by A. Joseph
“Your mocking and oppression ends today,” Nimrod said as he disappeared and emerged behind Paul followed by the other four hunters who now completely surrounds Paul.
“Great hunting skills! Your killing instincts have progressed as well. No wonder you killed some of the wild beasts in the desert already. But I"m not running away,” Paul said.
“You don"t need to,” Nimrod said as all five of them leapt with spears pointed at Paul"s head and arms to prevent him from summoning.
They knew that to win they must kill him before he can even summon his archdemon. But before their spears could reach Paul a fiery blast surrounded Paul burning them. Two of the hunters were unable to block the blast burning them to ashes instantly. The other two were able to block halfway and was blasted away. Only Nimrod was able to fully block the blast and was able to keep his ground behind Paul.
“I believe you are the one mocking me, thinking you can match up to me and my archdemon,” Paul said.
Nimrod slowly backed away seeing the archdemon behind Paul and feeling the heat around them.
„How was it possible?" Nimrod asked himself. He never saw Paul summoning the archdemon.
“You might be surprised demon hunter to see my archdemon,” Paul said seeing the surprise and fear in Nimrod"s eyes. “You don"t really have to draw such a big sign to summon. If you can do it properly even with a small sign using just your finger then it would suffice,” drawing a small sign on the air and illuminating it to show Nimrod.
Nimrod never knew that the damned one was more skilled than they imagined. He must avenge his brothers, seeing the ashes of two of his best demon hunters. He leaps again towards Paul with spear in front ready to strike.
He knew his body can withstand some of the fires of the archdemon and decided to sacrifice his body to pierce Paul. But even with his speed the archdemon Hismael was already at his side cutting the spear in half as Paul kicked him sending him flying against the wall of the cave.
“You are strong to have survived my attack but not strong enough to even scratch me,” Paul said.
He placed his palm on his chest absorbing his life force and his blood as Nimrod watched helplessly as Hismael killed the other two demon hunters burying its claws in their body and burning them to ashes. In seconds Nimrod"s body wilted leaving a dry lifeless body.
“What a waste of a good hunter.” Paul said, as he looked around and saw that a number of Ardans are already gathered around. “Would there be anyone else who would like to try?” He asked.
Most of the Ardans just bowed their heads while some moved back away from the scene and the rest went back to hiding in their caves. As some of his followers went back to working, he called out a man remaining on the crowd he knew had joined him first.
“What"s your name? You seem to be strong and trustworthy here,” Paul asked.
“Sau,” says the man.
“Follow me Sau, and tell the other Ardans they can get the dead to bury them or what"s left of them” Paul said as he went inside his cave.
Sau gave the order and followed him as the other hunters got the ashes and body of the demon hunters to bury them. The Ardans have a custom of burying the dead deep in the cave where they grow their crops. They believe that the body should give itself back to the earth to help cultivate new life.
“How many souls do you have?” Paul asked Sau as he enters the cave.
“Two damned one,” Sau replied.
“Are you as strong as those guys who just tried to kill me?” Paul asked as he sits on his chair.
“As strong as the other demon hunters but not as strong as Nimrod. He was the only one able to absorb four souls,” Sau replied.
“I"d give you now a power greater than Nimrod, but I require that you use it to exercise your authority among your fellow Ardans and to protect me to avoid such senseless deaths,” Paul said. “Are you willing to receive such a task?” He asked.
“I am damned one, but what is this power?” Sau asked.
“It is the ability to summon demons,” Paul replied. “I shall teach you the seven rules that govern the summoning. The strength and power of your demon would depend on your sins and desire and you must only desire to protect me so that strong demons shall obey you for they heed the call of archdemons.”
“I will only have such desire damned one. Does that mean I would be able to summon archdemons like you damned one?” Sau asked.
“You can"t,” Paul replied. “There are only seven archdemons and it is already with the seven damned beings. Only when a damned being dies can an archdemon be available,” Paul said.
“People cannot choose demons. An archdemon especially chooses its own damned one. Once chosen, the archdemon would continuously corrupt until the person becomes a damned one or die resisting,” Paul continued.
“You can however, summon powerful demons depending on your sins and desires.”
“Now remember these rules for to forget even one may cost you not only your life but also your soul,” Paul said looking at Sau.
“I shall remember them,” Sau replied as he listened intently to Paul.
Rule 1: Demons answers to sins and desires. “Your desires and sins are known to demons even before the summoning. The type of demon you would have would depend on your sins and desires. You cannot choose the demon you want to summon. Trying to summon a specific demon would only give them power to kill you immediately once they appear. You can however, have strong demons depending on the malice and wickedness of your desires and sins but only damned ones can summon archdemons.”
Rule 2: Demons require a blood offering. “Demons can exist in this world only through a blood offering. The blood offered bounds the demon to desire the life of the blood owner. They would continuously corrupt and tempt the blood owner to give orders and ask for abilities until they consume completely their life. Only the blood owner can order the demon and anyone who tries to order the demon would be consumed or killed by the demon. Failing to offer your blood at the start of the summoning will just give the demons power to kill you immediately.”
