Tales of magic: grimoire of transmogrification
Chapter 11
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Opening Arc- "Crow and Quill"
Chapter 11- "Homecoming."
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Since ancient times, the Mages had partook in an act known only to them as the practice. This practice could also be referred to- by those who could not understand it- as magic, sorcery or witchcraft. The practice involved rituals, that had to be performed at particular times, and sacrifices that must be exact and the same. The practice of magic, had been tied to culture, and tradition, as well as religion. But at first, in it's purest form, it involved communication with the Otherworldly entities known as spirits.
Was the practice good, or was it evil?
Could it simply be explained, or categorised?
In the purest, truest form, magic is a perversion of innocence, through the initiation of communication and trade between worlds.
But did it matter to them that they could not go back? Where they sad that they would never be normal, and innocent again?
Even if it meant losing themselves on the path towards understanding the endless universe and understanding the enigma known as magic, A Mage is willing to do it. Even if it meant society will treat him with scorn and hatred wherever he goes, A Mage must be prepared.
Such is the life of a genuine Mage.
~ The Ideal Mage, 1171.(Abridged. Translated to current English).
A book that was burnt to ash the moment the Sanctuary of Light got wind of it, and all it's writers were burned at the stake for they were seen as heretics.
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April 30,1886.
Weidson.
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12:45
'I'm home. I'm finally home.'
Quill was standing in front of his house in Weidson contemplating on how he would approach his family.
'Mom, Dad, I've disappeared ever since because I'm a magician now. It's a thing.. I sold my soul, so I'm not even your son anymore...'
Journal, we both know that there's no way I'm saying that.
'What do I say then. Should I just lie to them? Tell them that I just...'
Quill shaked his head, realising something.
'No. I've only been gone for a few hours. I left the bakery at seven, and I didn't tell them where I was going. It's simple. Without lying to them, I could just say that I stayed out at someone's place.'
He was already pacing around in circles.
'No. It won't work. It doesn't explain why I came back at this time of the night...or I could really stay out at a friend's place till morning. Oh, too bad I don't exactly have any friends. And William is out for my blood..'
Journal, more than anything, what I want to do right now, is just sleep. I want to hop on that bed, close my eyes, and leave them like that till it's sunrise. I just want this day to end.
But I have to do this right.
'Spells.'
Quill was out of Power, and though it was being replenished by Desire, it was minuscule that he could not even cast Inscribe. Spells to somehow warp their memories were out of the question.
'So the only choice I have is making up a story. I'll lie to them.'
Jordan had never lied to his father, or his step-mother. But Quill wasn't Jordan.
'I can do this.'
Once he believed that his story was straight, he knocked on the front door.
The Middlesworth bakery was built into the side of the house. Infact it was a part of the house building, and one could go in from the bakery into the house and vice versa. The house was built like this for convenience. It wasn't the only house-workplace in the town, but it was built differently.
There were three doors in total. One in the front door of the house, one in the left of the house, at the building's left side, leading into the bakery and finally one back door.
Quill knocked again.
The door opened up, and Quill saw his step-mother Risa standing in front of him.
"Jordan. Where the heck have you been?"
"I got abducted. The thing is, I kinda escaped from there because of... some other stuff."
'It was kind of the truth. After all, those shadowy arms did abduct me, and threw me into the Crimson Corridor. It's almost the same thing.'
It was a compromise. I'm still not ready to outright lie to them just yet. Maybe I'm a bit more Jordan than I thought.
"Come in."
Risa didn't look happy, but she was relieved.
'Which meant she had been worried. Which makes complete sense since she's my mother...'
She closed the door after Jordan had entered the living room, and locked it. Then she sat down and stared at Quill's nervous face.
"Tell me everything."
Before Quill could concoct a believable tale to tell her, that was also somewhat true, he heard a voice, from the corner of the room.
"What are you doing still alive, Jordan? I ought to kill you."
Quill's face snapped towards the direction of his father's voice, ready to defend himself..
'It's just my dad. It's not a Mage. No demons here.'
"You're afraid? Come on, grow up."
Llyod wore his signature warm smile. He was glad that Jordan had went out, believing that he had finally joined his peers in whatever they were doing.
The fat man walked towards his son.
"Now tell me, where have you really been?"
Quill swallowed his saliva. A quick glance at Risa, told him that she didn't believe his kidnapping story either.
Quill was afraid and confused. He didn't know what to say, or how go say it. He didn't want all this, he wanted sleep. It wasn't that he was physically sleepy, it was because he was mentally exhausted.
"I was strolling around town, working on my book."
