The Guardian's Helm

In the Hellsong Tavern, Daren sadly recalls his friend Malik. After a fight with a book golem in Irman's library, they found an ancient helmet with magical scrolls protruding from it instead of spikes. Malik hoped the artifact could be sold for a higher price, as the scrolls clearly contained ancient spells, so he decided to take it.

But when the demon donned the ancient artifact, his eyes glowed a parchment-like yellow. The scrolls whispered the library's rules, and Malik suddenly understood the language of the tomes. Daren shouted for his friend to take off the helmet, but Malik only smiled strangely. As if he were no longer Malik, but something else.

Daren has never forgiven himself. He regrets sitting here in the tavern. And his friend Malik guards the ancient repository of demonic knowledge. He is neither cursed nor dead, but simply part of the repository of knowledge.