"School starts tomorrow.", said Addu. "So, prepare..." That's creepy.

Come to think of it, it's already Sunday and I haven't been that ready for class. After all, I've been preoccupied with this whatever things strange book has been bugging me. This book has been quite demanding lately.

I have a cat's fur. I have pork meat. Just where do I find the last piece- some spirit of harm? Is that a real paranormal entity I have to hunt? Just what is that?

As I sat alone in my room, alone- if we don't count Addu who's just busy reading the weekly newspaper, I was only contemplating the strange and enigmatic black book in my hands and where should I source this strange element I must procure for this aura recipe. It has been bugging me all night! How can I find something when I don't know what the fuck it is!

Curse this book!

As I shouted that in my mind, a papercut suddenly manifested in my fingers. Ouch!

Fuck, I'm sorry.

And it was at that moment that a sudden light coursed through the grimoire. The air crackled with a mysterious presence, and a sense of anticipation filled my mind. My heart raced, uncertainty gripping my every thought.

Boop!

As if responding to an unseen force, a section of blank paper detached itself from the book, materializing into a makeshift lever before my astonished eyes. Apparently, a page morphed itself into a pop-up. A little font was written into it. "Pull here." How clever...

A gasp escaped my lips as I beheld the unexpected manifestation. I hesitated, my mind struggling to comprehend the extraordinary nature of this unfolding event. But curiosity compelled me forward, urging me to seize this opportunity and uncover the secrets held within the book's ancient pages.

With shaky hands, I reached out to grasp the paper lever, feeling a tingling sensation as my fingers made contact.

I pulled it. Uhm... Wh- Whaaaa!

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Almost instantaneously, a pop-up symbol materialized before me, suspended in the air as if defying gravity. The odd shapes were etched onto the page with an ethereal glow, demanding my attention. What is this?

Hold up... I've seen this before... This is the... squared circle.

"This is related to...", I mumbled at myself. "Alchemy..." I used to read about these pieces of stuff. About the everlasting journey in search of the recipe of the Philosopher's stone. Heck! This is one odd ride.

And... Oh hell no. So this really is a grimoire. This really is a spell book! I wanted to curse Barter in a metaphoric way! I didn't expect it to be so fucking real!

To concoct the spirit of harm, one shall observe four items: murky water, a candle, incense, and a stone far from its home. One shall carve a square on a wooden floor, then carve a triangle inside the square whose base is pointing south. Then carve a circle where the caster shall be sitting. Then utter these words...

Holy shit. This was soon followed by a series of instructions that if I would dare describe it, seemed occultic. Back in my province, this would be taboo. But heck, I need this. I need to do whatever it takes to survive Barter. Tomorrow's the first day of school- I cannot afford to be humiliated again. Speaking of my province...

My grandmother always was superstitious- she believed all matters and all elements were all connected as one and one thing can always regress and can always fuse with another. After all, everything was connected. Hmm, might be unrelated, and just some old people's bullshit.

With a mixture of excitement and apprehension, I approached Addu, my roommate, in our shared room. I had a peculiar request, one that would require his permission and understanding. Taking a deep breath, I mustered the courage to broach the topic. I'll try using this 'persuasion' on Addu.

"Hey, Addu," I began tentatively, "I've been wondering if you care when I cast some strange ritualistic stuff."

Addu looked up from his newspaper, his expression unflappable. He seemed unperturbed by my inquiry, his eyes scanning mine with a calm intensity. After a moment of consideration, he spoke, his voice steady and unwavering.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

"I'm a hippie, Juju," he replied nonchalantly, "Do some demonic shit if you want. I don't care. Just don't mess with my plants."

"Your plants?", I tilted my head. "You have plants?"

Addu moved the curtain sitting right behind his bed. It revealed some... odd plants. Who am I kidding? It was marijuana.

"Speak of this and I'll kill you.", he sighed. "Though I doubt you're that kind of a person."

"What kind?"

"A tattletale."

"So you allow me to do weird stuff?", I added, "So you speak nothing or ask anything about what I'm going to do?"

"...", he remained stoic and retracted his gaze back to his newspaper. "You're not going to fap in front of me, are you?"

"No!", I instantly replied. He's got the wrong idea. "Never."

"Then I'm cool with it..."

Relief flooded over me, realizing that Addu was not only accepting but also indifferent to my unusual pursuits. His response offered reassurance as if he had seen stranger things in his life.

Wait... I didn't feel he was persuaded using the power from the book... Was he just compliant? He was persuaded, but it wasn't the magical persuasion I used the night before on- who was that again? Narrow?

