image [https://i.imgur.com/eY2gF5l.png]

The haunting sounds of distant crows echoed through the night, their mournful voices alerting the world to the presence of death.

I woke abruptly from my slumber, glancing at the magical clock on the nightstand beside me. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting an ethereal glow upon the clock's surface.

It was 2 a.m., but the darkness outside suggested midnight. The crows' agitation unsettled me, making me wonder if this was the omen I had been waiting for.

Excitement surged through me as thoughts of Arbos, imprisoned in the basement, consumed my mind. The ritual I had set in motion seemed to be active, yet I couldn't ascertain who had met their fate.

The night felt unusually hot, and I found myself drenched in cold sweat, not from the temperature but from the intense hatred burning within me. This human body... I was still unfamiliar with it, and the sensations it brought were overwhelming.

Though I had no need for sleep, I welcomed these moments of contemplation as they allowed me to plan my next moves. Tonight was no exception, but my rest was disrupted by Arbos' actions. I yearned to know what he had done.

Rising from my bed, I donned a simple black shirt, nothing extravagant, just something I had purchased from a human store down the street. The human society boasted an incredibly sophisticated hierarchy, having a variety of goods that were designated for each class of people, something which I planned to implement later in Hell. However, that was a matter for the future; my immediate focus was on Arbos.

I began my descent down the stairs, every step fueled by malice and evil intent. Arbos would become my pawn. He held great promise, a potent wielder of magic and fortitude.

Arriving at the dead end, I employed my magic to reveal the hidden passage leading to the basement. There, amidst cries, perhaps of a child, though it was difficult to discern with humans, I stepped inside, the door sealing itself behind me.

The dimly lit basement revealed a ritual circle in progress, bathed in a red glow. Someone had undoubtedly perished.

Arbos was kneeling beside the lifeless body, tears streaming down his face.

The human's throat had been gruesomely slit, and his blood had activated the ritual. Though I had missed witnessing the moment of power transfer through soul conversion, I was certain that Arbos had gained new abilities, or at the very least, had increased mana capacity.

Soul exchange was by far the most efficient way to get mana, but it came at a hefty cost, a soul, something humans deemed taboo.

As the ritual's magic gradually subsided, the red glow faded away, leaving behind an air of completion. Arbos, now empowered, was no longer the weak human he once was. The transformation was evident in his demeanor, and I could sense the potential he held.

It was time to mold him into the perfect instrument for my malevolent ambitions.

And yet, Arbos remained on his knees, his gaze fixated on his trembling hands, still unaware of my presence. The weight of what he had done - murder - seemed to crush him, and he was now burdened with the title of a cold-blooded killer. Though I had played a part in this, it was his hands that bore the stain, and he had made a choice, opting for what was necessary.

Taking a step forward, my eyes remained fixed on the boy as I examined the lifeless body with multiple slits around the neck. It appeared that he hadn't killed the man swiftly; there were signs of struggle, evident in the man's wide-open, lifeless eyes. The sight pleased me immensely.

The more he had struggled, the harder it must have been on the boy... And yet these were not mere scratches... I sensed rage within them...

Advancing closer, I noticed the boy beginning to regain his senses, his hands still trembling as he lifted his face to meet my gaze. He knew the reality of what he had done, and perhaps a part of him wished I were anyone else.

Standing before him, my intense red eyes bore into his soul. "You did well," I stated, choosing my words carefully. Though the boy was still young, I needed to appear harsh, ensuring he didn't expect kindness in the future.

"Rise," I commanded, and like a puppet under the sway of mind control, Arbos obeyed without hesitation. The shock was evident on his face, for he was now slightly aware of the consequences of his actions.

I could feel the tangible shift in his aura, a transformation that spoke volumes. Each being possessed an aura, and Arbos's had now intensified, radiating with malice.

The aura acted as a window into one's alignment, and it was now undeniable that the boy had embraced evil. The act of murder weighed heavily on him, and the burden of guilt was evident.

