“...now do the hand signs. Breathe, focus. Good! What do you feel?” Chalal asked.

“I feel a cold energy. No, not cold, a chilling energy,” Nulrok said, his hands held in front with their fingers touching each other. The goblin had their eyes closed as they focused.

“Yes! This is not ice magic. This has nothing to do with temperature. Can you draw it in?” The necromancer asked, his voice rising as an excited teacher.

Nulrok nodded as he strained. His temples began to sweat. He couldn’t see it, but he felt a glowing aura of dark energy ball up in between his hands. The two mages were in the topmost chamber of the tower, unlike the lower floors, which were nearly empty. This one was fully furnished and cluttered with piles of books, tomes, and parchments. A heavy desk filled with jars, potions, and melted wax dominated the chamber’s center. This was a magical laboratory for a powerful mage. It was equipped with a copper inlaid summoning circle, shelves of rare spell components, and elixirs.

“Now spread open your hands, as we practiced, and allow the energy in.”

Like the dutiful student, Nulrok compiled. He opened his hands with the palms up, and the dark ball of energy coalesced through his fingers.

“Can you hold it?” Chalal asked with some anticipation.

Nulrok took a deep breath, and his face strained slightly. The energy was chilling. A different type of cold. Like when casting fire or ice magic, it threatens to engulf him. But he willed it to stay put, much like balancing a standing stick in the palm of the hand. It will teeter, and there is a risk that it will fall, but once the holder achieves the right balance, it will remain. It is a delicate balance and, with practice, easier to maintain. The goblin mage felt confident and opened his eyes.

“Yes, I have it,” he said.

“Excellent! Now direct it toward the zombie. Use it to control it,” the necromancer commanded.

Ten meters across from Nulrok was a stationary zombie. Its mindless and blank eyes staring at the ground. Nulrok extended the dark energy he felt in his hands and directed it toward the creature. The creature twitched and stood taller. Nulrok willed it to move, and the zombie shambled forward. Nulrok willed it to stop, and it did. Finally, Nulrok had to end the spell. The zombie slouched over, and the power dissipated from his fingers. The goblin was panting from both physical and mental exhaustion.

“Very good! Relax and rest. Steady your mind. You have learned a lot quicker than I would have anticipated. This is the first ability that a Necromancer should master. Death is a negative energy source. If there is life, then there is death. With this spell, you can travel freely through the cemetery, and the lower undead will not molest you. They might even obey you. The Ghouls and Vampires could also fall to your command, but their will is much stronger. When you get more skilled with it, you can use it to create an undead servant. Eventually, you can summon a spirit.”

“Can I direct it at the non-undead?” Nulrok asked and was rewarded with an evil laugh from the necromancer.

“Yes. You can direct it at the living. This magic is the opposite of life. Where life bestows and creates, death removes and destroys. At your level, if you can overcome their resistance, you can weaken your foes. Drain their power. Their life force.”

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“Master…” Nulrok began to ask a question.

“No. I am not so formal. Call me Chalal, please.”

“Chalal, why are you helping us?”

“Why do you ask?”

“It’s just. It does not appear to be in your nature to be helpful…” Nulrok stuttered, and this was rewarded by another rich laugh.

“It is true. Mastering the art of necromancy is not often done by those with charitable hearts. In truth, it is frowned upon by nearly every culture and tradition. But it is formidable and powerful. As such, necromancy tends to attract the more dark-inclined individuals. I am no exception. But why, you ask? I’m bored. Perhaps lonely, and your group has impressed me. It has been ages since I’ve encountered a group such as yours that were able to survive the vampire. Or even a worthy pupil to share my craft with.”

“You think I’m worthy?” Nulrok asked.

“Not yet. One more test. Are you prepared?”

Nulrok nodded eagerly. Later on, in retrospect, he believed he should have clarified what the test was first before agreeing.

Chalal clapped his hands loudly. The door to the chamber opened, and the ghoul, Salius, entered.

“You’ve summoned me, master?” The ghoul asked and bowed.

Salius was a good 12 meters away from the goblin mage. He was a head taller and had unnatural strength with sharp claws and teeth. A truly formidable opponent.

“Yes, you are free to kill the goblin,” Chalal said, and Salius looked at Nulrok and gave a horrifyingly wide grin revealing two rows of savagely sharp teeth.

Nulrok’s mouth opened in shock. He felt betrayed. Then he felt fear as the ghoul rapidly ran toward him. The mage let out a shriek and ran behind the heavy wooden table. The ghoul, afraid of knocking over any of his master’s items, ran around and chased the mage.

“You know what to do,” Chalal said calmly.

Nulrok ran, and the ghoul was much faster. It would be only a matter of moments. Falling back on his natural talents. Nulrok quickly surrounded the ghoul with an ice wall. He curved it inwards, making it difficult for the creature to climb out. But the supernaturally hungry ghoul was determined and scrambled against the slick and sharp walls of ice.

“Are you mad?!?!?” Nulrok cried to Chalal.

“That’s not what I meant,” the necromancer said with a snap of his finger. A ball of fire launched from his hand and melted the ice wall.

Nulrok had mere moments before the ghoul was free. Just seconds after that, before the creature ripped the goblin mage to shreds. He closed his eyes, completed the hand gesture, and summoned the death energy. He heard the clawed feet of the ghoul rushing toward him. Three meters away. He could almost feel the claws and fangs rip into his flesh. But he pushed those distractions out of his mind. He focused on the energy. Collecting it. He opened his eyes, and Salius was a mere two meters away. Nulrok channeled the energy toward the ghoul. One meter away, and then the ghoul froze.

“Obey me,” Nulork hissed.

Salius nodded and bowed his head to the goblin.

“Good,” the goblin said and then looked up at Chalal. The necromancer nodded with approval, but Nulrok was not done.

“Kill Chalal,” Nulrok ordered the ghoul. The creature looked up in shock. Nulrok poured his will into the spell, and then Salius turned toward the necromancer and hissed.

The ghoul lunged. Chalal, his face emotionless, completed several gestures in rapid succession. The ghoul shriveled and crumbled to dust. The dark energy is released from it.

Nulrok was panting heavily and was completely drained. Chalal glared at him with his dark pupilless eyes, and then he chuckled.

“Now you are worthy.”