Crystal Potential

As the scroll settled on the table, Miruna's eyes scanned the list of blocks imposed on her since childhood. With each line she read, a wave of disgust and anger surged through her. The reality of how much of herself had been stripped away made her stomach twist. Her fists clenched involuntarily, trembling with rage she hadn't known she was capable of feeling. How much had been stolen from her?

Aricel DeVayne paced around the room, her own frustration palpable. She muttered under her breath, clearly disturbed by the depth of interference documented in the report. Finally, she stopped and looked at Miruna, her face set in determination.

"Miruna," she said, her voice calm but laced with a simmering fury, "with your permission, I can remove these blocks and glamours later in this session. It may take some time, but it’s possible to start reversing the damage now."

Miruna didn't hesitate. "Yes, please. I want them gone."

Aricel nodded, then took a deep breath, her eyes scanning Miruna with concern. "Your home life… Miruna, how long have you been dealing with this? What happened to you?"

Miruna hesitated, the memories still raw. "I was locked in a tower when I was five," she said quietly. "Isolated. Barely given food. They—my family—they thought I was a hindrance. Aero, my familiar… a kestrel… he helped me steal food sometimes. Otherwise, I would've starved." Her voice was matter-of-fact, but there was a hollowness in her tone.

Aricel's face turned an alarming shade of red. She started pacing again, muttering words under her breath that Miruna couldn’t make out, though she caught phrases like "unforgivable" and "inhumane." Aricel stopped long enough to scribble something down in Miruna's file, her hand shaking slightly as she documented the neglect.

After a deep, steadying breath, Aricel crossed to a small shelf on the far side of the room. She retrieved a delicate crystal box, its surface shimmering faintly with enchantments. She handed it to Miruna with a soft smile, her anger carefully concealed for the moment.

"This," Aricel said, "will refill every morning. Inside, you'll find a Nutrition Booster, an Advanced Healing Elixir, a Vitality Restorer, a potion for Magical Resilience, and a basic nutrient potion—something all students are offered. But the others… they should help accelerate your recovery from malnutrition."

Miruna looked down at the box, her eyes widening slightly at the gift. "Thank you," she whispered, clutching it close to her chest.

Aricel gave a warm, encouraging nod. "You're very welcome. You're strong, Miruna, and we're going to get you back to full health." She paused, looking thoughtful for a moment before continuing. "Now, let’s talk about your leg. Would you prefer a magical prosthetic, or would you like to explore other options? There are different paths we can take to help with mobility."

Miruna bit her lip, considering. "I think… I'd like a prosthetic," she finally said. "Something I can customize, something that fits my needs."

"Perfect," Aricel responded. "We can design it together, something unique to you. It will take some time to craft, but we’ll make sure it meets all your needs." They exchanged a look of understanding, and Aricel gently rested her hand on Miruna’s shoulder. "We’ll take this one step at a time, all right?"

Aricel gestured for Miruna to take a seat at the desk. The atmosphere had shifted—where there was once tension and unease, there was now a sense of purpose and focus. Aricel pulled out a large, leather-bound book and opened it to a section labeled Prosthetics: Custom Options. The pages shimmered faintly, as though the diagrams and text were alive with the magic they described.

Miruna flipped through more of the diagrams, her eyes drawn to the vibrant illustrations of prosthetics made from a variety of magical materials. Aricel leaned forward, noticing her interest.

“If you’d like,” Aricel began, “we can use different materials. Some students prefer metals, while others go for crystals or even enchanted woods. It’s entirely up to you.”

Miruna hesitated for a moment before pointing to an image of a prosthetic made from blue, silver, and white crystals. The shimmering combination gave the leg an ethereal quality, both strong and elegant. "I think I'd like something like this," she said, "but with storage in the thigh and calf, like you mentioned before. It would be useful, but I still want it to look natural."

Aricel nodded, making notes in the large book again. “We can definitely add enchanted storage compartments. They’ll be subtle, and I can enchant them with extension charms so they hold more than they appear to. Think of them like magical pouches—lots of room inside, but they won’t affect the outside appearance."

Miruna smiled, feeling excited now that the prosthetic was taking shape in her mind. "That sounds perfect."

Next, Aricel turned the page, showing designs for the foot and knee portions. “What about the functionality of the leg itself? We can make it look natural for everyday use, but would you like any special features for specific tasks?”

Miruna’s mind raced with possibilities. “Could the foot change shape depending on what I’m doing? Like if I needed to climb the cliffs, it could become pointed, or if I went swimming, it could look more like a flipper?"

Aricel’s eyes lit up at the challenge. “Absolutely. I can enchant the foot to shift into different shapes based on your needs—a point for climbing, a flipper for swimming, and a latch for a saddle. But it will remain in a natural foot shape unless you actively change it.”

Miruna grinned, feeling a surge of excitement. "Yes, I'd love that. But I still want it to look normal most of the time. Could we enchant it to change its appearance through illusions? Like, I could make it look like my own skin, or change the colors if I wanted?”

Aricel smiled approvingly. “Of course. We’ll weave an illusion charm into the prosthetic. You’ll be able to alter its appearance whenever you like, whether it’s to match your skin tone, adopt another color, or even add patterns. It's entirely in your control.”

As Miruna considered the rest of her options, Aricel continued. “We’ll also make sure the prosthetic grows with you over the years. It will be enchanted with balance and agility charms, so you won’t have to worry about tripping or stumbling. Featherlight steps will make your movements silent, and a speed charm will help you keep up with anyone around you.”

Miruna nodded eagerly. “That all sounds amazing. I think I’m ready to move forward.”

