About grimoires and grim tales

She was sweeping the dust in a private bookcase, humming happily. She felt happy and excited. That glorious day was approaching. Her niece was about to get married! With that nice Bow! And Adora and Catra are getting married too! She was overjoyed that everything had worked out this way. Everyone was happy... Except...

She sat down in the chair feeling a surge of sharp sadness. "It must be difficult for him. It was an anniversary recently. Both anniversaries. His rescue and her…her death. Why do I not want to say that word even in mind?"

She put down the sweep and thought, resting her head on her hands. She was ashamed of it, but day of finding Mikah was one of the happiest days of her life, even though it was also the day the occupation began. The brother she buried, and whose presumed death had created a rift between her and Queen Angela, had returned. For many years, she could not forgive her for giving the order that led to that terrible battle in Scorpion Gorge, as it was now known. It wasn't until the meeting with Adora that her attitude changed, although she really decided to rejoin the alliance only after Glimmer was kidnapped. She missed the Battle of Brightmoon, but tried to make her and her warlocks participate in the war struggle. So she didn't have much time to talk to her sister-in-law. And then... She left. They never had a serious talk about the Battle, Mikah's fate, and what they should do next. The portal was… it was something difficult to describe, each of them experienced it, although most did not say what they experienced there. It wasn't easy to accept the truth about herself revealed by the perfect world of that reality... She remembered what her perfect life looked like and shuddered... No, she didn't want to go back to that one. "We don't live in a perfect world, but it's not that bad, it's definitely better than what it used to be." She smiled sadly to herself. "Maybe I'd better go get some air? Maybe it will drive away dark thoughts?" So she got up and left the small apartment that had been her home for so many years.

Mystacor has returned to its former glory in the five years since the end of the war. It even grew because sorcerers from all over Etheria came here. No one made it difficult for them to travel all over the planet anymore. No one was in danger of being killed by enemy soldiers anymore if he crossed the border. No one had to hide behind fortress walls and in refugee camps to escape the war. Not even this Lonnie with her People's Rebellion bothered the common people of Etheria as they traveled. She saw hundreds of people strolling within the ancient walls of the college. They were not only young students who came every year to learn magic, but also many adults, sometimes older than her, who only now had the opportunity to study. There were even former soldiers and technicians of the Horde who had never had the opportunity to discover their talents before. "Though then probably many would prefer that no one found out about the power dormant in them ... No ... that Shadow Weaver did not find out" she thought and shivered again. The Dark Sorceress might have sent someone like that to Beast Isle, though in theory such an order would have to be approved by Hordak, and he often refused her…if he saw him at all. But even without that, Shadow Weaver had her ways of making someone disappear or have a terrible accident happen to them." she thought as she passed some Vaste, who supposedly spent most of his life simply extracting ore from deposits located in the Horde's territory, until he decided that magic could be responsible for the strange things that happened to him and he was she passed him, he nodded to her, and she responded with a warm smile. "Yes, it's one of those sights that reminds us why we fought and how wonderful the victory we won was," she thought, and walked to the cloudy beach where she met the most special student she had seen in many thousands of years. They name was Aize and they was from Eridani, one of the planets conquered by the Horde that had survived the occupation relatively well... They was the Empress's servant, and during her first visit to that planet, Glimmer had discovered talent in them. On many other planets of the Prime's Empire, magic was weak, sometimes even considered a fairy tale. Eridani was somewhat of an exception, as most of the inhabitants had innate, if limited, magical abilities.

- Hello, Aize! Isn't the beach beautiful? I remember Glimmer always trying to take the opportunity to hang out here, as did Bow, Adora. Of course, most students like this place… Well, it's often crowded now, after the war, because so many new students have arrived! - she said delightedly, until she noticed that with each word she spoke, the young person became more and more overwhelmed.

