Chapter 32: Punishment
The rift responded with a soundless hum, and a moment later, Miss Leslie’s hand re-emerged holding a single parchment.
It was matte black with ink lines of dim purple. The spell formation etched onto it pulsed gently, shadows curling up from the parchment’s surface like mist from a grave.
Miss Leslie handed it to Noah with both hands.
"This is your spell parchment." She said. "To learn Devour, you’ll need it."
"The first time you cast the spell, it’ll draw from the energy contained within the parchment to complete the formation. Once cast, the spell imprints itself on your soul. That’s how the information of the spell you learn appears in your status window."
Noah held the parchment carefully. The material felt warm in his hand, like coiled magic waiting to spring free.
The complex lines of the formation were dizzying to look at. Lines within lines, loops of energy woven into a dense language of hunger.
He nodded slowly.
’So that’s why Fireball glowed when Geldrin scribbled it on the board,’ he thought. ’The glow faded after I learned it because the spell had been claimed.’
Miss Leslie continued, "Once you’ve learned the spell, the parchment will turn to dust. That’s standard."
"Most spells need this process, because learning directly from the formation alone and without the energy would require weeks of experimentation and precise mana manipulation. Some mages might never even get it right. That’s why spell parchments are so expensive and so tightly regulated."
Noah gave a small grunt of understanding, gently folding the parchment and tucking it into the inner pocket of his uniform. His fingers lingered there a moment longer, brushing the edge of the dark spell as if drawing strength from it.