Rule 3: Demons are devious beings. “The presence of the demon itself corrupts anyone near it. Every demon has a specific sin and it would continually tempt you and fill your desires with its sin. One must unsummon a demon immediately if you no longer need its services because it will continuously offer you power and many other things for a price. Allowing demons to stay longer without needing them would only cause you to be consumed.”
Rule 4: Demons answer to their names. “Once summoned, you must know the demon"s name immediately by asking its name once you see its figure. Only by knowing the demon"s name would it be cautious in dealing with you. Demons are bound to answer to anyone who knows their name. Once demons fully materialize in this world and you forget to ask its name, it can instantly attack and kill you and you would not be able to control it. Whenever a demon disobeys order just call out its name and it will obey you again.”
Rule 5: Demons grant abilities through sacrifice. “The sacrifice would vary depending on the abilities you want. They would be made known to you by the demon themselves through your thoughts. Like how a ball of fire would require you a year of your life span or speed and strength your fingers. Demons would not grant abilities without the sacrifice and you cannot change the sacrifice given by the demons.”
Rule 6: Demons remain for as long as you satisfy them. “Demons have the sole intention of consuming whoever summoned them. They feed on your sacrifice and would continually offer abilities one after the other until you have sacrificed your entire body and life. You can only unsummon a demon by offering a drop of blood for all its services or when you die.
Rule 7: Demons are devious servants. “Demons would fulfill any order and ability once the sacrifice is given but you must make sure to specify your order or ability clearly. Demons would not agree in changing your request or order unless another sacrifice is given. Demons tend to make small mistakes intentionally in your orders
and errors in giving abilities making you give even more sacrifices to correct them. Ensure that your request or order is precise and exact.”
“Do you remember them?” Paul asked.
“I do,” Sau replied.
“A demonstration to show you properly, for to make a
mistake might cause you your life,” Paul said as he went out of his cave. He then pricked his palm and a drop of his blood appeared. He placed his palm on the ground.
“This is how you invoke your summoning,” and with his hands firmly planted in the ground he shouted,
“accerso.”
And the ground broke as smoke emerged from the cracks and within it a shadow of a being can be seen, and he immediately asked its name saying,
“nomino.” As the smoke subsided Sau saw the being clearly now. It was almost humanlike in its body and face except for its skin which looks like it was burned by the sun for it was red as blood and extremely dry. Heat continues to come out of its body like its blood is continuously being burned inside. It was bigger and more muscular than Paul and it had long dark nails and fangs. It had no hairs on its body and head but had horns like that of a bull.
As it inhaled its first breath and opened its eyes it spoke its name. “I am Barbas, what do you need Paul?” It asked immediately.
Sau was surprised of how quick the demon knew Paul"s name just as he mentioned in giving the rules.
“Nothing, I just want to show him how to summon a demon and show him one,” Paul said looking at Sau. Then he pressed his palm for another a drop of blood and threw it at the demon. The demon caught it by his hand as it evaporated quickly upon touching its skin.
“You can go now,” Paul said, as smoke evaporated from the demon"s skin covering its whole body and the demon disappeared as the smoke dissipated.
“Your turn,” Paul said to Sau.
Following Paul"s example, Sau pricked his palm for blood and pressed it to the earth as he shouted “accerso” and the ground cracked and smoke appeared but it seems to be fewer than that of Paul and a shadow of a small child can be seen and Sau was curious why it was small.
“Ask its name immediately!” Paul shouted annoyed at the weakness of Sau.
Sau was stunned, if Paul had not reminded him the demon would have already succeeded in distracting him and would have consumed him as soon as its body materialized.
Frightened, Sau shouted “nomino” and as the smoke cleared out he saw instead a creature almost like a child but it had horns and claws and its face is like a bat. It has a small skeletal with burned flesh as wings hanging on its back.
“I am Agrat, what do you need Sau?” It asked.
“So you got an imp,” Paul said. “I was hoping your level can reach up to a regular demon.”
“Was my strength not enough?” Sau asked embarrassed.
“It"s more of your desire and sins lacking malice,” Paul replied. “Anyway, you can test its powers. It can give you at least the power to fly. Go ahead and ask for it.”
“I want to fly Agrat,” Sau ordered.
“A toe to fly,” Agrat replied.
Sau looked at Paul disturbed.
“Everything needs a sacrifice, remember?” Paul said irritated at how this Ardan seems to be dumbfounded of all the things he said.
“If you cannot give the sacrifice then just give it a drop of your blood to unsummon it,” Paul said.
“I offer a toe on my left feet,” Sau said immediately at Agrat.
“Flight you shall have,” as Agrat said this Paul felt a burning sensation in the middle toe of his left foot and as he looked at it he saw only ashes of what was before his toe. The wound was completely sealed by a burn mark that not even a drop of blood came out.
Suddenly, he started to feel wings growing at his back. It was painful as the wings came out of his back that he wished for the pain to disappear but he knew another request to the imp would be another sacrifice. He just clenched his teeth to overcome the pain and hoped that the process will be short.
