Thursday was calm, Balthazar searched a good hundred books in the library, but yet, he found nothing. Frustration, yet agin it struck him, it should have just been a minor inconvenience, hell, he could even just report it to Professor Amos or any teacher and the matter would be dealt with without him, but unbeknownst to him, he was at the behest of that sensation.
It felt as if his mind, which had been racing for countless derivation of symbols, having read more that 5 000 pages in a day, was locked in his skull.
He grunted as he grinded his teeth together and struck the table with good force, prompting the students to look at him in a mix of shock and surprise. There were tens of books lying open on the table. Hundred of scribbled drawing of magic sigil. Yet nothing lead to anything.
'This fricking sigil, I'm sure it means something. But how could a student have made that ? No. It must have been either a last year or a graduate, teachers wouldn't care for that. A talented one at that. Or... an intruder ? Someone who is not welcome at the academy ? Was it a way to spy ? Or is it something else ? It could be serious. But now that I didn't report it immediately upon finding it, I might get reprimanded if it is serious knowing that damn administration. I better get proof or say nothing. I know, yes, I know what I can do !'
And just like that Balth bolted from his seat under the bewildered gazes of the student, snapped at the golem, which immediately started to put the mess he made in order and rushed for the door.
He passed once more before the founder's statue, through the long corridors, and started to climp the spire where he headed.
'And … 377 steps, wow, I hate those stairs.'
He knocked on the heavy wooden door. And before the first knock even resounded, a voice was heard on the other side.
"Balthazar, child, come in, no need to knock, you know me." and gave a hearty laugh.
The door was pshed open and Balth entered with a smile on his face before being invited to sit down by the master of that room.
"Lord Lucius, you divine my arrival now ?"
"Haha, merely a sensor in the spire's stairs, do you want to become my student ? Is it why you come here ? Or just to trouoble this old man ?"
The old man was Lucius Io, Head-Teacher of Divination, he had long taken a fondness upon Balthazar when he was a second year, saying he could be a great wizard, a fact which would be well know considering the academic achievement of Balth right now. However Balthazar had never been interested in divination, and had declined becoming Lucius' disciple after graduating, considering he'd much rather explore magic and the world before settling, be it at the academy or his family estate.
"Nah, I do want help though, I've found myself really interested in our founder, Alaster Dimsas recently, and I wondered if there was any books left in the library which he had penned himself, so I thoguht about searching for his personal sigil, since it figures on the academy's banner its not to hard to find, but I really struggle on finding a way to track it, and then I thought of you !
By any chance you wouldn't know of a way to do that ?" Balthazar smiled.
"A lie ? In the chamber of divination ? You are growing bolder young man. I do have that." Lucius tossed a book which seemed to have already been dusted recently to Balthazar who had now gained a slight blush and bashful smile.
"Go, I think you have much to do and my old bones can't stand the vigor of youth." In essence, Lucius was still a man of a few words.
"Thank you ! And huh... sor"
"Bah, don't even think about apologizing. Leave quick, I might just add a few steps to those stairs."
Balthazar laughed and ran in the stairs like he did when he first came here, a good five years ago.
'378... damn old man.'
Balthazar started to read the book quietly in his quarters, not making a sound, he was entirely focused on the task at hand.
He heard the ring of the bell, 8pm yet again. But he continued to work, and soon, it was midnight.
Balthazar closed the book in a swift motion. He had almost finished it. Only 7 pages left. But he was far too tired to carry on for today. He went to sleep.
Death. Murder. Rebirth. Death. Murder. Rebirth. Death. Murder. Rebirth. Death. Murder. Rebirth. Death. Murder. Rebirth.
He awoke in a cold breath. A nightmare. It had been a long time since Balthazar had dreamt. When he was a child he often dreamt of death, undead, all those things. It had started when the house cat, Philibert, had died. It marked him.
But this time, this time it was different. It felt like something had preyed unto him, licked his neck in anticipation and whispered madness itself within his ear. He shook his body as he scanned his surrounding. Nothing.
"Detect Magic."
Only a slight dot, a small light, in the inner pocket of his robe.
'Fuck me. It definetly ain't a good prank.' He retrieved the sigil, which now laid without any magic, as if the awakening of Balth had put it to sleep.
'Its at least 2nd Circle Magic, a 1st Circle Wizard couldn't do that, most likely a 3rd Circle's work. The fact that I could do that doesn't mean other could...'
It was 5am. He looked in the mirror : 'Not well rested, but it'll do.'
Balthazar washed himself and quickly put on another set of robes, and carried on reading the book Lucius landed him.
9Am : since this night, Balth had a terrible headache, it wouldn't go away. As such, he had closed all curtains in his room, drank large amounts of water and patiently waited, while trying to read the 5 last pages of the book.
'God why does it hurt so much, its like something is drilling in my brain.'
A flash of light. Blue, Green and Black. Red and Purple. Balthazar held his head in both hands as he bit his tongue not to scream.
Scenes flashed one after another, seconds became minutes. Minutes turned into hours. And what seemed to be for Balthazar 7 hours took the span of 3 seconds.
He opened his eyes, the headache gone. His green, deep emerald irises shone strangely in the darkness.
'What was that ? I... I. Is it, Is it a fortune ? Or the end of me?? Fuck am I getting possessed ? No. I don't feel anything weird its just like, like if I remembered something...'
He pointed his finger toward a nerby candle.
"Flame." A 1st Circle spell, creating a small flame, usually used to light candles or bonfire.
The candle was lit, with a bright orange flame, showing a perfect combustion, at least for a candle.
"Soul Flame."
The flame turned blue under the manipulation of the mana flow. It seemed to be given life as it grew a few centimeters in size, lashing at a small insect which passed by, burning it down and growing a few millimeters more.
"Extinguish." The flame died.
Balthazar grinned. That was Soul Flame, 1st Circle Necromancy Spell.
'I don't remember much but I do remember one thing now, Death, Murder, Rebirth, Rebellion against Death, May the Reaper die.'