Tales of magic: grimoire of transmorfigration
Chapter 4
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Opening Arc- "Crow and Quill"
Chapter 4- "Book of magic"
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The curses sealed within it, along with all the unspeakable horrors locked alongside them did not hold a candle to the newest one. This one had enough Power to completely subjugate every single one of them, and that is exactly what it did.
They all cried out in pain, centuries later, where it seems that the humans have finally come in contact with this entity, and they were the ones to suffer as their Power- their very soul- was sucked away from them, to be fed to the very humans who sealed them away. They cried out and cursed the day that demon was born-if ever he was- and fought back with all of their being.
They failed.
"Huh.. It appears that they call this the Book of Magic...well, to them, that it shall be." ~ ???? 1851, Book of Magic , Pridon.
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"Let your blood become one with mine."
Jordan's hand seemed to move on it's own, eventually touching the symbol, with his bloody right hand. The blood that had gusshed pit of his wrist, came in contact with the dried blood of the symbol. Then the symbol glowed with great intensity.
The light enveloped around Jordan, and time itself appeared to be suspended. Jordan's heart was racing, as he felt himself falling down, the world around him shattering to accommodate his travel. As the world shattered, it gave way to darkness. Pitch black darkness.
He felt as though he would continue to fall forever, but soon, he felt solid ground beneath his feet. The world was still black.
"You can open your eyes now, Human."
Jordan's eyes opened up.
'When did I.... What is'
"Do not try to understand. All will make sense in due time"
Jordan took the time to gaze upon whoever was talking to him. It appeared to be a man, held tightly by bronze chains. These chains suspended the man in mid air, some being connected to the ground while others stretching out into the sky..
The sky wasn't normal either. It had a golden white ambience to it, and looking at it felt like looking into the sun.
"But it's night-time."
Jordan was once again speechless. He was also confused on how those words were the ones coming out of his mouth. He had several more important questions to ask, and something so stupid and inconsequential was the first thing he asked.
He couldn't comprehend the depths of how comfused he was. His mind continued to attempt to come up with answers, but it failed at every turn. Jordan had no choice but to come into terms with the fact that magic is beyond his understanding.
"Are you done staring, child?"
"Yes. I'm ready for answers. First we question,who are you?"
"You see the guise of skin, flesh and bone. This aids our conversation, as having you too shooken wouldn't facilitate negotiations. Let me begin by introducing myself. I am the being that was sealed within this book almost a thousand years ago. I am hope."
"Hope?Book?"
"You are not even uttering complete sentences. I am hope, as well as ambition, goals, dreams, visions, plans and schemes...in the simplest understanding I am want. And I am desire."
"Alright, let's just say I believe you. What the hell did you mean by book?"
"I suggest you refrain from saying hell, mortal. You have never been there, you do not even know what it means. The Book I spoke of is the book of Magic. We are inside of it."
"I'm inside a book?"
'I am actually inside a book!!!'
"Is it too surprising?"
"No. Not really."
"Then ask, so that you may learn."
"What exactly are you?What can you do? And why are you locked up like that?"
"I am an incarnation of desire. I am capable of taking whatever I want by force and I want the world. I was locked up here by human mages because of those exact reasons."
"That's...helpful. So why am I here?"
The man stirred a bit, and then smiled.
"You don't want to know more?"
"I don't need to. Yes, it doesn't make any sense. But I'm starting to think, it cannot make sense. My head hurts if I think about it too much. I guess, I've given up."
"Fool. Jordan Middesworth, what if I tell you now, that I can give you all the Knowledge you require, and then even this world of magic shall be comprehensible by even you?"
"Knowledge? If you can tell me, then just tell me, damnit!"
"It comes at a price. As all worthy things do."
"How much?"
The 'man' laughed, hard and long. He laughed as though he had heard the funniest thing in the world.
"I do not ask for your paper and rocks, child. I'm taking about your blood, and your soul."
"I don't really get it" Jordan shrugged. He felt as though nothing could really faze him anymore after all he's been through so far.
"If you agree, I could grant you the Power to perform magic, and teach you how."
"Yes."
"That was quick."
"If I'm going to die, I'll rather die with the feeling that I've finally understood the universe.I have no choice in the matter, you're my only hope."
"The soldiers, right?"
"How do you know what's going on?"
"I have eight connections with the outside world. It makes it much easier to sense whatsoever is happening. It would be more effective when you and I form the Pact necessary for you to obtain the Power and Knowledge you seek. But you will pay the price for what you obtain from me."
"So, now that I've agreed, does it mean I've sold my soul? How does that work? Am I dead now or what?"
Desire smiled. Jordan believed that just might have been the creepiest smile he had ever seen.
"You are not dead. But you will be soon, Jordan Middesworth. Remember, death is the end of life. You can only see and talk and think because you are alive. When you are dead, you can do none of that."
