Author Topic: The Deluded Manuscript, by Calwin Ascaniis  (Read 459 times)

Socha

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The Deluded Manuscript, by Calwin Ascaniis
« on: November 13, 2020, 05:57:07 AM »
Quote from: Cover Page
The Deluded Manuscript
By Calwin Ascaniis
~*~
Apprentice to Vinitius Ascaniis
Endexar Artoris
Septimus Blacktallow
Viktor Sarkov


The age of secrets has passed. No more greed, no more lies. The chain will not be broken.


TO BEHOLD LIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME
~
The grave lights loom over the rise
The breeze bends, scattered by the sky
The land groans in fright
My chains rattle tonight.

It is not that I am damned
Nor that I am the old man
Who grins before the night
Blinded by the same might
That I crave for myself.

The power to dispel lies
To dream large; to open eyes
To rest minds and guide mice
Away from their torments.

He clutches, pries, twists and tears
Takes the flame from a child's hands
Crushes the spark between his bones
He does not know
The darkness
Gripping him
By the hair.

He cannot see
That his tower is a tomb
Built by the ghosts
Who once called it home.

The first flame beckons
Yet the sun casts long shadows
The closer, the longer
And those who crave light
Are hollow from its absence.

The doors are closed to those
Who refuse to kneel
For every lighthouse has its keeper
And this one does not have spirits on his breath
But nauseates, haunts with the whisper of death.


« Last Edit: November 13, 2020, 06:02:51 AM by Socha »
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Socha

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Re: The Deluded Manuscript, by Calwin Ascaniis
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2020, 05:29:22 AM »
Quote from: Preface
PREFACE
~*~


“IN SECRECY, FREEDOM. IN FREEDOM, POWER. IN POWER, ASCENSION.”
– Lord Septimus Blacktallow

On the day my former master Endexar Artoris perished of old age, he took it upon himself to sabotage the entirety of his trove of knowledge. Stacks of books, ancient scrolls, magical relics – all perished in the flames so that his legacy may die with him, so that he may rob his disciples of the light that was promised to them. My name is Calwin Ascaniis and I was one of those disciples, who after being shown the light for the first time, worked tirelessly to cradle it. It was a thirst for justice that drew me to my master’s chambers as he lied on his deathbed, and I wager I’ll never forget his maddened cackling as he threw his spellbook – the crown jewel of his empire – into the blazing hearth.

The purpose of this manuscript is to record my grand experiment: delving into the realms of the occult arts without losing myself, to prove that it can be done, and to perhaps show others how to do the same. My masters have robbed the world of the light that they shed upon it but I refuse to become one of them, and while I suspect that I am doomed to fail, I have taken precautions - I am armed with ample delusions. The first lesson is thus: Hubris is necessary to make a great wizard, but humility is what will keep them alive and sane long enough to see that day. Find support in those with stronger convictions than you; they will keep you honest as you venture into the unknown.

And the second lesson: if a Master dangles the fruit of knowledge before your eyes, ask yourself whether it is worth the sacrifice.

At the very least, my journey will be a cautionary tale.
May you have better luck than I have, apprentice.


CBT aficionado since 2015.