'Straight up lie. And I don't feel bad about it at all. Somehow I'm just angry at him for forcing me to do this. I just want to rest.'
"Till midnight?"
Llyod sounded disappointed somehow. Quill wondered why.
'Did he know I was lying to him? I bet he did. He's pretending to believe me, but he's even more curious as to where I was and what I was doing..'
'If I was Lisa, It would have been much easier.... Lisa..
'I can't stand to lie to them.It feels fake and wrong. I feel fake and wrong.'
But I did it anyways because I had to. There was not other option that could've convinced them. I guess I really am not Jordan Middesworth anymore. Their son would never lie to them.
'Is that is? Was that all I sacrificed? I really don't think so. But I still feel like myself..'
The young man nodded his head- telling them that that was all he did. After that, he quickly retreated to his room, not responding when Risa called his name.
'I have to know. What really is different about me? What did I lose to get that Power?'
The young man sat down on his bed pondering about it.
Soon, he felt a surge of Power welling up inside him, and a quiet voice whispered in his ears.
You lost some of yourself. Quill.
'Demon.'
Yes, it's me. Because of your wonderful exhibition earlier today, I'm willing to answer your question for free. You have lost Jordan Middesworth. The human. Exactly how much you lost of him, depends on your view of your self. What you did earlier, was cut off all you saw as excess - hindrances to your growth and victory - and replace them with spirits.
Simply put - you have invited otherworldly entities Into your body and Sanctuary, and given them ownership over most of your soul by destroying most of the parts you owned yourself.
Do you understand now?
'No, I don't. It doesn't explain why I'm still me.'
That's because you did not let go completely. Somewhere, deep within you, lies the love for your imperfections. You want to remain the same and that affected your unconscious spell. So all you really sold out there was your name.
'So I'm alright.'
Quill was ready to relax.
The name of a Mage holds a lot of Power. You might want to reclaim your Name from them, or else this is the path you wish to take, Quill?
'In a magic perspective, what did I lose from destroying my name and inviting those things to take it's place?'
You lost a name, but gained a new one. You lost the right to call yourself Jordan Middesworth. You lost the ability to use that name in a spell. That's all.
'Then what was that about a Mage's name having Power?'
I was referring to family names. The thing called Power is transferred from generation to generation. Also, the spirits who were allies to a Mage, would be allies to his children. And the spirits who where enemies to a Mage, would be enemies to his children.
In the context of what I was saying, I was assuming that you were eventually going to store Power in your name, like other Mages usually do. There is a name for no-names like you, it's the Blighted. Those who allow cursed and evil spirits control their bodies and souls. They lose a portion of their Power every moment, this Power feeds the parasitic spirits. They also lose their minds once in a while, on the spirits whim. You are indeed lucky that no one particular spirit holds full Authority over you, otherwise let's just say that you would be under far more pain.
So, do you want to remain Blighted?
'Blightedness sounds like a curse. It probably is. And I don't like this.'
'I was stupid back then, just sending in any spirit. I don't want this.'
So you want to cast out the Blight? You can do so in two ways.
Option one- you destroy the Blights as well as more of your soul that they have latched unto. This is the easiest option, but it's also the most painful.
It will involve a complete annihilation of your body and it usually results in death.
Option two- you force each individual spirit into a corner and seal it away somewhere, doing so for ever other spirit, one by one, until they are all rounded up and locked up somewhere inside you. If you do this, you get to keep their abilities without the hassle that comes with being possessed.
What's your choice?
'The second one...why are you being helpful all of a sudden.'
I don't understand you. Was I not 'helpful' before? By the way, this knowledge already exists in your Knowledge. If you had time to take a look, you'll have known all of this. Also, I gained a bit more of myself thanks to your desperation earlier, so I am showing my gratitude.
"What about the name?"
Quill wanted to be careful this time. He couldn't afford to make the exact same mistakes again. He wanted to be a better Mage.
'Your original name belongs to the spirits now. And I'm not talking about the ones inside you. If yoy want it back, you must petition to higher forces and trade it for something of equal or greater value. That is the only way.'
Quill was ready to do whatever it would take to improve. Then he would face his enemies again.
Journal, we didn't win at all last time. I won't count that as a win. Especially if it wasn't completely me doing it. I want to win because I'm that good, not because I'm desperate. And I'm going to try, Journal.
I will leave it to you to decide how you will do it. Good night, Blighted One.
This time, Quill decided it was time to write, not using Inscribe, but using a regular quill. As he got to work checking his Knowledge and writing down what he was going to do, he forgot about his sleep altogether.
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