The Curse of the Seventh
N/A: This chapter marks an important milestone in the development of the lore behind the Six Flamel. The story was originally longer and more detailed, but I chose to summarize it in order to maintain a steady pace and prevent it from feeling overwhelming. I truly hope it works and that the essence of this fragment is conveyed with strength.
I want to remind you that this lore serves a specific purpose: to give meaning to the existence of the Six Flamel and, crucially, to the main antagonist of this arc. It's an original concept, conceived as a framework to enrich the events of the story. However, I'm not asking you to take it too seriously"it's an addition meant to beautify and deepen the world, not to overload the narrative.
If you prefer to ignore it, that's valid too; it doesn't impact the main plot too heavily, except perhaps for the subtle tones offered in the final lines of the chapter. But those last words… maybe, just maybe, they deserve a second reading.
Thank you for being a part of this creative process. See you in the next chapter! ✨
....
The cave paintings, now floating in the air like fragments of shimmering light, began to move on their own, revealing a story forgotten by time.
It all began when humans first appeared in a world ruled by colossal beasts and legendary magical creatures"dragons soaring through the skies, stone titans walking among mountains, and elemental spirits that could level continents with a single breath.
Despite their fragility, humans used their wits to survive. With traps, strategies, and rudimentary weapons, they managed to bring down even mammoths. But against magical beasts, their intellect was not enough. Villages were annihilated by the mere presence of such creatures. Humanity was pushed to the brink of extinction.
In the darkness of the caves, where the last humans hid, the inexplicable occurred: in several nearby shelters, seven babies appeared. No one knew where they came from, but they were taken in and raised as their own.
Even as children, they proved different. When they helped with the crops, the plants grew faster. When they asked for rain, it fell. As they grew older and joined the young men in hunts, something even more astonishing happened"magical beasts, usually hostile, were docile in their presence.
Though some creatures, made purely of destruction, remained threats, the seven youths possessed a special energy"a connection to the world"that allowed them to defeat even those entities.
Over time, they became leaders of the village they helped found. The magical creatures, now allies, helped build a prosperous kingdom. The seven formed families, and their children were born with special gifts as well. The gods themselves no longer aged, leading humanity to worship them as living deities.
Thus, the Seven Gods of Magic were born into legend.
But one of them was different. The youngest"quiet, distant, and full of contempt for humans. He remained only close to his siblings. It was believed he had changed when he formed a family. For a time, peace seemed real.
Thousands of years passed. Humanity flourished. The kingdom grew. But the seven, weary of stillness, decided to explore the world. Though some descendants tried to stop them, the gods departed… and time passed.
Much more time than expected.
The first to return was the youngest brother"the one who had once hated humans. When he came back, he found ruins. The kingdom was reduced to ashes. He ran to his home… and found her. His wife, now an old woman recently deceased, had waited all that time.
He fell to his knees, trying to use magic to revive her, to reverse time"but it was in vain. Death was final.
In desperation, he traced what had happened: non-magical humans, driven by greed, had attacked the families of the gods. They had devoured their flesh and blood seeking to obtain their gifts. And they succeeded. Some developed powers, others exploded or became deformed"but none stopped. The hunger to be like the gods who once saved them turned them into monsters.
Consumed by rage, the youngest brother cursed humanity… and also his siblings, who had convinced him to leave.
He waited. He cared for the remains of his wife. And when the first brother returned, he embraced him… then stabbed him in the back and devoured him.
He wanted his power. His hope was to turn back time and undo everything. Or, at least, bring his wife back.
Upon consuming him, the power overwhelmed him… and the world responded. Magic, a conscious entity in its most primal form, grew angry. One of its children had killed another. So it cursed the youngest: each time he devoured someone, he would also lose a piece of himself.
But the fallen god did not stop. He rebuilt his body again and again with ash, blood, and power. He waited, and one by one, devoured his siblings.
The last to return did not find a man, but a beast"mindless, made of darkness and despair.
That last brother did not fight. He gave his life in an attempt to restore the younger one's consciousness. And he succeeded.
But it was a fatal mistake.
