Why did Old Neil lose control of his Beyonder abilities in Lord of Mysteries? Explored

One of the most devastating warning stories in the Lord of Mysteries universe is Old Neil's terrible journey from esteemed mentor to corrupted monster. Neil, who first taught Klein Moretti mysticism at the Blackthorn Security Company, was a symbol of wisdom, self-control, and the maxim "do as you like but do no harm."

His fall from grace serves as a sobering reminder that even the most well-behaved Beyonders can be influenced by outside forces. Old Neil's frantic effort to revive his deceased fiancée, Celeste, using a prohibited alchemical technique, was the main reason for his losing control. Specifically, his attempt to create an Alchemical Life under the corrupting influence of the Hidden Sage destabilized his mind and Beyonder abilities.

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The seeds of corruption in the Lord of Mysteries

Neil's death was caused by a deep personal sorrow that eventually consumed him and began long before Klein ever met him. Neil, a former Nighthawk, was engaged to Celeste but was powerless to stop her from dying of her disease.

Even with his Beyonder skills and mystical knowledge, he couldn't save the woman he loved. He was haunted by regret for years after this failure, feeling his lack of mysticism was to blame. The pain of this loss never truly vanished; instead, it grew into a deadly addiction.

As an older staff member at Blackthorn Security Company years later, Neil's wish to bring Celeste back to life grew stronger rather than weaker. His declining health limited him to paperwork instead of fieldwork, and his advanced age prevented any promotion.

This enforced inaction may have given him too much time to think about his past mistakes and to consider increasingly drastic solutions. Neil's research into resurrection techniques was influenced by the Hidden Sage, a wicked force that corrupts those who seek forbidden knowledge.

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Alchemical life and ultimate corruption

Neil and Celeste (Image via B.CMAY PICTURES)

This forbidden practice was the result of years of secret research and growing desperation. Under the influence of the Hidden Sage, Neil became convinced that this was his path to redemption, his chance to finally save the woman he had failed to protect decades earlier.

The signs of Neil's decline were subtle at first, noticed primarily by Klein's heightened perception through Spirit Vision, which revealed mysterious eyes watching from behind Neil during their lessons. These otherworldly spectators were expressions of the prohibited knowledge and ritualistic magic Neil was increasingly exploring.

As his experiments continued, the corruption deepened, transforming the kind teacher into a grotesque creature that retained only fragments of his former humanity.

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Final thoughts

Old Neil as seen in Lord of Mysteries (Image via B.CMAY PICTURES)

When Klein, Dunn Smith, and Royale Reideen confronted Neil at his house, they found a man completely absorbed in his passion. Once a symbol of wisdom and self-control, the instructor had become a warning about the perils of grief-driven desperation.

The last moments of the former Nighthawk showed the terrible duality of his metamorphosis, even as Dunn used the Peaceful Hair Strands to end Neil's suffering: he begged for his life while also being freed from the evil that had consumed him.

Old Neil's tragedy highlights how even the most well-meaning Beyonders can fall when personal grief overpowers mystical discipline, serving as a stark lesson about the cost of forbidden knowledge in the world of Lord of Mysteries.

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