Disclaimer: The following document fragment is presented from an in-character perspective, it should not be taken as the truth of the setting.
Context: Mages have their own culture. And the culture of magekind is deeply connected with the arcane lore they study. The eldritch truths of reality become themes of their art and expression. However, they are still fictional works of the human mind and shouldn’t be considered some absolute truth.
ACT I, SCENE III
Apostle: My love.
Apostle falls to his knees before Sophia.
Apostle: Ever since I came to know of you.
My heart yearns for you.
My thoughts are clouded…
Apostle hangs his head.
Apostle: By you.
Sophia: Oh, foolish man.
Towards forbidden fruit you extend thine hand.
Forfeit this at once and cast your eyes away.
I am not to belong to such as yourself.
Not to one whose days are numbered.
As the leaves of a tree when autumn comes.
Apostle: What can be done?
Sophia: Nothing. Now begone.
ACT II, SCENE I
Hierophant: You desire the flower of Amaranth?
Apostle: That I do. I want its bitter nectar.
Only it can cure what ails me.
Only it can bring light to my eyes.
Hierophant: In the Abyss, you can find what you seek.
But the Abyss is dark and deep.
If you lose your way, your soul will be forfeit.
Apostle: I do not fear…
Hierophant: And if you find what you seek.
It will be like burning in the rain.
Watching the raindrops hang in the air.
And in each of them, and each grain of sand.
The gears of the Cosmos turn in kind.
Apostle remains silent.
Hierophant: To lose yourself or to find what you seek.
Whichever is your fate by Providence’s hand?
No longer will you be counted among the sons of man.
ACT III, SCENE XXII
Lion-Headed Man forces the Apostle to kneel. With his thumb, he marks the Apostle’s forehead with the word: Saklas.
Lion-Headed Man: For aeons, we could weave.
Tapestries of ruin within this world beyond time.
Beyond space and actualisation.
Saklas (formerly the Apostle): Am I undone?
Lion-Headed Man: You will live as a Fool.
As you have lived a Fool.
Saklas: My Great Work, is it forfeit?
Lion-Headed Man: The eternally blooming flower.
The prize that you desire.
Never may it rest in mortal hands.
The Amaranth is divine.
In its sweet scent, the Gods drown their senses.
Its nectar runs down their faces.
Like blood pouring from the lips of a dying man.
ACT IV, SCENE VI
Young Man: So I seek, the flower of Amaranth.
And it’s nectar eternal, bitter and dark.
Hierophant: They say…
In the Abyss, you can find what you seek.
But the Abyss is dark and deep.
If you lose your way, your soul will be forfeit.
And if you find what you seek.
No longer will you be counted among the sons of man.
Alas, this is but a myth.
Young Man gasps loudly, dramatically.
Hierophant: No such flower exists.
Young Man flees, exits the stage. Hierophant removes his mask, reveals the brand of Saklas upon his forehead, he hangs his head.
Saklas (formerly Hierophant): For such as yourself, the white rose shall suffice.
In what you seek, there is nought but ruin to be found.
Esoteric Musings... 