Bolton gave Abad an exaggerated bow, and with a flourish of his hand, he spoke. "Welcome, Abad-Shai, Master of the Vault." As the man finished his gesture, a wave of magic washed over him. Abad''s [Mask of Many Faces] dissolved away, revealing his true form. Keila gasped and let go of his arm, stepping several feet back.


    "Apologies. That was rude of me. I thought she''d have figured you out by now." Another movement of his hand, and another flash. Keila and Bors disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving him alone in the room with the man. He realized then that the man had unlocked several of the scepter''s abilities, even if Abad knew he couldn''t tap into it completely since Abad was still its master. And he knew Abad was weak.


    "And who are you that you know so much about me?" Abad asked, keeping his expression calm and disinterested.


    "Why, I''m Bolton, the great patron of Nolei and Lord of Farnfoss." He grinned at Abad, but when Abad didn''t respond, his smile faded into a neutral expression. "Truth be told, I''m master of nearly everything I see. Who could stop me when I have this?" He held Abad''s scepter aloft. His scepter [Final Law] looked the same as it always had, the rubies set into its raven eyes glowing with a soft red light. He felt the object call out to him as the man waved it through the air. It yearned to return to its master. "Though... I suppose your existence proves I may have some rivals left in this world." He rolled his wrist, and the scepter flashed. Abad tensed, but nothing happened to him. "It''s as I thought. It still recognizes you despite serving me all these centuries."


    "Centuries?" The implication startled him.


    "Indeed, my friend." The man laughed and took several steps down from the dais he was on. "See, when that woman hired me to raid your little vault and steal all your treasures, I obviously couldn''t say no. How could I have with how much she offered? But she wouldn''t let us go." His face soured. "Then, one by one, we started dying. I don''t know what kind of curse you placed on your treasure, but it did its job. When all but a few of us were dead, we fled east. That bitch broke us, forced us to stay with her with these." He pulled his collar away to reveal a brand. It was a rose, Selene''s symbol.


    "She kept us alive for years, putting parts of herself into us, making us immortal, ageless, and strong. But were never able to leave her side for long without experiencing pain. We moved from place to place, always running. The heroes would find us again and again, until we set up shop out here, in a little backwater called Far Moss. And while we were together, I learned. I pretended to obey her completely. Then, the moment I could break her leash, I did." He laughed, throwing his head back in a wicked laugh. Abad could feel the black essence radiating out of the man''s spirit. It was at war with his energy, which was fractured and torn.


    "When I finally drove a knife through her black heart and took everything that was hers, oh the world was mine for the taking then!" The man threw up his hands in celebration of his accomplishments. His maniacal laughter made the hairs on Abad''s neck stand up. His mortal spirit wasn''t capable of containing their black essence. No wonder Keila feared him. The laughter continued for a while, but it stopped, the man lowered his hands and looked directly at Abad. "Tell me—how were you brought back?"


    Abad would give the man nothing. "I have my tricks. What do you want from me? Why did you summon me if you already know who I am?"


    "See, when I first heard Keila had found an elf mage, I thought I''d make a quick buck off you. Either you were strong enough to serve me, or I''d sell you off to someone who''d pay. Mages get a premium." The man was close now. His breath was sweet, but a subtle smell of decay crept into Abad''s nose. The man was rotting from the inside out. He''d have perhaps a year or two left before the black essence devoured him. "Keila''s brothers assured me you were strong, so I wanted to meet you and find out if you''d be useful." The man walked a slow circle around Abad. "But they never mentioned your name. My fault, really. I don''t learn people''s names unless they matter. But they let it slip that you were named Abad-Shai the last time we talked. I asked myself, where had I heard that name before? Where indeed?"


    He stopped circling and walked back to the dais. Abad felt that feeling of being watched again. "But then, after thinking about it, it came to me: That stupid elf I robbed with my old mistress. The one who got himself cut down by a woman from another world who decided she''d play hero. And [Final Law] just proved my little theory right. You are him—the very same Abad-Shai who once owned all of this." He swept his arms out at all the treasures decorating the room.


    Abad felt sick. The corruption inside the man twisted his stomach into knots. His very existence revolted him. "I see."


    Bolton continued until he was back on his throne. "Do you? Then let me ask you, oh great Master of the Vault, what will you do now that you''re alive and facing the man who murdered your precious Selene?" His face screwed up in a sneer. "What will you do to the man who claimed everything that you were?" He kicked his legs over the chair''s legs.


    "I can''t beat you," he said.


    "That''s correct. No one can. Perhaps that old man thinks he could, but he''d be mistaken. In this place, I hold dominion. I''m in control of everything."


    "You''re very powerful," Abad offered neutrally. The man was unstable, and Abad didn''t want to instigate his wrath, even if the scepter wouldn''t directly harm him. He didn''t know what else the man was capable of.


