After what felt like an hour of p through Merlin’s books, Helios finally found the spell he had been searg for. It was tucked away ier half of a thie on advanced magical practices, its pages filled with plex diagrams and a script. The spell detailed a method for transf oneself into a form suited to the world they were in—an Adaptation Spell, as it was referred to iext. Uhe transformation magic Malefit had shown him, which required an intricate uanding of the creature’s essehis spell relied on harmonizing with the world’s unique energy, essentially requesting it to shape the caster into a form appropriate for that enviro.

  Helios sed the detailed instrus, his sharp mind w to piece together the plex meics. The spell was vastly different from Malefit’s method—it didn’t demand trol over instincts or an uanding of the creature’s essence, but it came with its own challehe caster had no say in the form they would take, and the transformation was entirely depe on the magical rules of the world they were in. Atntica might shape them into mer-creatures, while Halloween Town could turn them into supernatural beings. It table aile but also uable.

  The sheer plexity of the spell made it clear that mastering it would take signifit time and effort. Helios leaned ba his chair, running a hand through his hair as he readied himself to delve into the intricate process.

  Just as he was about to tinue reading, a soft knock at the door broke his tration. Frowning slightly, he closed the book and stood, his movements deliberate as he made his way to the door. When he ope, he was surprised to find Skuld standing outside, her hands csped nervously in front of her.

  “Skuld?” he asked, stepping aside to let her in. “Is everything okay?”

  Skuld nodded, stepping into the study and gng around curiously. “I’m fine,” she said softly. “I just… I hadn’t seen you all day, and I was w what you were doing.”

  Helios gestured to the cluttered desk, covered with books and scattered notes. “I’ve been researg magic,” he expined. “Trying to learn a few hings.”

  Skuld’s eyes lit up with i as she moved closer to the desk, her gaze sing the array of books and papers. “You know magic?” she asked, her voice filled with wonder.

  Instead of answering, Helios raised a hand and muttered Aero under his breath. A faint shimmer of green energy surrounded him as he cast a basid spell, gathering the scattered papers on the desk aly stag them in one er. Skuld gasped, her eyes wide with amazement as she watched the magi a.

  “That was amazing!” she excimed, turning to Helios with a bright smile. “I want to do that too!”

  Helios couldn’t help but smirk at her enthusiasm. “You already ,” he said, his tone calm but encing. “You’ve just fotten how. If you want, I help you relearn it.”

  Skuld’s excitement grew, and she nodded eagerly. “Yes, please! I want to learn magic again!”

  Helios gestured for her to take a seat at the desk, and she quickly obliged, her energy iious. He pulled out a smaller book of basic spells, flipping through the pages until he found one suitable for a begihe spell he chose was a simple illumination charm—easy enough to cast but requiring focus and a clear e to one’s magic.

  “Magi’t just about words estures,” Helios began, his voice steady as he expined. “It’s about iion. The spell you cast is aension of your will. Your heart and mio work together to direagic.”

  Skuld nodded, her eyes fixed on him as she absorbed every word. “Okay,” she said. “What do I do?”

  Helios poio the book, where the spell was written in clear, simple terms. “This is an illumination spell. It creates a small orb of light that you trol. Start by fog on the energy inside you. Picture it like a light—small, but powerful. Then, imagihat light appearing above your hand. Say the words in the book while keeping that image in your mind.”

  Skuld g the book, her brow furrowing in tration as she read the intation. She extended her hand, her firembling slightly as she focused. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and began to speak the ‘Light’.

  At first, nothing happened, but Helios watched patiently, no criticism or corre. Skuld tried again, her voice a little steadier this time. A faint spark of light flickered at her fiips, and her eyes snapped open in surprise.

  “I did it!” she excimed, the spark fading as her tration broke.

  “You almost did,” Helios said, his tone encing. “Don’t lose focus. That energy and spark you felt just now is yic responding to you. Try again, but this time, try to hold on to it.”

  Skuld nodded, eager tain. She closed her eyes agaiing the process. This time, the spark grew into a small orb of light, h just above her palm. It flickered like a tiny fme, casting a warm glow over the room.

  Helios allowed himself a small smile. “Well done,” he said, his voice carrying a note of genuine approval. “That’s a good start.”

  Skuld beamed, her pride evident as she stared at the glowing orb. “It’s beautiful,” she murmured, her voice filled with awe.

  “That’s yic,” Helios replied. “It’s part of you. You have a pure heart so of course it’ll be beautiful.”

  Skuld looked up at him, her eyes shining. “Thank you, Helios. I hought I’d be able to do something like this again.”

  Helios nodded, his expression softening. “You’ve always had the potential, Skuld. All you need is practice to relearn it. Magi’t something you master ht—it takes time and effort. But if you keep at it, you’ll get back to where you were.”

  Skuld extinguished the light with a small flick of her wrist, her fidence growing. “What I lear?” she asked eagerly.

  Helios chuckled, holding up a hand to slow her down. “Oep at a time,” he said. “Work on that spell for now. Once you’ve mastered it, we’ll move on to something a little more advanced.”

  She hough her excitement alpable. “Okay! I’ll practice a lot—I promise!”

  Helios stood, ruffling her hair gently as he moved toward the desk tanize his notes. “Good. Just don’t overdo it. Magic takes energy, and if you push yourself too hard, you’ll burn out.”

  As Skuld practiced the illumination spell, Helios watched her with a look of caution. She was learning quickly, but he khe path of a Keybde wielder—especially oied to the light—was fraught with challenges. For now, he would guide her, protect her, and ensure she was ready for what he pnned for her.

  After a while, he g the clod realized how te it had bee. “That’s enough for tonight,” he said, gently pg a hand on her shoulder. “You’ve done well. Get some rest.”

  Skuld nodded, stifling a yawn as she stood. “Okay. Thanks again, Helios. Goodnight!”

  “Goodnight, Skuld,” he replied, watg as she left the study.

  As the door closed behind her, Helios returo the tome on transformation magic. The spell he was researg was ridiculously plex and it was a oime use spell. Basically once cast it would always affect whoever it was cast upon. This would take lohahought. Pick up the tome he left the study and headed straight to his room. There was so much to be do so little time.

  For now, though, he allowed himself a brief moment of satisfa. Teag Skuld had reminded him of the importance of building strength—not just his own, but hers as well. He needed allies and training Skuld should allow him to figure out the best way to train them iure.