"Then what can I do when I die?"
"You're so certain... Child, I do not have an answer for that, because I have never been dead, nor would I ever be, inasmuch as the universe remains the way it is."
Jordan paused to think.
'Do I really believe in magic now?Why? It could be that this is all a dream, umm.. a nightmare. Yes. If this was just a nightmare, and I'm really just lying on my bed resting, then everything might make sense- the pain from the shooting, was a wake-up call if anything, but I don't want to think too much. It could be that the pain is just my hand hitting something hard in my room, and I'm still in the dream world interpreting it as a gunshot. .....Is that what I want to believe?'
Jordan looked at the lofty figure that was the shape of a human, but had no facial features whatsoever. Or any other features rather than arms legs, a torso, a groin and a head. Whenever it spoke, the mouth appeared to morph out of the face, it wasn't even a good imitation- it was imperfect and it was messed up. He wondered to himself how he was so calm while talking to such a thing.
'Yes. Maybe I want to believe in magic.'
The existence laughed hoarsely.
"Let us begin. You have only been capable of seeing me in this form, because your soul has been partially summoned into this dimension. You were summoned against your will, and because of that, I lost some of my power, as more chains wrapped themselves around me. To make things right, I will give you an iota of my Power as your own, and I swear to always supply you with Power via my connection with you. Henceforth to you shall speak the words of magic as you desire, and a sanctuary shall be built in the world of spirits for your soul, using my Power, the combined Power of the Book of Magic, and my very flesh and bones. In accordance to the Ancient tenents of wisdom, you shall choose a Name, that shall be your own and belong to no-one else. This special name represents your sanctuary's position in the spirit world. It also represents your Self- who you are or your identity and your Path as in who you want to be. You may choose a name now, but only one fits you completely."
"And what's that one?"
"Quill. An instrument of writing."
"Well, I guess I'm choosing the one that's best for me."
"You shall now be known as Quill. The thing that writes. That which etches upon the fabric of existence, that which creates worlds enclosed beyond the realms of reality, seek freedom from the world in which you belong and embrace the world beyond your comprehension. Quill, you will repeat these words after me: 'I forsake my humanity, and accept the power that is granted me.'"
"I forsake my humanity and accept the power that is granted to me."
"It is done. The Power is yours. As Quill, you will be capable of inscribing ink upon any surface of your desire, without possessing a writing material, and without physically interacting with the said object in any way. Know that this is a Blessing, granted alongside a Curse. You shall seek out the Power you desire, the complete Power and Understanding of magic. But you shall only find it after paying the price."
"What is the price? My soul?"
"No. If you lose your soul, you will lose your Self, and you will not exist. All you have to do to obtain my full Power, and the full Knowledge of magic, is to kill every other Mage, whose Powers come from me, you must swear to kill them the moment you know their Name or Title as they might call it."
"But you said you wanted my soul?"
"That indeed, is the second option. But as I said before, losing your soul to me, means only I exist in your body, not you."
"Well, then I'm choosing the first option then. I swear to.. whatever you said."
"It is not too difficult if you ask me. Once you obtain the Full Powers of magic, your true desires shall be met...Jordan, you shall become.."
"A god. That's the only thing I could call it. If I have the powers to do whatever I wanted, doesn't that make me a god..but then again, how did a god get locked up, like you did?"
"That one, is a tale I have long since forgotten."
"Final question. What do you gain fron this?"
"Sharp. You are becoming quite the fine Mage already. I shall tell you. I gain amusement from watching you fight against each other, seeing your clever schemes and how they end up crashing down or rising up and achieving their goals. It is quite entertaining for someone who is trapped and hardly able to do anything...Also, I want to escape. And I believe breaking out all my Power is the only way I can be free from my trap. If I am without my Power, I will still find joy in that I am alive. Simply put, if one of you nine Mages wins the battle, the book of magic imprisoning me shall be broken, and the Powers inside shall belong to the winning Mage. Also, I will be free to roam the outside world, after being reborn with a weak human body. All in all, if you win, you shall obtain become a god, all you have to do, is kill the other Mages, obtain the physical copy of the Book of Magic, and soak it in the blood of your enemies. That is all."
'And I already hate them, so It's even easier for me. These people killed my sister for some stupid reason I don't care for, now I will get my revenge.'
Jordan smiled. For the first time in days, he smiled.
"Oh, and do not doubt my words, Quill. I have not the luxury of telling a lie. One of these bounds is stopping me. The world you see around you is proof that all I speak of is truth.
You will remember all I have said, and you will feel the incomplete Knowledge I have directly imparted into your mind. It is yours along with the Power. Now, return to the world that begot you, and conquer your enemies with my Power."
And Jordan opened his eyes, back in the corridor. He was still smiling.
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