Dalmar ran a hand through his shoulder length silver hair with a sigh of annoyance, Kallador was a stubborn man who had long been at odds with his control of the council, the man's holier than though attitude was what had constantly put them at odds. Still the young boy had crossed the first real hurdle on the long road to becoming a master of the arcane, even if he had almost killed himself in the process. He examined the charred remains of the spell circle, it was a some what ingenious design that needed Aether to be activated but once active it could be powered by any source of energy, there was a small mistake in Adrian's handiwork. The spell lacked a cut off for the arcane energy once he poured in the demonic taint, it created a looping effect that kept the boy's pathway to the Aetherium wide open flooding his body with more Aether then he could reasonably handle. For Dalmar it would be an easy fix, plus he could simply anchor the spell to the energy source instead of relying on his own internal pathways, he would have to teach Adrian a few different methods to summon beings from the outer planes, methods far less dangerous.

For now his concern was how the boy had managed to contract a named being, it wouldn't be unreasonable to contract with a lesser succubus who had yet to become a fully aware being and not simply a mindless husk driven by lust. He needed to cultivate the boy into a powerful wizard before his demonic taint and desire for power outstripped his mental strength. It was clear to him that something had changed in the young boy of late, what ever it was, it had ignited in him a powerful desire to grow stronger, it was good to be driven but he couldn't allow the boy to become blinded by his desires. Many young mages often fall prey to the desire for power and take dangerous shortcuts that lead to terrible consequences. What Kallador had said was true, in time the boy would grow into a powerful ally, not only for himself but also for the Empire.

“You have called for me father” a voice called from the shadows as it stepped from through the boundary between worlds. “Yes, I've need of you to investigate what is going on in the north, the Draegnar have been quiet of late, something is happening beyond the reach of my eyes” he replied focusing his gaze as he stared off into the nothingness. “As you command father, there is none better suited to this task than I” the voice replied. “I know my little wolf, unlike your sisters you've always felt the call of the wild, if only the rest of your sisters were so free spirited, instead they insist upon taking after their mother dedicating them selves to the task of defending my personage and that of the Empress” Dalmar huffed in mock frustration. “That's only because if left to your own devices you'd never remember to eat” she chuckled before slipping back through the veil leaving Dalmar shaking his head.

As soon as news spread of Adrian returning from his test Annabelle had frantically began searching for him with Lila in tow, her heart sunk as her young lord had once again come face to face with death. He looked pale and lifeless as he was carried through the hall on a liter by two instructors, accompanying them was a fiercely protective woman with voluptuous curves that would draw the attention of any man and many women as well. She was stark naked causing many novices to stare in shock and awe at the woman who was the absolute embodiment of sex appeal, were it not for the delicate curled horns sprouting from her forehead, bat like wings, and long tail that idly swished as she walked Annabelle would have easily mistaken her for a human who's beauty would easily rival that of the Elves. She couldn't help but feel a sharp twinge of jealously looking at the raven haired lavender eyed beauty who's breasts seemed to violate the natural laws of this world, she was envious of the woman's wide hips and creamy perfectly shaped thighs that looked soft and toned at the same time. The effect of the woman was so powerful that she even forgot Adrian laying there half dead as she admired the woman's firm heart shaped backside that swayed exaggeratedly with every step.

She rushed after the group following them to an infirmary where Adrian was laid down upon of a bed that looked far more plush the the stiff mattress she was used to, “what's his condition” she cried desperately grabbing a hold of one of the instructors. “He'll be fine, just an acute case of Aether poisoning, with a little rest he'll be up and about” the instructor explained patting the sobbing girl's head. After they had wiped down his body with cold rags and changed his clothes they had to take care of other duties leaving Annabelle sitting across from a demon who seemed to regard her as a cat regards its food. The demoness sniffed lightly at the air smiling as if she found something she liked, that only served to make Annabelle more nervous. “You have the scent of my master upon your flesh” she spoke in a dark sultry tone that reminded her of the way Adrian had spoken when they had met in his room that morning that when they had first met, her face flushed with embarrassment as her breath quickened. “Are you his mate” the demoness inquired licking her ruby colored full angel bow lips with a suggestive hunger. “Mate” she yelped mentally under the demon's hungry gaze, “well tis no matter I can't exactly defile my master's woman with out his permission, so fear not my sweet little lamb” she cooed sweetly sending a shiver down Annabelle's spine. She recognized what was happening as her mind became increasingly clouded with lust, it was the same power that Adrian possessed only more sharper and focused.

The demoness leaned back folding her arm's under her voluminous breasts and daintily rested one leg over the other like a proper lady, “it is a pleasure to meet you little lamb, my name is Lilith”she spoke releasing the young woman from the grip of her power. “A-A-Annabelle” she stuttered still coming down from the sexual high inflicted by Lilith's aura. “is it always this cold in your realm” Lilith inquired rubbing her stiff nipples. Annabelle blushed in embarrassment now that the surreal encounter was grounding it's self in reality. “I can get you come clothes, though it might not fit you perfectly” Annabelle replied trying to visually measure Lilith's impressive bust and trying to figure out how to work around the tail and wings. “I would be grateful, they don't have to fit perfectly I can alter clothes to fit my body” She explained as her tail swished lazily.

Annabelle grabbed one of the few things she owned, a maid uniform, looking at the demoness now she was surprised at how Lilith managed to make attire that normally gave one a professional uptight appearance into something breathtakingly erotic. The blouse had been changed to have a deep V shaped neckline that showed off plenty of cleavage and the skirt that should have come down to her ankles now was now split up to the hip on one side exposing plenty of creamy thigh. Annabelle could never imagine wearing something so bold, It's appearance was now only superficial representative of a maid's livery, Even the jacket had morphed to reveal the majority of her back giving Lilith's wings plenty of room with a little spot where her tail poked through. “I wonder if master will like it” Lilith questioned giving a pouting look that caused Annabelle to fight down another mixture of jealously and arousal.