Because now, lucid again, the youngest no longer sought to revive his wife. He only wanted to consume all magic in the world, convinced that, somehow, there was still hope to return to the past.
But centuries passed. His wife's bones turned to dust. He forgot his purpose. He lost all reason. Only madness remained.
The Devourer of Gods"who was once the youngest of the seven"wandered the world, consuming the descendants of his siblings. And his own.
Thus, magic, the world, and the forces of fate forged a new pact: never again would seven be born.
From that moment on, only six gods would be born in each cycle"to ensure the story would never repeat itself.
And these ones seemed to have been born solely to stop him...
But once again, they failed.
Their efforts, though brave, did nothing more than strengthen the youngest.
With every attempt to stop him, his power grew... and with it, the curse consuming him expanded.
When the world gave birth to a new generation, everything seemed to have calmed.
The new Six Gods emerged in a time of peace, where magic was refined, spells evolved, and magical technologies began to flourish.
But then... he returned.
The Magic Devourer appeared once more, consuming everything in his path.
This time, however, the gods were wiser. The past generations had not died in vain.
They discovered a method to stop him. Not to destroy him... but to seal him.
And so they did.
The last Six Gods willingly gave their lives, creating a seal to trap him... for a time.
Meanwhile, the descendants of the first gods who had survived took it upon themselves to protect these seals.
The world breathed in silence.
But everyone knew it wasn't the end.
The Magic Devourer would return.
....
The Flamel siblings stared at the story they had just witnessed, projected like animated drawings floating in the air.
But it wasn't a happy tale.
It was a tragedy.
"So we're just a sacrifice to seal that thing? "Tony asked bitterly, breaking the silence.
Stephen didn't reply.
His expression was filled with rare seriousness. He was processing every image, every word he had seen.
The others had somber faces as well.
"I don't think that's it "Wanda said quickly, as if she needed to say it out loud to convince herself.
"But it's the only thing that stopped him "Tony replied firmly". And if he's still sealed now... it's because another generation did the same.
"Yes, but that was the solution that generation found "Wanda insisted". That doesn't mean it's the only one.
"She's right "Stephen finally said, raising his voice". According to those strange drawings, the idea to seal him came from the Six Gods of that era. It wasn't a law of the universe. Just a decision.
He paused, then added:
"We are different from all of them. We have something they didn't: knowledge from another world.
"I see... "Tony muttered, realizing something important". That's why we're here.
"What do you mean? "Harry asked, frowning.
"I'm sorry, Harry. It's not time yet. But when it is, I'll tell you everything. Can you wait a little longer? "Stephen said quickly, looking at his younger brother.
Harry hesitated for a second, but then nodded without resistance.
"So, our plan is to figure out how to destroy it without dying in the process "Tony summed up with a decisive tone.
"Actually... there's something that still bothers me "Loki said quickly, drawing everyone's attention.
"That guy... he's supposed to have devoured magic since the dawn of humanity. But why was he so weak when he fought us? "he questioned". He was better than us, sure, but mostly because he caught us by surprise.
"He's right "Natasha added". And something else that wasn't shown in those drawings was why the dark creatures appeared alongside him.
"Damn... And here we thought we knew his whole story. Looks like we're still missing a piece "Wanda said in frustration.
"Though I have to admit, there's something noble in wanting to revive his wife... But he lost his way far too quickly "Tony commented as he stood up.
"What intrigues me the most is why he hated humans so much from the beginning. If they were the ones who raised him… what an ungrateful bastard "Wanda said, crossing her arms.
That comment immediately caught Stephen's attention.
"You're right... The drawings never explained that. He already seemed to despise everyone as a child "Stephen narrowed his eyes, as if something was about to click, but one crucial piece was still missing.
"Well, in any case, now we know what kind of thing we're up against. He's basically like our big brother... in hyper-mega-apocalyptic version "Wanda joked with a smile.
"Well, I'm not calling him big brother. I don't even call you guys that "Tony replied with a mocking grin.
And so, the gravity of the matter faded, if only for a moment.
Though Stephen and Wanda knew they still had some conversations pending with their respective partners.