I stared, mouth agape as the wyvern corpse myself and Morice had prepared rose up before me. The mana crystals used for its eyes warping as the power of the ten souls I had to stretch over and into its frame worked their power upon it. The scales that had hung loosely around it, like a scale mail just slightly a size to large tightened and began to form defined muscles underneath it. This wasn’t an undead in front of me, well intellectually I knew it was but it’s form was so damn lifelike.
The power expenditure for raising this single prepared and modified skeleton had cost me about as much raw power as it had turning Abhorash into a true vampire. I was just thankful I hadn’t had to put a piece of my soul into the mix as well. I was on my knees with Morice next to me helping me to stand as the glowing arctic eyes turned to us. A black whirlpool forming in their centre before the slit iris of a dragon formed from it but the intelligence displayed made me almost flinch.
A ripple ran through the wyvern as its body continued to be warped and constructed through the sheer amount of power running through it. Its horns grew and gained the same arctic glow as its eyes while retaining their forms as the ridges running along the front of them became more crystalline in nature. The scales turned black as pitch before the same arctic coloured glow as its horns and eyes shone slightly through like outlines to its scales before dimming down once more.
Then it spread its wings, a single wing was twice my height and the amazing wingspan it displayed left me breathless as the shadows coalesced around the membrane that looked just slightly too torn to function as wings before a pulse of the same glow shone in veins in the membrane that hadn’t been there before as the full effect of what I’d done to the skeletons bones forced the minion before me to take a quantitative and qualitative evolution during its own creation.
Once the rippling and warping of what looked like its scales and skin on the outside subsided it slammed its wings down on either side of me and roared into my face. The gust of wind from its roar alone capable of deafening at such a short distance.
I had never thought that necromancy could hold any true beauty in an artistic sense but the wyvern was… magnificent.
I hadn’t even realized I’d let my own instincts kick in as the rumbling growl I was capable of letting out grew from my throat as I got my feet under me. The sound was like the mixture of a crocodiles low growl and a tigers. With a deep breath I let the fetters of my mana that hid me from the senses of other mages loose and roared right back at the creature.
Morice took a few steps back from me as my carapace sprouted and ripped through the dress shirt and pants I was wearing. The Wyvern didn’t back down and growled at me once more, bunching up its long neck before lunging forwards to strike.
I’d have been struck if it wasn’t for wraith step but I felt the loss of a chunk of the carapace when in my shock that I didn’t have complete control over this new minion had hit me. Gripping a horn I let myself go, for the first time I could remember I exerted all the power my natural abilities and changed physiology allowed me and just barely managed to hold the wyverns head down against the ground. I growled low as I stared into its eyes and then I felt it, the snap connection I had to my minions come into place. The wyvern was now mine to command as I pleased.
Congratulations! A greater potential minion has been created and has submitted to your command. These minions are beings created with unusual means and have unique properties and abilities but must be made to submit to their creators in turn.
If their creator is deemed unfit they will either leave or kill their creator before being unleashed upon the world.
You’ve gained command of (Unnamed) wyvern by your display of animalistic instinct and by the dint of your own strength. However this is a tentative submission only and this minion isn’t fully under your command nor is it loyal to a fault like your other minions to date. Keep that in mind as you grow and your minions grow.
I blinked at the notification and growled low as I leaned down to look the wyvern eye to eye. “You give me a reason and I’ll dismantle you without regret.” I threatened and the flash of intelligence in its crystalline eyes made it clear it understood but was grudging to accept.
I’d made an indent into the ground with the things head so even if it couldn’t feel pain as an undead it should feel the strength I could bring to bear against it and what such blunt force could do to its bones.
The patting of feet made me turn my head to see Selma, Freya, Camille and the others living in the manor come running out into the backyard. I figured the roar in the middle of the night would wake some up but now I internally winced at what my neighbours would think. Guess I’d have to get used to being a social pariah among the nobility at least.
“W-what is that?!” Freya exclaimed as she got a full view of the wyvern after I’d let its head go and it rose up once more. It was docile for now but I knew I had to find a way to fully subdue it or else it would find a way to bite me in the ass at a later date.
The others also froze in their steps as they came rushing out and got their first glimpse of the wyvern staring them down like their mere presence was annoying it.
