Chapter Eight, Titled: The Pandemonarch
Micheal O'Neil and Mary Lee settled into their seats by the windows of the black vehicle, while Isabella sat in the middle, her expression serious. She began explaining the crucial mattee she hsd called them together for. Using animated hand gestures, she revealed that the Devil's Eye, an artifact of immense power had found a compatible bearer/vessel—someone named Henry Adams.
Mary's face paled as she processed this shocking revelation. "What? The Devil's Eye found a new vessel? Isn't there supposed to be any possibility?" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with a sense of disbelief.
Micheal, though outwardly calmer, couldn't completely mask his surprise. "Honestly, this doesn't make much sense to me either," he admitted, his hand resting thoughtfully under his chin. "For someone to endure such sheer weight of power like that… it's astonishing."
Isabella shrugged, clearly unsure herself. She gestured, explaining to them that she wasn't sure of how that happened.
A heavy silence settled over the group, the weight of the revelation hanging in the air. Then Michael broke the stillness with a faint smirk tugging at his lips like he realized something. Turning to Mary, he asked, "Do you realize what this means?"
Mary and Isabella exchanged puzzled glances, their confusion evident. "What are you talking about?" Mary asked, her tone wary, tinged with a sense of concern as she studied Michael's enigmatic expression.
Micheal sat before the two women, reddy to satisfy their growing curiosity. "Have you, by any chance, heard of the Pandemonarch?" hr asked. Mary and Isabella tilted their heads in unison, clearly puzzled by such a question. This term was unfamiliar and the confused look in their eyes was evident.
It seemed that only Michael and Velvet had known about this mysterious event from the start. Michael was surprised by their lack of knowledge, but he knew it was up to him to explain.
As the heavenly sorcerers reached their destination, Henry had just finished his meal, astonished by the sheer volume of food he had consumed and yet feeling comfortable.
[The player has obtained 'High Metabolism']
•Name: Henry Adams
•Age: 20
•Current Level: ???
•Intelligence: 200
•Potential: -1
How did ge manage that? He wondered, baffled by the sheer amount of resilience in his body, confused as to what the Source was showing him. The Source glitched again showing an option panel.
[Would the player like to unlock a secret training level]
•Yes/No
"It looks as if you've got a high metabolism, seeing that you consumed so much food—a fearsome gift from the Devil's Eye, I'd guess," Velvet remarked with a proud smirk, interrupting Henry before he made a decision and forcing the Source to glitch out and dissappear,
Like as if it was hiding from Velvet. But Henry was the only one who could see it.
"Or maybe that has something to do with the Source?" Henry mentioned, his tone curious, hoping Velvet would shed a little light on what this so-called Source could be.
But Velvet never even knew what he was implying.
Velvet slightly raised an eyebrow, clearly unfamiliar with the term. "The Source, you say? What exactly is that? Enlighten me," she said, intrigued but wary.
Henry hesitated, unsure of how to respond. A part of him wanted to avoid the question entirely. He had hoped that in death, he would find peace, free from the troubles and the guilt that had weighed on him like a heavy sack of flesh. Yet here he was, sharing a meal with the very woman who had resurrected him against his will.
He sighed deeply, masking his unease with a forced smile. "It's probably nothing—just some voices in my head, that's all," he replied, hoping Velvet would accept his vague explanation.
Velvet narrowed her eyes, studying him carefully, her gaze sharp and probing.
Before the tension at the dining table could escalate, the sound of a bell echoed through the manor, cutting through the silence. Velvet immediately rose to her feet. "That must be the other Heavenly Sorcerers," she said, brushing off her dress and adjusting herself as if preparing for an audience. She then turned to Henry. "Come. You're a Heavenly Sorcerer now, after all."
Velvet left the room as Henry exhaled in relief but couldn't help feeling a pang of curiosity. Heavenly Sorcerer? he thought, the term sounding very foreign yet so significant. He pushed back the chair he sat on and quickly joined Velvet, catching up to her as she exited the dining hall. Though his heart was weighed with question that were left unanswered but he had no choice at this point, he had to just keep on moving forward.
That was the only way he could find out more secrets.
Michael, Mary, and Isabella arrived at the manor's entrance, where Dr. Matthew stood waiting in the living room. Upon seeing him, Isabella rushed forward and embraced him warmly. With a quick hand gesture, she asked if he was okay, and Matthew nodded with a faint smile.
"Home sweet home," Michael muttered, breathing in the faint scent of incense that lingered in the air. Mary cast him a side glance, rolling her eyes at his remark.
Dr. Matthew stepped forward to greet them. "Welcome back, Mr. Michael, Miss Mary."
Michael approached him with a grin hidden beneath his cowl, placing a hand on Matthew's shoulder. "Hey! Long time no see. Can't say I missed you," he teased.
Matthew adjusted his glasses, his expression calm but formal. "You've been missed as well, Mr. Michael," he replied, standing upright despite Michael's towering presence.
Michael chuckled and withdrew his hand. "Come on, no need to be so formal. Try loosening up a bit," he said before turning toward the staircase. "Anyway, see you guys around—I'm heading to bed."
Just as Michael reached the first step, the sound of clicking footsteps echoed from the direction of the dining room.
