Chapter 5: The Law.
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Aleister found himself in his room, sitting on the edge of his bed with the Book of the Law on his knees. Ever since he had found it, he felt a growing compulsion to open it again. Every night, when the shadows lengthened in the mansion and silence fell, he would take it out of his hiding place and read it in secret, making sure Alice would not discover it.
The first pages of the book had captivated him. Spells of mind control, manipulation of the will, and the ability to make people do his bidding. Imperio Mentis was the first of these, and Aleister had practiced it cautiously. The detailed descriptions in the book seemed to whisper in his ear, promising him power beyond imagining.
Every time he spoke the words, he felt something stir within him, as if the very magic in his blood answered the call of the grimoire. The book, somehow, seemed made for him. There were nights when, after practicing, his body felt lighter, as if each spell connected him more deeply to the dark legacy of the Crowleys.
He knew this path was dangerous, that power always came at a price. But wasn't that what every wizard sought? Control, the ability to make your wishes come true. And with each spell he learned, Aleister felt himself getting closer to that absolute power his grandfather had sought.
But there was also the constant warning in the back of his mind: this power would change him. He knew it.
And yet, he couldn't stop himself.
The nights were his. And in them, Aleister Crowley became more than just a student of magic.
He became an heir to dark power.
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The nights passed slowly in the Crowley mansion. Aleister had become an expert at hiding his growing obsession with the Book of Law. During the day, he maintained his facade of a curious young man, always eager to learn, but as night fell, when darkness enveloped the mansion, his true quest began.
The Mentis Empire spell had been more complicated to master than I imagined. Although the words of the incantation flowed easily from his lips, it was the concentration that was difficult. He felt he had to channel something deep within him, an energy that was not natural, something that was latent in his blood. He had tried the spell on inanimate objects at first: a lamp, a pen, even an old doll that had belonged to his sister Alice when she was little. But complete control seemed out of reach.
"This is not enough," he told himself one night, frustrated. He knew that the true effects of the spell would only manifest when he practiced it on a living being.
His thoughts drifted to the people in the mansion. His mother, always so distant, and Alice, always watchful. Although the thought of using the spell on them crossed his mind, he quickly dismissed it. He couldn't risk being discovered.
One night, however, something occurred to him. On the grounds of the manor, in an unkempt back garden, there was a small cage where his mother kept a few animals for potions studies. Among them was a black raven, a creature he had always watched with fascination since he was a child. This would be his first test.
With the Book of Law in hand, Aleister left his room. He walked silently through the dark corridors, making sure Alice was asleep. The manor was completely silent, save for the occasional creaking of old wood beneath his feet. He opened the back door leading to the garden and walked towards the raven's cage, his wand held firmly in his hand.
The raven watched him with bright, intelligent eyes as he approached. Aleister Knelt in front of the cage, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. The spell was going to work. He knew it.
"Mentis Empire," he whispered, pointing his wand at the raven, feeling the current of magic run through his arm.
The raven flapped its wings restlessly, but soon became completely still. Its eyes glowed in the darkness, but they no longer seemed so alive now. Aleister smiled slightly. Control had begun to take shape.
"Turn," he commanded, and the raven, without hesitation, turned his head to the side, following his instructions. Aleister felt himself flooded by a surge of power. He had managed to control the mind of a living creature. It was his first real success.
The following nights, he returned to the garden again and again, perfecting the spell with the raven. He made it walk, fly within its cage, follow increasingly complex instructions. Each small success fueled his growing thirst for more power.
But soon, the sense of accomplishment was overshadowed by a truth he could not ignore. The raven, though obedient, was not enough. He needed a more complex, stronger mind to test the true scope of the spell. I have needed something more human.
At dawn, Aleister returned to his room after each night's practice, exhausted but satisfied. However, his secret was not as hidden as he thought. Alice watched him. Although she had never seen the Book of Law, she felt that her brother had changed, and not for the better.
One evening, while Aleister was resting, Alice burst into her room without warning, her expression serious.
"What are you doing every night?" she asked him directly.
Aleister looked at her, surprised and somewhat annoyed by the interruption, but quickly regained his composure.
"Nothing you need to worry about," he replied coldly, his tone more distant than usual.
Alice frowned, undeterred. Something in her intuition told her that Aleister was hiding something more dangerous than he admitted.
"Don't lie to me. You know I can sense when something isn't right," she insisted, crossing her arms.
Aleister slowly rose from his chair, keeping his outward calm. The book was well hidden in a secret compartment beneath his bed, but Alice's questions put him on alert.
"I'm simply studying, Alice. You should be too, instead of butting into my affairs," he replied, ending the conversation and turning back to the window.
But Alice was not intimidated. She watched her brother in silence for a few moments before speaking one last time.
"Aleister, do not let yourself be consumed by our grandfather's legacy. You do not know the damage it can cause," she said, her tone full of warning, before leaving the room.
Aleister remained silent, staring out the window as the door closed behind his sister. Her words echoed in his mind, but he could not turn away from his search. There was something in the Book of Law that called to him more strongly each day, and although he knew he was playing with fire, he could no longer turn back.
Power was tempting, and Aleister Crowley was willing to pay any price to obtain it.
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Soon, his ambition would lead him to face a dilemma that would test not only his skill, but also his humanity.