Morice walked up to me and looked at me, flashing a hand sign we’d come to work out between us. I shook my head, the hand sign had been a question if I had full control or not. Morice visibly tensed a bit and I saw he was ready to fight the thing at the drop of a hat but that worried me. I’d barely been able to avoid it’s explosive speed when it struck at me, he’d be bisected before reacting as he was now. I kept forgetting at times that it wasn’t just my strength, agility and speed that was boosted beyond anything someone of my level had any right to be but it also enhanced how fast I could think and react as well as grant me changes to my vision others didn’t have. It made me wonder what it would grant me once I actually became a full vampire or if perhaps there were parts to it I hadn’t discovered yet.
“Nidhoggur.” I said in a low tone, the growl still there under my voice as I took a step towards the wyvern. It regarded me and I felt it was doing so properly for the first time it’s eyes regarding me as it slowly moved its head towards me. Its head was easily able to bite down onto my full torso given its size so as it moved to look me directly in the eyes from the front its jaws were still able to snap down on my upper body.
“Your name from this day forth will be Nidhoggur, the dragon that gnaws at the roots of the world.” I said as I stared the thing down.
It was a tense few moments as we stared one another down before it closed its eyes and inclined its head towards me in submission or acceptance I wasn’t overly sure. With the thing named I raised my hand and placed it upon the wyverns head and pulled it into my soul space. Thankfully I had managed to empty quite a bit of the space in both my soul space and many of the storage rings Morice had managed to pilfer from Bedelev’s black market into one of the two vaults the manor came equipped with.
Of course flesh and the like was kept in storage rings to prevent rot while bones, cleaned and properly handled could be left out without any fear of rot setting in. Thankfully the secondary vault we’d found in a hidden underground cellar was perfect for our material storage while the one taking up a wall in the main office of the manor served as our storage for money and valuables of which Morice had pilfered quite a few. Apparently the stashes Morice had raided from the Black market in Bedelev had been rather well stocked with goods and valuables and he’d raided a few of them.
“That’s quite the name.” Morice said as I looked from me to the place Nidhoggur had been just a moment ago. “Still can you control that thing? I know I’m just learning to sense mana around me like you’ve been teaching me but that thing is stronger than the Necroshade and that almost killed you and Abhorash.” He said as the others still out of earshot began to tentatively make their way to me.
“I don’t think it’ll be easy to gain full control.. now its about as loyal as a mercenary, I think.” I said as I placed my hand to my chin in thought. “It will take an arm if given a finger so I think its better if only I am dealing with Nidhogg until I gain full control over it.” I sighed before I ran my fingers over my face and combed them through my hair as I swept them back.
The carapace around my body made me look like I was wearing a skin tight yet just slightly padded wetsuit or something similar with only my head not covered in it. I still hadn’t found a proper way of allowing it to form lenses that allowed me to use my full vision instead of narrowing it like so many helms did.
I stared at the spot Nidhogg had been with a frown. The creature was well outside of my predictions of what it was supposed to be. I’d expected something like a faster or tougher version of the skeletal wyvern but Nidhoggur had been something wholly unexpected.
It wasn’t just much stronger than I’d expected and it was just level 1 at this point but it was intelligent and quite so at that. It’s stats were also rather close to my own with agility surpassing my own. I had to level myself up fast or I’d end up creating something able to kill me.
I stopped as I felt the warmth of the little hand that slipped to grip my own and I smiled as I looked down at Akasha’s worried little face. I went to my knees and gently picked her up. “I’m sorry little one. Did I wake you?” I asked as the others came up to us, rather hesitantly as the noted the gleaming carapace covering most of my body and claw tipped fingers and toes.
“W-what are you?” Both Camille and Bau asked at the same time as both now looked afraid, Selma and Freya not much better in their expressions. To my surprise Gandas, Bau’s son, looked up at me with sparkling eyes. Like I was something out of a fairy tale brought to life before him.
I sighed and gave a weak smile to them. “I’m the last in the bloodline of the god of death. My path isn’t yours and I pray none of you will have to walk a similar path to mine.” I simply said, letting it be answer enough as I handed Akasha over to Morice and began to focus on my carapace, changing it.
