.^^ Shifter Talisman (fake stone) ^^

— Idun —

After catching Syral up, it had stilled, staring at a banner flapping in the slight breeze. Slowly, it turned and looked at me. "They dared to attack my students again?"

"And I taught them a lesson, and killed their emperor." I placed my hands on its shoulders solidly. "Calm down."

Syral took a deep breath, and then nodded. "I see. That's good. And they're alive, so they'll spread more of the word on how terrifying this Academy is, and Mages can be when Irked."

I smiled. "True that, my friend. Now do you know of any elves who would like to live in a city surrounded by a river, Canyons, Magic Beasts, and Dragons? No Wars are fought here, so the forests are also open for the Alfakin's tree-cities, so long as they don't mess with the Elder Green's territories."

Syral nodded, swiftly distracted. "Do you have some sort of icy tundra-like place? I only made the Marble, you decorated, per se, so I don't know."

"Aye, the north and south are frozen. The Sapphire Elders love them. They'll share. Each one is about the size of Italy, so it should be enough, yeah? Who do you have in mind?" I asked, sitting on the throne.

"The humans are getting too close to the Newid Camps in the North, and the Southern Icelands have been claimed by the American Alfakin. This new City could be a good home for them that wish to move." It nodded.

I frowned. "Understand there are rules, of course, Syral. Any Tribe that moves here builds its own citadels or homes, or rents one from me, but I own the realm itself."

Syral blinked slowly. "Correct... and True. What are your conditions, then?" It asked, honestly curious.

"Any and all disputes will be handled democratically, and by a Code that is also decided upon democratically, and then applied, all by a selection of wise ones, not selected by age or even merit, but by intelligence, wisdom, and impartiality. It will be a medley of humans, Alfakin, and Newid." I said simply.

It shook its head. "The Newid are changeable, and will accept this. Alfakin only serve their individual King's and Queens."

"If they want a Monarchy, they can fight amongst themselves on Earth. There will be no warring here. All races are welcome, and equal. If a human wishes to live here, and submits to the Laws, they are welcome, as are your people, and the American Alfakin, and the Asian Bakemono. And there will be no Monarchy, or feudalism. None!!!" I snapped.

Syral smiled. "So only those who are willing to end centuries of hatred and lay down their arms are welcome? Short list."

"Good. Shorter list of people that are my responsibility, as Owner and Land Lord." I shrugged.

"I see... yes, I will see who wishes Entrance to this Sanctuary. And do you want help cleaning this place up? I can tell the Dragon Skulls are bothering you."

"I'll melt it all down, I suppose... or Pashas can have it. He's been studying alchemy, of late. Has real talent, as well, though his true passion is crafting with the materials he creates." I hummed.

Syral nodded. "I am aware. The child has sculpted many a sculpture for me. I find it's work... intriguing. Raw, and also detailed. A dichotomy. I love contradictions."

"Don't we all." I smiled, and waved a hand, sending all the bones to the Vault so I could give them to Pashas for his experiments, then went about cleaning out the rest of the castle, room by room.

—

"So, you think you're ready to take your Tier 4 Exemption Exams, is that it?" One of the Elder Mages snorted, gazing down at me critically.

"Aye, I am. And my Tier 5 after that, if I can. Dunno if I'll pass that one, it's in the air, but I might as well give it a go." I shrugged.

"Might as well... give it a go?" He said slowly, his eye twitching.

"Aye. The parameters for passing a Tier are being able to cast a spell that's four times the number of the Tier. I can cast a 22, barely, so that means I'm Tier 5 material." I answered logically.

The other elders broke in before he lost control of the steam pressure building up in his reddening face.

"I see, well, let's see your scores... you scored nearly perfect on the written exams, meaning you understand the Theory, let's seem some Practical Magic? A Class 22 Defensive Spell, perhaps?" One of the Alfakin Elders spoke.

"I... have a Class 21, the Rho Ais, or the Class 20 Aegis? Does that meet your criteria?" I asked.

"That'll do, Yes."

I nodded, and carefully wove the spell for Rho Ais, the highest Defensive Spell I knew, which created seven layers of purple energy, layered above my forearm like a shield.

Then, I wove the Aegis, and placed a layer of the white hexagon, (the original version of Syral's Golden Hex, a Class 8 spell,) Between each of the Rho Ais petals.

Weaving both was difficult, but when I finished the first phase, I had a nearly indestructible shield on my arm.

One of the Elders went to speak, but when I started weaving again, she silenced.

This time, I used my own creation, spreading the Defensive Spell around my body, compressed into a paper-thin sheet of hexagonal scales, then soaking down under the first layer of skin.

I shivered as the spell settled, spreading a cold feeling through my muscles. Then I turned to the Elders. "Good enough?" I asked.

The elf elder laughed softly. "I'd been warned you were as massively creative as you were impertinent, but I wasn't prepared... either way, well done. Let's see your specialty, now. Something Class 20 or higher."

I nodded and immediately began the glyphs and Runes I'd created for this purpose, turning two molecules of hydrogen and one of oxygen into a fusion reactor, then powering a Marble of Ether Crystal, turning it directly into a diamond by simple Command, instead of alchemy.

