Grimoire of Demonic Sealing

"If you can bring it to me, I will accept your love and marry you." He squeezed Sola's shoulder with forceful energy and caused her pain. His eyes full of greed for something dark mirrored with Sola, a greedy person herself, who wanted to possess him. She reminded herself: I am willing to do anything, even end someone's life, to get his approval and love until death do us part. 

Although it was restricted to her family's rule. Her mother and grandmother will dislike it for sure.

"What is this book?" Curiosity made her ask the question. "Why do you want it so much? Wasn't it available for borrowing in the library?"

"If the library had it, do you think I'd go to such lengths to put you at risk?" he retorted, his voice stern, his thick dark eyebrows furrowed. "I only read a few pages before I immediately knew it was communicating with me."

Sola had no idea what hold this Grimoire of Demonic Sealing had on Virgo that made him take such a risk. Breaking into the headmaster's office was already difficult enough; getting out was even harder. Fortunately, she had brought along shrinking and enlarging potions, as well as a self-erasing potion. She drank them all in one go, also applying some to the book to shrink it. Then, I used a levitation charm to fly to a hole in the wall before warping out. After that, she drank the enlarging potion and applied it to the book until it returned to its original size.

Sola's heart pounded against my ribs as I clutched the black leather-bound book to my chest. Her eyes were wide and sparkling, and she darted around, checking for any students, teachers, or janitors. Seeing none, she quickly ran from the scene, face flushed with anxiety. Her magical energy was now barely enough to cast a Disillusionment Charm, so she strode away briskly, concealing the book in the ring-pouch, feeling a pang of guilt for becoming a thief because of my beloved's desire.

.

.

"You did great, Sola!" The young man held the black leather-bound grimoire above his head, a beaming smile on his face, his dark eyes shining like precious jewels. "Thank you, thank you, thank you so much! I love you the most!"

He lunged forward, embracing Sola wholeheartedly. His strong chest pressed against her less endowed one, causing her to have dirty thoughts, her face and ears burning, as well as her body heating up. The overwhelming emotion almost made her cry. In the end, she couldn't resist, and tears streamed down both cheeks as her arms wrapped around the thick frame of the young man that she could now wholeheartedly call 'Darling.' Sola's heart pounded faster and faster, as if it would burst from her chest. Warmth from his body seeping into her skin. They were both deeply connected at that moment.

Virgo held her close with his strong arms before his lips crArshaed down on her with ferocity. The feelings bottled up inside her erupted. Her hands rested on his broad chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart.

This was the first time they had connected without relying on any magic. His kiss was passionate yet forceful, as if he were an erupting volcano seeking to release all the emotions he had been holding back. I felt my body temperature rise, his strong hands holding her waist tighter, as if wanting to possess her forever.

Amidst the silence, we pulled away, gazing deeply into each other's eyes. I was certain no one would notice us in the secret laboratory.

"After graduation... let's get married, Sola," he said firmly, his eyes filled with hope and deep love, as he knelt on one knee, gently holding a small hand of Sola.

Everything around Sola seemed to fade away, even the rigid rules of ancient tradition vanished from her mind.

Sola knelt without a word, then leaned in to embrace and kiss him softly. The closer we got, the more the flowers bloomed. She leaned in, pushing his strong body, which was starting to yield, until his back was against the floor of the room, and then began to unbutton his uniform, entering a state of blissful oblivion.

..............

Two years passed. Virgo and Sola graduated from Escuria Academy of Magic with first and second honors, respectively, because they played the role of 'boyfriend' excellently during the end of our fifth year and throughout their sixth year. He tutored her in subjects she struggled with until she could achieve excellent scores on tests, and she also passed the magical combat trials. Sola defeated everyone except her 'soon-to-be husband,' who served as a sparring partner after school.

Sola considered that Virgo wasn't a bad person. He was just sometimes hot-headed, as teenagers often are. But when he looked at Sola's smiling face, the flames of his anger would quickly die down, causing him to fall more and more in love until they could openly walk hand-in-hand within the school.

