The first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting soft, golden rays across the room. Eldric lay awake, staring at the ceiling, the events of the night still fresh in his mind. He had barely slept after the nightmare, his thoughts racing as he tried to make sense of what had happened. The image of the lich’s burning green eyes was seared into his memory, and the ominous words echoed in his ears as if the dark figure were still whispering them.

“I will come soon.”

Eldric turned onto his side, his mind troubled by the dream. He had experienced nightmares before—visions of pain and suffering that had often plagued him since his arrival in this world—but this was different. This felt more real, more immediate, as though it was a message, not just a figment of his imagination.

But why now? Why, after all this time, had the lich suddenly appeared in his dreams?

He sat up, running a hand through his hair as he tried to piece together the possible causes. Was it simply a manifestation of his lingering fear? The memory of the torture he had endured at the hands of the lich? Or was it something more—something that went beyond mere nightmares?

Eldric’s gaze drifted to the side table, where the Grimoire lay, its dark cover gleaming faintly in the early morning light. The ancient tome had been his constant companion since he first awoke in this world, a repository of knowledge and power that had aided him time and again. But it was also a relic of a dark past, created by a being of immense and malevolent power.

A shiver ran down his spine as a thought began to take shape in his mind—one that he had not considered before. Could the Grimoire be responsible for the nightmare? Could it be the source of the dark presence that had invaded his sleep?

He reached out and picked up the Grimoire, turning it over in his hands as he examined it closely. The book was heavy, its cover marked with intricate runes and symbols that glowed faintly with an otherworldly light. It was a thing of beauty and terror, a tool that had allowed him to achieve incredible feats of magic, but also a relic that had once belonged to the lich.

Eldric had always assumed that the Grimoire was simply a magical artifact, a book filled with ancient knowledge that could be used by those who possessed the skill to unlock its secrets. But now, as he stared at it, he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it than that—something darker and more insidious.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Could the Grimoire be connected to the lich in some way? Could it be acting as a conduit, allowing the lich to reach out to him across the boundaries of life and death?

He opened the book, flipping through its pages, which were filled with complex spell diagrams, ancient incantations, and detailed notes on the nature of magic. The Grimoire had been invaluable to him, a source of knowledge that had allowed him to surpass his peers in magical skill. But as he looked at it now, he wondered if it had also been influencing him in ways he had not noticed.

The Grimoire had a will of its own, that much he knew. It had guided him, shown him the way to unlocking his potential, and even evolved alongside him. But what if it was more than just a guide? What if it was also a trap—a way for the lich to keep a hold on him even after death?

The thought sent a chill down his spine. He had believed that he had left the lich behind when he escaped the castle, but what if the lich had never truly left him? What if the Grimoire was the means by which the lich’s influence continued to reach out to him?

Eldric shook his head, trying to dispel the creeping paranoia that was taking hold. It was just a book, he told himself. A powerful, magical book, but still just a book. The nightmare had been nothing more than his own mind playing tricks on him, dredging up old fears and traumas.

But the doubt lingered.

He closed the Grimoire and set it aside, rising from the bed. He needed to clear his mind, to focus on something other than the nightmare. Perhaps training would help, or a walk around the campus. Anything to take his mind off the dark thoughts that threatened to consume him.

Yet, as he dressed and prepared to leave his room, Eldric couldn’t help but glance back at the Grimoire. It sat there, innocuous and silent, but its presence seemed to loom large in his thoughts, casting a shadow over his mind.

Was he being paranoid, or was there truly something more to the Grimoire than he had realized?

As he stepped out into the hallway, Eldric resolved to investigate further. He would not allow himself to be controlled or manipulated, not by the Grimoire and certainly not by the lingering influence of the lich. If there was any truth to his suspicions, he would find it, and he would deal with it.

But for now, he pushed the thoughts aside and focused on the day ahead. There was much to do, and he could not afford to be distracted by shadows and nightmares. Yet, even as he walked away, the words of the lich continued to echo in his mind, a haunting reminder of the dark presence that still lingered on the edges of his consciousness.

“I will come soon.”

And Eldric knew, deep down, that he had not seen the last of the lich.