- I ... I'm actually here because I'm drawing moons, because I need it. You understand, Head Sorcereress Castaspello, there is no sun here, and I need it. - They said, trying not to meet her eyes. She was short like most of the inhabitants of the planet, her planet, her skin was grayish pale and her hair dark. It looked like she was made of ashes and charcoal. She was dressed in gray-brown robes. Most of the inhabitants of Eridani looked similar, apart from those living underground, who were slightly different ... And of course there were a few golden-haired and winged nobles, and apparently there were others in the vast and dark forests, but as far as she knew, they had no desire to associate with their cousins. They all resembled the inhabitants of the planet Bellum, but were supposedly not related to them, which was good for everyone.

- Ah, the sun! Well, it seems like Celesta or Nirvia would be the most suitable…they're moons of enchantment, you know that? Give power to Mystacor... His defense spells and many more. - she said, pointing to the moons.

- Yes, the Head sorceress Castaspello. Professor Split told meabout it… though… -Aize hesitated

-Yes? - she asked her, looking at the clouds shining in the moonlight. "It really is beautiful."

- Why do you use the power of only three moons and not all the others? - she said while looking away as if she might be punished for being too curious.

- It's a very old and grim tale! - she said, trying to get in the mood to make the story sound right.

- From the time of the First ones?! - Aize asked curiously, forgetting about her shyness for a moment.

- Uhhh, no. Not so long ago. Absolutely ... - she said, out of rhythm. - Mystacor and the other colleges have been built a many..." She didn't finish as Aize interrupted her again.

- Are there other colleges? Could i see them? Are there also so many students there? - They asked, her big eyes getting even bigger.

-Uhh, they're no mor. That's what this story will be about… - She took a deep breath after being interrupted once again. She liked telling stories, and she was great at it, but it was hard when no one was letting you finish them! - There used to be three schools. Mystacor, Arkanacor and Umbracor. All three taught magic, but each in a different way. We at Mystacor focus on developing individual talents and finding our own style. Arkanacor, in turn, was focused on studying the theory, understanding what magic itself is. Umbracor was interested in ... development, in questioning established rules. They were experimenters and seekers of truth! - she spoke with slightly closed eyes, and the Eridian person listened to her, and it seemed that she had no intention of interrupting her.

- But as the centuries passed, the differences in how they perceived magic grew. Everyone saw differently how future sorcerers should be shaped. They tried to win over the princesses and local community leaders to send them their students. The competition grew! They began to resort to increasingly brutal methods to gain recruitment grounds. The sorceres began to get involved in politics and influenced the rule of the princesses, and some even began to believe that they, as the true magic wielders, should rule over all of Etheria! - she called and made a theatrical pause so that the listeners, that is Aize, could digest the enormity of horror that was hidden in what she said. The effect, however, was lost the moment there was a loud snort behind her. She jumped and turned sharply. She saw Catra smiling mockingly, Melog sitting next to her staring at her with feline curiosity.

- Once upon a time I would have applauded that sorcerer with all my heart. - she said, and then added, - And if Mermista throws me into the water again trying to extinguish what Sea Hawk set on fire, I'll think about studying here myself.

Aize, who was hiding behind a bush when Catra appeared, came out for a moment.

- So Grand Marshal Catra will now be Grand Sorceress Marshal Catra! - exclaimed the Eridian person in a mixture of horror and delight.

- Er, no... I've never had the slightest talent for magic, and even if I had any, I'd rather shave my tail than go this way... I have bad enough experience with sorcerers that I don't trust most... Aside two. - she said thoughtfully, and then suddenly she realized, what she said and looked at her. - I like you too, Castaspello. - There was an apologetic tone in her voice. "She trust Mikahu and Glimmer but not me, but why should she if I don't trust her?" she thought. Unlike her brother and niece, she never fully forgave the girl. That she had kidnapped Glimmer, that she had tried to kill her niece many times, and that it was her fault that Angela had left before she could talk to herself about everything.

There was an awkward silence. Melog grunted nervously, looking around. Catra stared at her feet, clearly confused. Her hair was long again now, but tied together in a wild ponytail and she wear a red vest.