    "That''s also correct." He leaned forward and rapped his fingers against [Final Law]''s haft. "Join me. Let me bring you under my wing and put you to good use. I could give you everything you wanted, and you won''t even die this time." He cackled. "I can feel you''re a shadow of what the legends said you were, but I can give you power beyond reason, wealth beyond understanding, and servants aplenty to satisfy any thirst you might have. Just serve. Obey, and I''ll make sure you get everything you desire. We can do what the Thirteen and your little band never managed. Together, we can overthrow the nations. Take power away from the lords. Not through force but through control."


    The promise sounded familiar. He had lived that dream once. He knew where it led. "And what do you think you can control, Bolton?"


    "Everything, eventually. Everyone. With this, I can make and break the laws of this world." He held [Final Law] up into the soft light. "This little toy of yours has given me the power to rule." The man''s smile fell again. His eyes narrowed. "I can break any agreement, change the terms of everything. Vassals are slaves. Contracts are binding oaths. Everything becomes mine eventually." His words came more quickly and with more force as he shot out of his throne and ran forward, his finger pointed out and jabbing the air as he stepped up to Abad''s face. "And I won''t tolerate you or anyone else taking what''s mine. So let me ask again. Will you serve?"


    Abad could sense it, just beneath the surface. [Final Law]''s power called to him. Its energies rippled out of the man''s frame, beckoning its master to claim it. It was in control now. It had instigated this meeting. Perhaps it had been from the beginning. Why else had he ended up here?


    [Final Law] thrummed with power, waiting. The man before him had no idea what it meant. What it did. Why it existed. The true nature of the object remained hidden from the man. It revealed only slivers of itself, doling out what it believed would tempt whoever wielded it and take their strength from them. It stole everything its wielders had to fuel its hunger. This was why he and his companions had fallen apart. This was why his companion Yurades had been driven mad. His staff would corrupt, twist, and consume those who didn''t understand. All but himself. Abad was its only master, and even he struggled with the thing. Aughra passed it on to him along with the grimoire when she died. Only he could wield its true power.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    It whispered to him then, promising him untold power... and in that moment, he realized something.


    He didn''t care.


    "No. Thank you for the offer, but I won''t serve you. I also can''t beat you, but I don''t want to. I may need more power, but I don''t want that anymore." Abad took a step backward, his eyes locked on the scepter''s ruby-red eyes. It called to him, begged for him to command it. He willed himself away from it. After some struggle, he pulled away.


    The man''s madness erupted into violence, and he struck the floor with the scepter. Black and red power flared around the rod, lashing at the stones beneath them. The energy left blackened streaks on the marble. "Why must you test me?" Spittle flecked out from his lips.


    "I''m not interested in your offer," Abad responded softly, keeping his distance. "I don''t want anything from you, and I don''t intend to stop you. I just want to be left alone." He took another step back. "I won''t interfere with you, that I swear. I just don''t want this." Abad spread his arms out wide to encapsulate the room. "All of this was a dead man''s. It means nothing to me now."


    His scroll unfurled in his mind''s eye. For the first time, words left the page.


    <hr><hr>


    You have failed the [Finders Keepers] quest.


    You have failed the [Power Lost, Power Gained] quest.


    <hr><hr>


    Abad smiled as the quests left his scroll. As much as [Final Law]''s power tempted him, the cost was too high. He knew nothing he did with the thing would end in anything constructive, and he suspected that it would have destroyed him eventually if he tried to wield it again. Whether through his own temptations or another inevitably coveting the object, he''d die again, and he didn''t think he''d come back twice. It was better this way.


    "And why should I believe you?" The man''s face scrunched up into a furious grimace.


    Had Abad been so paranoid and small and insecure? Had he truly acted this way when faced with a perceived threat?


    He had, he realized. He had been worse. Far worse.


    "Because I''m going to walk out of here, retrieve the wolf girl in the box outside, and you''ll never see me again."


    The man screamed at Abad''s words and swung the scepter again. A crackling burst of shadowy energy struck Abad in the chest, but the energy didn''t harm him. Instead, the shadows poured into him, filling his soul with more power than he''d felt in centuries. It wanted him to claim it, even as black liquid spilled from Bolton''s mouth, the scepter taking from the man everything it promised.


    <hr><hr>


    [Call of Darkness]: The creation of your dread predecessor beckons you to claim your birthright. As shadows infuse your very soul, you gain a glimpse of your true power.


    You gain the [Nightmare Aspect] talent.


    [Nightmare Aspect]: By channeling your inner rage, you can transform into a shadow beast, gaining unnatural strength, agility, resilience, and an aura of terror. Your appearance alone can break the spirits of weak enemies, and all damage you inflict drains your foes and restores you.


    You have gained the [Devour Essence] Blood Magic spell.


