Edited: tommyjl7
I opened the door to Gisele’s room and walked in quickly. Lanele was there checking her condition, just as I asked her.
- “How is she?”
- “You look like seven miseries…”
- “Lana. Please.” I just rolled my eyes
- “Better and better. She is waking up for a few hours at a time, she is no longer confused nor exhausted. She will be fine in a jiffy.”
That’s good. That’s very good. But miasma is chaotic, you can bring her to the edge of perishing just so it would attack once again bringing havoc into the body. I pulled her sleeve checking her veins.
- “As you can see black marks are almost completely gone. You can go rest.”
- “Or potion may have just stopped working…” I said more to myself than to priestess
- “It should be working for one more day!” Lanele knew what I was thinking.
- “She is a half dragon. Most substances have a different impact on her, she could just get rid of the potion from her body by sweating… I think I will give her another dose, just in case.”
- “Zari, there is no more extract from the shadeshrub in your chest.” She squinted her eyes while crossing her hands on her chest.
- “I know, this is why I will have to…”
- “If you think I will let you cook potions in your state, then, dear sir, you are awfully mistaken!”
- “Come on, an hour or two won’t make much of a difference…”
She moved to the table under the window where my, let’s call it “equipment”, was located. Nothing serious, just a few vials and pot which I borrowed from one of the villagers.
- “Lana, what are you doing?”
She took an empty pot and started throwing vials into it.
- “Because someone here apparently lost his sanity, I decided to confiscate your equipment and herbs. I will give it back to you tomorrow after you have at least a full eight hours of sleep… You look to be in good mood though. You succeeded?”
- “More or less. The devil is no more, but about Johann… We will have to check on him after he wakes up. I will check on him…”
- “Tomorrow.” Lanele said with tone stating that she would not take rejection as an answer “… to bed.”
- “Oh, come on! At least let me…”
- “Bed. Now.”
- “…to wash myself and change clothes.” I decided to finish.
She checked me from toes to ears trying to estimate if the dirtiness of my clothes and body required such caring.
- “Very well. You have a basin with water in the corner of the room. Just make it quick. I will check if the two of you are resting!”
She threatened me with a finger.
- “The water is fresh, normally I would order someone to heat it, but as you are a fire magician…” she didn’t finish her sentence. She didn’t have to.
Priestess turned around and started walking toward the door.
- “Lana!…” I called her as she was one-foot-outside of the room making her turn her head around “… thank you. For taking care of Giselle. I really mean it.”
Her expression softened a little.
- “Hey, she is my friend too, you know? No need to tha….” Yet she hesitated at that moment “… actually, you know what? If you are THAT thankful…”
She said that teasingly.
- “Just name it.” I already regretted saying anything.
- “Do you remember that herbal tea-like infusion? The one which taste depends on the skills of the person that prepares it?”
- “Fine. Each time I would be near some pot just pass me some. It doesn’t take that much time nor efforts…”
Her eyes sparkled with glutton lights.
Hearing that she left grinning from ear to ear shutting the door behind her.
I turned around walking toward the wooden basin taking off a piece of clothing with every step. The basin wasn’t very big nor small. Me or Lana could sit in it, though we would have to curl our knees to our chest. I already imagine Gis pouting about the size.
I smiled hearing her voice in my mind.
The water indeed was cold, and also-indeed I could boil it with almost no effort. Yet I chose not to change it. I needed it, this pain-like sensation that refreshes the mind. It still was a bit warmer than the lake in the forest of dread, the one in front of the cave I chose as my first home in which I used to clean myself after the long day of hunting.
Strangely enough, I missed those days. I didn’t have company to take care of, I didn’t have a group of assassins coming at me every now and then for a new batch of poisons, I didn’t have to hide myself from senators trying to force me into politics nor nobles or guild members.
Back then, life was… simpler. Purer. You ate what you killed. You wore what you made. I missed the smell of dried grass I used as my bedding, the tingling sensation of excitement each time I lied down to sleep or woke up.
… I missed missing the town-life. Ha-ha-ha, it’s true what they say – you always desire something that you don’t have right now. Or maybe we just tend to glorify our desires? Focus only on positive aspects of a desirable situation while being blind for bad sides of it?
I have opened my eyes and look at Gis, sleeping peacefully on the bed. She was breathing calmly, with cheeks bit reddened by fever. Her partly opened lips made her look so innocent, you could easily forget that she is a walking muscle-machine powered by violence and alcohol.
As soon as I was done, I got up, dried my body, toss some shirt on myself and slowly entered the bed. It was not an easy task, for Gisele was a woman, and according to the inter-gender law, a woman keeps around 80% of bed surface for herself. With lots of efforts and excessive moves, I managed to find myself some space on edge of the bed.
Yet as soon as our bodies touched, she rolled on the side and snuggled against me trapping me in an embrace. For the next few hours, I will stay completely immobilized, for there was no way to escape from her hug.