"I see you've all returned," Velvet's voice rang out as she stepped into view, her hands clasped behind her back and a pleasant smile on her face.
Michael groaned inwardly, pausing on the stairs. He'd been looking forward to some rest, but Velvet's uncanny timing always seemed to thwart his plans.
"Oh, Lady Velvet! I didn't know you'd be around today," Mary said politely, though her attention quickly shifted to the figure standing behind Velvet. "And who's the guest?"
Still smiling, Velvet gestured toward the group. "Yes, I am here, and I wanted to introduce someone who will be your primary responsibility when I'm not around." She turned to Michael, whose lack of enthusiasm was clear. "I trust there won't be any issues, Michael?"
Michael locked eyes with Velvet, exhaling heavily. "I suppose," he muttered.
"Marvelous," Velvet said cheerfully as she stepped aside, revealing Henry Adams. "This is Henry Adams, the new intern for The Bureau of Heavenly Sorcerers. I'm sure Isabella has already explained what makes Henry special."
Henry offered an awkward wave. "G… good afternoon," he said hesitantly, and as soon as the words flew from his mouth he felt as if he could strike himself on the face.
Mary studied him for a moment, a small smile creeping onto her lips. He's handsome, she thought, feeling a hint of warmth in her chest as she watched his nervous demeanor.
Michael, on the other hand, had a much different reaction. His gaze narrowed, and a wave of unease washed over him. He doesn't look fit to be a Heavenly Sorcerer, Michael thought, not because of Henry's physique, but because of the ominous energy surrounding him.
From the corner of his eye, Michael caught a glimpse of something hovering above Henry—a swirling red aura shaped like a humanoid figure with twisted horns that jotted from its frontal lobe. Its presence was far from heavenly, and it sent a chill down Michael's spine.
The Devil's Eye… Michael's mind raced. He'd heard rumors about its power, but seeing its influence in person was unsettling.
Meanwhile, Mary approached Henry, extending her hand with a friendly smile. "Welcome to the team, Henry," she said, her eyes meeting his with genuine warmth. She engaged him in small talk, her demeanor light and welcoming.
Michael watched in silence, his unease growing as he observed Henry. While Mary's reaction was kind and open, Michael couldn't shake the lingering sense of dread. Whatever Henry Adams brought with him, it was nothing short of dangerous.
While the Sorcerers welcomed a new member, Henry Adams into their ranks, an unsettling remnant of Micheal's previous battle was still left unscathed. The demon he had faced hadn't been entirely vanquished. A small piece of it survived, taking the form of a red, gelatinous mass. It slithered like a parasite through the streets of Cold Harbor, unnoticed as it was night.
As the Heavenly Sorcerers welcomed Henry into their ranks, an unsettling remnant of Michael's previous battle lingered unnoticed. The demon he had faced hadn't been entirely vanquished. A small piece of it survived, taking the form of a red, gelatinous mass. It slithered through the streets of Cold Harbor, unnoticed by the bustling city, until it came across a scene of desperation.
Two robbers cornered a skimpy dressed young woman in an alley.
"Hey, don't try to play games with us, lady," barked the younger of the two, his voice sharp and threatening.
"Please, I beg of you, don't hurt me!" the woman cried, tears streaming down her face as she clutched her purse tightly. Her trembling voice only seemed to amuse the assailants.
The older thief, calm but no less menacing, leveled a pistol against her temple. "Don't act smart with us. We know you've got something for us in that bag," he said coldly, gesturing toward her ransacked belongings scattered on the ground.
The woman shook her head vigorously, pleading with them. "I swear, there's nothing left. Please, just let me go."
It was obvious that the thieves weren't entirely rational. They had already searched her purse and body thoroughly, but they seemed to enjoy the intimidation more than the actual theft.
With a heavy sigh, the older thief lowered his firearm. "Let's get out of here," he muttered, straightening up and turning to leave.
His younger partner, however, wasn't ready to give up. Grabbing the older man's arm, he hissed, "Are you crazy? She's hiding something, I'm sure of it!"
"Don't be ridiculous," the older thief replied, pulling his arm free. "We've wasted enough time here. Let's go before the security patrol shows up. You know how Cold Harbor is at night."
The younger man scoffed, rolling his eyes. "It's midnight. You think some fucked up bozo in uniform is gonna stroll by? Get real." He glared at his partner, flipping him off as he turned back toward the woman.
The woman, overwhelmed and hopeless, barely registered the argument between the two. Her focus was drawn to the strange, glimmering red substance creeping toward her from the shadows. Compelled by curiosity and desperation, she reached out tentatively.
The mass reacted before she could pull back. With alarming speed, it leaped onto her face, forcing itself into her mouth and down her throat. She gasped, her body convulsing as the substance invaded her internal organs, very much like a parasite.
The younger thief, still muttering curses under his breath, turned back to the woman. He froze, his eyes widening in horror. The woman was no longer the helpless victim he'd been tormenting. Her body had transformed into something monstrous, her once-terrified eyes now glowing with a crimson, otherworldly light.
Before he could scream or react, the creature lunged at him with terrifying speed.
All he could recall seeing before he was brutally murdered was the glint of her sharp teeth and the shadow of her monstrous form before everything went dark.