Viktor stared up at the ceiling and sighed. The human body is an amazing thing. I have permission to sleep in, but my eyes refuse to stay closed! He would have laughed if only to fill the silence. But Viktor forced himself to rise and looked around. He didn’t know the room as well as he used to, but the Life Clerics hadn’t changed much.
There was plenty of room for Viktor to walk around without tripping over something. The cottage he’d shared with Nadia had been much the same way. Viktor enjoyed the occasional shopping trip but spent most of his time reusing what he had. He didn’t need a whole room to himself.
And he missed Nadia’s presence. Who would ever believe that I could miss hearing pages turning? It was an odd sensation. Having Nadia being in touching distance for several days, and now needing to go down the hall to hear her. But his feet led him to her door instinctively.
He knocked, knowing that she wouldn’t be asleep but wanting to announce himself before entering her room. The door opened, Viktor looked at the doorknob on her side to see it possessed a lock just like his, and shook his head. Why would she need to lock her door? Silly girl probably hasn’t realized it’s there.
Viktor blinked as his eyes adjusted from the darkness to the gentle candle that Nadia was using on her desk and smiled. She was bent over a book, just like always, but she didn’t seem to be aware of his presence. That must be some book. Normally, she would have greeted me by now.
Viktor smiled as she turned the page, thumb lightly holding her place while she used her other hand to support her face, leaving the other side free for Viktor to see. The candlelight bathed her, highlighting her hair and eyes that Viktor thought he’d seen before. But this felt different.
It’s because she didn’t use a candle when we were home. She said she didn’t want to disturb me, but that no longer applies… What else has she been doing? A quick glance at the made bed confirmed that she hadn’t used it. And her chest was placed at the foot of the bed.
He thought about picking up the chest to see if she’d unpacked, but the moment passed when she looked at him. “Good morning, Viktor! Did you sleep well? It sounded like you were. But I didn’t want to risk waking you. Are we going to the graveyard now?”
Viktor chuckled. “Good morning, Nadia. Yes, I slept well, and we will visit the graveyard today… What do you mean it sounded like I did?”
Was I talking in my sleep? I haven’t done that in… He shook his head as Nadia closed the book. “I was reading the books downstairs. There are so many things I still need to learn. But I didn’t want to disturb you, so I kept checking on you while I brought a new pile to my room.”
“Pile?” Nadia moved, revealing a stack of at least ten books tucked under her desk. “How many times did you do that?”
At least three, I think? I don’t understand all the words yet. But thanks to your lessons, I’ve been able to get through most of them pretty quickly!” Viktor’s jaw dropped.
“You’ve read at least thirty books in one night?”
“I think so?”
“And you understand most of them?” Nadia nodded. Viktor didn’t fight the laughter this time. He doubled over, shaking his head as Nadia knelt in front of him in concern.
“Viktor?”
“Sorry, just… give me a minute…” She nodded, rubbing his back as Viktor fought to control himself. He wasn’t sure how long they would have stayed there if his stomach hadn’t growled.
“Can we make breakfast now, Viktor? I found some cookbooks. I want to cook more food!” Viktor rubbed his face and nodded.
“Sure, I just want to ask you something first.”
“What is it?” Viktor looked up at her, feeling the light pressure from her hand, seeing the relief mixing with the concern in her eyes. But not feeling any warmth from her body despite being so close to her. Has anyone else noticed this about her, or is it only obvious to me because she isn’t human? Nadia tilted her head at his silence. “Viktor?”
“Sorry, I was just curious… Were you doing that back at the cottage?”
“You mean reading every night?” He nodded, and she smiled. “Yes!”
“But I didn’t keep that many books, Nadia. Are you telling me that you’ve been rereading them all this time?”
“Mhm. Once I figured out the alphabet and how to say the words. It was easy. You’re a great teacher, Viktor! I hope I can master cooking just as easily!” Viktor’s stomach growled, forcing him to stand as Nadia giggled.
“I don’t know about being a master chef. You’ll probably have to spend more time with the Fire Clerics if you want to keep learning new recipes and tricks. But I can proudly say I haven’t killed anyone with my cooking. So, I can at least help you with the basics.”
Nadia clapped her hands as she followed Viktor to the kitchen. The lower level was chiller than he was used to, but they quickly got a fire going. “What were you thinking of making, Nadia?”
“Something to do with eggs! I found this book that says eggs are a miracle food, so making breakfast with them will give you lots of energy!” Viktor chuckled as he found a frying pan.
“It’ll be a few minutes before the fire is warm enough to cook. Go get some ingredients. We’ll see if the Life Clerics left us anything good to work with.” Nadia nodded before disappearing into the pantry. Viktor smiled as her ooooooooooos and ahs filled the air before she reemerged, clutching several packages tightly to her chest.
“I have found the eggs!”
“It looks like you’ve more than that. What’s got you so excited?” Nadia ran to the table and began unwrapping. Viktor couldn’t resist grinning as she proudly displayed her choices. “You have very good instincts as a chef, Nadia. This will make a fine breakfast!”
Her eyes lit up. “What are we using first?!”
Viktor couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed cooking. It was a skill he forced himself to learn the first time Dmitri had gotten wounded, and it was something he did out of necessity. But helping Nadia learn, hearing her laugh, and joining in, made the process enjoyable.
“I have no idea what to call this. But we didn’t burn anything and it smells fantastic. Let’s eat before it gets cold.” Nadia dug in instantly, and Viktor was little better. I’m glad she stopped insisting she doesn’t need to eat. She can taste things just fine and is learning things faster than I can teach. I wonder if I can get her tired enough to sleep?
It was a challenge Viktor didn’t mind thinking about as they finally made their way to the graveyard. The sun was still a ways off from rising, but they didn’t need a lantern to see their surroundings. Viktor opened the gate, grinning as he felt the whispers begin. “They know we’re here.”
“I hear them! Should we head towards the center of the graveyard first, Viktor? That way, we can meet some of them along the way!” Viktor nodded, already seeing several tiny balls of light rise from the graves at their approach. He knew the spirit orbs were reacting to his mana.
The Life Clerics simply didn’t have the right type to tempt the little ones. But it still made him smile when they surrounded him and Nadia.
“You back!”
“Missed you!”
“Love you!”
“New friend!” