Forbidden Magic and Dark Rituals

So that's how it is…

Draven's father—the head of the Valmort family—is a Rank 7 Mage, one of the strongest people in the Azgarion Empire. He should fear Draven, for the whole world believes that his "genius" son is on the verge of reaching Rank 7 at such a young age. But he doesn't know the truth. He doesn't know that his so-called prodigious son is actually weak.

The entire world is convinced that Draven is a monster, a rising star destined to shine among the Empire's strongest mages. No one even doubts it. They see his victories, his seemingly rapid growth in power, his confidence… and yet, no one suspects that it's all an illusion.

In reality, Draven has barely reached Rank 3. He hides his weakness behind a facade of greatness, relying on the power of the Grimoire of the Abyssal Void.

(Power Ranking System in This World)

In this world, there are 9 ranks of mages, and each rank is divided into 5 stages:

 1. Initial Stage

 2. Early Stage

 3. Middle Stage

 4. Upper Stage

 5. Peak Stage

Draven is only at Rank 3, but those around him believe he has already reached Rank 7—or is, at the very least, close to it.

He doesn't know if he'll ever truly become the person everyone thinks he is. He has no great talent; his potential is limited. But he cannot let anyone know this. If the truth comes out, he is doomed. His enemies will destroy him, the Academy will turn its back on him, and the Válmort family might finally rid themselves of him.

The whole world believes him to be the greatest genius, and Draven continues to play his role until he finds a way to survive. He needs time. He needs to strengthen his power, find alternative ways.

Childhood and Exile

When Draven was just a child, he lived in poverty with his mother after being cast out from the Válmort family. She was the only person who loved and protected him. But everything changed when his mother was killed by his father, the head of the Válmort family, right before Draven's eyes. This sight left a deep scar in his soul.

After that, he was cast out from the family and left alone in the world. But, despite his fate, he survived.

His Father's Wives

His father had two legitimate wives. Both came from wealthy aristocratic families and had the influence that allowed them to call themselves the true ladies of the Válmort family.

They had once hated Draven

•His father's first wife was cold and ruthless. She was the one who ordered the murder of the elderly couple that had taken Draven in after his exile.

To her, he was a stain on the family's reputation—one that needed to be erased.

•His father's second wife saw him as nothing more than a worthless bastard, undeserving of even being acknowledged.

But then everything changed.

Fear of His Growth

Two or three years ago, upon hearing about his admission to the Academy and his incredible talent, they could hardly believe it. How could an illegitimate boy rise so quickly to such heights?

At first, everyone believed he was a genius from the start, but over time, this confidence turned to fear. The higher he rose, the stronger their worry grew. They could never unravel the mystery of his rapid growth, no matter how much they tried.

Danger to the Inheritance

Draven was the eldest son. The eldest among all his brothers and sisters. If his father were to die, it was he who could become the new head of the family.

His father's first and second wives didn't just hate Draven—they wanted him dead. They feared that one day, Draven, returning to the family after his exile, would destroy their children and kill his father in order to take revenge.

That's why they tried to eliminate him.

And if the opportunity ever arises to rid themselves of Draven…

They would do it without hesitation.

But if the truth about his power ever comes to light…

It will be his end.

Now the memories have completely merged with my consciousness and soul.

There are too many dangers in this world: demonic cults, worshippers of the Abyss, secret organizations, and countless monsters and demons. And that's just a small part of the threats.

Right now, I need to carefully analyze the situation — in a few days, the first semester of the third year begins. But before thinking about the future, I should deal with what I have in my hands.

The Grimoire of the Abyssal Void.

I still feel the traces of forbidden rituals and formations, which may have never been completed. Inside it lies a terrifying dark power, unmatched by anything I've encountered before. This Grimoire was supposed to disappear weeks after Draven's death… but I reincarnated into his body immediately after his demise. Perhaps this is the reason the artifact still exists.

How does it work? What are its limitations? Can they be bypassed or even improved?

If my assumptions are correct, there are corpses of monsters and demons stored in one of the laboratories of this secret space… Perhaps Draven researched ways to enhance or alter the nature of the Grimoire. If so, I need to figure out what experiments were conducted here and what secrets remain hidden within these walls.

What if Draven's ritual and formation are still active? If they continue to work, trying to expand the limits of the Grimoire's abilities, I need to check this.

There are corpses everywhere, forbidden elixirs… If my memories are correct, Draven knew about some of them. Fragments of information about forbidden magics, using the essence of living beings as fuel, flash in his memory.

