After reaching the palace, I shut myself in my room, determined to focus. The weight of my vision pressed heavily on my mind, and I knew I had to commit every detail to the paper before it faded. With my trusty quill in hand, I carefully recorded everything I recalled, meticulously weaving together the fragments of my experience. This was crucial; I couldn't afford to overlook anything that might aid me in my quest.
Once I had captured my thoughts, I turned my attention to the pressing tasks ahead. I quickly jotted down a to-do list to keep me organized and on track:
1. Start using the True Devil Manual.
2. Find every material necessary to form a soul weapon.
3. Contact El Stormdon to forge my sword.
4. Reach S+ rank before attending AMA.
As I concluded my list, a sense of purpose surged within me. I reached for the True Devil Manual, drawing it from the enchanted ring hidden beneath my clothes. The moment I opened it, a chilling phrase jumped out at me:
"TO DEFEAT A MONSTER, ONE MUST BECOME THE MONSTER."
I felt a shiver run down my spine as I read the next line:
"BUT A BEING WITHOUT WEAKNESS OR ATTACHMENT IS TRULY EVIL."
—BY ALEXANDRA VON SAAR
"Wow, Alexandra von Saar," I murmured, astonished. "Who knew that my ancestor was such a powerful being? But why is his name not in the family registry?"
It dawned on me that it meant he must not have followed us into this world. My thoughts swirled as I recalled the ancient tales. Millions of years ago, we had entered this new realm, fleeing from a world on the brink of destruction. Legend had it that one of our rulers sacrificed his life force to open a portal, carrying the full weight of the kingdom across the divide. The price? His life.
"Well, that is all in the past," I reminded myself, shaking off the heaviness of nostalgia. Turning to the second page, I found another crucial piece of wisdom:
"FORM A LINK WITH A LIVING BEING."
"Well, that's easy; even a dog can do it," I scoffed. But then I read the second part:
"A SENTIENT BEING."
"Who to choose now?" I pondered aloud. "Crimson or Zin?"
Crimson was like a brother to me, but he often struggled with insecurities around me. Zin, on the other hand, was my best friend, despite our differences. The choice seemed clear. I decided it would be Zin, and I quickly reached for my phone to contact him.
"Zin, what's up?" I asked as soon as he picked up, trying to maintain a casual tone.
"Leo, what is it?" he replied, his voice laced with curiosity.
"Can't I talk to my best friend anymore?" I shot back, feigning offense.
"After the antics at the institute? That's debatable!" he replied, chuckling.
"Well, you started it!" I retorted although I couldn't help but laugh.
"But you touched a sore spot," Zin said, and the teasing tone faded slightly.
"Well, sorry about that," I conceded.
"Congrats," he said, his voice trailing off.
"Stick with me, and you'll go places, bro. Meet me at the Fathom City!" I urged.
"When?" he asked, clearly unsure.
"Right now!" I exclaimed.
"My parents won't allow me," he replied hesitantly.
"Just tell them you're meeting that prince who never became a king," I joked.
"Okay…" he replied, though he didn't sound particularly convinced.
After dropping the call, I dashed out of the palace, heart racing with excitement and purpose. Upon reaching the park, I found Zin playing with stones, his usual way of calming his restless mind.
"You got here really fast," I observed, slightly out of breath.
"My house is just around the corner," he replied with a shrug.
"How's Duke Cres doing?" I asked, wanting to catch up on family news.
"He's okay, just annoyed that his second son is a failure," Zin said, bitterness creeping into his voice.
"You are not a failure," I reassured him.
"My talent says otherwise," he replied, casting his eyes down.
"Talent isn't everything. Just because your elder brother has SS+ talents doesn't mean you're a failure," I countered.
"Says the boy with both SSS++ talents," he shot back playfully.
"You have an S+ talent and an S- talent. For most, you're a genius," I pointed out.
"That's the problem! For someone of the Graham bloodline, mediocrity isn't an option!" he exclaimed, frustration lacing his words.
"True," I admitted, feeling the weight of our family legacy.
"And Cici—that witch's daughter—is more talented than me. Seems the clan head still remains in the house of Syerus," he scoffed, flicking a stone angrily.
After finishing my attempt to comfort Zin, he suddenly raised an eyebrow and asked, "So why did you call me here?"
"To comfort you," I said, slightly surprised at his bluntness.
"That's not like you. So, why?" he pushed.
"Well, you see, there's this manual I found in the treasury, and it's a significant one," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
"It's called the True Devil Manual," I continued.
"Lies," he responded skeptically.
"It's true! And it was written by my ancestor, Alexander!" I insisted.
"None of your ancestors' names is Alexander," he declared, crossing his arms.
"What I'm about to tell you is a royal secret, and even Crimson doesn't know about it until he becomes king," I said, lowering my voice as I leaned closer.
"Then how do you know?" Zin asked, his curiosity piqued.
"I was told by my bro," I replied, hoping to add an element of mystery.
"Okay…" he said cautiously.
"Promise me you won't tell anyone?" I urged him.
"I swear on the lives of my crushes," Zin said dramatically.
"You don't have any crushes," I pointed out with a grin.
"I have sworn it, okay?" he replied, rolling his eyes.
Taking a deep breath, I leaned in and revealed, "Alexander is the person who opened the portal that brought us here."
"Wow!!!" his eyes widened with disbelief.
"I know, right?"
"Then why is his name not recorded in the annals of Emperors?" Zin questioned, browsing in confusion.
"Caesar told me it turns out he didn't want his name or the names of those before him on the list. He wanted us to start anew," I explained.
"Wow, does my father know of this?" Zin's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Only the emperor and I know," I replied, glancing around to ensure no one was eavesdropping.
"But how does something like this not get documented and forgotten?" he pressed further.
"All inhabitants of the empire swore to never tell anyone apart from the royal family. As the years went by, they all died in time, and with them, this knowledge followed to the grave," I explained, a sense of gravity hanging in the air.
"What happened to the book?" he asked, curiosity swirling in his expression.
"It contains the procedures to become a true devil," I declared, the weight of the words settling between us.
"Hahaha... We are going to be powerful!" he exclaimed, excitement bubbling over.
"Only I can use the book," I clarified, a sense of urgency creeping into my voice.
"Why?" Zin asked, surprised.
"It requires the practitioner to seal his or her emotions, and an incubus like you needs your emotions to cultivate."
"So you're going to turn into a heartless monster?" he asked, a hint of concern in his tone.
"No, and that's why I called you here," I said earnestly, hoping to quell his worries. "I need your support, your friendship. I can't let this path consume me; I need to remain who I am."
Zin looked at me, understanding dawning in his eyes. "So, what's our next step?" he asked, determination returning to his voice.
"We'll figure it out together," I replied, filled with a renewed sense of purpose. The journey ahead was daunting, but I knew with Zin by my side, we could face whatever challenges awaited us. Little did we know, the trials that lay ahead would test not just our strength but the very bonds of our friendship.