“Great choice,” Aricel said warmly. “However, it will take time to craft and enchant the prosthetic to fit these specifications. In the meantime, I’ve got something to help.”

Miruna had one more thought. “Could I also have a wheelchair? For easy mobility instead of the crutches?"

Aricel paused, then smiled. "That’s a good idea, but I have something even better. These crutches—" she handed a pair of sleek silver crutches to Miruna, "—are enchanted not just for balance and speed, but they can transform into a wheelchair with a simple command. Just say “mobilitas”, and they’ll adjust to your needs.”

Miruna blinked in surprise and tested them. She whispered, "Mobilitas," and the crutches shimmered, transforming smoothly into a sleek, comfortable wheelchair.

"That’s incredible," she murmured, running her hands along the magically-conjured wheels.

Aricel grinned. "It will give you flexibility until your prosthetic is ready. And when you don’t need it, the crutches can revert back, just as easily."

Miruna was filled with a sense of wonder, impressed by the seamless magic surrounding her. "Thank you," she said, gratitude filling her voice.

Aricel placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're very welcome, Miruna. You deserve nothing less. We'll begin crafting your leg right away."

After confirming there was nothing else to do with the prosthetic, Aricel motioned for Miruna to follow her into a small ritual room attached to the private examination space. The room was dimly lit, with intricate runes carved into the stone walls and a faintly glowing circle etched into the floor. It felt charged with energy, and Miruna's heartbeat quickened with both excitement and apprehension.

“Sit in the center of the ritual circle,” Aricel instructed gently, her tone both calm and reassuring. Miruna obeyed, settling herself into the middle of the intricate design. Aricel positioned herself across from her, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.

As she began to chant softly, the air around them thickened. Miruna felt an overwhelming pressure building in her chest, as if the very air was pressing against her. It intensified, filling her with an odd mixture of anxiety and exhilaration.

The chant grew louder, resonating in the space, and Miruna’s body started to glow with a silvery light. The energy swirled around her, lifting her gently off the ground. It was an incredible sensation, a mix of weightlessness and empowerment.

But just as suddenly as it began, the light flickered. The pressure became unbearable, and Miruna’s vision blurred. Panic surged within her as she began to plummet back to the ground, the glow fading into darkness.

Miruna awoke with a start, blinking against the bright light of the examination room. Confusion swirled in her mind as she realized she was lying on the examination table, Aricel standing beside her. Head Healer Ryan was nearby, his brow furrowed in concern.

“—was a shockwave of magic that surged through this section of the medical wing,” Ryan was saying, his voice tense. “Healer DeVayne, I need an explanation for this.”

Aricel nodded, her expression serious. “I was removing several ingrained blocks from her magical core. I had no idea they would be so deeply embedded. The pressure she felt was expected, but the loss of consciousness was not.”

Understanding coursed through Ryan’s features as he processed the information, his voice growing more fond. “You should have anticipated the potential risks involved with such extensive magic removal. We’ve never dealt with a patient carrying this many blocks.”

Suddenly, a monitor beeped loudly, breaking the tension. Both Aricel and Ryan turned their attention back to Miruna, who was now fully awake and aware.

“Miruna,” Aricel said gently, “I’m sorry for the noise. It’s normal to feel pressure during the process of removing blocks. But we didn’t anticipate you would lose consciousness.”

Ryan stepped closer, his expression softening. “Can you tell us how you feel?”

Miruna took a moment to gather her thoughts, still feeling disoriented but aware of an unfamiliar warmth coursing through her. “I’m okay… just a bit dizzy.”

“Good,” Aricel said, glancing at the monitor. “We’ll check your vitals to ensure everything is stable. I’d like to send a notice to Headmistress Elara Frostwind about your condition. Is that alright?”

“Yeah, that’s fine,” Miruna replied, still processing the whirlwind of emotions and sensations.

Ryan nodded, then continued, “You’ll need to avoid using magic for the next couple of hours. Your core needs time to adjust to the influx of power. Over the next 2 weeks, your body will have to adjust to its new capabilities, so you might notice slight changes in appearance, stamina, and spell power. The changes should come to a peak in about eight or nine days. Thankfully this is out of the start of term testing period, but it does overlap with the start of classes. Some spells might be more difficult than usual before your core is fully settled, but it shouldn't make that much of a difference overall in your casting.”

Once they finished their checks and ensured Miruna was stable, Aricel and Ryan helped her sit up. Miruna felt a mix of relief and anticipation at the new possibilities awaiting her.

As they prepared to leave, Aricel leaned closer. “Your prosthetic will probably be ready in two to three days. I’ll keep you updated on the progress.”

“Thank you,” Miruna replied, her heart swelling with gratitude.

Ryan glanced at Aricel. “We should apologize to Professor Lyara for the delay.”

Aricel smiled reassuringly at Miruna. “We’ll head there now. You can use your new wheelchair.”

Miruna settled into the chair, adjusting the cushions. To her surprise, it felt remarkably comfortable. She discovered she could maneuver it easily on her own, and for now, she chose to wheel herself out of the examination room.

As they exited, Professor Lyara stood waiting for them. “Is everything okay?” she asked, arching an eyebrow.

“We had a few minor issues regarding Miss Potter,” Ryan explained, his voice calming. “But everything is resolved now.”

Lyara nodded, her expression shifting to one of understanding. “Good to hear. Now we need to head to the Tailor’s Quarter to receive your uniforms and make any necessary alterations before proceeding to the Staff Guild to select your magical staves or wands.”

The prospect of choosing her wand sent a thrill of excitement coursing through Miruna. As they walked through the castle corridors, the echoes of laughter and chatter filled the air, surrounding her in a cocoon of warmth.