“There we go.” I commented happily, inspecting my humble abode. It was not to bad for a cave inside a giant mountain. In fact it was quite cavernous and I had yet to fully explore it. This was just a base of operations, I am not sure if this would count as a home or a wizardly domain.

“I am a demon, so would it be a demonic domain?” I pondered out loud before shaking my head.

No matter what I looked like, I was a wizard at heart. Being a demon is just a minor setback, I waved it away like it was nothing. Trying desperately to make that statement true on all levels. I mean I had to look at the bright side, I was in the abyss, exploring the astral plane is one thing, but exploring the abyss is another thing entirely.

The wonders a wizard of my talents could discover. This could lead to an entirely new discipline of wizardry. I am sure the abyss has unique and exotic components that can be applied to new and interesting spells.

I put a claw to my chin, trying not to scratch myself, it was a bit of a chore. Thinking on this new avenue of study, I wondered what I should call it. “Abyssal Wizardry?” I suggested aloud, but quickly retracted the idea. This was not a new form of wizardry at least as far as my speculation suggests.

If I word to categorise this speculative study I am most definitely going to do. It would have to be a school of wizardry. “The eighth school!” I announced excitedly. “I could found the eighth school of wizardry, it would be unprecedent, oh the scholars would swoon at my accomplishment.” Envisioning my name made immortal as I changed the very fabric of wizardry.

“But what could I call it, Abyssalmancy? That doesn’t sound right, Demonomancy? That could work.” I went through a few options, not really settling on a name.

I decided to leave the decision for later. I had to develop the school first, before I could give it a good name. With a bright spot in this dark future found, I was feeling a bit happier. Being turned into a demon and damned to the abyss aside, this might work out.

I scanned the cave and wondered how in the name of gods would I get furniture in here. It was not as if I could step out to the planes of men for a shopping trip. As I was pondering the intricacies of interplanar shopping, the world started to skew oddly.

I could hear a women’s voice, inviting or perhaps demanding. The tone was familiar, I think I have spoken in such a way. I turned around, noting the world was quickly fading and my cave made way to a room.

I was being summoned, conjured like a typical demon at the beck and call of it’s master. Was this great wizard that calls me, the one that created such a spell to transform mortals into demons. I braced for the arrival, wanting to confront this master conjurer, who had revolutionised the discipline.

Instead of appearing on some opulent castle of a deranged wizard king. I found myself in a rather dank dungeon, surrounded by three figures. A woman and two men, they were arrayed before me and each had different expressions.

The woman in the centre must be the conjurer, she seemed slightly exhausted. Once my eyes adjusted I took in her presence. She was pretty, not overly sensual or curvy. She looked to be in her twenties and wore a dark surcoat with simple pants and shoes. Not the typical dress of a lady, but I suppose it was practical. Long black hair was tied up in ponytail, presenting her perfectly proportioned face and her deep ocean blue eyes.

To her left was clearly some sort of knight, I could tell from the steel plate armour and sword at his hip. Their was an insignia on his breastplate that I didn’t recognise. He looked to be in his forties, short salt and pepper hair and a chiseled jawline. He looked typical of a knight in shining armour from all these frivolous tales.

The man to her right was equally interesting, from the aura he radiated, I would say he was a necromancer. I have not met many of those, not well liked in most wizardly circles, but who was I to judge. He was elderly, probably in his late sixties or seventies. A wrinkled face with greying hair, he wore a black robe and gripped a gnarled wooden staff.

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“Demon, I have summoned you and thou is mine.” The conjurer proclaimed, but she didn’t say it quite right, she needed a more imperious tone.

I ignored her, casting my gaze across the room, trying to piece together all the facts I could get. The place was typical of most seedy dungeons, but what really caught my eye was the pentagram beneath me. I was transfixed by it, I found myself tracing every line and sigil with my appraising gaze.

“You are bound demon, bound by my will and by this circle.” She explained, still not getting the tone right.

“Did you design this?” I asked, genuinely curious.

