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nSylvia stood up, still carrying the book within her arms. She was unable to find any more answers that she needed.

nShe absentmindedly looked at the vast library, the gigantic collection of books around her, craning her neck from left to right.

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"Surely there must be something here that can help me figure this out…

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nShe walked around, looking at the various books. This time there was more confidence and purpose in her steps.

nBut unfortunately, even after spending an hour, she was still unable to find something that gave her concrete answers.

nWas this because a pure astral affinity was extremely rare? Sylvia softly sighed and then decided to head back.

nThere was no point in searching for more proof. After all, the best proof would lie in her actions.

nThe book she had right now already talked about how to channel astral energy and cast astral spells.

nIt was mentioned that these spells were even more powerful than normal magic spells.

nIf she could cast even one of these spells… then she didn't have to doubt herself ever again.

nNo one would be able to look down on her. They would have no other choice but to acknowledge her.

nSylvia clenched her fists tightly. She did not want to get her hopes up too high.

nSometimes life had the cruel tendency to beat one into submission, again and again, completely making them unable to stand up.

nBut still, she couldn't stop her blood from boiling.

nEven though the chances were slim, she was hell-bent on somehow crawling up from her personal pit of misery.

nWith everything that she had gone through… she hated being so weak and vulnerable from the bottom of her heart. She would do anything to become more than what she was right now.

nSylvia hastened her steps, running out of the library to her personal chambers.

nOnce she was there, she didn't even bother changing her clothes and quickly strolled out to the gardens.

nShe looked up at the stars, at the weird shapes and patterns they formed in the sky. She didn't know where to begin.

nHow was one supposed to absorb astral energy? Those stars must be at least millions and millions of miles away from her.

nWas it even possible to absorb astral energy in the first place? Was that why the books did not explain anything clearly?

nSylvia sighed, beginning to doubt everything all over again. Her mind was running wild, cooking up all the worst-case scenarios.

nHowever, just as she took another breath… a familiar sensation warped her body.

nShe could sense millions of tiny white energy dots swirling around her, sinking into her body like a black hole and filling her with energy.

nIt was as if she had been stuck in a dark desolate room and someone suddenly lit a candle, flooding her with bright light, filling her with warmth and energy.

nSylvia gasped lightly. It felt so weird and surreal.

nHow was it possible that she hadn't noticed such a significant thing before? It was not like she had to do anything special now in order to feel this.

nAll she had done was simply suck in a breath and everything changed.

nWhat she yearned for all her life was right in front of her all along? Was it just her who had never paid attention to it?

nShe took a deep breath as she sucked in more of the energy radiating from the heavens above.

nThis was a different kind of energy than just the mana swirling in the air around her.

nIf those were blue energy dots, these were white energy dots. The two were different, both in quality and in power.

nAnd surprisingly, the white dots overpowered the blue dots. They seemed to chase out all the blue dots from her body, now only the white dots filling her from top to bottom.

nSylvia sat down on the lawn mesmerized by the wonderful feeling that was cradling her like a mother's womb. She didn't think too much about what was happening and simply enjoyed the feeling.

nIt was as if her body had been starved for decades and she was finally feeding it.

nShe closed her eyes and tried circulating this energy through her body just like how she had previously channeled mana through her veins.

nAlmost immediately, a wave swept across her, relaxing her body and her mind. Sylvia felt as light as a feather. She hadn't felt this good in a while.

nShe felt as if she had access to infinite energy and right at this moment she could do anything that she wanted.

nShe took another deep breath and without any hesitation, she allowed herself to feel the overpowering rage that constantly simmered underneath her skin.

nShe wanted to shift and this was the only trigger she knew so she didn't think twice before using it.

nShe imagined herself back in the prison cell and her fickle life being in the palm of a sweaty old man.

nBa thump. Ba thump. Ba thump.

nHer heart hammered against her chest and the energy swirling within her turned chaotic as if it was resembling her own mood.

nRip. The lavish extravagant dress she was wearing tore apart the next instant and two silvery metallic wings popped out.

nSylvia flashed her eyes open and they were bright golden in color.

nAn intoxicating power filled her from within and in a single swift motion, she moved her wings.

nShe knew that her body wanted to do that. The muscles on her back were aching with a need.

nSo she let go of all her inhibitions and self-doubt and gave in.

nShe did exactly what she felt like doing without thinking about anything else and without any concrete method to the madness.

nZwing. Her metallic wings flapped. Her body shot up like an arrow, her slender figure now floating several feet above the ground.

nHer heart was thumping wildly, blood rushing to her cheeks. The cool night air swirled around her body.

nAnd for the first time in her life… Sylvia felt free like she had never felt before.

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