"I am most pleased by your sacrifice," I stated, my eyes still fixed on the lifeless man behind him. "You will no longer be looked down upon by society. You are now an elite individual, worthy of recognition. As promised, I shall guide you along the path of power."

Though he appeared distant and inattentive, I knew my words had penetrated his consciousness, leaving an indelible mark on his mind.

This moment was immensely satisfying. Finally, I had someone of worth on my side. The disappointments and failures with Mila and the Yarine priest had left a bitter taste of defeat in my mouth. Power was meaningless without loyal followers.

"Let's head upstairs; we have much to discuss," I declared, eager to further shape Arbos into a valuable asset of my chaos. With his newfound power and allegiance, my plans were inching closer to fruition.

image [https://i.imgur.com/7fgH3qs.png]

We returned to the living room, and an eerie silence enveloped us, with Arbos as quiet as death itself. I walked over to the side wall and opened the window, inviting a cold breeze into the room. Surprisingly, Arbos didn't shiver anymore, a sign that he had grown numb to his surroundings, likely due to the shock of his actions when he first arrived at my home.

I had observed this change in him, noticing his dulled senses and distant demeanor. It pleased me to see the impact of his dark deed on his psyche.

Stolen story; please report.

Sitting there, Arbos seemed almost expectant, as if waiting for my next move or instruction. Yet, I remained silent, allowing the tension in the air to linger like thick fog.

His hands continued to tremble, his eyes betraying the turmoil within. The soul within him appeared detached, as if he had become an undead vessel, suppressing his emotions. However, I knew I couldn't let him wallow in this state indefinitely. He was a vital asset to my future plans, and if I allowed him to be broken completely by the weight of his actions, all my efforts would be in vain.

Taking a deep breath of the fresh air, I finally spoke, breaking the silence. "We will begin your training tomorrow," I declared, watching his eyes widen in response, yet he remained silent.

I simply couldn't keep to myself anymore.

"How was your first experience?" I inquired, alluding to the murder he had committed. It was his first time taking a life, and surely he must have felt something beyond the tears he shed.

Tears welled up in his eyes again, and he seemed mentally exhausted. He grabbed onto his hair, as if in denial of the reality of what he had done, trying to escape the weight of it all. He was teetering on the edge, and I needed to find the right balance in guiding him towards becoming an invaluable pawn.

His mental breakdown was expected, considering Arbos was a demi-human, a sentimental group often abused and marginalized, leading to lives of poverty. However, it was time to shift my approach and offer him encouragement instead of coldness.

Moving gently behind him as he trembled in fear, he cautiously observed me from the corner of his eye.

All he needed was an extra push, a very gentle tap to make him open up.

Placing my hand on his shoulder, I leaned in closer.

"You did the right thing," I reassured him, his body still tense with fear. "Trash like that man doesn't deserve to live. What we did was not murder; it was clean-up."

Despite my words, I was uncertain if they truly reached him. He remained fearful, unsure of the implications of his actions.

Taking a seat on the master chair before him, I sank into its depths, seeking to ease the atmosphere. Throned seats were always a symbol of power and negotiation, and I hoped my choice had the desired effect. However, I would no longer do the talking, for I now sensed the seeds of darkness had begun to sprout.

"I killed him," Arbos finally spoke, his words laced with despair and confusion. It was his first confession of his deed.

I maintained a cold gaze, still observing him, waiting for him to continue.

He looked back at me, eyes wide open, and repeated, "I killed him," each time, the weight of his actions becoming more apparent to him.

"You did," I affirmed calmly, leaving space for him to process his emotions.

He bit his fingernails, his bloodshot eyes displaying nervousness and something more - hyperactivity.

He moved restlessly in his chair, back and forth, continually repeating the confession to himself.

"And what do you feel?" I asked calmly, meeting his gaze directly.

He suddenly stopped moving as I posed the question, answering it.

"Happy... I feel happy," he responded, his eyes bloodshot and wide open. There was a distinct change in him, evident not only in his words but also in his aura. His magic had undergone a transformation, now tinged with darkness, as he had dipped his fingers into the abyss of evil. Once white and innocent, his aura was now tainted by the heinous deed he had committed, radiating devilish hues of red.

