Necromancer Of The Black Bible (8)

Silence descended.

Was it my words about serving me as its master that provoked it?

Or was it simply displeased?

After a moment, letters floated up from Equinox’s pages.

Do you not wish to learn necromancy?

[Why should I even learn that?]

Did you not summon me to learn necromancy?

[Ever thought I summoned you just to burn you?]

I didn’t answer its question so easily.

A question is an attack.

If you answer obediently, the initiative naturally passes to the other side.

I had learned how to deal with such artifacts in my previous life.

‘I can’t give up control to these things.’

To do that, I must hide what I want and instead figure out what it wants.

And judging from what it’s said so far, it wants to take on a disciple.

A disciple to inherit its secrets.

[Why are you so obsessed with being a master? Is there some reason you must be mine?]

It is natural law that the one who imparts knowledge becomes the master. Why try to calculate gains and losses in such a relationship?

[No. Things like you always want something in return. So be honest. What do you want?]

I kept pressing it with questions.

But it slyly avoided the essence of them.

By the sixth evasion, a thought occurred to me.

‘How did Master obtain a copy of this thing in my previous life?’

He always carried a thick book titled Aium de Equinox.

That book was clearly a copy, without the ability to converse or hold will like this.

‘Which means someone must have transcribed it.’

Just as I reached that thought, bold letters surfaced on Equinox’s page.

The script was archaic, unlike before.

Have you, by chance, come from another time?

I couldn’t help but be startled.

How could it possibly know that?

‘Could it be…?’

Did it read my thoughts?

I quickly shut my eyes, but Equinox’s voice rang clear.

Yes. I read your thoughts.

[We agreed you wouldn’t read my thoughts!]

You already burned my pages and threatened my life. Isn’t it shameless to bring up promises now?

Equinox went on before I could even reply.

Closing your eyes is useless. I can now see the life you’ve lived.

Pararak-

At the sound of the pages flipping, I opened my eyes.

And looked down at Equinox.

The pages it opened were filled with indecipherable images and letters.

They should have been unreadable, yet as I stared, their meaning became clear.

‘These are my past days. Wandering the world with Master until the inquisitor finally captured and executed me.’

It had been quite a long journey, and the drawings and text displayed it in detail.

Even the words my master spoke to me were recorded precisely.

And after showing his final moments and how I ended up here, Equinox’s voice came again.

You lived quite the life. Your master reached such heights with only a copy of me. To be honest, it was a dangerous attempt.

[Why?]

Did you think I’d sit idle while someone made copies of me?

There was mockery in its tone.

Sensing that, I realized what it meant.

No artifact with such intelligence would allow its copy to be complete.

As expected, Equinox sneered and continued.

Some copies I altered, others I inverted. On certain ones, I played such nasty tricks that following them as written would drive the reader insane.

A truly vile artifact.

Of all the artifacts I know, this one is unmatched.

I furrowed my brow and spoke.

[So what exactly are you getting at?]

Forget about copies, about masters. They will be useless from here on. You… Are the one I’ve been waiting for.

I was too stunned to reply.

And Equinox went on.

I was born 4,000 years ago, when this continent’s history began. All this time I have searched for one to inherit my craft. At last, my wait bears fruit.

It continued muttering cryptic laments, then suddenly turned to the very first page and inscribed words there.

Traveler from time, I have awaited you. From now on, I shall serve you as my master. Accept my obeisance.

Equinox gathered mana from the surroundings, and a dark black figure appeared before me.

It was the shape of an old man wearing a black hood.

The figure knelt before me, bowed its head, then bent low to kiss my feet.

Equinox acknowledging me as his master was truly impressive.

Not only had I never been treated with such courtesy, I hadn’t even expected it.

But that wasn’t important.

Right now, I had to focus on forming my mana ring.

By dawn the next day, I spread Equinox open on my desk and asked.

[Let’s begin. How do I form a mana ring suited for necromancy?]

Equinox answered immediately.

The mana rings of necromancy—especially the first one—are unique. They use a kind of mana completely unlike that of ordinary mages.

Though he calls me master, he still speaks rather casually.

It bothered me a little, but I didn’t correct him.

After all, surviving 4,000 years without madness earned him some respect.

I closed my eyes and listened carefully.

Pure mana cannot be used for necromancy. You must use something far heavier, denser.

[And how am I supposed to obtain such mana and condense it into my heart?]

By normal means, impossible. If you follow mage cultivation methods, it would take at least 600 years. But Master, I see a better way for you.

A better way?

What does he mean?

As I wondered, his page slowly rose and pointed in one direction.

There stood the staff, Nocturne, glowing faintly red.

Nocturne faltered, stepping back.

Why do you point at me, elder?

Do you not know? By using you, we can forge a fine mana ring in our Master’s heart.

I… I…

Nocturne approached me with a sorrowful voice.

Do not misunderstand, Master. I have no ability to forge you a mana ring. I am but a magic staff, able to channel power through your ring. So…

Do not misunderstand. I am well aware of that.

Equinox showed it a few diagrams as he spoke.

I do not mean to use you functionally. Only a part of you, for another purpose.

A part of me…?

Nocturne shuddered as if realizing, and Equinox fluttered his pages before replying.

Your core.

‘The core.’

At that, I understood what Equinox intended.

[So you mean to rip out Nocturne’s core and graft it into my heart.]

Hiiik!

As expected of my master.

Equinox glowed black once, as though in admiration.

The aura was eerie, but by now I was used to it.

Realizing its fate, Nocturne trembled like a leaf, then gradually accepted it.

If there is no other way, then so be it.

It thudded softly like a sigh and came into my grasp.

Then it whispered faintly.

It is regretful. But if this is the best course, then do it, Master. Speaking with you, even briefly, brought me joy.

Hearing that weighed heavily on me.

But Equinox answered with delight.

Nocturne, an admirable attitude. A model for all artifacts with masters. I shall record your end personally. Every artifact I meet will hear your tale. Do not be too sorrowful. You will live on forever, in our Master’s heart and within my pages.

Nocturne’s glow faded into despair, while Equinox exuded even deeper darkness.

Now then, Master. Let us begin. Everything seems ready.

[Wait.]

I paused to reconsider.

I knew well what Equinox intended with Nocturne’s core.

It was a form of transplantation.

Extracting the mana from a powerful object and implanting it into the heart.

My master once told me about it, adding this:

This technique vanished 500 years ago, replaced by something far more efficient.

Recalling that, I spoke.

[Have you heard of the Principle of Resonance?]

Equinox said nothing, but Nocturne responded.

When two mana of the same attribute possess a certain level of power, they resonate regardless of strength difference. Their forces converge toward the stronger one. That is the principle.

[Exactly.]

I nodded and explained to Equinox.

[I know what you’re trying, but that method vanished long ago—because of Resonance. With it, you can replicate without destroying artifacts or relics.]

Hearing that, Equinox seemed to concede.

Oh. So that was the method. And they called it Resonance.

His pages rustled.

Sketches and notes filled, erased, and filled the pages again.

Tiny letters covered them for a long time.

After pages of notes and revisions, Equinox spoke again.

Master. To do this, another artifact is needed. Do you have an object that could resonate with Nocturne’s core?

I pulled objects from my pouch.

A large emerald necklace and two ruby rings.

Spoils I had collected from Raiernov’s corpse.

A strange aura emanated from Equinox as he saw them.

That aura enveloped the jewels, and Equinox’s chuckling voice followed.

Kekekeke. These will do.

And so, my first mana ring implantation began.