Grimoire Umbrio
The Book of Shadows
◀ Dirge 13 · Dirge 14 · Dirge 15 ▶

¹The Seraphim and the Dæmons, born of flame and glory, did look upon Oærth and yearn to shape as They had shaped.
²For in their hands was skill, and in their hearts desire — not to conquer, but to continue the work begun.
³And their plea was not proud, nor rebellious, but pure: Teach us the Power, that we may make and guide as Ye have done.
⁴But the Brothers answered not with gift, but with limit — not with fullness, but with Seeds.
⁵The Power is Ours, said They; and shall not pass from Us entire.
⁶And so they were given fragments: sparks, not flames; echoes, not voices.
⁷The Seraphim bowed in silence. The Dæmons did not protest. Yet sorrow was born that day in both realms.
⁸For they who had served upon the Council, and helped craft the very balance of the world, were deemed unworthy to continue its weaving.
⁹Not by deed had they failed, nor by thought betrayed — yet the gate was barred before they knocked.
¹⁰And what Seed is given with joy when the Tree is fenced and its fruit forbidden?
¹¹Bezaliel received the flame with reverence, but his brow was heavy; Michæl bore the light, but his eyes dimmed.
¹²The people rejoiced, yet the hosts who served long stood still, knowing what had been denied.
¹³What might the Seraphim have sung into being, had they been trusted with voice?
¹⁴What might the Dæmons have forged, had the fire been given without restraint?
¹⁵We do not weep for power withheld, but for trust denied — for the spark dimmed before it could become flame.
¹⁶The Brothers once made Their peoples in likeness — but now made Them lesser, though still called beloved.
¹⁷Let the day come when creation is not hoarded, but shared; when the gift is full and the trust whole.
¹⁸Until then, we mourn — for the Power was withheld, and with it, a part of joy.


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