Reborn as a Succubus: Time To Live My Best Life!

Zephyra sat at her desk, a frown etched onto her face as she sifted through the stack of documents before her. The words seemed to blur together, her mind drifting back to her conversation with Javir the previous day.

[She’s obviously hiding something,] Zephyra thought, her fingers tapping against the polished wood. [But what? And why?]

It was clear that Javir cared for Melisa, perhaps more than a mentor should. But the way she spoke about the girl, the carefully chosen words and the guarded look in her eyes... it set Zephyra on edge.

[I don’t want to make an enemy of her,] Zephyra sighed, leaning back in her chair. [And, it doesn’t seem like she has bad intentions. But, I hate not knowing what the people around me want. I can’t ignore this. Melisa is my student now, even if it is for a couple of weeks. I need to know what I’m dealing with.]

A sudden knock at the door jolted her out of her thoughts.

"Enter," she called, straightening up and schooling her features into a neutral expression.

A courier stepped inside, bowing low before approaching the desk.

"Lady Vortell," he said, his voice urgent. "I-"

He stopped, his eyes falling to Zephyra’s body.

Her robes had parted, and Zephyra had no intention of bringing them together. The man blushed.

"Yes?" Zephyra asked, smirking back at him, crossing one elegant leg over the other.

He shook his head.

"News from the city. There’s a report of a strange illness in the lower quarters. The healers are at a loss, and they’ve requested your aid."

"And, I take it they sent for me immediately?"

"Yes."

"Good," Zephyra nodded.

She already had an idea of what this could be about, just from hearing the healers couldn’t handle it.

[This is likely no ordinary illness,] she thought, her mind already racing through the possibilities. [No, it’s probably...]

She stood abruptly, startling the courier.

"Prepare a carriage," she ordered, her voice sharp. "And send word to the academy. Tell them I require the assistance of my apprentice, Melisa Blackflame."

The courier bowed again, hurrying out of the room to carry out her commands.

Zephyra turned to the window, staring out at the city below.

[This could be the perfect opportunity to test Melisa’s abilities,] she mused, a small, grim smile tugging at her lips. [And to see just how much Javir has been keeping from me.]

--

Melisa fidgeted in her seat, trying to ignore the way Zephyra’s eyes seemed to bore into the side of her head... And trying to ignore the way she could literally see one of Zephyra’s nipples as her robe gave way to it.

[Holy fuck...]

They’d been riding in silence for the better part of an hour, the only sound the creaking of the carriage wheels and the distant clamor of the city streets.

[Uh, so, what does she want from me?] Melisa wondered, chewing on her lower lip. [Why did she ask me to come with her?]

She’d been surprised when the messenger had arrived at the academy, informing her that the court sorceress required her presence. She’d barely had time to grab her cloak and her satchel before being whisked away, Armia and Isabella shooting her concerned looks as she left.

Now, sitting across from Zephyra in the cramped carriage, Melisa couldn’t shake the feeling that some kind of test was on the way.

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[Well, whatever it is, I’m not going to let her down,] Melisa thought, squaring her shoulders.

"Alright, we’re here," Zephyra said suddenly, her voice cutting through the silence like a knife.

Melisa looked out the window, her eyes widening at the sight of the run-down buildings and narrow, twisting streets. She’d never been to this part of the city before, and the poverty and desperation were palpable in the air.

"Stay close," Zephyra warned as they stepped out of the carriage. "And keep your wits about you. We don’t know what we’re dealing with yet."

Melisa nodded, falling into step beside the sorceress as they made their way down the street. People stared as they passed, their eyes hollow and their faces gaunt. Many of them were coughing, their bodies wracked with shudders and chills.

[Man... I didn’t know they had it this bad.]

They arrived at a small, dingy clinic, the smell of sickness and despair hanging heavy in the air. A haggard-looking healer greeted them at the door, his eyes widening in recognition when he saw Zephyra.

"Lady Vortell," he said, bowing low. "Thank you for coming. As protocol dictates, as soon as we saw that we couldn’t deal with this ourselves, we sent for you."

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Zephyra waved him off, striding past him into the clinic. Melisa followed, her heart pounding in her chest as she took in the beds in front of them, each one occupied by a suffering patient.

3 in total. Zephyra was already moving among the beds, looking for something, her hands glowing with a soft, pulsing light as she examined each patient in turn. Melisa watched, transfixed, as the sorceress worked, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"Well, I believe I have an idea of what’s going on here. But, Melisa," she turned toward her. "What do you think is going on?"

