The next morning, Hikari sat meditating in her chambers. The pulsating titan core resting right in front of her. She controlled her breath, relaxing her body as much as she could.
Cart after cart of wheatgrass, ivory berries, jars of herb mixtures and crates of mana crystals were hauled before her cauldron by a congo line of soldiers.
She opened her eyes. She walked to the cauldron, poured the first carts into the cauldron and began grounding the mixture with a stone grounder. She poured a tankard of water and mixed. The fire was turned on, Hikari walked back into the circle, allowing the first mixture to shimmer.
The mana from the titan's core began flowing into her body. Hikari felt like she's being pricked by a thousand needles as the foreign energy permeated her body.
As she got used to the mana flow, she activated the Eldarsoar lantern behind her. She grit her teeth as the two energies entered her body, each fighting her and each other as she gradually assimilated them into herself.
Her body stabilized. She walked to the cauldron. The coal below had burnt out as she had only put a limited amount to avoid overcooking. The cauldron and its contents had gone cold. She picked it up with both arms, held it above her head, and poured the vicious contents into her mouth.
With her stomach filled, it was back into the ritual circle. With every minute, HIkari could feel more and more mana and nutrients being pumped into her muscles.
Another cauldron down her throat. She picked up a crate of mana crystals, scattering its contents around the ritual circle.
"Argh.. " she groaned softly as the intensity of energy pierced her skin. It has gotten dark.
She sat in place, the ritual circle deactivated as she allowed time for her body to readjust.
She opened her eyes. Slithers of dim sunlight from what she assumes to be an overcast sky outside dimly lit the chambers.
Another cauldron down her throat.
"Argh..! Argh.." Hikari drew more and more energy out of the titan's core. Pumping them into her muscles and her own core.
Glup. Glup. She emptied another cauldron.
"Half way through… Huff* Huff*"
She reactivated the circle.
"Arghh….!" She was drawing energy from deeper and deeper inside the shard. Her heart pounded, her veins and muscles screamed from the forceful expansion. She felt as though the titan's energy was just a hair away from ripping her insides apart.
It was night again. She slept sitting in the circle.
She picked up the last carts. Her muscles felt like they were going to burst. Gulping down the contents of her cauldron and scattering the last of the mana crystals. She stood in the circle this time, the titan core at her feet.
It had gotten much smaller than before. The Illenium shell on the outside disintegrated as HIkari forced mana through it again and again. The bright core of the titan remains. Hikari grabbed it with both hands, groaning as the core resisted her, searing her hands.
She took a deep breath, and slammed the core onto her chest. A brilliant flash could be seen piercing through the curtains from outside the chambers.
And then there was silence.
Ria approached Hikari's chambers. It was in full lockdown since she began the ritual. Knights and guards positioned themselves all around and even on top of the structure at all times.
The windows and door were sealed with a barrier that blocks mana.
Sir Parkel greeted her. "Good morning, my lady. It seems that our maiden knight is just about done now."
"How is she? Is this alright? It's been four days since she locked herself in there." Ria was exasperated.
"She's fine. Four days isn't even a record for her. I just hope we have under wear big enough for her Chuckles*"
The head maid arrived, along with several other maids pushing carts made of sheets of clothing for Hikari following behind her.
"Fortunately we do, Drill master, so that you and the boys don't get any ideas. Unless you want the Lord Razenheir to put you on probation like the Forge master?"
"Haha! Alright! Alright! We'll be leaving now. Oh by the way, Lady Ria. I heard you'll be going to Herdial. It must be exciting to go on a trip for the first time."
"Yes, Drill master, I hope your teachings will serve me well."
"I hope so too. It's a dangerous world out there. Don't hesitate to pull the trigger when you need to."
"Thank you, Drill master."
Sir Parkel raised his hands and did a twirl. The knights and soldiers cleared the area.
Ria entered Hikari's chambers. She swallowed and blushed as her heart pounded.
Hikari was wearing her running tops that were no longer big enough to cover her abdominal muscles. She was struggling to piece together her pants to fit her new size.
"Apologies, i-"
"No, No, Hikari. We brought you new clothes. Leave the old ones by the shelves. We'll bring it to the weavers."
The maids pushed the carts to the wardrobe area.
"Chop! Chop! Let's go!" The maids cleared the chambers.
Hikari gave a brief smile to Ria before she walked to the wardrobe area, disassembling her tops and half assembled pants.
"Come here." Ria got down and crawled.
– Hikari –
Physique : 756 -> 787
Mana : 712 -> 753
Defense : 735 -> 762
Height : 4.5 metres -> 4.8 metres
Weight : 2255 kg -> 2600 kg