The Elders perked up, watching intently as the diamond turned back into Ether Crystal. "That shouldn't be possible... Illusion?" One of them asked softly.

"I actually can't do Psychic Magic, so that's a no. Telepathy is my limit." I shrugged, and then fed the crystal to Weiss, after pushing the fusion reactor into it.

She appeared like smoke, snapping up the crystal, and shivered, growing a minuscule amount. She now reached my shoulders, and was just ending her Kitten Phase.

"What class Diuretic Glyph was that?" The elf elder asked.

"Meh. I created it, so it isn't classed, but by power level it should've been about 20-21. Then again, seeing as you have never seen it before, what do I know about Class? Could've been higher." I shrugged.

She leaned back, and chuckled. "You're an interesting human, Idunacantus. One last test, let's see an offensive magic?"

I nodded and wove another set of Runes that shaped Glyphs, creating another fusion reactor, but instead of creating a Marble, I created a sword, and shoved the reactor into it.

When they went to speak, I swung the sword once, casually. A blast-wave of  air shoved them all back in their seats, and I followed it up with a blast of elemental energy, making the stones around us turn into Ether Crystals.

The leftovers, and the waste, went into the reactor in the hilt, powering it even further, and I pushed, continuing until the entire structure of the castle was Ether Crystal.

I reluctantly stopped at the wall, and doubled back, lacing the crystal with my protective Spells, all of them, not just the higher class ones, then animating the suits of armor in the halls into Golems, patrolling the halls ceaselessly, until a threat emerged.

"That's quite enough, Idun. We've seen what we need to see." The speaker for the Elders said dryly.

"Yes, and I'm busy protecting my castle, so give me a moment..." I responded easily, and then animated the gates, shaped like dragon's heads. They'd need souls before being responsive, but that could be arranged.

"Done now?" She asked.

"For now. I'll make improvements." I shrugged, and sheathed the sword, sending it into my Vault.

She blinked. "The Shade... Interesting. I wasn't aware you were a member of the Gracchus?"

"I'm not. I beat one of their younger sons in a tournament. His punishment was a debt to me, which I demanded in the form of knowledge. Then I upgraded their outmoded Shade, creating this beauty." The Black Dog appeared slowly, gathering the non-sentient Shadows around us to give itself form for a moment, then dissolving.

She frowned. "Rude... and you created a Demon out of the Shade? Have you no decency? That was a family magic."

"Then they shouldn't have bet it in something so trivial as a tournament." I retorted, and she closed her mouth.

Another spoke reluctantly. "That is a true statement, however tactless."

"Anyway, I trust I've satisfied the requirements for Tier 5? I'll be back in a few months to take the next exam." I nodded, and walked out, waving over my shoulder.

—

An amulet dangled in my view suddenly, shining silver. The intricate ouroboros was wrapped around a single, diamond-shaped gem, and the smell of pure silver permeated the air around it.

I paused in my sewing, looking up from the torn pants, and craned my head around to get a look at Darien. "What's that?"

"I heard you got Tier Five today. This is your present." He grinned.

"An Amulet?" I hummed, taking it carefully.

"A Talisman, made by me. You always wanted one, right? To turn into a Dragon?" He grinned even wider, almost ear to ear.

"There's a catch, of course." I hummed, stroking the silver.

"Of course." He shrugged.

"Let me guess... this is a fake stone. I need a specific one to activate the magic." I tapped the Sapphire.

He pouted for a moment, then sighed. "Fine, Yes. Have fun finding the right stone."

I summoned the Dragon-Fire Opal from my Vault, and set it into the setting under his incredulous gaze. "That it?" I asked.

He sat down. "I give up. You're no fun anymore."

"Mm..." I nodded, and clasped the necklace around my neck, then stroked the stone, walking to the balcony.

I felt the magic embedded in the silver reach out to me, and then begin altering my body. My talons grew to ten times the size, first, then my jaws, and soon enough I was bigger than Gladius, a fully grown Gold.

I shivered, flicking my tail a bit, and then looked at Darien, my massive Crystalline snout shimmering different colors to represent my emotions. "I like it... powerful."

He chuckled. "It's great, isn't it? Now turn back."

"Not yet..." I dove out of the window, and spread my 100ft wingspan.

I soared around my tower, riding the massive thermals I'd constructed to help the dragons fly, all over the Marble.

Darien appeared, his blue dragon form swimming around mine on the currents. "Wonderful, eh?" He commented.

I laughed and shifted back in midair, then let the Shade eat my Amulet, though it replaced it quickly with a replica. Then I commanded my Shade to turn me back into a dragon.

I soared back up to altitude with Darien, and he sighed. "No fun, just like I said..."

"Oh I'm loads of fun, if you don't expect to win the games you play with me!!!" I laughed, and landed on the balcony again, shifting human.

He landed next to me, stretching, and then plopped down on my couch. "I suppose you're right... but don't go giving that Spell to anyone, huh?"

"Me? Share?" I snorted.

"Right, True." He smirked.

I smiled and laid on the other half of the couch, mentally counting and cataloguing the treasures in my Vault. I realized I was almost out of room, and hummed, deciding to find a more suitable placement.