Not that I mind.
I relaxed, hugged her back bringing her even closer. I was rewarded with a quiet purr of approval.
Exhaustion of my body, warmness of Gis and softness of the bed allowed me to slowly drift into one of the most comfortable dreams in my entire life. The last thing I heard was the rain hitting the roof the inn which started to fall.
Thinking about this right now, maybe I don’t miss the wildness of forest THAT much. Maybe not… Maybe n…
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The cracking sound of the door being opened slowly woke me up. I was dizzy from sleeping for too long and my whole body was still numb.
Still, my instinct kicked in, filling me with adrenaline for a split of a second, before I relaxed again. I didn’t have to open my eyes to know who entered the room. The light steps, calm breathing, even the rhythm of heart-beating, slightly different than the rhythm of human’s one. All of that plus her aura quickly betrayed her identity.
- “He is still sleeping, is he?” Lana asked with a whisper.
- “Apparently. Poor bastard really needs it.” Gis answered with just as quiet whisper. Though her breath pleasantly tickled skin of my neck.
It was good to know that Gis woke up by herself. Means that the miasma poisoning was in recession.
- “I just wanted to tell you, that the innkeeper prepared some meat soup, it is warm now, so if you want some…”
- “… no. I am fine. I will lie like this for a moment or two longer…” Did Giselle just refuse the food? The world is ending.
- “Ok. I will keep some for you, you will just have to re-heat it. Zari could do that.”
- “Kay’. Thanks for letting us now.”
The cracking sound declared that elf once again started leaving the room, yet just before she completely shut the door, she managed to say.
- “The two of you look cute snuggling like that…” one of the spare pillows was thrown in the direction of the priestess, yet she managed to shut it just in time.
A dulled giggle could be heard behind the door.
I have lots of things to do today too, I should get going, but… the warmness… the softness.
- “Well, hello to you too, Zari.” Giselle said. I decided to ignore her greeting, pretending to be still sleeping. I didn’t want to get up from the bed just yet.
- “You can stop pretending. I know you are awake.”
- “No you don’t.” I groaned hugging her even tighter.
I thought this would earn me a hit with an elbow, instead, she just started playing with my hair.
Giselle showing spontaneous signs of affection? The end is truly upon us.
- “…hey, Lana was here a moment ago… she said the food is ready…”
- “Just let me stay like this five more minutes…”
- “Sure, I can grab it and bring some to you…”
Now. That’s where the line is crossed. Giselle offering to bring FOOD to bed for ME?
I opened my eyes.
- “Who are you and what did you do to Giselle?! Ouff!”
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
Here it came. The hit in the guts.
- “Moron. I just tried repaying you a favor for taking care of me!” she pouted.
- “Oh… I see. In that case… I am sorry, I guess? Yes, it would be very pleasant if you would grab it and…”
- “No, bring it yourself.” She kept pouting.
Women.
- “Come on, don’t be like that!”
- “Hmph!” she broke our hug and rolled on the other side of the bed
- “Come on! What is it now?”
- “Guess it by yourself!”
Women…
- “Fine.” I groaned leaving warm, almost magnetizing bedding. “… will bring it for both of us. Do you want something extra just for yourself?”
I asked the rhetorical question.
- “Don’t care!!!”
- “Whiskey it is then.”
She tried to be angry, she really did, yet the tip of her tail started twitching up and down betraying her realm emotion.
I got up, dressed up and started leaving the room. One last time I looked back at Gisele. I just knew she was grinning to herself like mad right now, I didn’t have to see it.
- “Women…” I just sighed to myself.
- “Said something?!”
- “Only that I love you.”
Better avoid messing with an angry dragon. Especially with an angry and hungry dragon. Lesson learned – when someone offers to do something for you, do not question the motives, just take it. That is unless you are a 5-year-old kid and some old disgusting man offers you candy.
Remember kids - never take candies from strangers!
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An hour later, after dealing with breakfast and still pouting Giselle (Though she was not angry-pouting, more like spoil-me-more-or-I-will-pretend-I-am-angry-pouting) I decided to check on the mental condition of Johann. This time Marie was accompanying me. I tried convincing her it was a bad idea… But she just wouldn’t listen.
I have opened the trap door leading to the cellar and walked in. Even now I could hear constant snarling and growling. Marie heard that too. She clasped her hands together as if she was praying.
Then, we enter the last room.
Johann was human again. Or at least in a body. His face was covered in drool, around his wrist, ankles, and neck where the chain was attached the red marks appeared proving that he was trying to release himself from the bondage, though he was doing it by thrashing in all direction like an animal.
- “Johann… no…” witch gasped “… it’s all my fault.”
Yes, it was. At least partly. Telling her that she is wrong or that everything would be all right would be a pointless lie.
