The Leviathan System

Chapter 36: Selene

Silas, Jace, Rowan, Nadia, and Lyra huddled together, their voices a mix of excitement and disbelief as they recounted their individual battles.

"I can't believe we actually fought goblins and ogres," Jace said. "It's one thing to read about them in books, but to face them in real combat..."

Rowan nodded, his usually stoic expression softened by a hint of pride. "We held our own, though. I'm surprised my summons did as well as they did. Not like the fight with the basilisk."

"Your summons were impressive," Nadia agreed. "But did you see how every one of my shots was a head shot? Now, that's impressive, if I do say so myself," she laughed.

Lyra chimed in, her voice tinged with a mix of excitement and scholarly interest. "Experiencing the differences in their fighting styles was fascinating. We should document our observations while they're still fresh in our minds."

Silas listened to his friends, a small smile playing on his lips. He felt a surge of pride in how far they'd all come, how they'd worked together to overcome such overwhelming odds.

"What about you, Silas?" Jace asked, nudging him with an elbow. "That berserker rage of yours was something else. You tore through those ogres like they were made of paper!"

Silas felt a twinge of unease at the memory of his transformation, the raw power that had coursed through his veins. "It was... intense," he admitted. "I'm just glad we all made it out in one piece."

Silas watched as Rowan summoned a magnificent black horse with a mohawk of unicorn horns. The creature materialized in a swirl of magical energy, its coat gleaming in the fading light. Nadia approached the horse cautiously, her eyes wide with admiration.

As the group prepared to mount their steeds for the journey back to Arcanium, Tiffany's gaze suddenly locked onto the black horse. Her eyes widened in recognition, and she strode forward with purpose.

"Rowan," Tiffany called out, her voice tight with barely contained emotion. "How did you summon this horse? Where did you find her?"

Rowan blinked in surprise at the intensity of Tiffany's question. "I... I'm not entirely sure, Professor. My summoning ability sometimes brings forth creatures I've never encountered before. Is there something special about this horse?"

Tiffany didn't answer immediately. Instead, she approached the horse and gently pressed her forehead against its muzzle. The two remained still for a long moment, and Silas could sense a powerful connection between them.

When Tiffany finally pulled away, her eyes were glistening with unshed tears. "This is Selene," she said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "My sister."

The students exchanged shocked glances, and Silas felt a pang of sympathy for Tiffany. He remembered the story she had shared about sacrificing her freedom to save her sister.

Tiffany stroked Selene's mane, her fingers tracing the line of unicorn horns. "She was in a dark, hot place," she continued, her brow furrowed with concern. "I'm certain the Unseelie fae have her trapped in a dungeon somewhere."

Tiffany took a deep breath, composing herself before turning to face Rowan. Her eyes, usually sharp and focused, now held a vulnerability that caught the young mage off guard.

"I apologize, Rowan," she said, her voice steady despite the emotion behind it. "It was... quite a shock to see my sister after all this time. I didn't mean to startle you or make you uncomfortable."

Rowan shifted his weight, clearly unsure how to respond to this unexpected situation. "It's alright, Professor," he managed, his usual stoic demeanor softening slightly. "I had no idea. If I'd known..."

Tiffany shook her head, a sad smile playing on her lips. "How could you have known? This isn't something I've shared with many people." She turned back to Selene, running her hand along the horse's flank. "It's been so long since I've seen her like this."

Silas watched the exchange, feeling a mix of sympathy and curiosity. He'd known about Tiffany's past, but seeing the reality of it unfold before him was something else entirely. He glanced at his friends, noting their varied reactions - Jace's wide-eyed fascination, Nadia's guarded interest, and Lyra's thoughtful frown.

Silas watched as Tiffany's gaze shifted between Rowan and Selene. The professor's usual composure wavered, a flicker of hope dancing in her eyes.

"Rowan," Tiffany began, her voice softer than Silas had ever heard it, "I know this is an unusual request, but... would you be willing to summon Selene during our classes?"

Rowan blinked, clearly caught off guard by the request. He glanced at Selene, then back to Tiffany. "I... I suppose I could, Professor. But I'm not sure how long I can maintain the summon."

Tiffany nodded, understanding the limitations of Rowan's abilities. "Of course. I wouldn't expect you to keep her manifested for the entire class. Perhaps just for a short while?"

Silas could see the conflict in Rowan's eyes. The stoic young man rarely showed emotion, but now he seemed torn between wanting to help and feeling uncomfortable with the responsibility.

"I'll do my best, Professor," Rowan finally said, his voice steady despite his evident uncertainty.

Tiffany's face lit up with a smile that transformed her usually stern features. "Thank you, Rowan. You have no idea what this means to me."

Silas felt a pang of empathy for both Tiffany and Rowan. He understood the professor's desperate need to reconnect with her sister, even in this limited form. But he also recognized the weight this placed on Rowan's shoulders.

As the group prepared to mount their steeds for the journey back to Arcanium, Silas caught Rowan's eye and gave him a supportive nod.

Silas exhaled deeply, the adrenaline from the recent battles finally beginning to ebb. As the group made their way back to Arcanium, he turned his attention inward, accessing his system interface. The familiar screen materialized before his eyes, and he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at what he saw.

His levels had reset, and he was now a level 4 leviathan youngling. The fights against the goblins, ogres, and the fire sprite had earned him three level-ups, leaving his current experience at 20 out of 400 points needed for the next level.

Silas felt a mix of excitement and trepidation as he noticed the 80 affinity points waiting to be allocated.

What really caught his attention, however, were the 11 stat points available for distribution. These could enhance his physical and mental attributes, making him stronger, faster, or more resilient.

Silas knew he'd need to think carefully about where to allocate these points to best complement his fighting style and newfound abilities.

As he closed the interface, Silas glanced at his companions. They rode in silence, each lost in their own thoughts after the day's events.

He wondered if they, too, had experienced similar growth in their abilities. The challenges they had faced together had undoubtedly forged them into a more cohesive and formidable team.