Time and space lost their meaning as the world came to a quiet gasp. The Ice Queen was still there, looking over me with her eyes that were so blue as to threaten to freeze the world. And yet, she was unmoving. Her piercing gaze seemed almost empty and unfocused.

The book shook in my hand, its binding seemingly coming to life. The leather cover quivered and writhed. The tiny pores across it made it seem as though it was made of... human skin.

Ah... the cover was made of human skin. Somehow, I wasn’t surprised. There was some revulsion on my part, but after everything, most of what I felt was just... a sort of mild shock that quickly faded. As far as I was concerned, cutting out the liver of a screaming, breathing person was a thousand times more disgusting than this. Still, I felt queasy just holding it.

Finally... Something said, speaking in a tone that was akin to a newly risen man from the depths of a deep and dark slumber. It was the tone of awakening. Finally, you come to me, my vessel.

The voice that spoke was both familiar and foreign at once. It was the voice of my magic, but it was also different – eerily so. It made my skin crawl. There was... life to it. There was will. There was purpose. It was more than just alive. Do you know how long I’ve waited for you to finally touch this book, Neophyte?

Who are you? I asked. Because, despite the familiarity of the voice, I knew for a fact that this... entity in my head was not at all familiar to me. The magnitude of its presence was great and heavy, but nowhere near as oppressive or as infinite as the Ice Queen’s or Lady Victoria’s. Still, it was stronger than me; I knew that much. So, I had to be respectful, at the very least. What are you doing in my head?

Instead of answering immediately, the voice merely cackled in laughter first. I’ve always been in your head, Neophyte, waiting for the opportune moment. I knew that you would be taken here and I knew that my power would’ve given you the strength to pass the trials. And I knew that my foolish descendants would offer you my book – eventually. If fate had been kinder, then you would not have been born with the talent for magic at all. It was only by blind luck that my fragment found you first, among the uncountable number of mortals that dwell across infinite Earths of the infinite Multiverse.

What are you even talking about? I asked, because – truthfully – the words terrified me. I was unlucky enough to have been found or something. I’m sorry, I’ve had a very long day and all I can think about is getting Olga to the Healing Room and just getting some sleep afterwards. So, kindly and respectfully, get on with the point.

Heh, I like you; this will be fun, at least. The voice chuckled. What you possess, my little vessel, is not just magic; no, you possess so much more than just that. What you have inside you, Neophyte, is a tiny fragment of my soul – my being, my potential, my power.

A vessel... like a ship? What? The very idea that there was literally someone else living in my head was... unnerving. My magic being able to talk back on occasion was one thing, but having a literal someone there was something else entirely. Though, in hindsight, I suppose that did explain a few things. Who are you?

Joseph... you may call me Joseph, my little vessel, The voice answered and I felt a rush of power flooding through me. For a moment, I beheld an endless sea of stars and a man, locked away at the center of twenty-six eternities, biding his time, waiting for the day he would return. The stars... there were so many of them... just... endless... infinite. And somewhere, trapped in the middle of all that, was him, Joseph the Red. The magnitude of it was... unthinkable. And despite all the binds that kept him in place, despite the natural forces that were so extreme as to be impossible, he was somehow pushing against it all – losing, but fighting nonetheless.

When I came to, I was met with laughter. Did you see it? That was my prison. Twenty six fucking universes, compressed and turned into cubes to act as the walls of my jail cell... with me in the middle of a black-hole that’s large enough to swallow entire realities. Tsk... if only they’d made it just a tiny bit weaker, then I might’ve simply broken out of this place after a while. Alas, I’m stuck with you, my little vessel, for the foreseeable future – not a bad deal for you, I wager, considering you’ll also be stuck with me, my knowledge, and my power.

I sighed, of course. My luck just never quite ends does it? What do you want from me?

Truthfully, when I cast a fragment of myself into the void, I wasn’t hoping for anything – not really. The voice answered in a tone that almost felt like a shrug. I didn’t know what would happen to it. For all I knew, it could’ve bonded and merged with an ant. So, you ask me, little vessel: what do I want from you?

As you are now, I want nothing from you; in fact, what you should be considering is what I can offer you, instead. The voice said. You’re weak and feeble, though that is to be expected from a Neophyte. With my help, my knowledge, my experience, and my power, you could be so much more than what you are now; I could teach you to wield and cast the forgotten spell of Flesh-Crafting. I could teach you to mold flesh, shape bone, and weave sinew; in time, if you prove strong enough, I could teach you to bend the shape of the cosmos itself.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

I could not help but gasp and nod. Joseph chuckled. Ah, I see it in you, the drive and the will to seek greater things. You, little Neophyte, have the makings of horror within you; it would be foolish of me not to cultivate your talent. You asked for my name, boy; now, tell me yours.

My name is Uriel... my lord.

It’s as good a name as any other. Joseph replied. Very well, Uriel, as a gesture of good faith; I will teach you how to heal your friend over there. She’s not looking so good, is she? If the Realm Poisoning doesn’t kill her, then the blood loss certainly will.

