53 Awakening

After they had arrived in Paris, Alexander led the way to what seemed to be an inconspicuous manhole. In truth, this manhole was actually an entrance to the catacombs underneath Paris which led to the underground wizard city away from the eyes of the muggles.

After walking for some time along the winding tunnels filled with bugs and other creatures lurking around the corners, they finally arrived at a space which opened up but... It seemed to be blocked by a wall. Was this a dead end?

Unlike Casimir's confusion, Alexander was very calm and, after chanting a few mystious words, the wall magically opened up and revealed the hidden city.

The city was huge! Perhaps it was as big as the entirety of Paris, maybe even more!

The city was particularly bustling, no different from the city above it. There were witches hollering their wares, carriages drawn by mystical creatures, children on broomsticks whizzing by overhead, and many stores selling mysterious artifacts!

But, what caught Casimir's attention the most was a gigantic tree at the very center of the city. Now, this gigantic tree was no ordinary tree.

I kid you not, but, this tree actually grew upside down! It's roots were impaled like spears onto the ceiling and its trunk and branches stretched towards the ground! It was actually the legendary reverse tree!

The very same tree which was rumored to be the symbol of evil in the mortal world. The tree in which misfortune was given to those who dared to touch it. He had previously read about them in one of the books that he had 'borrowed' from the dungeon library.

Just what kind of guts did the founders of this city have to directly build a whole wizard community around the reverse tree?!

"Hurry on, now. We still have to meet a few more people here. Can't have them wait too long." Alexander muttered as he urged Casimir forwards.

Casimir shook his head, clearing all unnecessary thoughts. What happens to this city isn't any of his business. He didn't live here anyways. He was just visiting.

After walking through the bustling roads and passing through numerous alleys, they finally arrived in front of a small, ordinary looking shop. If it wasn't for the eye-catching raven symbol on the storefront, Casimir would truly believe that it was only an ordinary shop.

As they entered, the door chimes rang, signaling that visitors have entered but, despite that, it seemed as if there was nobody inside. Undeterred by this, however, Alexander knocked on the reception desk at the corner of the shop, seeming to have expected the shop's emptiness.

Knock. Knock.

"We're not open today. Buzz off." A gruff voice said from the back of the shop.

As if he had not heard the voice, Alexander continued knocking, greatly annoying the owner of the voice.

"We're not open!" The voice growled in annoyance.

Still, Alexander persisted on knocking. At this moment, Casimir had great admiration towards his father's persistence and shamelessness.

"I said, we're not open, you-" From the back of the shop, a short, bearded person emerged with a grumpy expression but, when he saw who was knocking on the desk, his expression turned complicated. "...Proulx."

Is it a dwarf, perhaps?

"I see you're still as stubborn as always, Gourd." Alexander had an eyebrow raised at he gave the short man a pointed look. "I heard the dwarven race were hard headed but, I didn't expect it to be this much."

It really was a dwarf!

"I-" The dwarf tried to explain but was cut off.

"I specifically told you to guard this shop and work diligently. Not to turn away customers whenever you want to!" Alexander glared at the dwarf who began to show signs of agitation. "You came to me for protection and I granted it in exchange for labor."

"Now, I see that this deal is of no benefit to me." Alexander snorted. "I have no need for disobedient servants."

"My lord, forgive me! I-" The dwarf was once again silenced by a cold gaze from Alexander, making him realize that anything he would say would make no difference at all. His fate was already sealed.

"Casimir..." Alexander then, turned to look towards his son. "I judge that you've studied the books I have sent you previously? Particularly the dark arts."

"Yes, father." Although he was confused, Casimir still answered.

"Good." Alexander nodded. "Then, I need you to perform the first unforgivable curse for me to rate. Consider this as your first lesson from your father."

"Father... That's the killing curse." Casimir was even more confused. There is no need to use such a curse towards a servant who was just a little lazy, right?

"Son, there comes a time when all children have to grow up and do things that they often do not wish to." Alexander spoke seriously. "I am just doing this for your own good."

Ah... But, father... I probably have already killed more people than all the previous dark lords combined...

"Dispose of it, Casimir." Alexander ordered, stepping aside to make way, revealing a horrified dwarf. Perhaps, hoping that Casimir would be kinder than his father, the dwarf gazed at him pleadingly.

Unfortunately, he pleaded to the wrong person.

"Avada Kedavra!"

It's fascinating how easy it is to give live...

But, it's even more fascinating how easier it is to take life.

In one blink, a person who was perfectly healthy just moments ago can be a cold corpse lying on the floor.

This was the first time Casimir had killed someone using magic and now, he finally understood why the previous dark lords loved using the killing curse.

It was simply addictive! Being in control of lives and taking them with just two words! How can anyone resist such temptations! It was simply wonderful!

Under Alexander's approving eyes, Casimir stared at the dwarf he had just killed emotionlessly, savoring the feeling of absolute power that filled his veins.

Yes! It was this very same power that he had yearned for but had never achieved in the previous world and, right now, he was only getting a taste of it.

He vowed that one day, this power would be fully grasped in his hands.

At that moment, the bloodthirsty beast which he had hidden deep in his heart began to awaken, opening its eyes ever so slowly.

...

Unknown to them, when Casimir had released the killing curse, the tree which grew upside down in the middle of the city had signs of stirring. Its leaves rustled and its branches waved.

The only weird thing was...

There was no wind.