After a few minutes filled with sweat bearing the pain, he can see clearly now the bat-like wings at his back. It was as black as the night and the skin that stretched among the frame of black bones looked like burned skin that it looked disgusting than amazing.
“Well test it out,” Paul said.
“How?” Sau asked.
“Just imagine it moving and for whatever your mind imagines then it will happen,” Paul said.
Sau did as Paul instructed and as he imagined it flapping it moved according to his imagination, and bit by bit he was lifted higher and higher to the air.
“Well it"s no use just hovering there and don"t forget to unsummon the imp later or you"ll die!” Paul shouted.
Sau then imagined himself flying through the air and as he did he imagine flapping his wings like a bat. As the wings flapped faster he soared higher and higher then he went out of Paul"s cave and glided outside as Ardans watched him fly around. Paul knew this would amaze the Ardans and remove their anger for killing the demon hunters and he shouted at them.
“This power can be yours and even more for those who will join me!” he shouted and as Sau soared around the cave more Ardans joined Paul.
CHAPTER 13
HISTORY OF THE AWAKENING
“What"s our lesson today Matthew?” William asked as he sits beside him.
He noticed his chair has changed its shape again. He knew he was gaining weight and height with all the delicious fruits but the chair remains as comfortable as before.
“I believe it would be history this month,” Matthew replied.
“Do they have lessons here on a monthly basis? William asked.
“Yup and at the end of the seven months of lessons you"ll have the Trial of Self by the eight month during the Festival of Hope,” Matthew replied while looking at his chair and comparing it with William. “Your chair seems to be livelier than mine.”
“I guess I"m growing faster than you are,” William said teasing Matthew.
“What"s the Trial of Self?” William asked as he noticed how really different his chair is with Matthew. It was indeed bigger now with a lot of intertwined branches.
“I believe in your world, it"s what they call exams,” Matthew replied trying to twist his table now.
“Do you know what the exam is about?” William asked trying to help Matthew adjust his table and chair.
“Nobody knows. They say it is different for each individual and the teachers are not the ones to give it,” Matthew replied trying to sit comfortably on his chair.
“Oh! I forgot to tell you, for the seven months of lessons, the last week of each month are allotted for research. They say it"s for the students to find some answers and learn on their own. That"s why we had a week of no classes last month and a week again last week,” As Matthew tried resting on his table to see if it was now comfortable to sleep in it.
“But I didn"t even go for research during those weeks without classes. We just went around and just played during those weeks!” William shouted at Matthew disappointed at those weeks he wasted. “You should have told that to me earlier!”
“There"s learning too on observing people, being with them and playing with them,” Matthew said smiling at William. “You sure are serious; there are no honors or awards here,” laughing at how William suddenly became serious.
“But we might fail the exams!” William said troubled.
“Nobody knows what it is and from what I"ve heard it"s not a written exam. So don"t worry, it"s not a requirement to memorize anything here,” Matthew said tapping William"s shoulder.
“Besides you can always take the exam again the following year. It"s my second Trial of Self already since nothing happened last time but it was a great year,” smiling at William as he tried to sleep again on his table.
“What? This will be your second already? What happens if you fail?” William asked.
“It"s not a life or death thing William,” Matthew said. “You can
not rush the Trial of Self nor predict it. You can take it several times but they say you would only pass when you are truly ready.”
William was confused, he was busy on the first month knowing about Inchora while he learned about summoning and had his cherub Aleph last week.
„I still learned a lot somehow during those weeks but I need to be prepared for that exam," William said to himself.
“Good morning!” Sella greeted them as she entered the room as William went back to his seat depressed. “Today you shall know the history of the enlightened people and the enlightened cities,” she continued as all the students went back to their seats.
“Is it the time when the first person summoned an angel?” a girl beside Matthew asked.
“No,” Sella replied. “But it"s part of the story.”
“Is it about the first person who summoned an angel?” another studend behind William asked.
“It"s part of the story too,” Sella said. “Now be quiet and listen to the most wonderful story ever told.
God created man to be good just like God. They were bestowed one of the greatest gift among all creation – wisdom and feelings. Their wisdom like God"s own wisdom
- endless possibilities of learning and understanding everything in the world and even beyond. Their feelings like God"s own feelings – with the ability to care continuously, to understand even beyond reason and above all to love unconditionally. And as years pass by, man continued to evolve and somehow started to do things according to their needs and desires.
They live to eat, to feed, to plant, to harvest, to build, to be rich and sadly their greed started to conquer their wisdom and feelings and soon abusing even their fellowmen. From the continuous development trading evolved and it became natural for man to exchange items for what they need and some became experts and masters of their own craft. Then came currency and now the world knows money.
But before these developments, before there was trade and before there was money - there lived a man in a mountainside. A farmer who had seven children living a simple life like the one we are living here in Inchora. They harvest what they plant and the land provided them with all their needs. When the boys grew bigger they started to take care of animals and soon enough their herd and farmlands grew and their harvests were plenty.