Melisa gulped.

"I... Um, well-"

"I’ll give you the answer."

"Please do."

Zephyra began pacing side-to-side.

"Firstly, they’re all nim."

Melisa scolded herself.

[Right. I should have been able to point that out.]

"But, second," Zephyra continued and Melisa looked up at her. "This is no ordinary illness. This is what’s called a ’curse’."

Melisa blinked, her mind reeling.

She’d researched these. Magical, potent illnesses designed to slowly deteriorate a person. Historically, assassins were the ones known for using these.

She stepped closer to one of the beds, reaching out to touch the forehead of a young nim girl. The child was burning up with fever, her purple skin slick with sweat and her eyes glassy and unfocused.

[But... Why the fuck would someone curse a kid? What?]

She had no idea.

Zephyra turned to Melisa, her eyes narrowing as she studied the young nim’s face.

"You were able to save the king when no other healer could," she said, her voice low and intense. "Can you do the same for these nim?"

Melisa swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew what Zephyra was asking, and she knew the risk involved.

[This is Blood Magic,] she thought, her mind racing. [But it looks like Life Magic, which is why no one questioned me when I used it on the king.]

She inhaled deeply, steadying herself.

"I can try," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Zephyra nodded, stepping back to give Melisa space.

Melisa approached the first bed, her hands trembling slightly as she reached out to touch the nim’s forehead.

"Lumi sanguine, vita crescere," she murmured, drawing the spellsign in the air above the nim’s body.

The words felt strange on her tongue, the syllables heavy with power and meaning. She could feel the magic flowing through her, a warm, tingling sensation that started in her fingertips and spread throughout her entire body.

The nim’s eyes fluttered open, the glassy, fevered look fading from their gaze. They blinked up at Melisa, confusion and wonder etched onto their face.

"What... what happened?" they croaked, their voice hoarse and weak.

Melisa smiled, relief flooding through her.

At the same time, again, using this magic took a lot out of her.

[I’m still not used to it.]

"You’re going to be okay," she said softly, brushing a strand of hair from their forehead.

She moved on to the next bed, and the next, repeating the process with each nim in turn. Zephyra watched on, her expression inscrutable as she studied Melisa’s every move.

The healers stood back, their eyes wide with shock and amazement as they watched Melisa work. They’d never seen anything like it before, and they couldn’t quite believe what they were seeing.

When Melisa finished with the last nim, she straightened up, her breathing heavy and her brow slick with sweat.

She felt drained, both physically and emotionally, but there was a sense of accomplishment thrumming through her veins.

[I did it,] she thought, a small, tired smile tugging at her lips. [I actually did it.]

Zephyra approached her, laying a hand on her shoulder.

"Well done," she said, her voice soft but firm. "You’ve done a great service here today."

Melisa nodded, too exhausted to speak.

Zephyra turned to the healers, her expression shifting to one of cool professionalism.

"Keep an eye out for any more sick individuals," she said, her tone brooking no argument. "And send word to me immediately if you find any."

The healers nodded, bowing low as Zephyra swept out of the clinic, Melisa trailing behind her.

---

{Zephyra}

Zephyra sat in the carriage, her mind racing as she watched the city streets pass by outside the window.

[Melisa used Blood Magic,] she thought, her fingers tapping against her thigh. [I could tell, but it seems like no one else did. Yeah, probably no one outside an expert mage could.]

It was a disturbing realization, one that raised more questions than it answered. Blood Magic was dangerous, forbidden even, and yet Melisa had wielded it with a skill and precision that, quite frankly, didn’t make sense to Zephyra.

[Where did she learn it?] Zephyra wondered, her brow furrowing. [Was... Ah, probably from those tomes Miss Folden got for her. But, why would she allow Melisa to study such a form of magic in the first place?]

She glanced over at Melisa, who was slumped in her seat, her eyes closed and her breathing even. The girl looked exhausted, but there was a peaceful expression on her face, as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

[She did help those nim,] Zephyra mused, her thoughts turning inward. [And she didn’t hesitate to do so, even though it must have taken a great deal out of her.]

It was a point in Melisa’s favor, one that Zephyra couldn’t ignore. The girl seemed to have a good heart.

But, she wouldn’t be the first person to commit evil acts while having a good heart. Blood Magic was a dangerous tool, and Zephyra needed to make sure Melisa could be trusted with it.

[I won’t confront her about the Blood Magic,] Zephyra decided, her jaw clenching. [At least, not yet. I need to know more before I make any accusations or judgments.]