Ritual circles. These come in all shapes and sizes, for all kind of purposes. This one I just finished was a contact one; its purpose to send information back and through whoever you contact. It also can serve as a conduct to send and retrieve magic and anything magically related; for a price of course.
Contracts like the one I intend to make. With this, the contacted is free to send all the power he wishes to us. As for items, well there are strict policies but nothing that hasn’t been exploited over and over.
Smuggling this way was not so easy. But it was quite profitable for those who could do it.
Its basically circles inside circles. Runes are carved on the sides and inside, these circles are meant to set where and what you which to contact. And the runes decide the rest, for example who specifically are you contacting, and guide the circles to work properly. They are basically smaller spells with various purposes.
Its like a mathematics diagram; a single mistake would make the whole thing fail.
I finished it in twenty minutes. The girls just stood there watching.
“I have no idea what any of this is.” Maria said and looked at Ruth.
She shook her head, and pointed at one of the runes in the circle.
“That is one of the sending glyphs, that one makes whoever we contact able ear what we say.” I explained.
She pointed at another.
“That one takes care of the image. So he can see us and we can see him.”
Maria seemed impressed. “I had no idea, all the rituals I have performed so far… I just copied a drawing from a book and threw magic at it.” She confessed.
Ruth nodded.
“I guess the arts of ritual magic was lost in time.” I replied.
“How do you know all of this, are you pranking us? When we use this circle and it fails are you just going to laugh at us for believing you… or something?” The girl asked with a complicated expression.
I took a knife and made a cut in my hand, pouring blood at the centre of the ritual. It’s purpose simple, make sure the entity is interested on the call. Blood is essence, and possessing the essence of another is a big leverage for a demon or whatever being that can manipulate it. It draws attention.
“It’s secret and no. Go on… both of you, activate it.” I took a seat in a chair facing the circle.
They nodded and used their means.
It took a while, because well... this world is really a backwater. But it worked.
“So fast!” Maria said in surprise.
“Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.” I muttered a quick prayer for a finish.
The whole circle glowed a deep red. The blood in the centre quickly expanded into a pool, And curved onyx horns rose slowly.
We couldn’t see his surroundings only his face and body. The image was somewhat clear.
“What on the grieving pits do you want? and how do you have my private contact!?” The being demanded with a frown, his whole demeanour was arrogance; arms crossed while staring at us full of spite.
He spoke in hell’s language, the girls clearly could not understand him. For those who did not have infernal inheritage or studied it; it sounded like hateful gibberish and drained the soul of those who heard it. I did set up a protection against that so they wouldn’t get hurt.
Ruth and Maria gasped.
“Adam! This is not…! This what on earth is this being…!” She backed away against the wall. Pulling Ruth with her.
He took a look at them. And spoke in our tongue.
“YOU… DARE SUMMON ME, and not know who I am!!! The impudence!” He shouted. Towards them.
“No, master...! We only activated the circle, he summoned you!” Maria pointed towards me, clearly terrified.
His gaze came towards m. As I sat in a chair smirking at him and bandaging my cut; a cold shiver ran through my spine, he was going to kill me.
I looked towards him, an old pal.
A pure bred-demon, and a archdevil. A tall and a slender creature resembling a man, his skin red; with long black claws and a scaly tail ending in a blade. He was wearing a brown tuxedo. His most noticeable features were his long curved horns, resembling a goat. A proof of his lineage. Most creatures from the hells would quake in fear at the sight of one such as him.
After all, this one was of a royal lineage. And quite a wicked one too.
“Hello Seth.” I casually greeted him, In the infernal language of course I would rather not have eavesdropping on our conversation.
“Who are you to address me so casually? Speak quickly, this connection… is rubbish.” He quickly demanded.
“I offered you my blood. Can’t you tell what’s special about it?” I smirked.
“It’s rotten. Like… some undead thrall, and… this is… Master’s life force! Who the hells are you? ” He demanded.
