지혜의 영, 교만의 악마

소환 의식이 완료되자 영이 나타났다. 영과 악마 모두 명확한 성별을 가지고 있지 않는데, 이 영은 마치 희귀하고 위험한 욕망의 악마처럼 여성의 모습을 하고 있었다. 영의 외양은 위협적이지 않았고, 내가 아주 강력한 악마들에게서나 보아온 수준의 확고한 인식과 지각능력을 지니고 있었다.

지혜의 영은 우리를 예의 바르고 정중하게 대했다. 영은 영계를 주제로 한 우리의 질문에 답해주었고, 심지어 우리가 의미를 이해하지 못하면 그 어려움을 헤아려 주기까지 하였다. 흔히 소환된 존재를 만날 때마다 겪는 협상 같은 건 없었다. 영은 그저 간간이 우리에게 몇 가지 질문을 던져올 뿐이었다. 헤라스는 그가 최근에 증명한 수식을 보여주었고, 에트린은 빛의 성가에 관한 마법 연구에 관해 설명해주었으며, 어린 리스는 자신의 어머니에 대해 짤막하게나마 털어놓았다.

대화가 끝나자 영은 소환을 해제하지 않았음에도 대화를 나눠준 것에 대해 감사를 표한 뒤 사라져버렸다. 얼마 지나지 않아, 우리는 이 소환 의식에 심각한 결함이 있다는 것을 깨달았다. 영은 강제로 소환되어 머무른 것이 아니었다. 그것은 우리와 대화를 나누는 동안, 순전히 자신의 의지로 남아있었다. 헤라스는 그토록 강력한 영이 자유롭게 돌아다닌다는 사실에 대해 크게 염려했고, 구속 마법의 취약점을 보완하기 위해 의례를 수정했다. 나 또한 그가 걱정하는 바를 이해하지 못하는 건 아니었지만, 솔직히 말해서 영과의 대화가 무척 즐거웠다는 것을 이 글을 빌어 고백하고 싶다. 당시 영이 속박되어 있었다면 과연 영과 그토록 자유롭게 대화할 수 있었을지 확신이 없다.

—선임 마도사 프랑수아가 작성한 첨탑의 영혼들에서 발췌

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지금까지 발견된 악마 중 가장 강력한 존재를 꼽자면, 그건 바로 교만의 악마이다. 아마도 그들이 악마들 가운데 가장 인간을 많이 닮았기 때문일지도 모르겠다. 이들은 욕망의 악마만큼이나 지능적이고 교묘하면서도, 인간을 닮아 잔인한 아이러니를 좋아하는 성향을 띤다. 욕망의 악마는 필멸자들에게 주로 물질적인 보상을 제공하는 반면, 교만의 악마는 필멸자들이 가진 가장 뛰어난 능력을 역으로 이용한다. 영리한 자들은 자기 꾀에 넘어가게 되고, 강한 자들은 자신의 힘에 짓눌린다. 겸손한 자들은 자신을 잊어버리며, 질투하는 자들은 자기 자신을 두려워하게 된다. 이처럼 교만의 악마들은 타락을 예술의 경지로 끌어올린다.

—마도사 미드로멜 저, 장막 너머: 영과 악마에서 발췌

 

 

When the summoning ritual was complete, the spirit appeared. Both spirits and demons have no gender as we understand it, but this one, much like the rare and dangerous desire demon, presented as female. Although its form was not threatening, the spirit carried itself with a confidence, an awareness, I suppose, that I have seen only in the most powerful of demons.

This spirit of wisdom was polite and courteous. It answered our questions about the Fade, even acknowledging the difficulty when we could not understand what it meant. There was none of the bargaining one normally associates with a summoned creature, save that the spirit sometimes asked us questions as well. Heras shared a mathematical formula he had recently proven, while Etrenne explained her study on magical themes in the Chant of Light, and young Rhys talked a little about his mother.

When we were finished, the spirit thanked us for the conversation and then vanished, although none of us had dismissed it. We soon discovered that the summoning ritual we had devised was critically flawed. The spirit had been under no compulsion to come or remain. All the time it had talked with us, it had stayed of its own volition. Heras was greatly concerned that such a powerful spirit remained free, and has updated the ritual to correct for the weakness in the binding enchantment. I understand his caution, but I also confess that I quite enjoyed the conversation. I am not certain the spirit would have talked so freely had it been shackled at the time.

—An excerpt from Spirits of the Spire by Senior Enchanter Francois

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The most powerful demons yet encountered are the pride demons, perhaps because they, among all their kind, most resemble men; as clever and manipulative as the desire demon, with a penchant for cruel irony that is almost human. While the demons of desire largely engage in the bribery of mortals, pride will use mortals' own best nature against them. Clever men outwit themselves. Strong men crush themselves. Humble men forget themselves. Jealous men fear themselves. They turn corruption and ruin into an art.

—From Beyond the Veil: Spirits and Demons by Enchanter Mirdromel