When Lucian was a child, his magical potential was undeniable. His mana reserves were immense—far beyond what most mages could ever hope to possess. Such a gift could have propelled him into fame, recognition, and even the coveted halls of the Magic Tower.
But his parents chose to hide it.
Why?
Because Lucian's talent wasn't ordinary. His affinity lay not in elemental magic or healing but in something far more forbidden—dark magic.
In the kingdom of Elarion, magic was considered divine, a gift bestowed by the gods. Each citizen worshipped one or more deities, and their blessings often dictated the type of magic a person could wield. Some individuals, however, were more favored than others.
Elara, the crown princess of Elarion, was a prime example of divine favor. At birth, she had been blessed by Solari, the God of Light. Her healing magic was unparalleled, capable of mending even the gravest injuries. The people adored her, calling her the Kingdom's Light, as she often traveled among the common folk to heal their ailments and offer hope.
While gods like Solari were celebrated, there was one deity who was universally reviled—the God of Darkness.
This nameless god was said to embody pure malevolence, so vile that even the other gods banished him from the divine realm. Yet, before his exile, he left his mark on humanity. In the dark ages, he granted his worshippers forbidden magic—destructive, corruptive, and powerful enough to challenge the gods themselves.
Over the centuries, the number of dark magic wielders dwindled. Though magic could be learned and refined, a person's natural affinity determined the type of magic they could truly master. Dark magic, however, was different. It wasn't something one could simply study; it was inherited, tied to the soul like a shadow.
To ensure its eradication, the kings of Elarion outlawed dark magic. Every text, every artifact, and every scrap of knowledge related to it was destroyed.
Every piece, that is, except one.
Lucian's mother, Stefania, had been adopted as an infant. She discovered her affinity for dark magic at a young age, though she didn't understand its significance until much later.
Her adoptive parents had found her abandoned, wrapped in a blanket within a bassinet. Inside was a peculiar book.
The book was untitled, its contents indecipherable to anyone but her. What appeared as meaningless symbols to others became legible words under Stefania's gaze. Through this book, she unlocked the secrets of dark magic, mastering it in secret.
When Lucian was born, Stefania noticed his peculiar affinity almost immediately. As he grew older, she handed him the same book, watching as he read its pages with the same ease she had. It was then she realized her son had inherited her gift.
"This book is our legacy," she had told him once, her voice heavy with both pride and sorrow. "It's the last piece of a history they tried to erase. A history we carry in our blood."
When Stefania passed away, her will left the book in Lucian's care, along with a final request: to embrace his heritage and continue practicing dark magic.
Lucian had resisted for years, keeping the book hidden and untouched. Practicing dark magic wasn't just dangerous—it was treason. He feared what Adrian, the noble he loved, would think if he ever discovered the truth. Adrian's family upheld the laws that condemned dark magic, and Lucian couldn't bear the thought of losing him.
But desperation has a way of breaking even the strongest resolve.
Now, the book lay open in Lucian's lap, its pages glowing faintly under his touch. His magic flipped the parchment effortlessly, each page revealing spells written in a hauntingly elegant script. The aura of the book was palpable, its power thrumming like a second heartbeat.
'I can't risk getting executed for using dark magic openly,' Lucian thought, his jaw tightening. 'But I can't let Adrian slip away either.'
"Foresight of the Damned," he read aloud. 'Visions of the future at the cost of my memories? No. I can't afford to lose parts of myself, not now.'
He turned the page, his stomach twisting at the next spell. "Skin Reversion," he whispered, horrified. The gruesome curse described a process to invert a victim's skin. 'Who even comes up with this?' he thought, shuddering as he quickly moved on.
Each spell was darker than the last—a shadowy arsenal of destruction and torment. A curse to silence a victim forever. A spell to summon phantoms from the void. An enchantment to shatter minds with illusions so vivid they became indistinguishable from reality.
'This is why they fear us,' Lucian mused, his fingers brushing the edge of the page. 'Dark magic isn't just power—it's chaos incarnate.'
His hands trembled as he continued reading, the weight of the book's knowledge pressing down on him. He had always avoided diving too deeply into its secrets, afraid of what it might reveal about him. But now, he couldn't afford hesitation.
Adrian's face flickered in his mind—his sharp blue eyes, his noble demeanor, the warmth of his smile. Lucian clenched his jaw, the memory stoking the fire in his chest. 'I need him back. No matter what it takes.'
The pages halted suddenly, his magic pausing on a spell that seemed to glow brighter than the rest.
"'Till Life Do Us Part,'" Lucian read aloud. The title sent a chill down his spine.
The spell's description was both alluring and terrifying. It allowed the caster to bind their soul to another, ensuring an unbreakable connection even in death. If the caster died of natural causes, the bond was permanent. However, if the death was voluntary, there was a narrow window in which the bond could be severed.
'A bond even death can't break,' Lucian thought, his heart racing. 'It's perfect… or it's madness.'
His breath caught as he reread the details. The spell had been used by dark mages to haunt their enemies, tying themselves to their targets in a final act of vengeance. But Lucian didn't care about vengeance.
He cared about Adrian.
'If I cast this spell, he can't leave me,' Lucian realized, his pulse pounding in his ears. 'Even if he tries, I'll always be there. He'll definitely fall in love with me then...and when he does I can reverse the spell."
It was dangerous, reckless, and completely insane.
But it was also perfect.
"I have to prepare the things I need right away before it's too late."