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Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Secrets of the Shadows

The secret word "Arkzal" was not merely a key to a book, but the beginning of a journey into a world I never imagined existed.

A world where magic seeps as a hidden force, controlling minds and captivating souls across all realms, where actions appear as spells—submission to a mysterious will, complete silence, and bowing before an unfathomable power.

Magic, as I discovered, is not just trickery or illusion, but a mysterious reality beyond human comprehension.

It is a spiritual force dwelling between souls and bodies, between imagination and matter, between cause and effect.

The talisman—its name reversed as if "the One Who Controls"—holds within its essence the power of compulsion and dominance, activated by celestial secrets and specific objects at precise times, combined with incense that strengthens the spirit and summons obscure entities.

This talisman is a profound secret reflecting the outcome, much like the elixir that transforms lifeless matter into souls, conquering them like a hidden poison that infiltrates bodies to bend them under its absolute control.

The elixir itself is a strange compound of earth, air, water, and fire, concentrated in its essence, capable of turning matter into form and spirit, silently working within the stomach, transforming swiftly into potent spiritual nourishment that illuminates the path.

In this magical realm, magic exists only through the balance of elements; plants cannot live without animals, and animals cannot survive without plants—all arranged in a precise cosmic order.

The greatest secret lies in knowing the fixed positions of the stars, the celestial configurations used to draw talismans, casting forces onto reality, and determining their exact timing—the stars and planets govern the fate of magical workings.

Among all types of magic, the greatest and most dangerous is speech—the tongue carries a power not to be underestimated, for with a single word, an enemy can become a friend, or a friend an enemy—a delicate art that demands mastery and caution.

The magical practice involves controlling the forces emanating from the wandering planets, directing them through special properties, knowing secrets understood by few, and harmonizing them with either celestial or natural heat to employ them in ritual works.

There are deadly tricks, the "nirengat," the highest form of practical magic, requiring deep knowledge of planetary cycles and their timings, and the secret manipulation of higher spirits—making them among the most perilous kinds of magic.

These forces, seemingly beyond our world, are governed by invisible laws, understood only by delving into the mysteries of astrology and the stars.

And I am still learning how to read these signs and wield these talismans, but the deeper I go, the darker the path to truth reveals itself.

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