What is he on about?
“Long time no see, old buddy.” I smiled.
“You are… This is Impossible, You were murdered! They even made sure you would not come back to the manor. Where exactly are you? I thought you were gone; never to be found again...” He answered; intrigued, his demeanour more relaxed.
“You know what… I have no fucking idea, I ended up in a shitty world were the attunement is nearly non existent. I require your aid.” I answered.
“Master… You have fallen from glory. Your manor here was destroyed, your armies crumbled and deserted! I took whatever I could save from the attackers, and those who are still… loyal to you, and we are hiding. Their forces are hunting us. ”
“My daughter. Tell me about her, what has she been up too?” I asked,
“Daughter?. I heard nothing from a daughter of yours, only those who were soul bound to you are still loyal, of course when the one who took your place noticed that we were not dead when you… well went somewhere. She started hunting us with that sword of hers.”
Keeping a low profile… With my sword.
I had many servants soul bond to me. My death was their death, my will their duty. Just like Seth here. He used to be my butler back in hell.
She is doing well with that whole take my stuff thing of hers. Good for her, for now.
“I see, first things first make sure you are safe. I have no doubt that’s inside your capabilities. Now you mentioned that you took whatever you could from my safes. Tell me you managed to save it all.”
“Of course master. The dimensional pocket you granted me is full, everything is mine to safeguard until you have the need of it, just like you instructed me in case of crisis.”
I had many useful stuff stored back in hell. Good to see that Seth took his duty seriously.
I started writing on a paper and once I finished it; I sent it over to the ritual circle. The paper materialized in Seth’s claws. He cast a spell on it so it wouldn’t burn and examined it.
“Make whatever preparations you need to send me over that pocket with everything in that list included. I will be contacting you once I’m ready to receive it.” I ordered.
“Of course master.” He bowed.
Maria and Ruth weren’t understanding anything while they shivered in a corner. But once they saw the creature make a polite bow, they gasped.
I used a spell to materialize Seth’s contract. The one that made him pretty much my slave.
“Listen Seth. I know you serve with your whole hearth, but I don’t want you to see this as mere duty. Once I’m back in my throne; in my own world, I will burn this thing. You will be free, and I shall grant you whatever you desire. You have my word… so don’t fail me.”
I needed him to be all in with this. Not just bond by duty. This servant of many was the most powerful and most competent one that I had currently. He is going to serve as my trump card to get out of this world and go back home.
“Master… You are too kind. For this one to have his freedom back, it would be a dream realized. I shall arrange this shipment and have it ready, let me make first contact. Is there anything else?” He said as he looked at me while bowing.
“Good, don’t make me wait; time can be fickle from here to there. A few more things, find all the other soul bonds of mine and gather an army with you as the leader; the bigger the better, we are going to need it in the future.” I said.
He nodded and bowed again.
“One more thing. See those two girls? They serve me, i decided to reward them; Make a warlock pact with them, free of bindings. I shall require one too. As you might noticed the attunement here is trash. We require pacts to use the arcane arts, here… it’s the only way I figured out so far. I would rather have my servants having power of something above some imp.” I said.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“And of course; for me. I’m literally exhausting my own soul to be here talking with you, so I shall require one too.” I instructed him.
Sure I could just use my soul, its powerful enough to fuel anything I need. But I won’t be able to heal it in this world and it would cause problems later on; as for Seth he lives in Hell that dimension is almost literally made of magic. He can just send some our way, no problem.
“As you will master. As rare of pacts free of bond are, I shall respect my end of the bargain.” He sent over three contracts. I could see a twitch in his brow, its not in a demon’s nature to make a deal where he is the only one giving. I commanded it; so he would have no other choice.
While I possessed his soul, he couldn’t even think of raising a finger against me.
The contracts were all equal. We just needed to sign it. I signed mine and keep it. He signed another, to finish the deal between us.
