Daniel appeared just in front of the Bruce mansion, it was just as he remembered. The sculptures, fountain and their family garden, all did nothing but add to the exterior beauty of the large edifice.
He hesitated for a bit to make a last minute decision if to back away or walk into his family home. It may seem casual but it was a seriously though decision for Daniel. Being back home meant dancing to his father's beats, watching his brother and mother act like everything was okay, and bearing witness to the cruel face of Jeffery Bruce every morning.
He took a slow step forward before finally making his decision. Hastening his steps a little bit, Daniel finally reached the doorstep. He took a deep breath, before he finally rung the doorbell and waited for a response.
His conscience still trying to convince him otherwise, but he had already finalized his decision. The door finally swung open and before him stood the figure of his elder brother, Alexander Bruce. A faint smile was his welcome home gift from the man before him, but Daniel didn't even mind.
Even though they were brothers, they barely knew each other. They both grew on different sides of the world, Alex spent most of his time in the world of sorcery and him on the contrary.
Daniel wheeled his luggages in and returned the smile with the same energy before walking past. He knew the way to his bedroom and all he wanted right now was to rest, night was already approaching and he had had a long day. But that notion was shortlived, his father Jeffery had appeared out of nowhere as if he'd been expecting him to be home at that exact time.
He rolled his eyes in exasperation and pretended to ignore his father's existence but a typical Jeffery wouldn't let him be.
"And the prodigal son returns" Jeffery jeered while blocking Daniel's path. "Have you finally embraced yourself for who you are?" He asked.
Daniel had no intentions of telling his father the truth about why he was actually home. The moment he tells Jeffery that he had returned because he needed protection, and training, was the moment he sells his soul the man. Jeffery would prey non stop on that vulnerability, and Daniel didn't want to imagine what would happen after that.
He nodded in response before finding his way around the barrier that blocked his path. Just as he thought he was free, his mother had stormed in. She must have sensed him and now she wasn't letting go.
He didn't seem particularly pleased to see her at all, his mother had always been obsessed with her children but she never found the courage to stand up for them. She was his whenever she was needed, and he had began to detest her even when she showered him with endless love.
Daniel had finally had enough and teleported to his bedroom, before sealing the door from exterior forces. All he wanted now was rest and that was what he was going to get.
****
Daniel had readjusted just fine to his old family routine, and was getting to know his brother even better. He couldn't possibly tell Jeffery to train him else he wouldn't hear the end of it, so instead he had confided in his brother hoping it wouldn't be a mistake, and his prayers were answered.
Alexander was committed to anything he was tasked with, and he was now beginning to understand why he never had time for his younger brother when they were smaller. He was occupied with trying to please his father, to become the best and that had built him into a fine adult.
He could almost compare him to Jeffery at the forest of death with the display of skills and mastery over sorcery. Alexander's power was definitely commendable, he could do almost all that he'd seen Jeffery do, and he was a great teacher too.
Training was going fine so far, Daniel had kept the drama of the book from his mother and brother in order to prevent any family crisis. He didn't know how they'd react to that information, so he kept it to himself
Closing his eyes, Daniel tried to focus on the spell he was about to cast, a healing spell. It was deeply necessary because over the period of his training with Angus, the latter has been doing all the healing, and if not for that he would probably be lying in a hospital bed seeking for a blood transfusion.
Alexander had casted a numbing spell on his leg before cutting it open. He could hear his brother's voice urging him to channel his mana towards the injury. It seemed easy, but he had never been able to do it correctly. He had already failed so many times now, and Alexander always ended up healing him.
****
It had been two weeks of failed training now, but Daniel was beginning to get a hang of it. He was caught up on all the basic spells. He had mastered conjuring weapons which was easy but took an awful amount of mana, and movement restriction spells which weren't any useful against a sorcerer since it was pretty easy to bypass.
The blood sorcerers didn't posses an ethereal binding spell like the Infernal Judgement, and the Brothers of Stigma. Even nature sorcerers could tie someone down with twigs and vines, but he wasn't going waste his time comparing factions.
He had other important things to do, like finding out more about this Grimoire of a book.
"Have you ever heard of the Grimoire?" Daniel asked Alexander who was gutting a dead goat, in preparation for a sacrifice.
"You have to be specific, there are a lot of grimoires, they're basically spell books" Alexander replied while separating the creatures organs from it's unwanted intestines.
Daniel felt stupid for his lack of knowledge, he knew grimoires were spell books but he hadn't heard a name from any of body so far.
"Unless you mean the Maledictio Caelum et Infernium?" Alexander asked turning to his brother who scrubbed off at a bloody table.
Daniel leaned in closer to his staring brother, he had gotten a lot more interested in the subject.
"Tell me more about this Grimoire"