The Crimson Magister Chapter 9: V1-C9: Disguises and Illusion

Read chapter 9 of The Crimson Magister by Okram on NovelPedia.

The tent Aqua and Azure were sent to was nothing impressive, just black and white cloth stretched over a metallic frame, with only the bare necessities for temporary living. By all measures, it was nothing but a normal tent, meant to be easily disassembled and carried. Aqua slowly opened the flap, which served as the entrance, letting Azure enter first before following shortly after. Inside was surprisingly clean and spacious, with the roof open, allowing smoke from the central fire to safely exit the tent. Two bedrolls were situated on two opposite sides of the tent, with sacks full of clothes already packed and ready to go sitting against the tent's metallic support. "Feel free to pick something and change, Azure. I won't peek, I promise," Aqua teased as she looked over Azure's flushed face. Azure shuffled for a moment before answering, "Lady Aqua, we are both women, and you already saw me naked!" she said, her cheeks flushed red as she turned her head to hide her embarrassment. Adorable, I like how she pretends to be nonchalant about showing off her body. I will need to fix what that parasite did to her. Once the divine mark is gone, she will be perfect. Aqua smiled, her eyes fixed on Azure. To her, it was like watching a mirror image of her old self. From her naive demeanor despite her position to what Aqua believed was the will of the divine implanted in her, it was truly a mirror, although on a lesser scale. She made Aqua’s heart skip a beat. "Well, I will need to see you if I am to apply the illusion properly and not botch it, so please undress and stand in front of me. You weren’t this shy when you teased me back when we first met!" she exclaimed, a smirk adorning her face while she stared at Azure shuffling about. Azure averted her gaze as she slowly removed her oversized armor, dropping it aside before removing her makeshift clothes, revealing a slender, toned frame that looked better suited to speed than raw strength. "Please be quick, being without armor makes me feel vulnerable." Aqua smiled as she gazed over her, finally getting a proper view of her companion. To Aqua, the woman looked almost unfairly striking. Until now, she had never had a proper chance to look at Azure. Her eyes were green, though her right eye had been overtaken by a divine glow. Her long white hair carried a faint minty tint. What truly caught Aqua’s eye was the divine influence. The green patches of Argusian skin had spread farther, creeping across more of Azure’s elven skin and reaching over her torso and hips. So the influence didn’t just grant her a boon. That figures. The goddess likely wishes to make her into an Argus permanently. Aqua thought about burning away the influence, but making enemies in an unknown world, more than she already had, would have been a disaster. I will allow it for now. Once I learn which divine parasite granted her this, I will make plans. I’ll make that parasite regret showing itself! She chuckled in her mind, thinking of what she would do to the divine parasite that enslaved Azure. And yet she could not act without information. Unlikely as it was, the parasite that granted Azure this blessing could be even more powerful than the Supreme Deity of her world. Azure shifted under Aqua’s gaze, suddenly unsure whether the woman was admiring her or studying something she intended to change. "Lady Aqua, please don't stare that much!" Azure shouted, her face flushed completely red as Aqua delved into her own mind. "Oh, sorry, Azure, I was just admiring your beauty. I will make an illusion now," Aqua responded as bluntly as she could. After all, it wasn't a lie. Azure took a small step back before answering, her face as red as a tomato. "So you can even cast illusions, I'm impressed, Lady Aqua." Aqua gently placed her hands on Azure's head. Her hands glowed with eerie purple and blue light as Azure's form shifted and changed. It was a simple spell for a caster of Aqua's skill and power; after all, it was just a mean