I motioned the girls to come over, and they did.
“Go on.” I showed them the contract and translated it to them.
It was just formalities, there were absolutely no restrictions or anything that they needed to do for the devil. I could do it; make them my slaves… but where is the fun in that.
They signed it.
“What is this… You have a pact with a fucking imp!? And these conditions … Outrageous.” Seth smirked as he saw the pact the girls had, speaking in the language that they understood.
Pathetic. “An imp!? Really? Is this the powerful devil that ‘our’ family had a pact with!? ” I mocked them.
I couldn’t hold it. I started laughing aloud; Seth did too.
“Wha…what?” Maria asked befuddled.
Ruth just looked down embarrassed.
“We are done. I shall wait for you to contact me.” I turned around and experimented with a spell.
Now I could cast pretty much anything as long as it was basic; I wouldn’t run out of magic, Seth would send the juice. I just had to sleep for a few hours.
I took a seat and looked back at my wound. The blood really was strange, and it didn’t hurt. It wasn’t bleeding either, i need to check this later.
For now I needed a nap. I would be using my newfound source of power to finally start healing my soul. That meant I could not really abuse magic while in this world. At this rate my soul would take almost a century to heal. That was a little problem.
Ruth and Maria talked with Seth for a while. He was clearly annoyed with all the questions but he would not show it, out of respect for me.
I laid in Ruth’s bed and closed my eyes.
—-
Someone poked my cheek.
Ruth.
I opened my eyes.
The white hair and the coal black eyes. She was not like the last time I saw her… She is little, again. A dream.
She had that… innocent and mischievous smile that I always loved.
“Wake up daddy! I can see the cathedral from here! She said” Her high pitched voice full of awe.
“Nev… What?” I asked as I looked around, the golden fields of sunflowers reflected the warm sun’s light all around us as we rode the carriage along the road. The soft wind, flowing in our hair.
Eralenir… The realm of the gods; ‘Heaven’.
We were going down a hill, a huge cathedral built of gold and sapphires stood ahead of us.
“My love , are you unwell?” A beautiful woman at my side asked with a warm smile.
She had that same long white silver hair and a face practically carved by a master sculptor; kind sky blue eyes. Her belly was round; she was with child.
My child. She was also holding my hand…
“Qhavelia. My love, I just had the grimmest of dreams.” I answered to my love as I breathed in and calmed myself. Taking in the surroundings.
“Our dreams are often messages, sometimes from the past sometimes… the future. What did they reveal to you, sweetheart?” She had her usual warm smile, her gaze kind and caring.
Always she had been like that. Compassionate, soft-hearted. In no means weak. Always a smile in her face, even when we went through some dark moments of our lives she had her smile. She couldn’t pass by anyone without listening; offering her help.
I loved her for that.
“I was in a dark place…” I said as I gently brushed Nevauri’s hair with the back of my hand. “Everyone was… lonely and hopeless; And… me; my heart so full of hatred, my hands stained in red not matter how much I tried to wash them.” I looked down at my other hand “I almost couldn’t breath; It was suffocating, I reached up for air trying to fill my lungs but all that entered them was blood, by the end I was drowned. I saw myself drowned. ” I answered.
Nevauri hugged me interrupting me.
“Don’t cry daddy, its alright.” The little one brushed my hair back with her hand.
Qhavelia hugged me too, she was at my side holding the reigns of the same carriage with her left hand.
“I’m here. I will always be here for you… If that darkness is the past, its over now. There is only light for now on, as long as we are together I won’t let any harm come your way. Look at our daughter… we will have another soon, maybe a boy this time. You will se both of them grow up.” She smiled as she rested her head on my shoulder, she still held my hand…
“I fear for the future… Your father, he never did approve of me, saying that the darkness in my heart will never cease. That the blood in my hands deserves no forgiveness. Sometimes… I feel like I am some monster. He is the creator after all… the highest god. If he can’t forgive me; then what can?” I said as I rested my head on hers.
