1 The Ritual

Atop a ominous hill stood a seemingly abandoned Manor surrounded by dead fields. It's windows covered in filth making it almost impossible to look inside. The marbled steps leading to it's entrance, all but reduced to mere rubble. In spite of that someone did live here, evident by what was occuring inside.

A finger frantically tapped the side of a glass containing one final sip of crimson wine. The hand holding the glass thin, small and delicate, resembling that of a lady. Yet when taking a close and hard look you'd find that it actually belonged to a young man. Albeit one who's current appearance made him resemble a withered old man.

Due to his young age he hadn't grown a beard, however his hair was a different matter. With long strands of unkempt dark raven hair partially concealing his face. As for his body, although he possessed a towering frame his limbs were weak and thin. While his most prominent facial feature were his bloodshot eyes. Which projected the immense anxiety and desperation welling inside of him.

His great sense of desperation was in full display as he ripped into the armchair he was seated on. Once he got rid of the outer layer of leather he began to rip out the cotton within. The scene became even more sinister as the sound of rain filled the large room.

" Dammit, where the hell is he?! I can't stand this any longer! He should have arrived by now!"

The young man violently shouted as he downed the last remaining drops of wine from his glass. Then as if the world had listened to his pleading, a loud bang came from the direction of the entrance.Without wasting a single second the young man frantically rushed to the entrance. The way towards the entrance was littered with trash and random objects, but he kept moving forward. Ultimately he reached two giant doors which he hastily opened revealing a cloaked figure.

" Did you bring it?! Show it to me, now!"

The young man impatiently barked at the figure, who disregarded the aggressive order. Instead he extended his right arm prior to opening his palm as his deep voice asked for payment.

" The payment, first."

The young man clicked his tongue but did withdraw a pouch, but did not hand it over. For he knew better than to hand over coin without first receiving the goods.

" It's right here, now let me see the item."

With the payment in sight the cloaked figure took out a scroll from it's satchel. The two then reached out towards their respective wants, the young man the scroll and the cloaked figure the coin pouch. After the exchange the cloaked figure turned around and made its way down the hill. As for the young man he rushed back inside the Manor and ripped the scrolls seal.

" Yes this is it! After years of research and millions spent, I've finally gotten my hands on the famous scroll. Once I perform the ritual depicted inside, I will finally have the life that should've been mine from the very beginning! I will no longer be ridiculed by others! Nor will I be looked down upon and discarded as if I were trash! I won't have to endure humiliation after humiliation! I will have power! I will have Magic!!"

Finished venting, the young man made his way to his study, which unlike the rest of the Manor was clean and well kept.

As the heavy rain continued to pour down, the preparations for the ritual were underway. He got on all fours to drew a magic circle on the floor and then placed candles in specific points. The last and most crucial part of the ritual was the chanting of the incantation. If he so much as stumbled on a single letter everything would be for naught. He needed to do this in one pass, no retakes, no second chances.

" Alright, everything is ready..."

Unbeknownst to him however, as he was readying himself to chant the incantation a shadow figure made it's way inside the Manor. Unfortunately due to the heavy rain he wasn't able to hear when it entered.

" Slumbering King of Chaos, He who sits upon it's Throne! Arrogant Master of Nothingness, Lord of All! Deny the World's Will and Create what's Forbidden! Devour this Tainted Sacrifice and bring forth thy Almighty Vessel!!!"

As if the world itself was insulted by his words the harsh winds outside became much more violent. Causing the study's windows to burst open and for him to start bleeding from his nose. Yet when the final word was uttered, the space above the marked circle was ripped open. Staring at it intently the disheveled young man thought he saw something inside the rift. Unfortunately that's when the door to the study was blasted open and a masked man stormed inside.

" Who are yo-"

Before the shocked teen could finish his sentence a hole was blasted through his chest. His body fell down to the floor like a marionette who's strings had just been severed.

" W..w-hy?"

He blurted out between the large amounts of blood gushing from his mouth. He at least wanted to know why he was killed since he made sure to live a secular life. Although he didn't have any friends he also made sure to not make enemies.

" Hmm? You're still alive? Impressive, well since you're going to die, I guess it wouldn't hurt to tell you. Specially since the reason is simple, you died because of a woman. That woman being your fiance the young lady from the Flama Family. You see someone very powerful wants that lass, and well you were in the way."

Unexpectedly the masked man answered his question albeit contrived. Nonetheless the young man wanted to know the name of the person who payed to have him killed.

" W..h..o?"

" Hey don't force yourself so much, then again you're already at deaths door. As for who exactly, I'm not sure but they payed me a hefty sum to kill you."

" ... "

As the teen's consciousness began to fade the masked man gave him his last farewell.

" Well my jobs done here. Goodbye, Young Master Mikael... "

In the next second the masked man vanished leaving behind a dying Mikael alone. Who felt his eyelids become heavy and his breath coming to a stop. Yet with the last drops of energy he could muster, forced his way towards the rift. Which had slowly begun to close and was now barely visible. He tried to reach out in hopes that he may be saved, but neither of his hands would respond. Mikael thrashed around for a few seconds but it proved futile as the most he did was send blood everywhere.

"* Please move.. I don't want to die like this.. Not when I'm so close.. My life was finally going to turn around... My destiny! *"

Tears formed in his eyes, for he knew it was over, but that's when a single drop of his blood made contact with the magic circle. The his moment that happened the circle shines brightly and the rift grew wider and became stable. Unfortunately Mikael had stopped breathing, he'd succumbed to his injury and passed away.

"* ECALP SIH EKAT REHTONA EB EREHT TEL ,SNIAMER LESSEV EHT ,DAED SI TSOH EHT*"