She decided to smile at the girl gently and said trying to change the subject.

- Oh, you wear the socks from me! - she exclaimed with exaggerated joy. "If Glimer and Mikah could forgive her, then I should at least try."

- Yes, they are very warm ... And these holes somehow made themselves. You know claws and stuff. -She smiled nervously.

- So... what brings you here? - she asked, trying to keep the conversation going. The Grand Marshal sighed heavily and took a candle from her pocket.

- You know, the anniversary is coming up, but I'm going to be a little busy with the wedding this year, so I decided to come a little early. - she said and laughed nervously.

"Yeah, it's that day too." She reminded herself. Catra used to come here every year on Victory Day to light a candle in front of the Light Spinner statue... its mean the Shadow Weaver... "Why couldn't you stick to one name? Or not toy with such disgusting power at all? And why am I thinking about her again? She didn't even like me..."

- You know, if you'd let me know earlier, I'd have found a few people who still remember her. Maybe you could talk, reminisce… she said and immediately realized she had made a gaffe. Catra, however, made a grim face and said, crossing her arms over her chest.

- She's not really a person I want to remember... And believe me, no one knew her as well as I did. Not you, not Mikah, not even Adora. - She was clearly agitated, but tried not to show it. She extended her claws and pursed her lips, Melog lay down on the ground touching her feet with his muzzle. Then she smiled expectantly, knelt down to stroke Melog, and then reached for the bag she had on her shoulder. She took out a strange book from there. On the cover it had black amorphous shapes wandering among joyful… or frightened people. She shuddered.

- Shadow Weaver would love to read it.- she said quietly to herself, but the Grand Marshal heard her.

- I said the same thing to Mikah when I saw her, and he said that I wish Shadow Weaver had seen it, because everything would have turned out differently - So I decided to bring it here to your library to be copied, because it comes from the collection of Bow's fathers, it's supposed to be the only copy. It's called "Thousand of Thousand Masks" and it tells some creature called "Na..." something and ... - Catra didn't finish, because Aize groaned aloud.

- Nyarlathotep Grand Marshal of Catro. The Great Outer God… - they said, looking at Catre with a mixture of fear and awe. She looked at her clearly confused.

- How do you know about him? Oh, we probably have a second one... - she wanted to say, but the Eridian woman shook her head violently.

"- No… I saw another copy... in a hidden library in the Undergrounds... On Eridani. We hid many valuable books there from being destroyed by Horde Prime... But then some cultists stole it and... - The student was very agitated. They looked from Catra to her, as if they expected some reaction from them, but she had no idea what they meant...

- It means... That this book dates back to before Etheria was hidden in Despondos!? - She said as the meaning of the young Eridian's words hit her. She felt astonishment turn into excitement in her heart. "This may be the oldest book in the world, and we discovered it. Lance and George will be delighted to have it in their collection." She thought happily. She couldn't wait to read what was written by an author living in the time of the First ones.. "Maybe we'll learn something about what happened to the First Ones. What was their civilization like… Why did they do all that to their planet…" She smiled thinking about it all, but then looked at Aize. They looked from her to Catra with wide-eyed fear.

- You... You really don't understand anything, do you? Well, you don't know anything about such things… - said the Eridian person, suddenly dazzled.

- What things do we not understand? - Catra asked sharply. She was smiling indulgently, but wagged her tail hard, and Melog had his ears pricked up. They were as concerned as the Eridian.

- - This book is not that old... Or much older than anything we know, whichever way you look at it. Nyarlathotep and the Other Outer Gods... Great Old Ones like Great Cthulhu... They are older than the universe and mighty beyond all imagining. – They spread her hands helplessly, as if they couldn't find the right words to describe what they wanted to tell them.

Suddenly she understood what the student meant.

- Ah, they are something like Iomdi and Sereni that you worship!- she exclaimed happily, but then Aize looked at her indignantly.