If the Grimoire is indeed capable of absorbing essences, this might explain why it still exists. Perhaps this was one of the reasons for Draven's death. If so, I need to figure out if this mechanism can be used to enhance the artifact, extending its limits… or at least understand what consequences it might have.

I survey the laboratory. On the stone tables lie mutilated bodies of monsters and demons, some of them covered with seals that faintly glow with a crimson light. These creatures were clearly used in experiments. On the shelves, there are glass vessels with forbidden elixirs, their liquids still pulsing as if alive.

I touch one of the vessels, and memories surge in a wave, flashing in my consciousness. "Essence of the Shadow Devourer" — an elixir created to strengthen the connection with the Abyss. The original Draven studied it but never dared to use it… Well, I don't have the luxury of such hesitation.

If the ritual and formation are still active, perhaps I can turn them to my advantage. I open the Grimoire. Its pages turn by themselves, and ancient symbols flare up with a grim glow. It comes alive, reacting to my presence.

— Show me the truth, — I say.

In response, a whisper echoes.

Darkness slowly thickens around me, and suddenly the laboratory is flooded with a torrent of information. Images from the past appear — experiments Draven conducted, attempts to contact otherworldly entities, the creation of new spells… and most importantly — the attempt to change the nature of the Grimoire itself.

But something goes wrong. The symbols on the pages flare up in crimson light. The seals on the creatures' bodies break, and the air fills with a sinister energy.

Draven died trying to increase the limit of the Grimoire's usage. He could use it only three times a day, but paid for it with his sanity. Each time, his mind became more unstable until he went too far.

It seems he tried to bypass this limitation with dark rituals in his secret space. Judging by the records, each time, losing part of his sanity, he found a way to restore himself here. Perhaps he used forbidden rituals or elixirs. But in the end, it didn't save him — he died without achieving perfection.

Now the Grimoire is in my hands. Am I doomed to repeat his path? Or do I have a chance to bring his research to completion… and survive?

I must find out. If I can decipher his notes, I might discover a way not only to increase the limit of the Grimoire's use but also to rid myself of its side effects.

I open another page of the Grimoire. The lines appear before my eyes, as if reacting to my thoughts. This means one thing — I don't have much time, and the Grimoire demands the continuation of the ritual.

I know one of the forbidden formations. In the game, it was considered extremely dangerous: its use could either grant unimaginable power or destroy the caster. But if I combine it with the ritual and formations of Draven…

Theoretically, it will not only remove the limit on the use of the Grimoire but also stabilize its influence on the mind. Or at least delay the inevitable.

It's time to begin.

I run my hand across the floor of the lab, wiping the dust off the ancient symbols. Carefully, I redraw the missing parts of the ritual circle, recalling every detail. A single mistake, and everything could go wrong.

The Grimoire opens on its own. Its pages begin flipping rapidly, until they stop at the required spell. The symbols flare with crimson light. The space around me contracts, concentrating the energy.

Darkness thickens. The seals on the bodies of the creatures begin to crack.

There's no time for hesitation.

I step into the center of the ritual circle and utter the first words of activation.

The ritual slowly absorbs the bodies of the monsters and other creatures. I feel the energy rushing to the center of the circle, saturating the Grimoire and changing its nature.

One day has passed. The pain I went through was unbearable, but cruelty to myself is the path to success. Otherwise, I will face ruin.

The limit of the Grimoires' usage has doubled — now I can activate it six times a day. But the ritual is still not complete. I'll need to perform several more complex formations and rituals to make the Grimoire more accessible and eliminate the effects of dark energy and corruption. If I fail to do this, I will die before the ritual is finished.

I also used the power of my element in the ritual, as attributes need to be strengthened.

The original Draven had a dual elemental affinity — fire magic and spatial magic. However, his natural connection to these elements was weak, and the purity of his mana left much to be desired. Despite this, before his death, he reached the third rank, compensating for his weaknesses with forbidden magic.

But the ritual is still far from complete.

Today is September 1st.

The first semester of the third year at the Academy is about to begin.

Today marks the start of the main plot of the game. The main character and many key figures are just entering the Academy as first-year students, all having turned 18.

But I won't appear there for another week.

At the Academy, Draven is considered a genius and a monster. He is respected throughout the Empire. An exception has been made for him — he can skip classes, unlike the other students who cannot afford to miss even a single day. After all, it is the most powerful Academy in the world.

Draven is rarely seen at the Academy, and when he does appear — he is like a shadow, a ghost. Despite his rare visits, he is regarded as an exceptional genius, and his absence doesn't raise any questions.

But right now, I have no time for that.

My life hangs by a thread.

I need to stay here for another week, complete the ritual, and restore my life force. Only then will I be able to get myself in order and show up at the Academy.