Time flew by like a blink. We held hands and stepped through the wedding arch shortly after graduation. Both families met to discuss the dowry and engagement gifts according to modern tradition. Deep down, her grandmother Cirica disagreed, but since the goal was to produce a child with the strong genes of the renowned Virgo, she considered the goal achieved. So, she kept silent and let time pass until Anya was conceived.

Their newlywed life unfolded in a two-story house amidst lush green fields, a few kilometers away from the village market, accessible by broom and apparition.

During the first few months, Virgo attentively cared for his beloved wife, always providing food and water. This made her feel that the young man she had gone to such lengths to capture had become a wonderful husband whom she could tell she loved him twenty-four hours a day.

Around the sixth month, strange black markings began to appear on his body. They even seemed to twitch and move in a creepy way.

"Did you get new tattoos? They're quite beautiful," Sola asked, trying not to overthink it. They were probably just beautiful symbols with meaning for him, so she didn't pry. Besides, the baby in her womb was growing, and she didn't want to be petty about the patterns on husband's body, which were increasingly becoming more numerous and noticeable over time. Also, he had started to isolate himself in his private study, forbidding her from entering. Believe it or not, when they first built this house, the original blueprints didn't even include this room, but Virgo had somehow added it later.

"Went to Mr. Tag's shop. We chatted for a bit, and he did the work right away. Do you like it?" His eyes darted around, making her wonder what he was really thinking. If you still remember the 'Grimoire of Demonic Sealing,' it had been a source of suspicion for her for months. 'What kind of book is it?' 'Why did he make me risk my future in the headmaster's office to steal it?' 'Hasn't Headmaster Conner noticed by now that the one black book prominently displayed on the shelf of white books is missing?'

Questions flooded her mind endlessly, almost causing her to burn dinner due to my absentmindedness.

Today, since Virgo was out, she took the opportunity to sneak up to his study. She used an advanced unlocking charm so he wouldn't suspect anything when he returned. By now, she could sense the aura of death, making her legs tremble.

As the door creaked open, a murky black aura billowed out like raging wildfire within. She wanted to slam the door shut, cast a locking charm, and go back to sip tea on the soft sofa, forgetting everything.

But her extreme curiosity compelled her to step inside, clutching her womb where her precious child resided. Just past the threshold, the various pressures and the dark aura vanished as if nothing had happened.

Suddenly, she saw the truth.

The stench of blood assaulted her nostrils, almost making her cover my nose. The dark room was surrounded by white candles with dim green flames. On the walls were papers detailing dark arts, various spells, and information about the demonic cult. Ancient reproductive traditions looked childish compared to what she was now witnessing.

That didn't even include the magic circle drawn in 'blood.' She wasn't even sure if it was the blood of magical creatures or human blood.

She sensed an endless evil emanating from her husband's being within this room, and the black Grimoire of Demonic Sealing lay open in the center of the room, revealing an image of a person being dissected on a sacrificial altar, red blood flowing horribly. A figure drawn in black ink stood over the body, holding something that was drawn as a red ink-filled lump, blood staining its hands the same color and dripping onto the altar.

The background was a large crimson moon, which would correspond to the Blood Moon Ritual, a single night every few years when the moon would be twice its normal size and blood red, empowering wizards.

She immediately knew it was the act of tearing out a heart to sacrifice for something. But sacrifice to what? Details were written in the bottom right corner in Virgo's handwriting: 'On the night of the Blood Moon Ritual, pluck out the heir's heart and eat it to gain limitless power.'

Her body trembled as she read the next line. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the floor.

'Once I become the Demon Emperor and devour Anya's heart, I will plunge the world of Caronia into eternal darkness.'

"W...why?" Sola's mouth trembled with fear, her strength fading as she inadvertently released her grip on the grimoire, letting it fall to the floor.

"Sola." Virgo's deep voice made her jump. Her eyes widened as she whipped around to see the figure of the young man shrouded in dark shadows, his bloodshot eyes glowing with a terrifying light. His hands and wand were stained with blood. She could sense that the person before her was no longer the husband she knew.

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To Be Continue Ep.26