Fur like that of the fuzz on a bumblebee sprouted at the place were my collar bones met my sternum and then followed along to create a fuzzy collar around my neck as thin membranous cloth like protrusions came out around my hips to create a sort of armoured jacket with a breastplate over it as my own fashion sense was used for the form. Since I didn’t have any clothing to change into I had to make due and a week to learn to properly manage and use my carapace. Then maybe, I’d never have to worry about clothing again? No I couldn’t really do that, so far the only colour I had for my carapace was black even without shadow infusion and given how colourful nobles tended to be I don’t think I’d be able to use it for that.
Realizing I’d gotten stuck in my own head for a while again I noted the looks on the women’s faces after the change to my carapace. “Can you teach me how to do that?” Freya suddenly asked just staring and apparently the fear of Nidhogg forgotten.
“Are you part...” I paused as I remembered Zalruk and what his race was supposedly called. What was it again? I remember thinking of him as a nerubian given his rather spidery and Egyptian type style blend but hadn’t he said what he was? I facepalmed and groaned inwardly. “Nerubian?” I then finished realizing the damn race was named like I’d originally thought, hell I’d had a choice to be one at my rebirth by the council but Németh had chosen for me.
Freya’s reply was a blank stare at me.
“Insectoid race. I’m… sort of a mishmash of three different races when I think about it. My form is that of a dark elf or Dökk Alfar as they are named, while I have the ability for this.” I said tapping a clawed finger against the carapace to make that little tink sound. “Comes from a Nerubians natural carapace.” I explained deciding not to go into the ghoul and the final vampire layer over whatever the hell I actually was now.
A loud clamour at the front of the manor made me look that way and angle my head to hear better. Freya seeing the action decided to tap into her inner little shit and asked teasingly. “What do your elf ears hear?” Only to get a flick of my finger at her nose as I pulled the only other thing I now had in my souls space besides Nidhoggur, my sword.
Seeing that Morice put Akasha down and pulled out his own sword and hand-axe combo and the two of us began to make our way to the front of the manor. Leaving the others confused and most likely with turbulent thoughts and emotions of what had already happened tonight.
As the two of us approached the gate I saw guards in heavy armour trying to force the gate open with a few nobles and their guards behind them. I noted one girl looked frightened and not wishing to be there at all. Her auburn hair and the dwarf at her side all deked out in half-plate without the helmet drew the eye among the crowd of mostly humans. As I approached the gate the guards stopped trying to force it open and stared at the two men approaching it with arms drawn.
“What is the meaning of this?” I asked keeping my tone to that of an annoyed noble without allowing my more… inhuman aspects manifest besides the armoured look my carapace had taken upon itself.
“What was that roar just now? And who are you to dwell in this manor?!” A short man with a moustache asked behind the first guards who backed off as I flung the gates open with one hand, a gate two of them had been struggling to open thanks to the inlaid magic circulating the manor and its area.
“I am Baron Felix Aesir and that roar was my uppity wyvern trying to break its bonds.” I said just as tersely as the small man had as I stood before the people arrayed around the gate to my manor. On loan or not this was my manor for the time being and I wouldn’t let just anyone into my home, least of all nobles sniffing their noses at me as I introduced myself.
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“Wyvern? Who are you?!” The short man shouted at me as he made himself as large as possible and somehow managed to stare down his nose at me. “A baron wouldn’t be given this manor and least of all a peasant looking one like you!” He said and with a snap of his fingers the two guards that had been trying to open the gate charged me.
“Markus, what did the emperor say about my response when assaulted?” I asked lazily as I looked at the two level thirty warriors come charging at me, as if in slow motion. A part of me realized I was acting like the final boss in a way, not deigning to even look at the two as threats given my advantage over most if not all my own level.
“If in self defence ending them is allowed.” Morice said with a sly smirk as he took a step back and looked to be about enjoy a show.
I took three steps, wraith steps true but steps nonetheless and the small man blinked when it was all over, my sword at his throat and both his men sprawled on the cobblestone street. “So, question is...” I began looking down at the man like the insect he was. The man wasn’t even level ten, relying most likely on his duke class to bully or order others around. “Do I kill you too as you ordered them to attack me?” I asked coldly as my eye narrowed at the man.
“W-who are you?” The short man asked his knee’s shaking, most likely since I’d just dealt with his guards in the time it took him to slowly blink.
