Grimoire Umbrio
The Book of Shadows
◀ Dirge 9 · Dirge 10 · Dirge 11 ▶

¹Upon the ancient stones of the Causeway, the Hælagion and the Hævanagion stood, and gave each other oath.
²Bezaliel, son of HÆL, and Michæl, son of HÆVAN, spake as brothers though Their Masters spake no more.
³There, in the Hall of Consideration, they wrote with fire a covenant: that no hand would rise against man.
⁴Let the Dæmons guide from below, said Bezaliel; and the Seraphim from above, said Michæl; and let the Oærth be left to its course.
⁵And their pact was taken up the causeway and ratified by the Brothers — a fragile truce forged in shadow.
⁶It was a noble flame struck from cold stone, yet even noble flames may flicker.
⁷For what is law, if the lawgivers drift apart? What is oath, if the thrones no longer watch together?
⁸The scroll of the Accord still rests in the Hall, sealed by both sigils, yet untouched since the ink was dried.
⁹Oærth was to be watched, not ruled; observed, not commanded — and for a season, it was so.
¹⁰But seasons pass, and silence grows in the cracks between good intent.
¹¹The Seraphim turned more to command than counsel, and the Dæmons more to fire than whisper.
¹²Each claimed only to watch, yet hands reached still, and hearts swayed.
¹³The Accord was not broken with trumpet, nor annulled by flame — it was simply left behind, like an unopened letter.
¹⁴And now the watchers accuse one another in thought, though words remain civil, and the pact lies cold.
¹⁵O Bezaliel, didst thou not feel the bond begin to loosen, as the Brothers ceased to speak even in vision?
¹⁶O Michæl, didst thou not tremble when thy path was no longer shared?
¹⁷We mourn not that Oærth is contested, but that the Pact once made to prevent it is now a forgotten prayer.
¹⁸Until hands are laid again upon that scroll, and voices rise in accord, we mourn — for the promise is forsaken, and none guard its flame.


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