I nodded and turned towards Olga, still holding the book as I looked over her. Frozen in time, she seemed almost tranquil. Her eyes were shut close and her skin was pale as snow. Blood streamed from her nose and mouth, staining her lips red. She was dying. What’s happening to her?

It’s called Realm Poisoning, Lord Joseph answered. Your little sojourn into the Ice Whelp’s realm was too much for her. Mages, dark and light alike, continuously draw magic from our environment. Magic, in turn, is further divided into three categories: neutral, the most abundant, dark, the favored magic of Dark Mages, and then there’s light, favored by the Light Mages. You see, your friend’s magic isn’t... dark – not like yours or mine. Her magic is light and pure, and the Ice Whelp’s realm was made entirely of pure dark magic; it was poisoning her the whole time.

How do I help her? I asked and Joseph merely chuckled in response.

You can’t, He answered. At least, not without my help; do as I tell you and she will live. She’ll be in pain, but she will live.

I nodded. Alright, I’ll do as you ask, Lord Joseph.

Excellent! Now, begin by placing your left hand on her forehead and your right hand on her stomach – rip open her robes if you have to, but you must make contact with her bare skin. I nodded. To get to her stomach, I would have to – as Lord Joseph so aptly put – rip Olga’s robe open. And so, I did just that. The cloth was easier to break apart than I thought, which then revealed the alabaster white skin of her torso, just beneath the surface of which streaked red pulsating veins. Joseph hummed in my thoughts. She’s strong – this one. Realm Poisoning’s nothing to scoff at and she somehow pushed on with Stage 3 of it. If she’d reached the 4th Stage, then she might’ve just withered away and died on that frozen ball. Place your right hand on her stomach, Uriel.

I did as told and placed my left hand on her forehead and my right on her stomach. Olga’s skin was cold to the touch, a hair’s breath away from becoming kin to the touch of ice. She was dying. But I could save her. Close your eyes and focus, Uriel. Use your magic and reach inside her, feel the darkness that has latched onto the very fiber of her being. Do you feel it?

I nodded, seeing with my mind’s eye the cancerous thing that was growing over Olga’s magic, like a black mass that was sucking the life out of her, draining her magic. It would kill her if left alone for too long. Reach for that darkness and let it come to you, instead. Do not worry, the dark is not poisonous to you as it is for her. The dark will be perfectly at home within you, Uriel. Now, take it from her!

I reached out and felt the darkness in Olga’s magic. It was cold, like ice, but even greater. The darkness seemed to notice me. It was alive, I realized, like a wild animal. And it wanted to survive, to feed, just like any other creature; unfortunately, Olga’s magic was the only thing it could gnaw on. The thought quite irked me. Still, I grabbed it and felt it almost immediately letting go of Olga’s magic. It latched onto me, almost desperately, with its black tendrils and held on tightly as I leaned back outwards and gasped. I breathed in and out, rapidly. Despite that, I felt... good – better, even. A part of my inner magic felt almost... replenished. Congratulations, my vessel, you’ve successfully devoured the darkness that was killing your friend from the inside. Remember, Uriel, Light and Dark are polar opposites, one kills and poisons the other. Just as your friend was dying from excess darkness, so can you be poisoned and die from excess light. Though, if you heed my lessons and take my knowledge to heart, then you won’t have to worry about that.

Thank you, Lord Joseph. I replied. I’ll make you proud.

Be sure that you do, though I am a very hard being to please; you’ll have to show me something truly spectacular, Uriel, if you want me to be proud. Good luck.

The world shuddered and colors seemed to break and come apart like glass. Footsteps echoed behind me and I turned and saw the Ice Queen approaching, an unreadable expression on her face as she looked at me with her burning blue eyes. I gulped and quickly stood up, only to bow my head. She stopped in front of me and hummed to herself.

“Curious,” She began, speaking in a tone that was almost whimsical, despite the gravely nature of her voice. “I didn’t think Old Joseph was still kicking after all this time. I’d have thought his prison would’ve already crushed him long ago, but it seems I’ve underestimated his power. Or, better yet, it seemed everyone underestimated just how powerful he was and what it took to actually kill him – a shame. Ah, that time spell was certainly hard to get out off. I wonder if Vicky noticed but just didn’t care.”

“My lady,” I began, clearing my throat. At this point, I was tired, angry, confused, and just plain sleepy. “May I take Olga to the Healing Room now?”

“You’ve got guts, kid,” The Ice Queen said, clicking her tongue as she swung her hand back and pointed at the library’s exit. “Get out of here and take the light bitch with you before I change my mind.”

The Ice Queen merely sneered as she walked away. “And make sure she never comes back here.”

“As you command, my lady,” I bowed lower, before turning and grabbing Olga. I wrapped her right arm over my shoulders and carried her out of the library, keeping my head low the whole time. I felt a chill come over me, but I dared not look back.

Despite everything that happened, I couldn’t stop the grin that appeared on my face.

We did it!

We survived!

The grin fell.

Ah, of course, Lady Victoria was going to take me to see the devil soon.

Right....

In the depths of my mind, Lord Joseph cackled with laughter.