6 Chapter - 6
---------
Chapter - 6: Qliphoth Tree of Evil.
----------
Qliphoth, the antithesis to the Sephiroth that adorned another part of the world. Like the revered tree of life, the Qliphoth comprised 10 spheres and 22 paths. However, unlike the Sephiroth's upright majesty guarded by angels, the Qliphoth was an inverted tree, and each qliphah bore the name of a demon.
While commonly perceived as an embodiment of evil due to its opposition to the Sephiroth and the demonic guardians of its spheres, the essence of the Qliphoth wasn't absolute malevolence. With proper training and experience, it held the potential to unveil dangerous knowledge hidden within the recesses of the unseen world.
Similar to the Sephiroth, the tree of life serving as a guide for soul management, the Qliphoth, with its inverted nature, could aid in the creation of something akin to life if harnessed correctly.
Distinguishing the Kabbalah Tree from the Sephiroth Tree required a nuanced understanding. Though their structures appeared similar, the Kabbalah was more of a philosophical exploration of God and his creations, while the Sephiroth functioned as a symbolic representation of an entire cosmology's knowledge.
For a clearer explanation, on one side of the Gate of Truth are the Sephiroth and on the other the Qlipoth, with the Sephiroth containing knowledge of the physical and natural world (Alchemy/Science) and the Qlipoth containing knowledge of the supernatural (Magic).
Reflecting on this new insight, I couldn't help but mutter to myself, "Well, I'm no Solomon, but I think I can make good use of all this knowledge. However, preparation is essential; especially as it could turn this world upside down, a risk I'm not prepared to take without proper preparation of my alchemy".
In the recesses of my mind, a vivid series of magic circles and the entire runic alphabet of the Old and New Testaments danced before my mental landscape.
The wealth of possibilities offered by these ancient symbols fired my imagination and laid the groundwork for intriguing applications that could be of great help to me in this perilous world of survival, should some cosmic being set his sights on me.
And as an alchemist and dedicated student of ancient runes, I could not help but find these symbols, revered by various mythological pantheons such as the Norse warriors, surprisingly accessible to me.
Perhaps it was the programmer in me at work. After all, I was the one who, within a few years, had created a potion that harnessed the benefits of various magical creatures, pioneering a new form of alchemy.
Even as I expanded my alchemical research, inspired by the cosmology of the Big G, I realised that this new knowledge was mine and I could use it as I pleased. However, mastering it without external complications would have required a considerable investment of time.
At the same time, my mind was buzzing with ideas to improve upon the dark curses I had previously acquired. The Qliphoth cosmology, with its inverted nature, held the key to improving these curses, giving them greater power and, perhaps more importantly, a conceptual heft capable of wreaking havoc even on the higher planes of existence.
The prospect of perfecting such ancient arts fueled my determination and marked the beginning of a journey into the depths of this abyss of knowledge that I would make my own.
A sigh of relief escaped my lips as I immersed myself in the new knowledge. It was undeniably challenging, but not insurmountable: certainly easier than creating a new spell for melee combat, something I had yet to do after the last few years.
Although mastering Wandless Magic was a challenge that would take time, I was determined to achieve it. Fortunately, I had my alchemical experience to compensate for this momentary weakness.
I expected the intricacies of magical theory to reveal themselves naturally as part of my daily routine. My life was already consumed with the documentation and study of magic, so the levels of understanding would have to take care of themselves.
With these thoughts in mind, I sat down next to Athena, who took a moment to pay the customary toll by stroking her head before beginning the task at hand.
I closed my eyes and tried to draw on the knowledge I had gained from the truth. The process became smoother with each attempt. When I cautiously reached the source of my magic, the sensation was hard to grasp. I brushed against it several times, only to lose the connection between the demonic whispers that threatened to break my concentration.
My repeated failures did not deter me. Again and again I plumbed the depths of my being, searching for a success that would tantalise my mind and then slip away like air.
After acknowledging the failures, which I must admit didn't discourage me at all - I was used to such situations - I took a moment to re-evaluate my methods.
My awareness occupied the central space of my mental landscape, sifting through my thoughts to discover an alternative approach. Was I perhaps pushing too hard with my new-found knowledge?
In the midst of my contemplation, I was enveloped by a strange yet strangely familiar feeling. It was like the soft intrusion of moonlight into an abyss of darkness, and I felt my magic respond spontaneously.
I stood stunned in silence, unable to act even if I wanted to, as my magic swirled around me, permeating my mental landscape as if this harmony were the most natural state of being.
In the desolate landscape with the Gate of Truth before me, a shiver ran down my spine. Behind me unfolded the illusion of a tree, its twisted branches reaching into the darkened sky like the skeletal fingers of some ancient malevolent force.
The atmosphere thickened with an eerie energy, and an ominous aura enveloped the scene. Strangely, I couldn't help but admit that it was the most mesmerising spectacle I'd ever witnessed.
