtly across the fabric as if responding to her intentions. She needed information, credentials, and most importantly, a position that would grant her access to the beating heart of this society's magical structure.
A young man hurried past, arms laden with scrolls, his robes bearing the insignia of a teaching assistant, not that she'd know. Kaelith reached out, her fingers brushing his sleeve just enough to make him stumble.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, quickly steadying him as several scrolls tumbled to the marble floor. "I'm so terribly sorry. How clumsy of me."
"No harm done," he mumbled, kneeling to gather his scattered burden.
Kaelith knelt beside him, her dress pooling around her like spilled ink. "Please, allow me to help. I feel responsible." She collected several scrolls, scanning their contents with lightning speed as she did so. Faculty assignments. Class schedules. A list of recently vacated positions.
"Are you new here?" the young man asked, accepting the scrolls she handed back to him. "I don't believe I've seen you before."
"Just arrived," Kaelith replied, her smile carefully calibrated to convey both confidence and slight nervousness. "I'm here about the vacant Theoretical Conjuration position. I was told Archmage Valerian would be expecting me."
The young man's eyes widened slightly. "The Theoretical Conjuration post? But that's one of the most prestigious positions in the academy. They've been searching for months for someone qualified enough to-"
"Yes, the selection process has been quite rigorous," she interrupted smoothly, rising to her feet with grace. "I've spent the last decade researching at the Celestial Observatory in the Far Isles. Perhaps you've read my treatise on the dimensional anchoring of extra-planar entities?" She named a location she'd plucked directly from the young man's mind, watching with satisfaction as his expression shifted from doubt to impressed recognition.
"I... no, but I've heard it referenced by Professor Thellius," he stammered. "If you're truly the author, then... well, the Archmage's office is in the north tower, third floor. Shall I escort you?"
Kaelith tilted her head, allowing a strand of golden hair to fall across her cheek. "That would be most kind. I'm afraid the layout of your academy is rather more complex than I anticipated."
As they walked, she extracted every piece of useful information she could from her unwitting guide. The academy served students from eighteen years of age, though exceptional talents were occasionally admitted earlier. The faculty consisted of the empire's most accomplished mages, each specializing in different magical disciplines. And most interestingly, the position she'd claimed to be interviewing for had been vacant since the mysterious disappearance of its previous occupant three months prior.
By the time they reached the ornate doors of the Archmage's office, Kaelith had constructed an entire false identity, complete with academic credentials and research history. She'd been doing this longer than she could even remember, after all. The young assistant knocked respectfully before opening the door.
"Archmage Valerian, the applicant for the Theoretical Conjuration position has arrived."
Behind a massive desk of polished obsidian sat an elderly man whose physical frailty was misrepresented by the sheer magical power that radiated from him like heat from a forge. His piercing grey eyes fixed on Kaelith with an intensity that would have unnerved a lesser being.
"I wasn't aware we had scheduled an interview today," he said, his voice surprisingly strong despite his apparent age.
Kaelith stepped forward, allowing a flicker of confusion to cross her features. "There seems to be some misunderstanding. I received your missive last week requesting my presence today." She reached into a pocket of her dress that hadn't existed moments before, producing a sealed letter that materialized between her fingers. "Perhaps it was sent by one of your administrators?"
The Archmage accepted the letter, breaking the seal with a gnarled finger. As he read, his eyebrows rose incrementally. The letter, which was created through a subtle weaving of illusion and suggestion magic, contained exactly what he expected to see: an invitation penned in his own handwriting, requesting the presence of one Elara Caelestis, renowned theorist in conjuration magic.
"How curious," he murmured, setting the letter aside. "It appears my memory isn't what it once was. Please, Magister Caelestis, have a seat."