Ethan stood up slowly, the weight of the meditation and vision still grounding him like invisible chains. But now, those chains no longer restricted him—they simply reminded him of where he stood.
He raised his right hand and focused.
A flash of violet light flickered in his palm, curling upward like smoke before solidifying. It wasn't summoned like before, when it had simply appeared with the System's will. This time, he called it.
The Grimoire of Origin materialized—an ancient tome bound in deep obsidian leather that shimmered faintly with gold-etched runes. Its surface breathed slowly, like a sleeping beast, and the air grew heavy around it.
Barki stepped back and watched in silence.
The Grimoire floated in front of Ethan and slowly opened on its own, pages fluttering until it stopped on one that was blank. Then, in ink of stardust and crimson, words began to form.
"Welcome, Host. I have waited."
Ethan took a breath. "We've met before, haven't we? Back when I awakened."