    [Devour Essence] (2nd Circle, Active, Cost ??): Target an enemy or recently deceased creature within range. Drain a portion of their essence, dealing moderate damage to a living target or consuming a fragment of their energy. The drained essence replenishes a portion of your health and mana.


    You reach Level XIII


    <hr><hr>


    He felt the power enter him, and despite every ounce of willpower, he felt his body change. His bones began to snap and pop, and the infinite rage of his forebear entered his black heart. The man shrank as Abad grew, his body transforming into a being of pure nightmares. Abad felt himself slipping away. His will faded as the darkness infected his spirit...


    A look of horror washed over the little man in front of him. His screams filled the hall. Shadows poured from the scepter, but they only fueled the beast the little mortal found before him. The warlock''s thoughts became only whispers as the beast took control.


    "You have no idea how long I''ve waited for this." The beast rumbled, his voice shaking the very ground. A thick feathered tail sprouted from his hip and fell to the ground. Black wings unfurled from his back. He could see a large black beak extend from where his lips should be. The creature that had been Abad stepped toward the man who''d stolen everything from him. "Give it to me."


    Bolton raised the scepter with shaking hands and pointed it at him. Bolts of black and purple lighting shot from the scepter''s tip, dancing across the nightmare''s scales and entering every pore of its skin. The beast felt pleasure as the energies absorbed into it, giving it more power, but a small voice screamed within. The monstrous creature quashed it.


    "The staff belongs to me!" The human spat as he took several steps backward. More dark energy poured forth from the scepter''s tip, striking the ceiling of the tower and shattering it. Heavy bricks crumbled down on both of them, crushing a few nearby displays. One of the stones struck the man''s shoulder, which shattered. He fell to the ground. Dust and debris filled the room.


    The nightmare''s tail wrapped around the man''s legs and wrenched him forward. The man''s legs snapped from the strain. Pulling the weak mortal to him, the beast reached down and grabbed the would-be conqueror''s head in its taloned hand. Leaning down, it let its hot breath wash over him and relished the stench of fear oozing from his pores.


    "Goodbye, pitiful creature." The words that emitted from its beak were deep and garbled.


    [Devour Essence]


    The little mortal screamed as black energy tore out of his skin, splitting him open like a rotten fruit as it left his feeble frame and poured into its rightful master. The shadows snaked around the beast like lovers who''d long been spurned. The dark tendrils danced across the monster''s skin, slowly bleeding into it as the little man dangled, impotently writhing to escape. Soon, the man stilled, and his weak screams faded as darkness encased his body. Then, the corpse twitched as the shadows devoured him, leaving nothing behind—not even ashes as the beast consumed everything that the man was. Only the scepter fell to the floor with a heavy clatter.


    The beast could feel as the thick barrier that encased the manor faded, and shouts sounded in the distance. The beast didn''t care. Nothing else mattered in that moment but the object beneath him. Reaching down, the black nightmare felt its sheer power just beyond its fingertips. This is what it was. Who He was. He would devour this world and consume every single pitiful life in it until all the light of that weak little Goddess was snuffed out. Then He''d consume her too. He reached toward his birthright. The glorious scepter that was destined to be His.


    His taloned fingers nearly touched it, but they hesitated.


    A small voice within called out to Him. Images filled His mind. He imagined Bolton standing over Selene, a dagger in her breast, a wicked smile painting his face as he reached across her gasping body for the scepter. He saw Selene in the darkness of his vault giggling as she obtained His most prized possession. He watched Aughra shrivel away, the object taking everything from her. And He saw Himself alone, left in a dead world of darkness.


    That wasn''t what the voice within wanted wanted. It wasn''t what He wanted.


    He stood straight and took a deep breath. Focusing inward, He reached out to the voice, and the voice reasserted control. Abad could feel all of the power inside. He knew what he could do with it. He knew what he would do if unchecked. But he also knew at that moment who he was and what he''d been missing. What he''d lost in this life that was never his to choose. What he''d given away in his pursuits.


    And he knew exactly what needed to happen.


    He roared, pushing the shadows from his spirit. They exploded from his mouth, pouring back into the scepter and out of his soul, as his body began to change, They flowed out of him reluctantly at first, but they quickened as he gained resolve. Soon, they cascaded from him into the rod on the floor, and he slowly became Abad-Shai again.


    However, as the transformation was half-complete, he felt a resonance from his pack, which had torn away from him when he''d transformed. A horn blared in the distance, startling Abad. He heard screams, fighting, and sounds of combat. A familiar woman''s voice shouted nearby. He reached out with his enhanced senses. Screams outside the door behind him. He braced himself as he felt a wave of energy, and the door to the room exploded, showering cinders across the room. As the cinders and smoke cleared, a figure walked through the ruined doorway and into the chamber.