She smiled faintly.
“It’s not his place to forgive, It’s…” She was cut off.
….Suddenly. I came to my senses and i was running.
Holding Nevauri in my arm against my shoulder as she cried; I charged forward, on my other hand was a bloodied blade.
Knights in holy armours charged at me for no effect as I danced between them; my blade cutting them down one after the other. The single hand was all it took; the wrath in my heart offered them no quarter.
I rushed down that corridor; opened those huge double doors out of the way with a mighty kick.
There, a big room with open spaces serving as windows stood; a mighty storm was brewing outside.
Nevauri looked and also saw her.
Standing in the bed was Qhavelia… all bloody —what was meant to be a child was only an amalgamation of worms and putrid black matter.
I rushed to her side, grasping for her hand.
“Zoldassim…” She muttered while i took her bloodied hand. The maids around her were all dead, as they inhaled the putrid bog. They were only mortals; unlike us who have ascended.
“My love… It’s alright, we are going to leave! Go back home, our little cottage by the river. Your beautiful garden… The poppies must be all grown by now, we will sing together again. Come let’s see them. Lets go back.” I took hold of her… I knew she was going to pass; i just couldn’t bear the thought of it.
“N…No. I can’t, look… father is here. He will make the pain go away…” She looked into my eyes, her bloodshot blue eyes devoid of any light, deep circles below them. She… she wasn’t smiling.
“Please… Take care of our daughter…” Her last words came out.
Her hand went limp. She had died.
“MOMMY!” Nevauri screamed between tears.
I turned away; shielding Nev’s eyes.
“We have… —To go.” I said.
*BOOM*
Through the wind a sudden presence emerged.
He was an enormous old man. With a rugged stoic face and a wooden crow, A gold Sceptre in his huge hand.
“This is thy doing. Hast thou pride 'i thy actions!? hast had thou enough of making mine daughter endure agony? now look upon'r. Look upon'r!” His voice carried the weight of the heavens themselves and pure fury; an aura that I barely could endure…
“Have thou had enough?” He seized my shoulder almost crushing it, he looked upon Qhavelia and then noticed Nevauri.
“Grant her to me! Fiend.”
More knights rushed into the room. Surrounding us.
“NEVER!!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. At this old nemesis of mine.
In panic, I slashed my sword at the man’s neck, only making it stuck. His gaze darkened with a even heavier frown.
In terror I left my sword there, and rushed towards the windows, jumping out.
Then I fell into the darkness along with the rays of light that the storm brought down.
Along with little Nevauri in my arms.
—-
I awakened and stood up, struggling for air.
Light went through the window, lighting up the room. I saw the ritual circle and a girl sleeping soundly by my side.
After all these years, this cursed dream still would haunt me. That was when it all started. My legacy as the Overlord. After harrowing years in a cruel world I found myself somewhere akin to the notion of heaven… somehow.
There I found my true love, and happiness. Also found the biggest hole that a hearth could become.
But I had Nevauri, I had to take care of her. That kept me going… even thought I became something else. I never left her side, never lost her. Not again.
And after thousands of years, here I am.
Somewhere.
I hope her betrayal made her happy. Once I go back home, I will forgive. She is my everything after all. But… I need to do something; she needs to be… punished. And that will pain me more than anything that I could think about.
Looking down I saw Ruth who had somehow crawled into bed and slept by my side. She somewhat reminded me of that daughter of mine. But I can’t allow myself to be soft. Not now.
I pinched her nose, and stretched my arms up. Waking her.
“Let’s go, I need… a drink.” I got out of the bed.
Ruth touched my shoulder and pointed at the a bedside table.
I saw the piece of folded paper that she had gave me. And opened it; I almost had forgotten about it.
I read it. And wow; she had some talent for that spy stuff.
*Mission report. IMPORTANT* It read.