Does that mean... Addu is... kind? But, he's a gang captain... that's almost impossible... I'm conflicted. Addu is innocent?! That aside, I need to cast this spell quickly. School's tomorrow and I fear more thugs might make my life worse.

Nevertheless, with his permission granted, I set off on a quest to gather the necessary items for the spell casting. I ventured outside- of course- outside my room only. I'm not getting mugged today. Hence, I sought the specific components I needed.

My first stop was the door where the landlady placed a smooth stone to prevent thieves from entering at night. I'll just return this afterward- I promise.

Next, I made my way to the reception altar of a nearby temple. With a stealthy hand, I liberated a couple of incense sticks and a candle, feeling a mix of excitement and guilt. These sacred objects would contribute to the mystical ambiance required for the spell. Nah, just messing with myself. I stole some incense and a candle from the landlady's altar. I hope her saints don't mind. Sorry, Dahlia...

Returning to our room I took a glass of water, and laid out the gathered items on my side of the desk, creating a makeshift circle of sorts. The stone, incense sticks, candles, and glass of water formed a composition that hinted at ancient practices and hidden realms. This feels familiar.

Using a rusty fork I found below my bed, I carved into the wooden floor the figure I found when I pulled the pop-up of the book. I placed the candle in the circle facing north, the incense facing east, the glass of water in the west, and the stone in the south.

I could feel Addu looking at me with both concern and curiosity. "You need a lighter for your candle?"

As far as I'm concerned, the instructions didn't mention to light them, hence, I left it as it is. "I'm fine.", I replied to him with a confident smirk.

"Ok...", he retracted his gaze once again. I know he was judging... He is.

Taking a deep breath, I centered myself and stood in the middle of the carved circle, ready to embark on this uncharted journey of spellcasting. I might look stupid, but it may be worth the try. The room became hushed as if holding its breath in anticipation. With a flicker of determination in my eyes, I began the incantation, allowing the mysterious words to flow from my lips.

"With the guidance of *** on my right hand.", I couldn't quite pronounce whatever I was speaking...

Addu halted his obsession with the weekly newspaper and placed his eyes on me the moment he heard the name I spoke. He was taking guard.

I resumed reading the esoteric book in front of me. "And the liberty cast upon me by *** on my left.", I connected both of my index fingers and closed my eyes. The breeze heightened.

"I henceforth transmute this stone, with the flames of the candle, the smoke of the incense... with murky water as offering, turn this stone into a spirit of harm.", I resumed. "So shall it be."

The candle lit upon itself, I could feel the heat. The incense burned by itself, I can smell it.

As the ritual progressed, I could feel the energy in the room shifting, charged with an otherworldly force. Shadows danced on the walls, and a faint scent of incense filled the air. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation, as if unseen entities observed my every move.

The doors shut, the windows closed. I could feel Addu getting creeped out as he snuck further into his side of the room- plunging the room into darkness. He was no longer concerned about me messing with plants nor was he concerned about me fapping in front of him. He was going mad simply by watching me casting a spell from a book only I can visualize.

Suddenly, the aromatic incense sticks, which had been releasing fragrant wisps of smoke, abruptly ceased burning, their trails dissolving into thin air. The candles that had been casting a warm glow suddenly flickered and extinguished. I opened my eyes.

Bewildered, I watched as the glass of water before I began to evaporate rapidly as if swallowed by an unseen force. Its contents diminished, leaving behind nothing but an empty vessel. Confusion and a hint of unease settled within me, wondering if I had misjudged the potency of the spell or if something else entirely was at play.

And then, a remarkable transformation took place before my eyes. The smooth stone I had carefully stolen from the landlady underwent a mysterious metamorphosis. Its surface shimmered and shifted, morphing into something unexpected. As the stone reshaped itself, it transformed into a delicate... smaller stone, but it was hollow. At the same time, I could feel it containing something liquid inside. I could compare it to something like... a coconut.

I reached out tentatively, my fingers brushing against the newly formed hollow stone. Its texture was aged, almost as if it had been touched by the passage of time itself. Ah, by spirit, it meant spirit as beverage inside this stone. I chuckled. I guess the only thing left is to cast the spell.

It worked... I was shocked.

I looked at the corner seeing Addu all shaking and shivering.

"What are y- you...", he asked. Though in the midst of his fear and confusion, he managed to reclaim his composure and deducted maybe he was merely quite high with his weed consumption and went back to sleep. "Ah... right... Just some weird dream... Jesus..."

Addu...