The rhythm of my quill puts me in a calm state of mind as I am copying yet another book of The Basic Spells for Aspiring Sorcerers. As I am finishing the 24th chapter I notice the lack of light. Out the window I see the sun sinking behind the rooftops. Another day finished in this monotonous daily work. I leave my work on my desk and get up to do the usual end of day clean up. I walk to the front of the library, quill still in hand. I mentally cast the spell of levitation sending the shelf of returned books back to their appropriate shelves. I find myself once again fascinated by the glowing runes moving on the quill's surface. My spell conduit wasn't the strongest and the others I had were destroyed. Snapping out of my daze I grab my satchel and head to the front entrance to leave. Placing my hand on the handle I do a quick once over make sure everything is in its place. My eyes fall on the returned shelf and notice a lone book still there. I cast another spell to send it to its proper place but to no avail. I let go of the handle and go to the shelf picking up the book. As I pick it up, I feel the ambient magic humming in the book. On the first page it read, Elliott Axton's book of spells, discoveries, and creations. Elliott Axton, the name meant a huge deal to the whole world. He was known as The King of Destruction, The Immortal Lich, or as people better know him as The Great Sorcerer. I flip through the pages seeing the amount of research put into the book. Fascinated by the holy grail of new information I put the book in my satchel and leave the library locking the door behind me with a quick spell.

 I stand outside The Saints Inn, in which I call my home; I lived here since I started at the library. The Inn is frequented by members of the Cleric Order for food and rooms. The building had a lighter more elegant feel than most inns, resulting in less unwanted riff raff than lesser establishments. I walk through the entrance into a brightly lit room abundant with people and noise. I make my way through the tables of drunken patrons shooting dark looks my direction. The tension between The Cleric Order and sorcerers still hasn't died down since the war seven years ago. I finally make it to the bar where a middle-aged man with wheat blonde hair was behind it writing in a record book. I approach him sitting on the barstool in front of the man. He looks up at me with cheery blue eyes and a rugged smile.

 "Mr. Cleargrey," he greets me robustly, "You're working late hours again tonight. What exactly keeps you stuck in the library that long?" He gave me a mischievous smirk that tries to pry information out of me.

 "Just regular librarian work, Mr. Morgan," I give him a half smile, "But it was a long day, so I'll take a few pints and a meal in my room." Mr. Morgan gives me a slight defeated look, for an info broker that was hired to watch me he really can't get anything of importance information wise from me.

 "All right, I'll send Josephine to drop off your meal in your room," he says waving me off. I slide him the payment and head up the staircase to the left of the bar. I walk up a couple flights to the third floor and I head down the hall to my room.

 I unlock my door and swing it open. The room was a decent size and fully furnished in good condition. I set my bag on the desk and hang up my coat. I set my conduit down on the desk, its rune's glow dulled. The entire inn has a blessing cast on it to suppress sorcery. My own personal cage curtesy of The Great Divine. The Other world being who rules over The Cleric Order and The Divine Empire of Solis and all its "holiness." My entire present life is a loose prison to keep me in line as one of the last of the sorcerers in this godforsaken empire. I rinse my face and wet my hair to get the daily grime out it. My reflection stared back at me in the mirror my aged face showing no relation to my youthful happy self. A fierce scar marks my face reminding me of my biggest failure, the loss of my family. A knock came from the door. I walk over and open the door, a beautiful brunette woman in her early thirties standing with a tray of food and two pints of ale.

"Evening Zan," Josephine gives me a smirk, "I got your usual, will you need refills or maybe entertainment?" She raises her eyebrow seductively.

"Josephine," I give her a wry grin, "lovely offer as always but I doubt you would be satisfied with an old sorcerer like me." She clicks her tongue and puffs her cheeks.

"I don't flirt with everyone like this you know," she gives me a sideways glance setting the food and ale on the desk, "I have standards you know."

Yeah, standards as in getting information out of me, My dark thoughts surface.

"Well sadly, I am very worn out tonight maybe next time" I usher her out the room, "Goodnight Josephine." She gives me one last flirtatious grin as I close the door.

I walk over to the desk and pull-out Elliott Axton's grimoire while munching on a piece of bread. Sitting down I open the book to the first page.

Well, the professor wanted me to write a journal to keep track of ideas and my training. I don't think he understands yet that I have a perfect memory, so this is pointless. Ever since he brought me here to the mansion of crazy my doubt about this arrangement grows. Also, that Oliver kid is weird, what kind of guy introduces himself to me while I was changing. He even….

I flip through the pages, as much as his apprentice life is interesting, I want to see his spells more. The beginning pages were either journal entries or basic magic training. Eventually I get to the self-made spells, some of them were ones that became popular and advanced magic leaps and bounds. Others were spells that were powerful but never made public. After a few hours of skimming through a page catches my eye.

I don't know if I should even write this spell down because of the consequences but my gut says to. In case anyone reads this this spell is a last resort. It could bring disastrous results if in the wrong hands. The point I'm trying to make is don't use it unless you're willing to die. This spell can change everything or nothing at all it depends on you. It is cast directly on your soul, so your rank of sorcery doesn't matter. Its name is redemption.

Below the cryptic message left, was the most complicated spell I have ever seen. Besides the casting runes all I could understand from it was that it was comprised of necromancy and divination as its focus and the other schools made up its support.

Should I cast it? It not like I have anything to live for why not risk it. No, I shouldn't wait till I break down the composition to see what it does first. Then if it's worth it I'll cast it. An hour passes as I try to figure it out to no avail. Frustrated I leave my desk and flop on the bed.

I can study it more after work tomorrow My last thoughts before I fall into a dreamless sleep.

SLAM!

I bolt upright in bed opening my eyes to a fist racing to my face. I fly into the desk from the force, stars dance in my eyes as I try to focus.

"This Great Divine let you live, because you seemed like a fun toy," a voice that brought untold pain in my chest, "But what is this I hear you studying my biggest enemy's diary? You hurt me so much after the love and care I put into you." Stars finally clearing I see the person I hated most surrounded by three guards. My eyes shift to Axton's journal next to me.

"How did you know?" A holy knight raised his fist as I spoke, but the feminine hand of the Great Divine stopped him.

"How else the serving girl," she smirked arrogantly. I am looking at the floor around me realizing the food tray was gone. She must have saw the grimoire when she took the tray. Damn it.

"You really shouldn't leave such contraband out in the open," She places a hand on my cheek forcing me to look into her pure golden eyes, "You never know who might see it. And now for your punishment. Hmm, I think a hand will do." Faster than I can see she severs my hand with hers letting it fall on the grimoire. The pain causes my vision to darken. My arm burns like an inferno, a blood curdling scream rips through my lips. Suddenly a flash of light clears my head and vision. My vision refocuses to see the grimoire open, glowing and floating in front of me.

"Elliott you bastard! You dare interrupt the Great Divine!" The page it was open to was The Redemption spell. The words last resort ring through my head. It certainly seems fitting for this situation. Without hesitation I recite the runes. As I finish the Great Divine lungs at me ready to strike. As the runes floating brighten, I look at her face, a face I once loved.

"Bye Zenith, I love you," a tear rolls down my marred cheek as a bright light flash and darkens my mind.