A/N: I called Marvin D'escoli the Baron insured of the Count in the last few chapters. Unfortunate error since I've been writing on the job these past few days. They will be fixed.
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Count D'escoli's Spell Ledger and Journal Entries opened his eyes to a myriad of seemingly fundamental knowledge that Crowley failed to mention in his textbook.
Luca had long since realized that Crowley intentionally omitted some things and provided inefficient spell models just so he wouldn't be spoon-fed information. Since Luca himself was intuitive, he was able to infer a lot of knowledge that was not included in the first book.
His first focus was the journal entries. He wanted to know why the Count decided to resort to demon summoning and how he even became a mage in the first place.
He plopped himself in the middle of the cellar and dusted off the cover of the leather-bound book, then opened the first page.
It read:
11th July 1688
It has been nearly a week since my mysterious dream of the strange magical world of the cosmos. Upon trying to traverse the boundless world, I sank into the earth and witnessed mysteries beyond my comprehension. Eyes watched me from beyond the nether, and whisperings of old forgotten tongues.
After waking up, I began to see things that weren't there. I believe I may be going mad.
That was the very first entry. It was exactly one year ago, as the date of the entry was the exact same one as today. And if it was written nearly a week after the Count's awakening, that was nearly the same as Luca's awakening as well.
"A coincidence?" He furrowed his brow in thought.
He wasn't sure he believed in coincidences anymore. Ever since what Crowley wrote, he'd been more cautious toward coincidence. It even made him doubt the fact that he'd met Erina Venton so many times in such a short frame
****
30th July 1688
I am not going mad. After my last entry, I began to seek answers. I secretly met with people who claim to see the workings of the world and manipulate them. It was a bit difficult for a nobleman like myself, but I used proxies. Expendable servants. Most of them I met were charlatans, of course, but amidst all that, I encountered a woman who conjured the sun itself in her palm. I find my faith in the Lord faltering as a result.
She explained the workings of magic, for a fee of course. House D'escoli is done for, and in some ways, it's my fault. I let the family sink into decline and soon it will be taken away from us. But this might be the key to our rebirth.
I cannot speak of this with anyone. The moment I do that, I will be burned at the stake. Is this how the rest of my life shall be?
****
Luca devoured the next entries with rapt attention. Most of them contained information he wasn't able to obtain before by virtue of the fact that he didn't even know where to start.
This included several spells, rituals, and the location of a few secretive Initiate gatherings where people exchanged knowledge and resources like catalysts.
As a result, Luca even had to get his own set of writing materials to note down the unrecognizable glyphs and words used.
Eventually, he got to a part that interested him, not just because of the knowledge being offered there. This entry was one of the last few remaining in the book.
Over the months, the Count's rate of journaling reduced from at least once a week to once or twice a month across the last three months of journaling. And Luca could see why.
****
5th May 1689
I have learned the magic of glyphs and ritual ceremonies. My repertoire of spells far surpasses that of any Initiate I've come across. Yet... yet I still can't cross into the rank of an official 1st Degree mage!
Despite all my searches, I haven't yet found an effective measure to force my way through this illusory barrier...
****
17th June 1689
A man known as Noctiel Duvrais approached me in my chambers not long after I wrote the last entry. He claimed to know how to fix my problem. I never spoke about my predicament to anyone, and I wouldn't even if there was anyone to speak to.
He wears a robe that cloaks his face with miasma even in the sunlight. I cannot be sure whether he's a human or some other entity.
At first, I was wary as one should be of all strange entities, but he has proven to be useful. If the ceremony to summon Pestewind is successful, the whole world will be at my mercy.
****
That was the final entry in the book. It was followed by some quick, nearly incoherent scribbles detailing the instruction to summon the demon called Pestewind.
And Count Marvin would have succeeded if Luca hadn't meddled in it. From the moment he appeared, the Count was already in a tough spot. He couldn't use any of his spells and could only use the demon's energy to fight. He also couldn't move from the spot he stood while the ritual was underway.
If that wasn't the case, Luca wasn't sure he'd be alive to read the journal now.
In any case, he was more interested in the person who reached out to the Count with knowledge of his predicament: the so-called Noctiel Duvrais.
Even when his parents were alive, Luca had abided by one rule. Never accept anything from strangers if they didn't tell you what they were getting from the situation.
It was something even children knew, but an experienced nobleman like Count Marvin failed to listen to because he'd gotten desperate. Desperate enough to trust a man literally cloaked in shadows and with an ominous name at that.
Noctiel was gaining something from this, but Luca didn't know what it was.
Luca frowned as something occurred to him. He half-closed the book, staring at the words on the cover. There was a subtle difference, but it was there nonetheless.
The person who wrote the words on the cover was different. Marvin wasn't so stupid as to label his magical journal with his real name.
And the more he thought about it, the more odd he found the situation.
Luca realized how stupid it was for him to think the Count would bury his work so close to where he was performing the ritual.
It was an absolutely illogical conclusion. It felt like a spell had been lifted from his mind.
"Who would..." he trailed off.
Of course, the answer was so simple.
Someone intentionally buried the book hoping that it would be found and carved the Count's name on it.
It was almost like the person knew that the ritual would be interrupted. It was like the person wanted it to be interrupted for that matter. So far, only one person came to mind, and it was none other than the Count's new attendant.
"Noctiel."