The Amethyst Flame

Chapter 9 - A Game of Madness

As we ventured through the entrance, we found another tunnel. This one, thankfully, did not teleport us to the beginning. Unfortunately, we had another problem on our hands. The tunnel would demean you as you walked toward the exit. Voices both male and female spoke poorly of us, spilling our deepest and darkest secrets. I nearly went mad when one of them brought up my mother.

"Poor Deirdre, she would have been so disappointed in you!" a gruff male voice mocked.

We covered our ears to escape the torment and sprinted toward the exit. There were no monsters or traps in this room. This was a game, a game of madness. We were our own enemy.

When we got to the exit, we both took deep breaths to calm ourselves down. The voices knew all our flaws and weaknesses, using them against us. They could drive anyone insane. Everyone hides something deep down...

"I'm going in," Jethro hesitantly said as he opened the door and went inside. His body vanished as soon as he did, and my heart nearly exploded with terror. Did my brother just disintegrate?

I went after him and noticed something rather unusual. We weren't underground anymore. We were in a wooden cabin. There was an unexplainable aura to it; I felt like I had been here countless times before.

"What do we do next?" I called out in confusion.

"Read the book Spells for Novices; it's on the table," a soft-spoken male voice called out from above. It was as if someone was talking to us from the Great Ether itself.

"Who are you?" I asked, looking all around me in confusion.

"The better question is, what am I? I am everything that is alive and breathing. I created every plant, animal, and mushroom with the help of Yuna. Unfortunately, I am immaterial and don't have a body to call my own," the specter answered in a wailing tone.

"Is there any way for you to get a body?" Jethro asked with a look of pity.

"There is, but it requires a living host. Most humans aren't fans of having their body possessed."

"I want to be a host," I said without realizing it.

"Thus, it shall be so," the ghost replied with joy.

Becoming a host was unspeakably painful. My body felt like it was on fire, and stars danced in front of my eyes. I honestly thought I would die from the exhaustion I felt. Then, my agony faded away, and the process was complete. It felt strange having someone else control my body. I felt like a puppet on a string.

"Why was the process so painful?" I groaned.

"You're not a magic user. The body believes something is attacking it and freaks out," the phantom spoke inside my head. It was as if his thoughts had become mine at that moment.

"Let me read this book and see if your so-called magic exists..." I muttered in disbelief.

The voice controlled my body and led me toward the book. I sat down and opened it up to the first page.

"Read the whole thing out loud," the voice said gently.

"Magic is more than‌ a weapon. It is a way of life. As a wizard, you must avoid using black magic. An example of a forbidden spell is the resurrection of the dead. This dangerous spell requires human flesh to work. If you follow the Left-Hand Path or the path of wickedness, know that you will suffer in the long run. We become more in tune with the universe by showing compassion to our enemies and obeying the doctrines. Make the choice today and become a wizard," I read at a snail's pace. The text was so minuscule that I had to strain my eyes to see it.