Illusion danced on the precipice of reality, a distorted mirage tempting me to unravel its mysterious secrets. As I cautiously turned to face it, the tree revealed its true identity: the Qliphoth, the Tree of Evil.
Its roots reached deep into the fabric of cosmic existence, connecting to the darkest corners of the cosmos. Its twisted branches bore grotesque fruits that radiated an undeniable malevolence.
Each leaf whispered tales of forbidden knowledge, a macabre symphony of secrets too terrible to comprehend. A pattern of ten dots appeared on the tree - a kabbalistic tree of life, but reversed.
It's dangerous presence unleashed an otherworldly energy that breathed new life into the mental landscape, contrasting sharply with the conventional brilliance of the Kabbalah.
As if orchestrated, the magic coursing through my entire being fluctuated. Waves of it spilled outward, transforming the room in seconds. Pulsating veins and twisted flesh stretched from the headboard of the bed to cover the walls and floor in a disturbing display.
At the foot of the bed, a cluster of white iris flowers glowed faintly, casting a soft glow and creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a sweet daydream.
The image of pure white flowers blooming from flesh and blood was etched in my mind, a stark contrast that made my skin tingle and my hair stand on end.
Athena, seemingly unfazed by the chaos, blinked and glared at me with clear annoyance. If anything, she seemed to appreciate the sudden spectacle in front of her.
Surprisingly, it seemed no one but us had noticed the strange change, as the flesh and blood created by the magic vanished before any damage could be done.
My magic receded slightly into my body, but the feeling of it lingering at the edge of my consciousness, ready to be harnessed, remained. I surveyed my surroundings, which had returned to normal, and felt a mixture of amazement and confusion.
A sigh immediately escaped my lips. "Don't look at me like that, you little brat," I scolded Athena in response to her bored, reproachful look.
"Try to open the Gate of Truth without resorting to human sacrifice and then find an alternative method that does not invoke the name of an Eldritch god to succeed." I explained. Athena, true to her cheeky feline nature, replied with a simple meow.
If Athena could have raised an eyebrow, she would have done so, as if to say "Look at me, you little bitch, I can handle anything". Instead, she looked at me with eyes full of contempt, giving off a whimsical, queenly air that made me want to cuddle her, given my weakness for all things cute.
"And then, as usual, you will come to me to clean up your mess?" Athena replied with the feline equivalent of a condescending nod. Her amber eyes closed and reopened calmly, a gesture that seemed to say, "Yes, because it is my right to."
"You really are arrogant..." I observed, but Athena did not seem to mind my gentle insult. She rose gracefully from the windowsill, stretched lazily like the royal cat she was, and jumped onto my shoulders.
This forced me to bend over and show proper deference to my intimate and exquisite feline companion, who demanded attention in an irresistibly sweet way that left me no choice but to indulge her.
After showing her enough affection that she thought she was satisfied, Athena gracefully leapt to the ground, sat on her humps, and wiped her paws with a smug expression. "Yes, yes, you made your point," I admitted, looking up. "Of course you are perfect, and I should be grateful for the privilege of cleaning up after you flawlessly."
Athena purred contentedly, pleased that I understood "my place" in our relationship. She followed me, just like her namesake, as I went to feed her.
Meanwhile, I could only think about what had happened to me with the conceptual recall of the Evil Tree, and believed that I was one step closer to using this new knowledge in exactly the right way.
I was eagerly anticipating my return to Hogwarts to hone all these newfound skills of mine, but more importantly, to continue my magical school life. This time around, I was determined to be the ultimate protagonist of this new chapter, even if it meant harnessing the power of entities beyond this universe.
I was not going to be afraid of this world just because there were really powerful beings watching my every move. I would continue on my path and never turn back until I reached the abyss of my origin.
-------------
A/N: Here comes another chapter, a bit shorter this time, for he approached me to the 15k-word mark in the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it as much as the previous ones.
Regarding the current chapter, l provide a more detailed explanation of what Mc acquired in the last installment. Yes, in the future, I'll also introduce some demons from the Ars Goetia, as I find it intriguing.
We delve into the conceptual weight of the evil tree, a force not to be underestimated with its manifestation in the real world. Additionally, we catch a glimpse of future strategies that Mc aims to employ to leverage this newfound knowledge in the Harry Potter universe.
However, starting from the next chapter, Mc will officially embark on his fourth year at Hogwarts. I believe I've sufficiently revealed Mc's thoughts and personality to offer you a clear understanding of his character, setting the stage for interactions with other significant characters in this universe.
On the other hand, if you want to see something specific in the next chapters, or even just have some good advice for the story as a whole, I am always willing to read a comment if it is constructive criticism.
If you see any mistakes, I would be grateful if you would point them out to me, so that I can correct them when I have some spare time, and make the story as complete as possible for myself and especially for you.
To facilitate a clearer understanding, I've retained pictures of the respective characters. Your feedback is always valued, and if you have any suggestions for the upcoming chapter, please feel free to comment—I'll be sure to respond as usual.
Please leave a review if you like the story.
----------
