Occult Tome Bullshit 3

Just sheer force of will huh? Weaponizing the feelings of hatred inside of his heart? If it was that easy, every jaded jackass in the world would accidently start sprouting occult flames. The difference, Robin found, was in intent.

Most people are inherently good-natured. Or at least they strive towards it. When they do something bad, they feel guilty about it. They want to apologize. Robin feels guilty about the things he's done as well. There's no way to be immune to it, you just build a resistance over time. One that hadn't been cultivated yet in this young boy.

But when you do something bad... and you know it's bad... and you feel guilty... and then you do it again? What does that say about a person?

For Robin, it says that he considers that guilt nothing more than a side effect of progress. As he focused on his arm, as he focused his burning anger and hatred for the world onto a single point at the tip of his finger --- he knows what he's doing is harmful to himself and the world.

But for whatever reason, he cannot stop himself from going forward. He argues that he could just ask to learn a different magic, only for another voice to tell him to shut up and think harder. He interjects himself, pleading for any alternative! You're arguing with yourself man, can't you see you're going insane down here?! That girl put some funny thoughts in your head, you should just go-

<b>QUIET!</b>

The beast inside roars, and the flames ignite. A black inferno that pours out from the palm of his hand and paints the ceiling with soot and ash as it washes over the stone. He can feel a surge through his entire system as his circuitry strains with exertion.

The shock of it causes him to fly back, the spell fizzling.

Despite this seemingly 'minor' success... Robin can immediately tell that something had changed. Occult , after all, was a largely symbolic magic. It didn't take a genius to figure out the symbology of getting hellfire in return for knocking on the devils door.