- No... They're something completely different. Even Asmidian and Urgatia hate them, and they are also terrible... - The gray-haired person was clenching her hands on the amulet depicting flaming wings. "Yeah, they had their heroes too, whose memory they venerate... Actually, their Iomdi could be some sort of memory of a previous She-Ra'i. That would explain a lot."

- Ah, I understand... But such stories should not be taken quite seriously... Many times in recent years we have found out... She didn't finish, because Catra called her.

- These aren't just stories. - The Great Marshal's voice was full of anxiety. A girl approached, holding a book open, anxiously staring at the illustration. It depicted a black amorphous being crawling out of a portal somewhere in the ceiling. It had countless four-lobed eyes and tentacles ending in hands, and a huge, wide-open mouth. There were two figures at the bottom, and the creature was reaching for it. She felt cold sweat bead down her back. She'd heard of the creature from Mikah's stories, but she'd also seen a similar, if less graphic, drawing in Araxia.

- Eater of Light - Avatar of Nyarlathotep… - Catra read it and winced - That's how Mikah described it, he even folded the page on this page.

- He never respected books, especially those that are valuable. - she said a bit unconsciously, and then turned to Aize - Come on, tell us, did your book have the same illustrations? - she called, the Eridian groaned loudly and came to them, though it looked as if someone was about to hurt them. She stood beside them, but as Catra turned the book over, the student squeezed her eyes shut.

- Don't be afraid, a book can't hurt you. - she said in a reassuring tone. The Eridian gave a desperate laugh.

- Of course they can. It may not be The Book of Dead Names or The King in Yellow, but I don't feel like looking at those pictures. - they said, but contrary to her words, she opened her eyes and became so pale that her skin was as white as the dead.

She-Ra's fiancée nodded thoughtfully and turned a few pages. There was another illustration, this time of a tall and thin man clad in black tights with an inverted Ankh on his chest. His head was wreathed in flames resembling a crown, and his eyes glowed with an inner glow, though she ha a faint impression that there was an indescribable evil hidden inside them. Above the image was the inscription "Karsai called The King. Keeper of the Divine Planet Aukturn" Catra slammed the book shut violently, and Aize sighed loudly with relief. She did the same, only a little quieter.

- Well, I guess we'll take it to the library, then. They'll scan it there, copy it, and lock it up in a secured section. - she said, trying to sound cheerful. Catra nodded, clearly concerned, and Melog's "hair" stood on end. She understood them well, she herself felt uneasy after looking through the book. No doubt that was something very Shadow Weaver liked, she thought.

- Yes, we'll take her back together, I've never seen your library, and maybe I'll find something interesting for Glimmer to get her away from wedding preparations for a moment, because she'll pass out at her own wedding. -Catra said and brought a sad smile to her face

She had never been sure of her feelings for "Auntie Casta" as Glimmer called her. She was with no doubt a kind and good woman, but she and Melog always sensed that she was tense around her. They had never met…before she had returned from Velvet Glove, but she understood what the Head Sorcereres of Mystacor might hold against her. It's mostly because of her that she's missing... It's because of her that Queen Angela died. Glimmer and Mikah somehow forgave her, though she didn't understand why, but Castaspella never forgot what she had done. She was always polite and kind to her, even once gave her socks in which she had to cut out places for claws, but there was always an invisible wall of ice between them. „But at least she doesn't want to send me to Beast Island like Lonnie imagined" she thought with a wry smile. Bow had once told her that not everyone would like her, even good people might dislike her company, and vice versa, she didn't have to like everyone, and that didn't make her any worse than anyone else. But she had to admit that the Head Sorceress was trying very hard not to show her dislike and not letting resentment cloud her judgment. Now they were carrying this strange book to the library, and she had a feeling that their cooperation would not end there, because they only had the first piece of the Shadow Weaver's puzzle. „Will I ever be free of this bitch? Even when she is less than a shadow, she still haunts us all… But maybe it's better that we do it before the wedding so that I don't think about her when I swear my undying love to Adora." She smiled to herself at the thought. she bumped into one of the students who jumped away from her and apologized profusely.

