A smell of rotten eggs permeated the four altars, with thick black smoke rising from the ashes and remains of sacrifices. The atmosphere should have been unbearable, to the point where no one would want to stay there for more than a single second. Yet, despite this, a strange boy smiled, jumped, and rolled on the ground in a frenzied dance, as if he were experiencing the best moment of his life.
"Grimoire, how is this possible?" He asked his magical book, floating exactly one meter above the ground.
[I don't know, Pilar. Primordial chaos has always been unpredictable, though I can suggest some hypotheses.]
The boy's breathing was heavy, and his body was now seated on the marble floor, reflecting his black horns. His fatigue spoke volumes about his situation. He had been celebrating for hours!
Vincent looked up, observing the movements of the Stellarium, while pondering the enigmatic familiar presence, and demanded of the grimoire, "Explain."
[In a common evolution for a high demon, you would only gain innate abilities from demonic castes, with a particular emphasis on your aptitude for illusions or dreams. Some rare cases of hybrids might develop innate racial abilities related to their own race. In your case, a human-demon hybrid, you shouldn't have such bonuses...]
"Ah, here you go again with your prejudice against humans."
[I'm just stating facts. Humans have nothing special about them. Continuing; the primordial chaos must have found it necessary to give you these abilities. And the origin of the sacrificed materials deeply influenced this enhancement.]
'It made sense. I mean, I could make such an obvious guess. There's no point in trying to seek an explanation for everything. The fact is, I can feel a different energy within me, spreading through my veins and accumulating around my heart. Essentially, this energy is vastly different from demonic energy. Its color is clear, yet contained, unmoving, childlike, and shy; resting within me.'
The boy stood up from the ground, noticing something that had previously not bothered him at all: he was naked, yet felt no embarrassment about his figure. His pale skin emitted a slight silvery glow, and his white hair shimmered in gold. His body seemed inhuman. While his composition was human-like, the horns, eyes glowing in purple, pointed ears, sharp teeth protruding from his mouth, and black claws conveyed an air of aggression and danger. Yet, his appearance did not evoke absolute fear. His skin was smooth, and his facial features, though distinct, were soft. He had a natural mischievous smile, arousing both curiosity and caution.
He moved his fingers gently, staring intently at the set of folded clothes on the ground. He gestured randomly, alternating movements every few seconds, but nothing happened.
"What's wrong? Why are you so stubborn?" he vented, frustrated. 'It's strange. This new energy doesn't obey me. I can feel it, and connect with it. I know it understands my will, yet it refuses my commands.'
His eyes glowed, overflowing with a violet hue. He spun his hand, pointing his thumb upwards. Instantly, the clothes floated, enveloped in chaotic energy emanating from his demonic essence. With another gesture, pulling his hand back, the clothes came to him.
"Pss, what useless magic," he declared, frustrated. "Good thing I have demonic abilities. Does it only work with wands?"
Vincent wanted to closely observe the changes in his transformation into a high demon, but he had wasted too much time with the ritual. It was time to return. He retrieved the grimoire, now transmuted into a small pendant. Everything was complete there.
Outside the bunker, Vincent was greeted by the distant light of the full moon, poised to touch the horizon. The cool night breeze caressed his skin, reminding him that time was running out. He needed to hurry back to Greengrass Manor. He felt the demonic energy flow through his veins as he drew a runic symbol with his nail bathed in arcane power. With a delicate motion, he completed the seal with a drop of his blood. The bunker's entrance transformed into a rocky set, and the trees closed in densely, creating the illusion of a pristine virgin jungle untouched by man.
Satisfied after activating all the defense mechanisms of his property, Vincent sprinted through the forest, moving agilely between the trees. He felt the added weight of his new form, making it difficult to maneuver at top speed. Suddenly, he spotted a small badger sleeping on a high branch. With a quick movement, Vincent tensed his muscles and leaped to dodge, landing on a mossy, slanted trunk. The impact of his jump was too strong for the pine, which gave way with a resounding crack, falling to the ground. The badger, startled, woke abruptly and hurriedly fled, not understanding what had happened.
Though the bunker was several kilometers from Greengrass Manor, Vincent quickly reached the grounds of the residence. He could see his room with the window still open, just as he had left it. He ran across the lawn and leaped, reaching the third-floor window in a single jump of over five meters. The landing was perfect and silent this time.
Entering the residence smoothly, he began to transmute his form, shrinking until he assumed the appearance of a two-year-old human child. He observed the bed, walking over to it for his well-deserved rest.
"Vincent," said a female voice, filled with concern.
Shock and surprise invaded his body, triggering a series of emotions and unleashing the contained energy within him. A telekinetic wave exploded, pushing away everything it touched, toppling the furniture in the room, shattering the window, and pushing the woman who owned the voice.
"Not now, damn it," he complained about the strange reaction. He ran to the room's entrance, trying to help Rose, who had been pushed to the ground. Her blond hair was disheveled, and she was dressed in night clothes. He asked, "Are you okay?"
Breathing heavily, she asked, "What happened?"
"I'm not sure, it's this strange energy of wizards that exploded when you startled me."
"Huh? You can use common magic?" She questioned while picking him up.
He smiled at her. "Yes, several things happened. But I don't understand how it works right. Then he started his explanation. It happened after I fought Lord Voldemort and defeated him.
"Hey, wait, how did you defeat Voldemort?"
"Yes, I did. That's not important... I managed to get the last piece for the ritual. The ritual was done. Now, I have this different energy inside me that I suppose is common magic."
They continued to talk, their words filling the room with a sense of urgency and mystery. However, far away, at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, an ancient book opened on its own. A feather magically floated, writing on a page of aged paper: Vincent Salvatore Greengrass.