Chapter 3 - The five demons

After examining the seven grimoires, their energies still resonating within me, I turned my attention to the rest. It was then I noticed something peculiar, the dark light wasn't drawing energy from them. I turned to the four figures standing beside me, their faces obscured by their hoods.

"What's up with those other grimoires?" I asked, my voice steady despite the uneasy feeling gnawing at me.

One of the figures glanced at the remaining grimoires before replying, his voice low and measured. "Those five are different."

"Different how?" I pressed, confusion creeping into my mind. _If they're different, what's the point of chaining them there?_

"They contain something far more dangerous," the figure continued, with caution in his tone. "Those five have living demons sealed within them."

"Demons?" I echoed, my stomach twisting with unease. _That doesn't really answer my question… Wait, did he say demons?_

"Yes, demons," the figure explained patiently. "Powerful, malevolent beings from a nightmarish realm known as the Abyss. It's a realm akin to ours but governed by its own twisted rules."

I frowned, trying to wrap my head around the information. "But you said the seven grimoires contain the powers of the Seven Sins. Why are there living demons in these five?"

"They were sealed by a former lord of this realm," the figure replied, his gaze still on the grimoires.

_That's not the point. Why seal the demons alive?_ "Wouldn't it have been easier to kill them and seal their powers within the grimoires?" I asked, a hint of skepticism in my voice.

Another figure, standing slightly apart from the others, spoke up. "It's not that simple. Demons originate from the Abyss, a realm with its own rules. They're cunning creatures. If they're killed, their souls return to their territories in the Abyss. Although they'll be weakened, it's just a matter of recovering and regaining their strength. Killing them doesn't eliminate the threat; it merely delays it."

I stared at him, my mind racing. _Damn, what sort of cheat ability is that?_ My eyes widened as I realized something. "Hold on, did you just say the Abyss retrieves their powers?"

The figure turned his hooded face towards me. "Yes, something wrong?"

I swallowed hard, the implications settling in. "Is the Abyss a living being?"

A chuckle echoed from beneath the hood. "You're overthinking it. It's not a being, but more like a set of rules. The powers these demons wield are granted by the Abyss, meaning they ultimately belong to the Abyss."

As we talked, a ripple of energy pulsed from the dark light, drawing our attention. The room seemed to vibrate with its intensity.

"What is that dark light?" I asked, a thread of anxiety lacing my voice for reasons I didn't know.

The four figures turned to look at me simultaneously, their combined gaze unsettling. Instinctively, I took a step back, wary. "What…?"

"That is a manifestation of your power," one of them said, their voice heavy. "Your awakening power, to be precise."

My eyes lit up with excitement. "What kind of power is it?"

"We don't know," the figure replied. "But you should feel a connection with it."

I focused on the dark light, trying to sense something, anything. But there was nothing. "I don't feel anything," I admitted, with frustration.

"Concentrate on the light," another figure instructed. "Clear your thoughts and focus."

I stared intently at the swirling mass of darkness, my mind still buzzing with questions. As if sensing my gaze, a dark ray shot from the light straight at me. A surge of energy blasted through my body, so intense it felt like my very soul was being torn apart. My vision blurred, and for a moment, I felt weightless, like I was floating between worlds. Wisps of blue-white energy rose from my body, merging with the dark light. The colors around me distorted and bled together in chaotic swirls before suddenly snapping into focus.

"So, can you feel it now?" a voice spoke next to me.

I turned, still disoriented. "What?"

"The connection," the voice repeated. "Can you feel it?"

"I think so," I said doubtfully. "But I can't understand what kind of power it is."

"Don't worry. It's still in the awakening stage. You won't know until it has fully matured."

I nodded, the uncertainty lingering in my mind. "What powers do those demons have?" I asked, turning my attention to the five ominous books.

One of the figures stepped forward, his presence more imposing than before. "You want to use them?"

My gaze remained fixed on the grimoires. "Can't I? I assumed I could since they're bound like the others."

The five books pulsed with a distinct, sinister energy, each one alive with the power locked within its pages. The air around them grew thick, almost suffocating.

The figure's voice dropped to a grave tone. "You can use them, but understand this, these five grimoires contain not just power, but the very essence of the demons sealed within. Their power is immense, but so is the danger. You must grasp the magnitude of what you're dealing with before making your decision."

He gestured to the first grimoire. It was massive, bound in dark iron with intricate symbols etched across its surface. The parchment within was ancient, the pages thick and worn with age. A sickly green aura surrounded it, pulsing like a heartbeat. "This is the Grimoire of Alchemy. Sealed inside is Morath, the Master of Transmutation. His power manipulates matter, creates potions, and forges enchanted artifacts. But such power often comes at the cost of life itself."

Next, my eyes fell on the second grimoire. Smaller, but no less imposing, it was bound in black leather, its runes glowing faintly along the spine. A cold, deep blue aura surrounded it. "This is the Grimoire of Knowledge," the figure continued. "Within lies Libris, the Seeker of Truths. Libris grants forbidden knowledge, revealing even the deepest secrets of the universe. But such knowledge can drive even the strongest minds to madness."

The third grimoire radiated a strange, almost chaotic energy. Its cover appeared to be made of living wood, constantly shifting and twisting. Red runes danced across the surface, glowing fiercely. The aura was a vibrant crimson, charged with volatile energy. "This is the Grimoire of Magic Runes. It houses Incaris, the Weaver. Incaris's power is mastery over runes, symbols of ancient magic that can alter reality itself. But using these runes requires absolute precision, one mistake, and the consequences could be catastrophic."

The fourth grimoire was wrapped in dark, scaly leather, like the hide of some long-forgotten beast. A murky violet aura swirled around it, heavy with malevolence. "This is the Grimoire of Malicious Thoughts. The demon Morgath, the Whisperer, is sealed within. Morgath feeds on the darker aspects of the mind, twisting thoughts and emotions to sow discord and despair. His power can manipulate others, but using it will taint your own mind with his influence."

Finally, I turned to the most unsettling grimoire of all. Bound in what looked like charred flesh, its cover was marked with intricate circles. A dark, swirling black aura surrounded it, with flickers of red energy at its edges. "This is the Grimoire of Summoning," the figure said solemnly. "Sealed inside is Azrath, the Gatekeeper. Azrath's power allows you to summon creatures and beings from other realms, bending them to your will. But every summoning carries a risk, for what you summon may not always be what you expect, and their obedience is never guaranteed."

As the figure finished speaking, the air seemed to grow heavier, the grimoires pulsing with dark energy, almost as if they were aware of our attention.

The figure stepped back, his voice echoing in the chamber. "Be certain of your path before you attempt to use them. Once you do, there may be no turning back."

I took a deep breath, the weight of their words settling in. "Powerful indeed…" I murmured, my gaze lingering on the five grimoires. "What about those three?"