The fireplace in the Crow's Feather store continued to crackle gently, casting dancing shadows across the stone and wood walls. The cozy warmth contrasted with the piercing cold of Niflheim that still lingered in the group's memories.
Emma, now an integral part of the circle, watched the familiar faces of her new companions with a confident smile.
"Let's get ready," said Kaizen, standing up. "The next stage requires careful planning. Alina, we can use your underground library, right?"
The mage nodded readily. "Of course. Follow me."
They left the comfort of the store and followed Alina up a narrow staircase, lit by magical torches that cast a warm, steady glow. The underground library was Alina's refuge, a place where she kept ancient tomes and books and powerful artifacts.
When they reached the library, the sight was impressive. Bookshelves filled with books rose to the ceiling, and globes of magical light floated in the air, casting a soft, bluish glow. A solid wooden table occupied a central area of the library, surrounded by padded chairs.
Kaizen, Alina, Andrew, Jayaa, Og'tharoz, Xisrith and Emma settled around the table, creating a circle of determination and purpose.
Kaizen started the meeting, his voice echoing softly off the stone walls. "With the arrival of Emma, or rather Bloody Lily, our dynamic changes somewhat. She brings not only exceptional skills, but also a fresh perspective. Emma, could you tell the others a bit more about yourself?"
Emma, sitting up straight with a firm gaze, nodded. "Of course. I'm Bloody Lily, leader of the Crimson Soldiers Guild. My class is Blood Warrior, and I have blood weapons that can literally take on different forms. Three months ago, I made the decision to finally become an Evolved, but I was waiting for the right time. The process was arduous and required sacrifices, but four days ago I finally did it.
Now I'm more powerful than I ever imagined I could be."
"That means we have two Evolved in the group now - Kaizen and the Bloody Lily. That's great," said Xisrith.
Jayaa leaned forward, intrigued. "Tell us more about this evolution. What has changed in you? Are you feeling nicer and do you think you can forgive your brother for the fourteen months of rent arrears?"
Emma laughed at Jayaa's question, which was clearly a joke, but decided to answer seriously as well.
"In addition to a significant increase in my magical power and combat skills, my physical and mental stamina have also been improved. My skills have received a significant boost and I can now use them in a more complex way and in greater quantity, and my healing and regeneration capacity has increased dramatically. I'm ready to face any challenge that comes our way."
Andrew crossed his arms, reflecting on Emma's words. "This completely changes our approach. With two Evolved, we have a considerable power boost."
Emma smiled, pulling out her own twin blades, which glowed with an intense red light. "Always."
After a while, they were both panting and the whole room was destroyed.
"Impressive," said Kaizen, dodging an attack and spinning around to land a blow of his own. "You've really evolved."
Emma blocked the blow with ease, her eyes shining with determination. "And you haven't seen anything yet."
After a series of intense exchanges, they both stopped, breathing heavily but smiling.
"We're ready," said Kaizen, putting away his sword. "With you by our side, we have a real chance of success."
Emma nodded, putting away her blades. "We'll save Og'tharoz's wife and make sure Surtr pays for what he's done. Together, we're unstoppable."
Back in the library, Alina, Jayaa and Andrew had finished preparing the concealment spell. Alina held a vial of glowing liquid, while Jayaa adjusted the final details on the map.
"It's ready," announced Alina, lifting the vial. "This spell will allow us to slip past the castle's defenses unnoticed, but we'll need to be quick. It won't last long."
Kaizen and Emma returned, still buzzing from their training. "Good work," said Kaizen, looking at the vial. "We're almost ready to go. Is everyone ready?"
Og'tharoz nodded, his eyes fixed on the map. "Yes. We're going to save my wife and put an end to Surtr once and for all."
Kaizen put his hand on Og'tharoz's shoulder. "We're all in this together. No one will be left behind."
With the team assembled and ready, they went over the plan one last time, making sure every detail was perfect. The tension in the air was palpable, but there was also a sense of hope and determination.
As they prepared to leave, Kaizen observed his companions, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for having them by his side. With Blood Lily as one of their own and the collective strength of the group, he knew they were ready to face any challenge that came their way, even a mythological god.
"Let's go," he finally said, his eyes shining with determination. "To Muspelheim."