Four figures draped in dark, hooded robes stood beside me, forming a semicircle. Their presence was imposing, each exuding an unsettling aura.
"What happened?" I inquired, my voice strained with confusion.
One of the figures turned his gaze toward the platform, his tone solemn as he replied, "You should be the one to tell us that."
"What do you mean?" I asked, turning to him with a mix of irritation and unease. Instead of answering, his cold gaze shifted back to me.
"What did you do after we left?" he pressed, his voice carrying an edge that set me on edge.
The corner of my mouth twitched in frustration. _Damn it! Don't answer my question with a question._ "I placed my hand on the crystal, just like you told me to. Some kind of energy surged into my body, and then… everything went black. I just woke up, and then you guys rushed in. That's all I remember."
The four figures exchanged glances, their faces hidden, and then turned their attention to the black light hovering above the platform, completely ignoring me. The atmosphere in the room shifted, growing more oppressive. A dark light, nearly black but tinged with a blood-red glow, began to separate from the crystal orb. It twisted and writhed, like a serpent coiling around itself, drawing thin tendrils of energy from the orb and the chained grimoires surrounding the platform. Seven of the grimoires trembled violently, their chains rattling against the stone.
"What's going on?" I asked, a note of panic creeping into my voice as I watched the grimoires quake and the dark light twist ominously.
But they didn't answer. They just stood there, watching the dark light with unreadable expressions, as if I wasn't even there. Their silence was maddening, fueling a fire in my chest that quickly turned into rage.
"Answer me!" I roared, my voice echoing off the stone walls. I didn't care who they were anymore. My fists clenched involuntarily, and I felt a sudden surge of heat flaring in my veins. The air around me grew heavy, almost suffocating, and it took me a moment to realize that it was because of me, because of the power now coursing through my body.
The anger inside me swelled, my blood boiling in rage. Every thought, every feeling, was consumed by this burning fury. "You think you can ignore me? Dismiss me just like that?" My voice trembled with the force of my rage, and I took a step toward them, my fists clenched so tightly that my knuckles turned white.
The four figures exchanged glances, but still said nothing. My anger deepened, twisted by an insatiable craving that I didn't fully understand. It was as if something dark and primal inside awakened, and it demanded recognition.
_I want answers. I want power. And I want them to acknowledge it._
"You're hiding something from me," I snarled, my voice low and dangerous. "You think you're better than me, don't you? Just because you're more powerful?" My mind grew darker, twisted by a craving for power and control, a craving that I didn't fully understand but couldn't resist. "Well, you just wait, I'll show you."
The room seemed to grow colder, the air around me thickening with a chilling despair that wrapped around me like a suffocating blanket. For a moment, I felt an overwhelming urge to give in, to sink to the floor and let the darkness take me. But I fought against it, refusing to let this unknown force control me.
"You've been toying with me all this time," I hissed, my voice barely more than a whisper. My thoughts grew darker, twisted by the promise of power if I just gave in. But I wouldn't. I couldn't.
My stomach churned with a sickening feeling, demanding more, more power, more answers, more of everything. I felt like I was being torn apart by the desires crashing through me, each one pulling me in a different direction, yet all demanding the same thing: control.
The robed figures took a cautious step back, their silence finally breaking as one of them spoke, his voice careful and measured. "This… this was a test. The changes you're experiencing… they're the effects of the powers of the grimoires."
I blinked, the anger inside me subsiding just enough for confusion to take its place. "What do you mean?"
The figure gestured to the trembling books, their chains rattling as if barely holding back the forces within. He pointed to each one as he explained, "The Grimoire of Pride grants overwhelming confidence and command. Greed stirs an insatiable desire to possess and hoard. Wrath fuels your rage. Envy poisons your thoughts with jealousy. Lust seduces you into a fervor of desire. Gluttony drives an endless need to consume, and Sloth drags you into lethargy and despair."
I stared at the grimoires, the weight of their words sinking in like a heavy stone in my gut. "So… this was all planned?"
The figure nodded. "You've been touched by the power of the Sins. Now, you must learn to control them or they will control you."
"Why?" I asked, my voice strained as I struggled to understand why they would do something like this.
Another figure stepped forward, his voice softer but no less ominous. "Because it is part of the prophecy. Not many would withstand the powers as you did. Most would be corrupted, indulge in their desire, and go mad. The prophecy states that only the one who is chosen can withstand the powers and retain a bit of clarity."
It sounded like a compliment, but it didn't make me feel any better. I turned to the platform, my eyes narrowing as I looked at the grimoires more carefully. Before, I hadn't paid much attention to them, but now that I looked closely, I could see that each one, though exuding powerful presences, gave off different feelings.
The Grimoire of Pride: Its cover was a mirror-like obsidian, reflecting those who gazed upon it with unsettling clarity. The aura surrounding the book was a blinding white, tinged with gold, radiating a sense of superiority and arrogance. Gazing at it made one feel a compulsion to kneel, as if in the presence of something far greater.
The Grimoire of Greed: Encrusted with countless gems and precious metals, though they appeared dull and lifeless. The aura surrounding the book was an emerald green, swirling with a consuming hunger. It gave off an overwhelming desire to possess and hoard, as if the book itself was a bottomless pit of need.
The Grimoire of Wrath: Bound in scorched, blackened iron, it radiated heat, as if it had just been pulled from a forge. The aura surrounding the book was a fiery, blood-red, pulsating with anger and violence. The air crackled with energy, and the scent of smoke and ash hung thick around it, as if the very book was seething with rage.
The Grimoire of Envy: The cover was made from a shifting, chameleon-like fabric, constantly changing to mimic its surroundings. The aura surrounding the book was a pale, envious green, filled with a sense of discontent and longing. It made one feel a gnawing sense of inadequacy, as if they were lacking in some fundamental way.
The Grimoire of Lust: Bound in supple, crimson leather, smooth to the touch and faintly warm. The aura surrounding the book was a deep, intoxicating red, filled with a magnetic allure. The presence of the book was both inviting and dangerous, drawing all who approached into its grasp, promising fulfillment but delivering only endless desire.
The Grimoire of Gluttony: Its cover was bloated and misshapen, as if it had devoured more than it could handle. The aura surrounding the book was a sickly, pale yellow, swirling like a thick miasma. It gave off a feeling of insatiable hunger, an overwhelming need to consume without end.
The Grimoire of Sloth: Encased in a heavy, dull stone, its surface cold and lifeless. The aura surrounding the book was a sluggish, pale gray, filled with a sense of overwhelming lethargy. The air around it felt thick and heavy, draining the energy and will of all who drew near.
As I stared at the grimoires, a realization dawned on me. These weren't just books, they were living embodiments of the sins. And I had been chosen to face them, to either conquer them or be consumed by them.
The weight of that realization settled on my shoulders, heavy and suffocating. But deep down, beneath the fear and uncertainty, a flicker of determination ignited. If this was my fate, then I would not let these grimoires control me. I would find a way to harness their power and turn it against those who stood in my way.
I would not be a pawn in their game. I would be the one to change the rules.