Faust was doing some paper work in his office. It was night. The night owl hoots could be heard. Faust put down his pen.
"Jamal, you there?"
A man walked out of the shadow. He is wearing black suit, black gloves and black hood.
"I am here."
"Can you go to western district and look for an Alchemist there. Collect any rumors and any kind of sightings."
"The details about the person sir."
"Here in this document has rough details of him. He has Snow Attribute so his Grimoire might has white cover with a little light blue or cyan. He is a troublemaker so maybe there are some talks about him going around the area."
Jamal flip open the file.
"The time limit sir."
"As fast as you can please. The request this time has a very limited time limit."
"On your command sir."
Jamal then slowly slipped into the darkness. Faust once again was alone in the room.
"*Sigh* I always jealous of people who are chosen by Artifact. Being able to use it limitlessly. Such a cheat."
'Take my hand and you'll become just like them. Take my hand'
"No. I'm content with what I have. I don't need your help"
The voice in his head disappeared. From time to time there is a voice in Faust's head, whispering to him to take its hand. He knew what the voice is. Demon. The first ever a true demon appearance ever recorded in history was the first time an Alchemist came out to the world. It is said the first Alchemist made a contract with his inner demon to further improve himself. But no one know if it is true or not.
To Faust the recorded history is fifty-fifty. It is a truth blanketed with lies to make it seems like the first Alchemist was someone evil. He believed that history is written by the victors and Alchemist is the loser in the story. They lose the war. But he knew that making a contract with a demon was never a good thing.
It was written in history that the first Alchemist die young but not because of any illness or he was killed. He just one day died. It was like he has reached some sort of time limit. Most historian said that it was because of the contract making his lifespan as a payment to the demon. He neither agree nor disagree with the statement.
The reason was because the demon in his head never offer any sort of contract. It said to only take its hand for power. Either qualification for Artifact or talent to become an Alchemist. That was his conclusion about the power the demon can give him.
Faust could feel it in his heart, sooner or later he would take the hand. He is not a really strong willed person. He just hoped that someone will be able to kill him when the time comes.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Somewhere in the western district of Outer. A man with snow white hair was muttering something in an old and worn out room. He was holding his grimoire with both hands tightly.
There was a candle in the middle of the room. There were unknown writings all around the candle on the ground until it reach the ceiling. The candle was in the center of the unknown writings. The man was kneeling on the wooden floor.
"O my inner demon, I call to you. Give me strength. Give me power. Give me everything you can offer. And I shall offer you this world and this life."
The writings started to glow brightly. The candle lit up with a dark blue flame. The candle shadow grew and became the same as the figure of the man. An incorrigible voice came out of the shadow.
"What can you offer me as a payment?"
"I can give you this world and my life."
"This world is not yours. Your life shall be the payment. Tell me your desire."
"I want to be the most powerful Alchemist! I want power!"
The shadow tilt it's head.
"You are not qualified to be the strongest Alchemist. I can give you power but your life will be mine in a year."
"A year?! A-a year? I will die in a year."
"Choose. Power or your life."
"Gulp. Power. As long as I have more power, I can figure out how to elongated my lifespan. I choose power."
"Your desire will be fulfilled. O, foolish human. For I never came to you with an offer to take my hand, your life shall be the payment for your dirty desire. Power shall be granted for its worth but life shall be forfeited for the conceited. Regret shall you be O foolish human for you never offered thy hand."
The shadow wiggled to the man with snow white hair. It climbed around the body of the man and started to wrapped around the man.
"Ughhh, I will be the most powerful Alchemist and I will kill you, Farik! Aha-ahahah. AHAHAHAHAHAH HAHAHAHAHAHAH."
He laughed madly as the shadow slowly engulf his whole body.