I smiled in a predatory manner as I let my own shadow elongate behind me and let Nidhogg rise from it behind the gate. The beast didn’t disappoint as it rose up slowly and climbed the gate to loom over the people at my gates. Many of them were silent and took steps back as their faces drained of all colour as Nidhoggur stared at them like tasty snacks for it to devour.
“As I said.” I started as I changed my smile to be more cordial and sheathed my sword without killing the little duke. “I am Baron Felix Aesir, I am at this manor as Magistrate Nafir loaned it to myself and my family as I work at the Emperor’s request. As the new Vice-headmaster of the royal magic academy.” I said and I felt a little smug as the little duke swallowed audibly, most likely thinking he was in a bigger mess than he already was.
A gasp arose from the crowd as Ashes and Dust landed on my shoulders and I heard a rather crude dwarfish curse making me look to its origin as a dwarf the size of the duke came trundling towards me. I had to raise an eyebrow as he looked rather angry as he stomped towards me, the same auburn haired girl behind him trying to pull him back.
Once the dwarf came up to within arms-reach of me he just stared me in the eye. I did the same keeping my face neutral though I wanted to raise an eyebrow to try and push him to say the first word, things were getting a little awkward with the tense silence between us.
When I was about to speak he thrust his hand out to me in the same manner as a handshake. This time I did raise an eyebrow in question and the dwarf pointed at Ashes and Dust.
“Are those your birds?” He asked and I nodded, his pointed hand turned to once more ask for a handshake. I decided to clasp forearms with him as was dwarfish custom and he raised his own eyebrows in shock. “You're a strange one all right. Never even heard of an elf greeting a dwarf like an equal. Don’t all of you think of us as ground digging vermin usually?” He asked most likely rather curious about why I had done that.
I smiled, though internally I’d just greeted him like Borst the Dwarven companion I’d had when human had taught me to. Of course those bastards in Wolfsgard had killed him and Silv the elven party members before doing so to myself. I decided to look at the duke with almost a sneer as I answered. “Ah that’s where I’m different from other Alfar. I view humans as the vermin, never treat their elders with any respect.” I had begun with a mocking tone before I went over to a mock offended tone as myself and the dwarf let one another's forearms go.
“W-what?” The little duke asked with wide eyes as he stared at me.
I simply smiled in a teasing tone and pointed at the nervous and fidgeting girl behind the dwarf. “I’m old enough to be your father and her grandfather.” I chuckled at the embarrassed flinch from the girl at being pointed at before I noted her trembling legs and looked up.
Nidhoggur had leaned forwards and loomed over me, its semblance of lips slowly parting to reveal its razor sharp tooth filled maw. I almost growled at him but as the wyvern noticed my eye on it, it pulled back and looked as if it hadn’t been interested at all as it almost sniffed disdainfully at me.
I could only sigh internally. “I’m sorry Nidhoggur is… not trained properly I guess is the right word..” I said almost in a grumbling tone as I then shook my head and looked at the dwarf curiously. He’d been standing by the girl protectively after noticing Nidhogg showing interest in her.
“Anyway why did you just reach out to me?” I then asked curiously.
“Your birds, that’s why.” The Dwarf answered gruffly, now clearly weary of me not that I could blame him really. I raised an eyebrow in question. “One of them helped my charge out of trouble while the other lead me to her a few days ago.” He said and at that the girl looked up and seemed... thankful? It wasn’t really an emotion I’d often seen on the face of others so it was hard to tell.
“Oh right! That's the pudgy metal man.” Ashes pipped up and I felt like slapping my own face as the people around now stared in both fascination and unease at me. Great first impression for the nobles Vlad, way to go.
“Hm? Oh right isn’t that the girl our meal was after?” Dust decided to add in and I sighed audibly at that. The girls face had grown paler, not that I’d had thought that was possible.
“M-meal?” She asked horrified.
“You two shush.” I grumbled as I flicked a finger at the underside of each of their beaks. “I’m afraid these two have a rather… morbid sense of humour.” I tried to apologise not that I could really talk. “Gallows humour so to speak.” I said and then paused pointedly looking at the two.
“Ah Right, I’m Thordroki Shatterguard and this is my charge and one of your future students next semester, Kathryn Arthegn.” The dwarf said and I had to hide my internal wince at the last name of the dwarf. However the pride for the girl behind him who tentatively curtsied was noted by me.
