"Brothers, even if a person is caught in some transgression [spiritual warfare], you who are spiritual should correct that one in a gentle spirit, looking to yourself, so that you also may not be tempted." - Galatians 6:1
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Dust accumulates on the edges of a pine desk, and my pinky brushes the fine fuzzy particles as I lay my hand on my journal. The brisk pages scratched my dehydrated skin as I lay my right palm against its grainy texture. My quill in hand, the smooth, delicate pen, relaxed as I scribbled notes. Notes in which I documented my thoughts on a peculiar matter, potions. My thoughts danced around in my head, wandering over which ingredients would be best for the next potion I would be making. Also, I pondered on the duties that I had as a Royal Warlock. This applied to my already bundling potion stress.
I sauntered over to the beakers and flasks filled with potions I had been working on. Lightly, I tapped one of the flasks, contemplating to myself what I needed to do to improve the brew. All my potions had different shades of color, which indicated what they were used for. Currently, the one I am pestered about is a green potion. It is supposed to help with healing and reviving, but it is very tricky trying to figure out the chemistry behind this type of potion. If I do not handle this one carefully, I could easily turn this batch into a poison. Which would be the opposite effect of what I want.
An idea came to mind about what ingredient I should use, and I meandered my way around my room in search of this ingredient. When I found it, I grasped it in my hand and hurried over to my potion. Carefully, I set the ingredients inside the potion, and when I did, nothing happened. Until a few seconds later, the potion turned black, and a skull lightly appeared on the surface. Somehow, I managed to turn the brew into a poison for the hundredth time I've tried.
I stormed over to my desk, and frustratingly, I pushed my journal away from me and laid my quill down. I had no clue as to what potion I was to create next, I had a duty to do, to defend the people of Cloud Kingdom. There is a darkness that shrouds this kingdom, a nothingness that makes one's bones stiffen and heart stop in fear. It's as if something or someone is staring at you, but all you can see is the darkness. Every citizen here knows that there is something off about the space that surrounds us. Many have even reported seeing shadowy figures amidst this strange dark matter. This is why the king, Henry, and queen, Renata, tasked me, the other Mages, and Warlocks, to protect and defend the borders. It is my duty as the Royal Warlock to document my findings on what the darkness is made out of and create possible weapons to defend from what may come out of it. All the other citizens, including the king and queen, are fairies, the uncertainty of what may come brings tension to the atmosphere. I can feel everyone's anticipation building and their trust fading. As a Warlock, I get premonitions about what is to come and how everyone feels. This is why I can sense fear circling the Kingdom, and I have to come up with a new potion soon to douse their fear with some hope. Bringing all families some closure so that everyone will be safe from the unknown dangers.
Living five hundred years of life, which is still young for a Warlock, I have not faced any difficulties thus far, nor have I encountered anything strange that came from the darkness. Studying the void of nothingness hasn't brought any clue as to what it is made out of and what lies inside. Yet, it still haunts my mind every time I think or get close to it. A feeling of dread and unwanted weight sits on my chest as I imagine what would come from the space. As I did this, I heard a crackling sound. Peeking to my right, a pen was rolling on the desk. It crawled toward my hand as I gently rested my palm on my desk. Slowly, it cursed my skin, and as it made contact, everything turned still. It was quiet, too quiet. A chill ran up and down my spine, the type of chill that brings fear into your veins. Every hair on the back of my neck stood up, my heart clenched as I felt an unwelcoming presence. I swallowed my saliva down my throat, as I took the courage to stand up and adventure from my office. Slowly, I walked toward the door, and my hand gently scraped the desk as I made my way. With every step I took, my breath hitched in my throat. Touching the soft oak doors, I gently pushed the door outwards. Peeking into the outside world, I noticed every fairy, witch, and warlock gathered around the darkness. Squinting to see what everyone was looking at, I pushed the door open in shock when I saw something unbelievable. The darkness swirled as if it were about to present something. The grainy texture of the void could be seen, almost as if it was like sand. This sand traveled in a circular motion, protruding from the space that surrounds us.
Every citizen gasped as the mist slowly solidified and created a book. The book floated as the mist retreated, and once it slithered back into the darkness, the book dropped. Once it landed on the ground, dust flew off its pages. All the citizens soon gathered around the book and began pointing at the book in wonder. Many whispered to themselves as to why it was here and if they should investigate it. This initiated me to run over to the citizens, for I did not want anyone to get hurt by the possible threat. I told everyone to get back and commanded the guards nearby to contact the king and queen. The guards hustled toward the castle as I tried to keep everyone back and away from the mysterious book. Since it came from the darkness, I don't want anyone to place themselves in harm's way.