Hearing her voice and seeing her face the man stopped for a moment. It was hard to tell if he recognized his fiancé. Most likely after seeing her he felt something like déjà vu – he knew he knew her, yet he had no idea where from.
Marie stepped closer.
- “It’s alright, darling, it’s alright now, here, let me help yo…” she stretched her hand trying to ease the chain, yet as her hand appeared close enough to Johann's face he clapped his teeth as if he tried to bite it off before he started to growl like an animal and producing enormous amount of drool which covered his whole face again.
- “May the Mother have mercy on me… May she have mercy on you…” her lower lip started trembling.
- “Did you see what you wanted to see?” I asked calmly
- “Do you think… You could help him?”
- “Me? No. But there may be someone who could.”
- “Who is it?”
- “You have already called her name, a moment ago.”
I said lowering my body over the floor covered in protective sigils written with chalk. I quickly started erasing them. They disturbed the spiritual flow, something I needed.
- “What do you mean?”
- “I will connect our spirits, then I would start meditating and try to transfer our minds on a different plane of existences…”
- “W-what?”
I sighed. I hate to justify my actions to the people that have no idea about the matter at all. In the end, she was just a village witch. Then again, she was most likely out of her mind.
- “He spent a few days in the state called
I ended erasing the marks. I burrowed my hand in a bag I had brought with myself and started taking out equipment I thought would be necessary.
Candles. Dirt. A vial with water. Moss.
Fire, Earth, Water, Living Element that loved the darkened areas.
I didn’t have to worry about the element representing air, do I?
I ignited the candles and put them around Johann, still tied to the chair, I took a handful of dirt on my palm and blow it on him, then I uncorked the vial and poured it on his head. I don’t have to add that he didn’t like being treated this way.
- “From the dust we were made and into dust we shall fall…” I chanted quietly holding the piece of moss within my starched hands.
- “Hear my prayer, lady of the dead,
you are being called by those who wish to cross the veil,
take our hands, and lead us on, to the land of evergreen, where our ancestors fall.”
The flames of the candles started dancing and shaking as if the furious wind blown. Then, one by one, they started to perish leaving only small dying smoke.
The temperature dropped and the world became grey. It was not a metaphor – it literally turned grey.
- “Normally, I don’t answer calls of mortals… unless they are necromancers or on the verge of dying.” A soft, almost pleasant voice rang behind me like a thousand tiny bells. “… now, mind telling me why someone still breathing wishes to cross the veil?”
I turned around.
Marie was there. Standing still. Her mouth was opened as if she wanted to say something, yet nothing could be heard. Her eyes were focused on Johann, and wouldn’t bulge even at the presence in front of her. She couldn’t move. Nothing could move. The drop of water I poured on Johann started falling on the ground as I started my chant, right now it was frozen there - 20 centimeters above the ground. You could see the momentum of wind that changed the shape of the drop.
Yet it didn’t move.
Here I was, between the tic and tack of the clock. In the domain of gods.
The woman that appeared in the dim room had extremely pale skin, wearing a snow-white dress. Her eyes were light blue and hair were completely white.
She wasn’t exactly a goddess. She had no worshiper, nor altar. She had many names: the traveler, the weeping lady, the pale lady, Mortis.
Some also called her the reaper or simply – Death.
Her role was simple – after you would die, she was the one that was holding your hand helping you pass through the veil – on the other side, so you wouldn’t get lost in a mist of netherworlds. Few necromancers which are studying the nature of death decided to cross it without her help. Not many returned.
- “Greetings…” I hesitated. “… my lady.”
She chuckled truly amused.
- “My-my, no need to be so formal nor polite. Call me however you want if it bothers you that much…. So… you are the one that wreaked such havoc among the gods?” she started walking around me.
No, not to intimidate me. She was more like a child that saw some exotic animal and just wanted to see it from every angle possible.
- “… I knew we would meet eventually, though it is not your time…” she hesitated for a moment before taking a piece of rolled paper from the sack near her belt and checking something on it “… nope, it’s not your time. I don’t have you on my list just yet.”
I leaned forward a little. In front of me, there was a real book of death. The desire to see how it works was like an instinct. I didn’t even think about it.
She jumped away pressing the piece of paper to her chest.
- “No peeking!” she puffed her cheeks “… if you would see the names you could tell em’, then their lifeline could be changed! And that would bring a mess to the whole system! You have any idea how much paperwork I get when someone messes with the timeline?!... Stupid Barry. He has no idea what a pain in the ass he is…”
- “P-pardon me?”
- “Ah! Just talking to myself! Please, feel free to ignore me!... so, how can I help you?” she tilted her head to the side.
I coughed few times.
- “I was wondering if you could help me to…” I pointed on Johann “… relocate this gentleman on the other side.”
- “Of course I can, though there are easier ways to do that, you know, you could just…”
She made a gesture of slitting one’s throat with her finger.