“It is a pleasure. I hope the changes to come won’t be too hard on you.” I said bowing in a courtly manner to the girl. I’d decide what to do about what I’d just learned of Thordroki for later.
“Ch-changes?” She asked stuttering a little, I could see the poor girl had rather frayed nerves from what had happened and Nidhoggur staring at her from the corner of its eye every so often, thinking I hadn’t noticed.
I smiled gently as I placed my hand on her shoulder and turned her around. “Yes, why don’t the two of you come over for tea in say… nine or so days? I’m afraid I’m leaving Veta for a little task that’ll take about a week or so. If it’s not to forward shall I send one of my ravens with the invitation?” I said as I ushered them back and then gave the trembling Duke still shell shocked a discreet gesture to get out of there. I noted the thankful nod to me as he snuck away with the slowly rising guards I’d beat into the ground.
“Y-your inviting me for tea?” She asked with a wide eyed stare as she was well out of Nidhoggs striking range and the other nobles around had begun to slowly disperse.
“Of course, Your going to be one of my students and introducing you to my children who will be studying with you is a good thing, no?” I said with a playful smile as I then looked down at Thordroki. “I am terribly sorry to have disturbed you this late at night and I promise Nidhoggur won’t be any trouble in the future.” I said as I ushered the two away and then walked up and pointedly stared up at Nidhoggur.
The thing was way too feline in the manner it had just decided to use the garden wall of the manor as its personal perch. Then again perhaps I shouldn’t refer to it as an it any more. Since Nidhoggur was a male name I just decided to refer to it as him from now on.
“Now tell me.” I began in a sickly sweet tone as I stared up at the lounging wyvern that had turned its full attention to me. “What was so interesting about that girl?” I asked and the feeling I got back from Nidhogg was… tasty looking.
That caught me off guard and I had to pause before looking over at Morice who looked entertained from all that had happened. “Don’t tell me Nidhogg’s materials were from man eaters?” I asked and at Morice’s shocked look I figured as much.
Stupid undead taking after their corpses and the materials used in making them for their personalities. Then again… a Wyvern that wouldn’t hesitate to just eat someone I commanded it to could prove useful.
I handed the control disk for the manor’s magical defences to Morice and had Nidhogg come down off the wall. I just managed to get onto his shoulders were the specially moulded seat for me was and I smiled wide at how comfortable it was despite easily blending in with the rest of Nidhogg’s body, though it hadn’t been quite this comfortable before I raised Nidhogg… did my own desires and thoughts on the purpose of the undead I raised translate more into those of greater quality and power like Nidhogg? I tossed that idea out the window, I’d just blame it on my bloodline instead.
With a nod to Morice as he went back into the manor then with a pat to Nidhogg’s neck the agitated undead took flight. I had to hold on with all my might and I remembered I had forgotten reins and anything like a harness to keep myself in place. With the smug look over its shoulder at me Nidhogg had realized the same.
What followed was half an hour of aerial manoeuvrers and a rather huge string of expletives in several languages as I held on for dear life. When Nidhoggur finally grew bored enough and threatened enough as my grip had begun to strain the bones in his neck almost to breaking point the flight turned smooth and I could let go, though I quickly grafted on a few holds around my thighs and hips to keep me in my seat even if I had my hands free.
I looked around for the first time and saw a sea of clouds laid out before me all illuminated by the moons in the sky. I was breathless at the sight and then I realized another thing I’d missed, there was no wind. No that wasn’t true as I reached out my hand to the side as long as I could I felt the chill wind rip at my hand and leave a cold stinging sensation in its place. So Nidhoggur somehow created a barrier around me to keep me unaffected by the winds at such a height.
I leaned back and relaxed as I felt still, content in the moment. The view was amazing and despite my mount being ornery he’d calmed enough for the flight to turn enjoyable. I thought back as I watched Nidhogg lower himself down just enough to leave traces in the clouds bellow him like he was a jet just above water with the way the clouds acted behind him.
I searched deep into myself for that tingle of release that I’d gotten from Camille after she’d used her powers to help my condition after dinner before I’d gone into fully making Nidhogg. That soft release I’d felt, free from pain for the first time since my rebirth had made the normal dull ache it had all become vanish and the relief was… noticeable.