Curiosity was pushing people to do unbelievable things. Many fairies were pushing and shoving. On impact, my shoulders hurt in pain. It crawled up my neck and hit my brain in a way that made me feel unsettled. The pain was enduring, though I pushed and shoved through it, trying to protect everyone from this mystery book. I had no idea if it would hurt someone or worse. So, I had to embrace the pain as if it were my own. Over time, my head began to spin, and my world collided with others. A faint distant ringing could be heard, which amplified the headache I was receiving. Suddenly, just about when I was going to give up, everyone stopped and parted ways, creating a pathway. Everyone bowed in the presence of our king and queen, as they slowly made their way over to me. I was still trying to catch my breath and being composed at the same time. For the queen is a formidable pillar of strength, a fierce leader with a sharp tongue. I see her this way because she is strict and harsh. Our queen does not have evil intentions. She only protrudes herself that way so others may feel safe. Strength provides safety and security. The king also provides that, however, the queen has a motherly gaze, which empowers everyone to act with respect and dignity.
The queen then spoke and took me off guard, "Warlock Jerus, what is going on here?" Her voice was overpowering. It rumbled in a way that took every fiber of my being out of my soul. The power in her voice makes you feel small and unworthy. I do not like this feeling, but each time she speaks to me, it brings the same sensation back to my senses. The queen did choose me as the Royal Warlock, which suggests her trust in my abilities. But I'm still brought back to these emotions of distrust with every word that falls from her royal lips.
With courage, I stated. "This book came from the shadows. It's unknown as to why it came and if it will cause harm." The queen squinted at the book which lay on the ground, gazing at it with her golden eyes. Her gaze then returned to me, which made me stiffen. Everyone waited for her verdict as she just stood there looking at me as if she were waiting for something. Her platinum blonde hair even swayed as the rest of her body remained still, unmoving.
That moment ceased, "Jerus, take the book to your lab. I want a full report of its contents." Upon hearing these words, I jolted. I carefully got down on my knees and scooped the book into my cloak. Everyone whispered as I walked past. Curiosity was still pecking at their thoughts, yet I tried my best to keep the book hidden in my cloak. I had to bring the book back into my lab safely. Studying its pages may help our efforts to understand the void that surrounds us. So far, we have nothing as to what may be hidden.
With that, I gripped the book tightly to my chest. The creases of the cover pressed up against my skin aggressively, as if it were going to suffocate my hands. I held my head down as I shuffled quickly back to my laboratory. My shoes scraped the marbled floors of the town square as my robe flapped behind me, every once in a while, hitting my leg with fury. This annoyed me greatly and made me feel like my trip to my room was long. Even if my dorm was only a few feet away. Finally, I managed to make it to my doorway and grab the heavy handle attached to the right of the double doors. I heaved the door open, and the hinges squeaked as I shimmied my way inside. Closing the door behind me, I pressed my back against the door as I huffed a sigh of relief. I then waltzed over to my desk and placed the book on the surface. Grabbing a desk drawer handle, I slid it open in search of my duster. For there was still a lot of dust remaining on the cover. Also, I brought over a flask to collect this dust for further study. Carefully and delicately, I swiped the particles off the cover into my flask. Sealing the flask, I set it down into a stand for later examination.
Looking at the cover closely, it was intricately designed with leather and had a rough letter "M" stamped onto the front. I had no idea what this title was supposed to mean. For there was no other context given. My curiosity was piqued, and I was very interested as to what lay inside. Reading this book may have answers to things that none of us here fully understand. As I grasp the cover, I gently open the book, and more dust rises off the pages. I cough away the dust and wave my hand over the book to remove any more flying particles. Again gazing at the book, there wasn't much context given. All the pages were blank, but the more I stared at it, the more I began to feel something weighing in my chest. Fear flooded my body as I saw the pages turn from a creamy white to a dark, blood-red. The blood dripped from the top of the pages to the bottom. As this was happening, I heard a maniacal laugh coming from within the book itself.
I jumped away from the book, as far as I could, away from what may lay inside this mysterious book. As soon as I was far enough from the book, it rumbled on my desk, and a swirling mist began to peel from the pages. This mist grew and formed into a ghastly figure. When the figure fully escaped, the book dramatically closed. I just stood there in shock, gazing at the shadowy figure that stood in my laboratory. I was so afraid that I could not breathe. I froze in the corner, paralyzed, and wondered to myself if I would survive.
The figure did not seem to notice my presence. It just stood next to the book and sighed in a crispy and crackly voice. The voice was so creepy that it sent chills down my spine. The breathiness in its voice could be heard as it said, "Finally, I am free." I had no idea how long this figure was trapped in this book, and to be quite frank, I wasn't concerned with that right now. I was just thinking to myself whether or not this creepy being would kill me. A slight whimper fell from my lips without my intention, and when it came out, my heart collapsed in on itself, and instant regret set in. My hand flew to my mouth as tears began to run down my face.
The figure turned their head toward me, "Oh, we have visitors." They then glided over to me faster than anything I've ever seen. Which made me squirm in fright. They then spoke, "We shall see what use we have of you."