*I overheard some local mafia boss, chatting with a thug. Someone from the cult stole a carriage full of black tar. They found out who it was and are launching an attack to the monastery; this week! maybe the next. They have high end guns and a big squad in some abandoned warehouse from what I gathered; we need to do something!*
“Hmm, I guess we will see some action. We need to find who this addict is, and question him. I will talk with father; to… see what he says.” I said as I nodded in acknowledgement.
“It’s best if we strike first. Wipe them out. I will see what I can do with this information.”
She pointed at the back of the paper.
*I also heard the other kids talking. Last week some sailor or something conquered something called an Australia. And some other painter died.*
James Cook and Australia. That happened in the late eighteen century if my memory serves me right. Hell, I don’t know how I remember things from thousands of years from before. Guess my first life really left the deepest impression on me.
Good to have my time more or less situated. I wasn’t too off with the oil thing.
“Good job.” I said as I patted her head.
We walked together out of the room and the of the building, Maria had seen us and caught up to us. She demanded that we followed her and we went to a lone spot in the back of the building.
Ruth went alone to the cafeteria to break her fast, clearly not interested in Maria’s games.
“I need answers.” She demanded with a frown.
“And I have them, today is going to be a long day. So, go on get them out of your system.” I replied.
“Who are you? That night… That devil… He bowed to you and followed your instructions. I am no fool; at first I thought Adam had a… glow up. Something boys do… But that I can’t believe after what I presented. Who are you, what do you want from us?” Maria had an edge on her voice has she demanded her answers.
I honestly have no interest in keeping my identity a secret. These mortals don’t know me, and if I told everyone that a demon had possessed this boy’s body and decided to live his life. Who would honestly believe it? There is almost no magic in this world. Maybe religious people? These are ‘evil’ cultists, more facts less fiction.
“Zoldassim is my name. I also had many titles… ‘Death’s Consort’, ‘Ebonblade’, ‘The sombre monarch’, ‘The crimson tyrant’; many more— Too many to bother to remember. Most fools know me as ‘The Overlord.’” I answered her question with honesty and a smile.
“So you really are… Listen, I don’t care about Adam, he was a piece of shit. I care about your intentions… Your kind rarely has any benevolence in them. Why are you here? What do you want from us? …Zoldassim.” She answered, she had defiance in her voice, but she was clearly weary.
“Listen… Maria, what is that you want? I mean in your life, right now what is your goal. What’s the everything that you have always strived for?” I asked.
She frowned and turned around, thinking a answer.
“I want to prove to father that I am not worthless… I need power, I want knowledge. To never again have someone… something I care about be taken away from me. I want to protect.” She answered only turning back around to face me at the end of her answer, resolutely.
“I see… You are just like me then.” I looked up and sighted. “I have granted you already enough potential to become something far greater than anything that ever walked this world. But you are nothing but a flicker in face of the whole of existence— You are nothing. Your mortality shackles you; you will die long before you can even scratch the surface of the potential the universe can offer you.”
I looked into her eyes when she looked back.
“My piece is obvious. Come with me, be my shadow and help me achieve my goals. I will make sure you potential does not stagnate, you shall have everything you think you ever wanted… and much more.”
I extended my hand. Offering the deal.
“I… I need to think about this. Ruth… She will be shaken once she knows that Adam is dead.” she muttered as she looked away from my hand. Smart girl, don’t play games with devils. They tend to win.
“It come without saying that my identity is to be kept secret.” I narrowed my eyes as I placed my arm behind my back once again.
Honestly, i don’t care about it. There is really very little consequence; but it would make thing less fun. And I do hate less fun.
And of course if it does come to light, I will immediately know who is not worth of a speck of my trust.
“O… Of course, I won’t tell her. I won’t tell a soul! But… she is really quite smart, she is going to figure it out.” She rambled.
“Maybe she will, now come i have much to do today. ” I walked out of the corner and Maria followed close behind.