I received no immediate reply and so pulled myself away from examining it. The three looked puzzled, staring at me incredulously. “Yes demon, I crafted your containment, no matter what infernal power you bring to bare, you cannot escape.” She explained after her initial pause.

“I agree, it is impressive, truly masterful work.” I admitted genuinely, I was over awed by the intricate yet practical design. It was elegance at it’s finest and compacted into only a single pentagram.

“Thank you.” She said timidly.

“How did you do that?” I asked, tracing the design, only to realise and answer my own question. “I see, brilliant.” It was honest praise, I was so enamoured by the work, I almost didn’t hear the necromancer.

“Do you think it is odd for a demon to appreciate their masters work to bind them?” The walking corpse asked, but the question was not directed to me.

“He is probably lying, putting on a falsehood.” The knight declared, secure in his observation. The wizard remained silent, her head cocked to the side.

“Should I not give credit, where credit is due? Or do the people of this world not appreciate fine wizardry?” I asked rather haughtily.

The knight scowled, his hand tightening over the pommel of his sword. “I think we are getting off track.” She interjected and the two adhered to her words. It was clear that she was in charge.

I on the other hand took her words to heart, even though they were not meant for me. Getting distracted by the impressive work of my opponent was just pure idiocy. I needed to get my head on straight, this person was either the mastermind behind this new human to demon conversion spell or a pawn of a greater power.

“Demon!” She spoke in a commanding voice.

“Call me Asmin.” I quickly requested before she could harp on. I personally didn’t do that whole song and dance with my demons. In fact, I wonder if my bindings are even intact. Taking a quick look with wizards sight, or was it demons sight, I noted a lack of bindings.

“Alright then, Asmin. I have summoned you for a purpose and command you to reveal your capabilities to me.” She commanded and I felt a compulsion to obey.

It was quite difficult to shake it off, but I think I can work around it. “What capabilities do you want me to share, miss?” I inquired, trying to comply without fully obeying.

“You may call me mistress, Ephemia or mistress Ephemia. As for your capabilities, explain them to me relative to combat.”

“Combat, well I have a diverse skill set, I have studied several disciplines such as pyromancy, conjury, a little bit of enchantment and some rune magic. Pyromancy is probably the most useful for combat, conjury is self explanatory and enchantment not so much, but I can make some descent illusions.” I overshared, only just realising I spilled the beans.

That compulsion spell was really good, I could barely keep the words down. I decided that it was all the fault of the spell and not my desire to brag. Being a humble wizard, I just don’t do that sort of thing.

Casting a glance upon the three, I noted incredulity. I suspected they were surprised by a demon claiming to have studied wizardry. I mean demons just didn’t do that. I tilted my head, puzzled for a moment. That is a question, why couldn’t demons learn wizardry, they are mana users. I filed that away for later.

“Did this demon just claim to be a wizard?” The necromancer asked sceptically.

“He did.” The mistress affirmed.

“He must be lying, demons lie, everybody knows that.” The knight proclaimed.

I mean he was not wrong, demons did lie. But then again, I am now a demon and I was being truthful. No that is wrong, I am a human wizard, not a demon. This is just the work of a spell, I am still me, I am a very honest and a trustworthy person.

“Is this true, are you truly saying you are some sort of demon wizard?” My mistress asked.

“Yes, mistress Ephemia I am.” I replied proudly.

“But what about your demonic powers, wouldn’t they be better then learning wizardry. In fact how did you even learn it in the first place.”

“To be honest I don’t really use them.” Which was true, I had never used demonic powers before. “I prefer wizardry, I learned it on the planes of man and am quite proficient in it’s use.”

“How odd, would that mean you would require spell components?”

“Yes I would need some, I left mine on another plane. Would you be able to part with a few?” I requested as sincerely as a demon could be.

My mistress thought about it, her lips were pouting and her brows narrowed in thought. I could see the knight ready to voice his objections and the necromancer just watched curiously.

“I will think about, for now that is enough.” She gestured in a manner I recognised. “Begone Asmin, return to thy own plane.” With those words and the semantic gestures, I started to fade into the abyss.