Flicking through the pages of the book that he was reading, Charles Leclerc heaved a sign. He was hungry to prove himself, to get better and do more for the Falcons but it seemed like he just wasn't able to find the knowledge that he was looking for. Many of the older players assured him that things would come with time, that he needed to be patient and simply work hard.

But Charles wasn't satisfied with that. Surely there was more. Surely there were other things to know in this world, and he needed them.

He shoved the book aside, unsatisfied with his learnings today and while stretching, he could have sworn he heard a voice.

"Mortal."

"What the hell?!" Charles murmured, freezing in his chair. Was someone watching a movie loudly or something? He hadn't heard anything but that didn't mean someone wasn't doing something in the condo that he and a couple other guys were sharing.

"Mortal. Attend."

The air in front of Charles seemed to shimmer, to twist and warp until dark, black tentacles seemed to be reaching through from somewhere beyond, somewhere he wasn't meant to know about or see. It was as though whatever the hell this thing was, it was pushing aside the very fabric meant to keep it out.

"Who are you?" he whispered, swallowing hard.

"I am Hermaeus Mora, seeker and keeper of all knowledge."

There was a silky edge to the voice that Charles instinctively didn't trust but as soon as he heard that this Hermaeus Mora was a seeker and keeper of knowledge, his interest was raised. Had all of his searching somehow drawn this creature to him? He wasn't sure how to feel about that, honestly.

"What must I do to have more knowledge?" The words came out of him before he could even think about stopping them and when it answered, Hermaeus Mora sounded pleased.

"There are books of my knowledge scattered in the mortal realm. You travel to many places for this cold game you play. Be alert, be watchful, be willing to see the signs. When you are near to one of my tomes, you will know it and when you read them, the knowledge will be yours."

That seemed simple enough, but Charles knew there was always a catch to everything, even if it was never outright stated.

"And what do you get out of this? Surely, I'm not just getting knowledge for free." he challenged and the chuckle that Hermaeus Mora gave was enough to raise the hairs on the back of his neck.

"You are wise for one so young in years, mortal." the being commented, clearly amused at the question. "It has been a long time since I was able to move freely in your realm. I give you my knowledge and through you, I am able to once again exert my influence in your world, learn of many things that I can add to my library in Apocrypha."

Charles had never been super religious, never really paid attention to any talk of angels or demons or anything like that but he was starting to wish that he had. Perhaps he would better know how to deal with all of this, know if Hermaeus Mora was on the level or not.

On the desk in front of him, a tentacle laid a book. It looked simple enough but when he opened it, it was as though a flood ran through Charles, like his brain had suddenly gone from being used ten percent to like twenty or thirty. He shuddered as he held onto the book, breathing heavily when the sensation was over. He already knew more things, knew things that he had never studied or seen in a million years.

"That is but a taste of my knowledge, mortal and there is more. Will you be my champion in this realm?"

Inhaling once, evenly, slowly, Charles finally nodded. "I will be your champion, Hermaeus Mora and I will look for your books."

The tentacles curled in a way that Charles knew instinctively meant Hermaeus Mora was pleased, and he still wasn't sure he'd made the best decision in this instance. Still, he'd struck the deal and what was done, was done.

"Rest well, my champion. Seek for my knowledge. Grow." Hermaeus Mora said and then the air rippled again, and the tentacles were gone, leaving Charles clutching the book that had just changed his entire world.

Life before death.
Strength before weakness.
Journey before destination.

              
                                                

Love this article and the WoK quote in your sig.

“The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. ... There are neither beginnings nor endings to the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.”





Rurik Markov| C | SMJHL Prospect | Future Madison Valkyries
Birthplace: Visby, Sweden
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