- “There is a catch, I would need him back after that. Alive.”
- “Hmm? Not going to happen. I provide only one-way tickets.” Saying that she jumped on the table on which hunters stripped his animals of flesh. Then she started to swing her bare feet back and forth.
- “This is why I called you, I thought…”
- “Listen. You are special. I can tell that, the way your name appears and perishes from my notes over and over again proves that. But if you think just because of that every goddess and deity will jump around you providing you with whatever you need, then you are wrong.”
- “I was thinking more about making some kind of deal…”
- “No.” there was no anger nor annoyance in her voice. She just stated her mind.
- “May I ask why?”
- “Because it is impossible for me. Tell me, back in your previous world. Could you play music on a calculator?”
- “Well, after some modifications and…”
- “Let me rephrase myself. Can you use object A to do the tasks B, though it was designed only to perform action A? No. It’s the same with me. I am like a program. Think about gods and deities as extremely advanced, self-aware A.I. We have lots of freedom, yes, but we are also restricted. I was… let’s say – designated - to help people pass from our world to afterlife. Do you imagine what would happen if I could bring them back?”
- “Planets would become far less roomy…”
- “No. You are looking only from your perspective, Zari’el. Life has a purpose. Through life you gain experience which we later harvest and use to fuel the universe. Even the necromancy you know is not perfect, you can extend one’s existence but even that would end when the cycle would meet its end.”
She jumped off the table.
- “So… you will not help me?”
- “I didn’t say that. You want me to take him? Can do that. You will just have to figure it out yourself how to bring him back. In the end, his vessel would still be here, living.”
- “But… is that even possible?”
- “Dunno! Never tried it.”
Her carefree attitude was slowly getting on my nerves.
- “Well, you can enter a few god-planes on your own, can you? I think it will be possible for you to drag someone back. But you need to decide. Quickly.”
- “Just… give me a moment. I need to…”
- “No can do. Zari'el, people are dying all the time. I am a busy lady.” She looked once again on the man tied to the chair “… so?”
- “Please. Do.” I sighed
- “Normally I don’t ask such thing. Where is he supposed to be delivered?”
- “Evergreen.”
- “Good choice. Garden of Eden, I prefer it over heavenly haven of Luxia. It is so peaceful.”
She smiled at her own memories. Then she walked to still frozen body of the man and lied her hand on his palm.
Then, he moved. He wanted to growl once again, yet seeing the pale lady he just kept staring at her with eyes wide open.
- “You poor little child.” She said with a tone filled with pure sadness “… tell me, little one, do you want me to walk you to the other side?”
Despite his madness, Johann appeared to know what kind of creature the Lady is. He became completely submissive in her hands.
- “C’mere, let me guide you.” She started gently pulling him off the chair.
He passed through the bondages as if they weren’t there. At second glance I noticed, that all she lifted was his spirit. His body was still there. Motionless, tied to the chair.
- “I can just sense how much his mind suffered. The humiliation. Being deprived of self-awareness. Fed with nothing but violence.”
She looked at me one last time.
- “I shouldn’t be doing this, Zari’el. This is a one-time service, and not because of you, but because of him…” she gently patted the head of a muscular man “… if you would call me again, I would simply ignore you. That is till you would learn necromancy and try to make a bargain regarding that matter. If you wouldn’t, the next time we met would be the time when I would grab your hand. Till then, have a fulfilling life, Zari’el.”
She turned around and started walking toward the wall. She pulled Johann closer to herself and started talking with him about some unimportant nonsenses in a pleasant tone. It was meant to distract souls from the fact that they are about to cross the edge between worlds. I watched as mist slowly raised from the floor and covered the figures till they blurred and vanished. Then the mist disappeared.
And then the drop of water fell on the floor and splashed. The grain of dirt scattered around the room and eyes of Marie started moving across the room.
And Johann was still there, though he stopped moving. No, his chest still raised and fall each time he breathed, but he stopped growling. He stopped thrashing around and his eyes became empty. Here he was, nothing but an empty, soulless shell.
- “Did it work?” Marie asked excited.
- “Partly.” I decided not to fill her in details.
- “Then, when…”
- “Marie. Do something for me. Leave the room.”
- “But!…”
- “Marie, I am not asking. I need you to leave. You saw him, you knew how bad it was, I let you see that I am working on it, now, I will give you a task. Leave the cellar and make sure that no one will bother me. I need to prepare for the ritual.”
- “What kind of ri…”
- “LEEEEEAVE!”
I lost my patience.
The poor girl literally started running toward the exit.
I sat on the floor in a lotus position. A moment ago I had summoned death itself and convinced her to take someone, whose time on this world did not perish completely. I have basically killed that man using an existence which exists outside of gods jurisdiction.
And now, the second part of the task awaits – the harder one.