Arbos possessed a powerful aura, though not yet strong enough to be considered a formidable magic caster. I estimated him to be at the level of a second-tier caster, but that didn't discount his potential for growth, especially considering his youth.

He had taken his first step into the world of malevolence, and now it was my responsibility to guide and refine him, shaping him into a formidable force to serve my future plans.

Still, his words enticed me to dig deeper.

"Happy?" I questioned, surprised by his choice of words. They were cruel, heartless even.

He nodded, stepping beyond his boundaries, his mind still reeling from his actions, and the words spilled out of him in a broken manner.

"He was... He was trash! I... I never understood why we had to bow down to him. He went out of his way to make my life hell! I see now... I see now what you meant... These people...They all deserve to die..."

His voice now carried a hint of disgust towards humans.

"Yes... They all deserve to die! The humans are worthless. Scum that look down on us..."

Still the words he used; they were inspired by my own. It was as if he were trying to copy me, to tread my path, to tread in my shoes.

"Your hatred speaks volumes of your abilities."

His eyes glimmered with malevolence and insanity as he turned to face me.

"But!" I interrupted sternly. "Power without control is recklessness, and recklessness is for fools. If you wish to tread down a path of foolishness, then I shall end you, here and now."

"You can certainly try..." he responded sarcastically.

His arrogance was much like my own. I had grown to like this demi-human with each passing moment... I recalled my first kill and how it made me feel powerful. I could understand his emotions better than anyone alive, but when a dog comes barking, you teach it the stick.

Using a simple yet efficient magical spell, I lifted him into the air, choking him with magic as he struggled helplessly.

"True power can only be obtained through control," I emphasized, malevolence lingering within my voice, holding his gaze as he seethed with hatred, not towards me, but towards the humans he despised.

I released him, and he gasped for air as he fell to the floor. Slowly, I walked towards the window, my back turned to him, gazing out into the night sky.

"Another sarcastic word from you, and you will be next," I warned, making it clear that I held the upper hand. Arbos needed to understand the vast difference in power between us. While he had killed a bound human, he was merely a pebble in the face of true strength.

Arbious, the man who stood before him, had effortlessly defeated him, to the extent that he felt confident enough to turn his back on him. He needed to grasp the truth of his place in the grand scheme of things, something Arbious hoped he would understand.

Turning back to face Arbos, I emphasized, "Hate is a powerful weapon, but you mustn't let it blind you. Allow it to guide you, but maintain control over it."

With his back bent and knees on the floor, Arbos remained fixated on me, his mind succumbing to the darkness that consumed him deep inside. His torment had finally surfaced, and he appeared both alluring and amusing to me. Killing him would be a waste; I wanted to witness how he would evolve. However, his rage remained beyond his control, a powerful force for which he lacked mastery. Unlike me, who had learned to maintain composure within my seething anger, he was still just a mortal.

"I understand... Master..."

He hadn't slept properly; I could tell just by looking at his eyes. His hatred burned, but it was only a matter of time before he fell. To those ends, I needed him to gather himself before I pushed him further.

"Return home. Get some rest," I instructed, "In three days' time, I will await you by the large oak tree outside of town to the north. We will begin your training."

"Yes, my master," Arbos replied, rising to his feet, now under my command, forever bound by the deed he had committed. Only I could guide him now.

As Arbos left, the doors to my home closed behind him, leaving me alone in the darkness. underneath my breath, I conjured yet another watcher and instructed it to follow Arbos. I still didn't trust him, even after all he had done, but now it was a question of whether or not he would be okay. The watcher would warn me in case the boy was in danger, from himself or from others. Yet My mind continued to ponder his actions as I made my way back to my bedroom. The excitement he had when speaking of murder, it was intense, it even rejuvenated my own sinister feelings, my dulled senses from thousands of years of slaughter.

Still, the day had been an exhausting one and I desperately craved my sleep, the time for my meditation where I gathered my thoughts awaited.