I still felt the small vestiges of power she’d poured into me that nurtured and tried to heal my soul and I sought them out. Nurturing them just a bit with my own mana but finding it had little to no effect.
Instead of letting that impact my mood I smiled wide and laughed. It was true, flight like this was freedom in a sense one rarely if ever could feel back on earth. I let it wash over me and hoped Vashanesh wasn’t too annoyed with me. I’d suddenly remembered that given his rather clearly dead appearance him and a few of the others were effectively stuck in the hidden basement of the Manor with little to do. I’d have to get him some books to read and materials to play around with when I got back.
I looked to my left and saw Ashes flying with ease next to Nidhogg, curiously I looked to my right and not seeing Dust I figured that Ashes had decided he’d stay behind to gather information and the like back in Veta. The thought made me chuckle as I thought on the two, they acted like an old married couple still very much in love, just Dust was so wrapped around Ashes’s finger, er talon, that he couldn’t go against her in most things.
Ashes seeing I’d noticed her moved over and looked surprised and startled at the change in the area around me from the outside. I laughed as I had to grab her and placed her on one of my thighs to perch there instead of me shoulder like usual. “So did you bully Dust to come with me?” I asked in amusement and seeing her giggle a little made me think I was spot on.
“He was so sad, like a puppy who’d lost his bone.” She giggled at the memory of leaving Dust behind.
“Wow.. so our lovely Ashes is so evil to her husband?” I replied with a highly amused tone.
“Wha? I’d never!” She protested before stopping and looking up at me almost demurely. “Is that all right though?” I cocked my head to the side and urged her to explain.
If you’ve never seen an undead crow with the most sensual yet motherly voice you’ve ever heard act embarrassed you haven’t lived. “Him being my husband… is that all right?”
I simply smiled and ran a finger down the back of her head and to her back, petting the embarrassed crow. “I don’t mind, its surprising to be sure. I thought undead didn’t usually have such emotions but I guess this world loves showing me what I know.” I said a bit self-deprecatingly but not overly so, it was true to be sure. The last, what has it been now? I’ve been in this body about a month or so now and what I’d thought I knew of this world for the past four years had been rather turned on its head. Guess it’s true that one shouldn’t have too many expectations of the world around oneself.
“However unless he says yes I won’t condone you calling him your husband… and no bullying him either all right?” I said with a slight firm tone but I was surprised when Ashes hoped once and hugged me with her wings, chirping like a happy canary for some reason but it was oddly cute of her. “So you truly feel you love him?” I asked then as I held Ashes in my lap and stroked her like she was a content cat in my lap.
“I do. Strange isn’t it? With both of us being dead and all and barely two weeks since we became sentient as you called it.” She said seeming content to be treated like a pet cat for now.
I smiled and tapped a bit on her head. “You know despite the two of you being so young relatively speaking… perhaps the two of you were mated before? I mean I ain’t going to pretend like I understand it but I think a bit of the life anything I raise lived seems to impact how you act when you’re pulled into undeath. So perhaps you two were already married in a sense before raised by me?” I speculated into the air as I leaned my head back a little to see the wast sea of glittering stars in the sky, more than one could ever see unless as far from civilization as one could get back on earth, even then I didn’t think you’d be able so see such beauty in the sky.
“That would be nice… like the two of us are destined.” Ashes mused happily and I could only smile at the thought.
“Well I won’t say no to the two of you being little love birds.” I chuckled and the slight squawk of indignation from Ashes only made me laugh.
I wanted to have a smoke as it had become a habit in the short time I’d started but I was sure that unless Nidhoggur could just hover that would be out of the question. Something about it was calming for me. Back home I’d always get light headed from nicotine but the herb I smoked now, to help offset the natural build up of harmful particles that overly using mana did to one, didn’t. Instead it was kind of like the feeling of having a nice shoulder massage after a hard days work, relaxing and soothing.
I looked down at Ashes again seeing her putting her head under her wing, sulking at me. I smiled fondly before moving my gaze over to the sea of clouds that Nidhoggur flew over. The things this world had to offer was so much more than earth ever had.
The rest of the night was spent in flight, relaxation and a feeling of contentment I wished to enjoy more but couldn’t as we came in for a landing near the base of the mountain range that dominated the southern part of the Alocian empire.