Chapter 2: The Gift of Death
Jill's world had crumbled to ashes, his village reduced to ruins, and the malevolent black-robed mage stood before him—a living embodiment of despair and destruction. As the mage's cruel laughter echoed in the air, Jill couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of helplessness.
Jill's heart pounded in his chest as he met the gaze of the man responsible for the annihilation of everything he held dear. The weight of his own vulnerability hung heavily over him, but he knew that confronting the black-robed mage in his current state would be suicidal. The power emanating from the mage was overwhelming, and Jill felt like a mere candle flickering in a hurricane.
However, something unexpected occurred. The malevolent mage's arrogant expression faltered for a moment, replaced by a flicker of surprise as he looked closer at Jill. It was then that he noticed the telltale signs—the robes of a child mage, the markings of one who had undergone the mage test.
"You…" The mage's tone shifted, less mocking and more contemplative. "You survived?"
Jill, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and sorrow, responded, "I survived because I was protected by the divine beings during the test. They shielded me from outside interference."
The black-robed mage's cruel smile returned, but it held a hint of something else—curiosity. "A child mage," he mused, "shielded by divine beings. What an unexpected turn of events."
Jill's fists clenched as rage coursed through him. He had lost everything—his family, his home, and his innocence. The flames of vengeance burned within him, a fierce determination to uncover the truth behind the mage's motives and to bring this malevolent figure to justice.
As the mage reveled in his cruel victory, he raised his hand, summoning a dark portal behind him. "Consider yourself fortunate, ant," he hissed. "I shall spare your pitiful life for now. But remember this day, and know that I am the shadow that looms over your every step."
With those ominous words, the black-robed mage stepped through the portal and disappeared, leaving Jill alone in the charred remnants of his village. The young mage's heart was heavy with grief, and he fell to his knees amidst the ashes, tears mingling with the soot on his cheeks.
It was in that moment of despair that something caught his eye—a glimmer of light amidst the darkness. He crawled toward it, his hands trembling as he uncovered a miraculously intact book, the Necronomicon. The grimoire's dark cover seemed untouched by the inferno, its pages whispering secrets known only to the darkest of mages.
The discovery filled Jill with a mixture of awe and dread. How had this forbidden tome survived the destruction of his village? What secrets did it hold, and what role did it play in the malevolent mage's plans?
With the Necronomicon in his possession, Jill knew that his path had taken an even darker turn. He made a silent vow—a vow to uncover the truth, to master the dark magic within the book, and to ensure that the malevolent mage responsible for the devastation faced justice.
As he stood amidst the ruins, the Necronomicon pulsed with dark energy, a constant reminder of the path he had chosen. Jill knew that his journey had only just begun, and that the road ahead would be fraught with danger, mysteries, and a darkness he was only beginning to comprehend.