“How long will he be like this” Annabelle inquired hoping that Lilith, being a magical creature, had some understanding of Adrian's condition. Lilith reached out running one of her delicate hands through the short flaxen hair of the young woman comfortingly, 'don't worry little lamb, Adrian will be fine, if this was all it took to kill him I'd have already enslaved him to my will” Lilith pouted.”What do you mean enslaved him” Annabelle practically gasped in shock and anger. “Hush hush, I tried to make him into my slave but he reversed my spell back onto me and made me into his slave” she cooed so sweetly that she sounded happy about the outcome. Annabelle was taken aback by what she had learned, but as it had already happened she could only glare at the demoness. “The real question you should be asking your self is what is going to happen to Adrian by the time he wake's up” Lilith said with a seemingly bored tone as she stretched out like a cat causing her bountiful bosom to bounce slightly. “What do you mean” Annabelle inquired with a worried tone looking over at the unconscious form of Adrian. “He was exposed to a rather sizable amount of raw Aether, mortals don't get away unscathed from the amount of power he accidentally channeled, more likely then not he'll suffer some slight mutation” Lilith explained tapping her chin with a delicate finger. “Fortunately I can manipulate the mutation to ensure the mutation is more beneficial in nature, should I give him a second cock” Lilith continued causing Annabelle's eyebrows to shoot up in shock and shake her head no.

The two women continued to sit beside Adrian through the night as he he slept, with Lila curled up alongside him, it wasn't long before Annabelle was sound asleep. With the young woman asleep Lilith could finally begin the work of healing the internal damage with in his body, his demonic taint was already in the process of healing his internal injuries but with her guiding hand it was proceeding at a much faster rate. At the very least the Physical damage would be healed by morning, along with physical damage she focused of manipulating the residual Aether redistributing it into his blood stream, with any luck she would double his Aether tolerance allowing him to draw a far greater amount of power from the Aetherium. There was little else she could do until the mutations began to set in, sleepily she laid her head by his side comforted by the feeling that flowed through their bond.

Adrian drifted in though a black void, an indeterminate nothingness lightly spotted with blurred images, it was familiar and alien at the same time, he was surrounded by mental projections of his fears and worries. Being alone in the black of night being haunted by your subconscious fears was not a pleasant experience, facing racism and prejudice was the least of his concerns, what truly nagged at his subconscious mind was himself. On the surface he played the part of good natured young lord, obedient, well mannered, and kind, while still true to a degree he had darker desires buried deep with in. A small part of him desired to reach out and take that which was rightfully his, wealth, power, and women, all would be subject to his desires. It was this impulse that he forcefully suppressed, more and more he could feel his darker impulses scratching at the back of his mind. Every time he sat alone with Annabelle there was a part of him that desired to reach out and simply take her, a desire he kept fighting. There was also a ravenous hunger, something that did not satiate it's self with something simple as food, even if he had gorged him self to the brim it would not pass. It was not a hunger that he knew how to satiate, nor was he brave enough to broach this subject with any of his mentors.

His only solace from these thoughts was to be found in training and study, when he gripped his sword in hand and flowed through the repetitive motions of training or racked his mind over a difficult would he find a calm in the storm where he was free of his darker impulses. He had heard stories from the soldiers of blade master's entering a battle trance, a condition that cleared a warriors mind of emotions and gave him clarity and strength that allowed them to slaughter entire bands of frenzied men with an expression that one might have whilst taking a leisurely afternoon stroll through a meadow.

Adrian willed a blade into being and began to flow into a combat routine, he stepped forward parrying an imaginary opponent's blade to the right and stepping forward again pressing the blade into his opponent's neck and finishing with a draw cut severing the opponents jugular. Seamlessly he continued into a never ending waltz of imaginary destruction, with each cut, thrust, parry, and riposte his mind became clearer pushing his fears and worries aside until the black void of his mind was clear of the blurred phantoms. He mentally sighed knowing it was a temporary solution to a far more permanent problem, still the hunger subtly gnawed at his mental fortitude.

Lilith awoke to the sound of pained groans, Adrian began to tense as his body began to undergo mutation, his body became flush as his temperature soared. Human hands began to pop and lengthen, fingernails growing into razor sharp claws, his hair grew thicker and longer. His once slender form broadened as his body creaked and groaned, canines became near to fangs, once emerald green eyes shifted to blood red, budding horns began to rupture the skin of his forehead.

Part of Lilith knew that this would be an eventuality, but it was not meant to happen to yet, it was far too soon for her master to surpass the realm of mortality and enter into full fledged demon hood. She place a hand over Adrian's heart and delivered a massive jolt of electricity into his body temporarily stopping the transformation. With him paralyzed it was a simple matter for a demon to shift the demonic taint, latching onto the Aether mutating his body like a parasite, hijacking the process to turn it's host into a demonic entity. Lilith pried the demonic taint free from the mutations sending the taint back into his blood by sheer force of will, free of interference the mutation continued, much to her pleasure the mutations were entirely internal save for his left eye which now had a vertically slit pupil with an emerald green iris that looked to be streaked by ethereal blue thunder. Even unconscious as he was that eye unnerved the demoness, it did not appear to be looking at her so much as looking through her, as if it was looking into her very being.

Staring at the once more peacefully sleeping Adrian she was grateful that she had place a command on the girl that had kept her asleep, had Lilith not, the poor girl would most likely be terribly shaken by watching her lover mutate into some form of half demon abomination. That form worried her deeply, it looked like something not yet fully developed, there would come a time when her master was ready to transcend his mortal shell, but neither of them were ready to face that uncertain future.