- It's okay, I should be careful too! - she said, trying to smile friendly, but in her heart she felt a bit of pride that even in distant Mystacor she aroused respect. But then she almost bumped into another student again. "Why are there so many of them here? Glimmer always said it was a quiet and cozy place where life flowed slowly" she thought. Now she felt like she was wandering the Fright Zone on combat alert, though she had to admit that it smelled much better here.

She looked at the student from Eridani... She think her's… they's name was Aize. She followed Casaspella, who was paving the way for the little person. She decided to strike up a conversation.

- I think we've met before... Do you remember? On board the Darla when we brought you from Eridiani. - She tried to sound as friendly as possible. The Eridian jumped back in fear as she spoke to them.

- Indeed Grand Marshal Catra. - The student pronounced they name and title so that it sounded like one word. She had never been addressed that way in the Horde, not with such reverence. She already understood how Adora felt when the people she met had treat her as living legend. Only unlike her fiancée, she was fine with it.

- So I guess we've gotten to know each other a bit. - she said, although she could hardly remember what the Eridian person had been doing then, but she had some work to do then, working out a plan for joint military exercises and listening to Glimmer moans after the Empress's party.

- I ... I did not leave the room offered to me, so as not to disturb the peace of the Invincible warrior, Great Commander and Heavenly Queen. The student replied in a tone as if she was apologizing for something. "Sometimes, however, this reverence can be quite disturbing"

- Whew... how do you know so much about all these books? I didn't know such matters were discussed at the Empress's court. - she asked, though the possibility that the court in Eridani was engaged in discussing the dark books on a daily basis brought to mind things she preferred not to think about.

- I worked at the Hidden Library and there I saw a lot of books that were hidden from Prime in hidden vaults. I spent most of my life there looking after books. In fact, they were my only friends. - though I never met them all. - Aize said in a happier and less scared voice than before.

„Ugh…. That explains a lot", she thought, and continued. - And these cultists have stolen the book? Is she hiding some dark secrets?

Eridian shook they head.

- No, not much, but they were worshipers of Nyarlathotep, for them it is sacred! This will undoubtedly encourage them to do more evil deeds.

- Wait, but you worship Iomdi and Sereni, so what are they worse than you…- She asked with a corner of her smile. The short personl looked at her with her big eyes as if she had just said that she strangled they pet.

- Don't compare that... Nyarlathotep is something else, not even evil, but completely alien! And I worship Iomdi and Sereni, for they are the personification of light and peace! - they shouted loudly, causing several students to turn to them.

- If you say so... But you better not say it out loud, because such words bring to mind Horde Prime. Some people might get offended…- She said sharply, maybe a little too sharply. But just like Shadow Weaver, everything about Horde Prime brought back terrible memories for her. Melog grunted loudly, and she felt the anger radiating from him, aimed at both Aize and her. She frowned as she looked at her companion. Her relationship with Melog was very complex and difficult to describe. Melog could speak to her with complex concepts and images, but it was difficult and tiring for him, as if he was speaking in a completely foreign language that he did not fully understand. He preferred to communicate through the emotions and feelings that they could pass on to each other. "Perhaps I was too harsh, but they should be carefull. Etheria has suffered much at the hands of that Horde and should not speak of anything that might evoke the memory of Him." Then she saw the picture. Iridion, capital of Eridani. A quarter of the city lay in rumble, destroyed after the surrender, although the inhabitants of the empire did not resist. Prime did it just like that, on principle. She saw the half-burnt edifice of the building where Sereni was worshipped. A statue of her was spared. However, he was deprived of his eyes, mouth and wings. A statue of Horde Prime towered over it, a fiery mace in its hand. "Yes, many planets suffered much more than Etheria under the occupation, I understand that, but it doesn't change the fact that she should be careful what they says and keep certain opinions to themself," she tried to tell him, but her companion didn't seem satisfied.

