Chapter 1

Journal of Zieg

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Depth held the Journal in his hands. It was a plain thing, tattered and unadorned, soiled by the grime that had accumulated upon it over the decades. Yet to him it as precious as his own life; it was a way to control the curse to stave off the encroaching darkness for a few more years or days or even hours. It was a way out.

He flipped open the cover."Zieg" was scrawled across the front page, the only thing that distinguished the book as something more than a memoir of a dead man. Depth exhaled and gouged his katana into the cold stone floor, then he leaned against it and begin to read.

Well Met Soul Reaper,

Surprised? Don't be. Only a Soul Reaper would dare to open my Personal journal. Either he, or an insane man- However when I really think about it there is no difference between the two. We are after all, cursed with insanity; such is the price we pay to control the demon, to what little extent we can.

You tread a fine line between the light and dark, between mortal and monster; and as a result between life and death. I doubt I will still be alive by the time this book finds itself in your hands. In fact, I'm surprised I remained alive long enough to finish writing this passage. But, I have surprised myself before... so we shall see.

History shall name me as the very first and the most powerful of all the Soul Benders, that I could command the Seven Demon Ghost in anyway I wished. I damn history, nothing can be gained from it except violence and lies. My testament within these pages will be the only thing that stands the test of time and tongue. I shall say this now: I may be the first Soul Reaper, but I am far from the Strongest.

You may balk at this statement. Feel free to do so; I won't be able to see your reaction anyway, but what I can do is answer the question that follows such a harsh confession:

Why?

It is simple. No matter what history may say, I cannot control the demons.

Oh, yes I can summon them to do my bidding- but I cannot control them. I am as much their slave as they are mine. The gods know that I have tried; I have done my best to subdue them, to save myself from the flame. But I am not strong enough, and you can only try to suppress them once. I have failed and therefore condemned myself to an early death.

How?

If you should be so Bold, Soul Reaper, Then you can find that answer out for yourself. And I shall tell you how, as my last parting gift to this world. To give to it- through impossible odds- a soul bender who deserves to be called the most powerful. Listen and learn wisely from my failure...

We must always begin with the basic: A time and place of contemplation. Anywhere that is quiet, more or less safe- whether by your hand or another's- and potent in dark magics will suffice. I personally chose the Screaming Cavern, but I have heard of other places... the Catacombs, the Purgatorium, the Great fortresses forged of pure hellkarium or towers paved with floating marble that drift across the sky. It matters not; demons do not discriminate.

It should remain unsaid that you are familiar with the seven demon ghosts. What is more debatable is your knowledge of the seven mortal sins: Sloth, Pride, Gluttony, Envy, Wrath and Greed.

No doubt your next question would be, why should any of this matter? why should i care about some withering texts for the blue bible?

My answer shall rely on the strength of your will. If you falter and would rather spare yourself the truth- and, for that matter, avoid spiritual suicide- I would recommend stopping here.

...Still reading? Perhaps you may one day be call the most powerful Soul Reaper, or perhaps you are simply an idiot... That remains to be seen.

The answer is far more complex and at once far simpler than you may think. Every Soul Reaper is aware that Blache is the God of wrath, but what is more esoteric knowledge is the fact that each of the demons that make up your power is a god itself

Do you see now?

This is why every soul bender is sentenced to a premature death: We are mortals who cling desperately to the strength of deities. Moreover, they are aware of this unfortunate truth.

There is a way to force the demons into submission , a way to control their hunger as well as their power. It is naturally, not without great risk: Should you fail to defeat them or escape their clutches, they will consume you a few years ahead of your destined expiration date.

As I said: it is spiritual suicide.

But, of course you've opened my journal and made it this far to test your mettle against the Demon Gods, have you not? So! Let us begin.

There are three things that you must always carry once you pass into the realm of Demons: the Blade, the Chalice and your experience as a warrior.

The Blade, of course is self explanatory: It is your weapon. Regardless of your affinity with the darkness, you are still a swordsman at heart. To wander into the other-world unarmed is to invite oblivion.

The Chalice, on the other hand, is your passageway- a vessel molded from pure iron and forge within heat generated by cubes of light and flame. Such an object – symbolic, as it is, of the living- will intrigue the demons; and guarantee their appearance, you must fill the chalice with your blood before inviting them forth.

And finally your experiences as a warrior whether you've realized it or not their is a reason a new soul bender cannot simply choice to become a soul reaper, it takes experiences. It takes fire to forge the strongest steel, and that's what you are. You are the steel forge through countless battles and encounters with the demon gods. Soul Reaper, it is important to remember that the greatest detector for their lies and trickery is you as you are now.

Simple, no?

If you intend to challenge the seven ghost, you must release them from the protective pentacles that bind them to your will. This alone is a dangerous feat: If you are unable to resist their temptations, they will be more than happy to consume you- but on the bright side you get a free trip into the other-world. I'm dead I'm allowed to make a joke or two.

But if you can resist them- if you can retain your soul, your identity, in their unbridled presence- then they will take notice. Or more precisely, they will take offense- and drag you down into the cold badlands of their world. It is there that you will face their trails one by one.

There will be no rest. There will be no mercy. Whether you have defeated or fled its predecessor makes no difference to any of them. They will lie, tempt, torture and seduce- for you are their plaything, and they hunger for your soul.

It is not a peaceful way to die.

But that doesn't concern you in the slightest, does it?

Now, I have one last thing of note before I am done: keep in mind the seven mortal sins knowing them will prepare you for what lies ahead.

Fare you will, Soul Reaper. Remember why you came to embrace the darkness.

Depth closed the Journal and stared at it for a few moments. Then- quickly, and decisively, before doubts could cloud his – mind he pulled out a chalice and wrenched his Katana from the ground.

Remember why I embraced the darkness. Depth thought to himself. How Could I forget?