"Phantom Rebirth: The Last White Raven’s Path to the Ultimate Assassin"

Returning to the Castle in the Mountain

Seraphis stood at the base of the shadowed mountain range, the entrance to her hidden stronghold looming before her like the open maw of an ancient beast. Unlike the grand estates in the cities, this was a place carved from stone and secrecy—a fortress embedded deep within the mountains, its walls reinforced by natural rock formations and powerful warding magic.

The iron gates, thick with layered enchantments, parted as she approached, recognizing her mana signature. As the doors swung open, a gust of cool cavern air washed over her, carrying the faint scent of ancient parchment, stone, and burning torches.

She stepped inside, her boots echoing against the polished stone floors, and strode through the dimly lit halls toward one of the most sacred places in her domain—

The Grand Archive.

Entering the Library of Shadows

The library was vast, a labyrinth of towering shelves filled with forbidden tomes, ancient scriptures, and magical treatises. Unlike the warm, inviting libraries of noble houses, this one felt primal, arcane—a vault of lost knowledge few ever laid eyes upon.

At the center of the vaulted chamber sat a colossal circular table, etched with runes of protection and secrecy, designed to preserve and conceal the information contained within these books.

Torches flickered along the stone walls, casting shadows that danced between the towering shelves as Seraphis approached. With a flick of her fingers, she channeled a pulse of mana, and the floating catalog system came to life—a spectral blue glyph hovering before her.

"Search: Golemancy."

The glyph pulsed, scanning through thousands of books, before displaying a list of titles in glowing golden script.

The Books of Golemancy

Several heavy tomes levitated off the shelves, floating toward her before gently stacking themselves

Book 1: "The Arcane Art of Golem Creation"

This was one of the oldest tomes, its leather-bound cover cracked and worn, the pages yellowed with age. The moment she opened it, the text shimmered, shifting from an indecipherable ancient language into something readable.

“A golem is an entity of raw force, bound by magic and shaped by purpose. Those who master golemancy wield tireless sentinels, powerful warriors, and even skilled artisans. But beware—an improperly constructed golem may disobey, falter, or worse, turn upon its creator.”

She read on, absorbing the intricate details of how golems functioned:

• The Body – The physical form, crafted from stone, iron, enchanted wood, or rare minerals.

• The Core – The heart of the golem, created from a fusion of mana-rich gemstones, elemental essences, and binding sigils.

• The Command Sigils – Inscribed glyphs that define a golem’s purpose, obedience, and behavior.

Seraphis tapped her chin thoughtfully.

"A perfect guardian… but one that won’t turn on me."

She moved on to the next book.

Book 2: "Runes and Sigils for Construct Mastery"

This book was thicker, covered in arcane runes that glowed faintly in the dim light. She traced her fingers over the cover before flipping it open, revealing detailed diagrams of the magical symbols needed to animate and control a golem.

"A golem without proper sigils is an empty husk. It will stand idle, lifeless. The sigils inscribed upon its core define its will."

Some of the most important sigils included:

• The Obedience Sigil – Ensures the golem remains loyal to its creator.

• The Guardian Sigil – Programs the golem to defend a designated location.

• The Combat Sigil – Grants the golem tactical combat abilities.

• The Artisan Sigil – Trains the golem in skilled labor beyond battle.

She sketched each sigil onto a parchment, ensuring she fully understood their mechanics.

Book 3: "Elemental Cores: The Heart of the Construct"

Seraphis reached for the next tome, its cover embedded with a small gemstone, pulsing with raw magical energy.

The text described how golem cores were the true source of power behind these constructs. Unlike a human or beast, a golem had no soul, no innate will—only the mana-driven core that dictated its every action.

“The core is not merely a power source, but a living nexus of magic. A flawed core leads to instability. A shattered core? A walking disaster.”

The book outlined different types of cores:

1. Mana Crystal Core – The simplest, made from refined mana crystals.

2. Elemental Core – Infused with the power of fire, water, wind, or earth, granting elemental abilities.

3. Astral Core – Rarest of all, linked to cosmic forces, capable of self-evolution.

"An Astral Core sounds powerful… but dangerous."

She would start with a Mana Crystal Core—simpler, but reliable.

Book 4: "The Forbidden Constructs: Golems Beyond Mortality"

This tome was wrapped in chains, bound by protective wards.

The moment she touched it, the chains loosened, recognizing her authority within her own library.

Flipping it open, she found something darker

"While most golems are bound by strict magical laws, there exists another path—the path of awakening. A golem imbued with a sliver of soul, or exposed to vast amounts of ambient magic, may begin to think for itself. Some scholars warn against this… for what master wishes for a servant that may one day question them?"

Seraphis narrowed her eyes.

"A golem with its own will? That could be a disaster… or a breakthrough."

She made a mental note to experiment carefully.

Finalizing the Plan

Seraphis closed the final tome and exhaled slowly. Hours had passed, and yet, she was just scratching the surface of golemancy’s mysteries.

But now she had a plan:

1. Gather Materials – She needed mana crystals, enchanted iron, and high-quality ink for sigil engraving.

2. Forge the Golem’s Body – A strong, reliable metallic frame for her first creation.

3. Construct the Core – A stable Mana Crystal Core, infused with her own magic.

4. Engrave the Sigils – Carefully inscribing the Guardian Sigil and Obedience Sigil.

5. Bring It to Life – The final, most dangerous step—channeling her mana into the core and activating it.

A smirk crossed her lips.

By the time she was done, her mountain castle would have more than just walls and wards.

It would have guardians—silent, powerful, and utterly loyal.