She'd known they were near the library long before she'd seen the great door with the Mystacor symbol on it. Somehow the library wasn't destroyed, apparently Horde Prime thought chiped mages might need it. As they crossed the gate, Aize smiled at the sight of all those scrolls and books. They tried to copy everything they could into the computers, but it will still take years to transfer everything. Bow's Father's library might have held rarer volumes, but it was no match for size.

- Do you have any books here at all that aren't about magic and stuff like that?- She looked around in bewilderment.

- Oh, I didn't know you liked books. Bow probably instilled in you a love of literature, and he did the same with Glimmer. He was a very lively child...

- When I was a child, I didn't like to read, but Adora loved novels, so I thought we could read something together. – She said

-You had books in the Horde? - asked Castaspella, genuinely astonished. She sighed at Glimmer's Aunt words.

- Yes, they were regularly delivered to us cadets. Mostly by the caretakers and instructors, but sometimes Shadow Weaver brought them. These were mostly tales of brave soldiers of the Horde fighting against the soulless tyranny of the princesses. They weren't very good, in the end I told Adora that they only differed in the names of the characters, sometimes even whole scenes were repeated, as if someone made them ... from a stamp? Is that what it says here? And then when I took over… it turned out that I was right. They had whole formulas for novels there, which they simply filled with content. – she described, immersed in memories.

- You had… literature factories? - Castaspella said shocked. She nodded her head thoughtfully.

- Residents needed entertainment, simple and easily accessible. And Hordak banned the sale of alcohol... Of course, no one cared, the technical department was selling a lot of vile moonshine. No, I didn't drink it, maybe once or twice... Shadow Weaver, on the other hand, was a strong drinker, especially after failed experiments... But she brought us better novels. When we were little, she even read them to us… She had a collection of fairy tales, very nice, but quite unusual. You know, it's weird to remember that sometimes she was tolerable. - he sighed, feeling a surge of strange nostalgia ... - I found it in her private rooms ... but it turned out that it was written in her native language, which they use on the Isles of Sorrow. I must have it translated by the Bow's Fathers. I wish I could read them to our... - She realized that she had said a bit too much, that she had exposed her inner self to others. - Then let's take this book, because I still have a lot to do before the wedding, and you know, I'm a grand marshal… - She tried to change the topic before Castaspella realized what she had almost slipped away, but the Head Sorcereress looked at her in delight.

- Oh, it means that you and Adora think ... I always expected that Bow and Glimmer would be the first, because the boy grew up in a large family. - Castaspella beamed with joy, Aize stepped back a bit overwhelmed by the whole discussion. Catra flattened her ears at the sudden outburst of tenderness, and Melog clung to the floor.

- Maybe we shouldn't look that far into the future. It's just... just a random thought. We have some problems to solve... which even with the help of Prime's technology can cause trouble.. - She felt her face turn red.

- Adora's ancestry... Aunt Casta suddenly nodded in understanding.

- Not just Adora... But please don't tell anyone about this, I haven't talked to anyone about it, not even Adora, and her opinion and desires are almost as important in this. Therefore, for now, let it stay between us ... - she looked around - and between Aize ... Library employees ... But I think I will really give this book away. - She smiled nervously.

- And what were these stories about? the Eridian woman asked unexpectedly. She looked at her surprised, but gladly changed the subject to something less embarrassing.

- There were stories about Aroden fighting the Whispering tyrant, the sorcerer with the face of a skeleton, the terrible Lamashutu, the fearless Besmara, the brave Cayden… - After each name Aizen's eyes widened more and more - Did something happen? she asked the student, fearing another outburst of indignation.

- Nothing, absolutely nothing! - The Eridian replied, slightly frightened, and began to look around the library, apparently unsure of what to do with herself. Castaspella engaged in a conversation with several library employees about transferring books to computers, so she took the opportunity to return the cursed book so that she could light the candle under the statue of the hundred-cursed sorcerer in peace.

I ended up splitting this chapter into two smaller ones because it grew mercilessly.

I am asking for comments and remarks, I am very interested in your opinion.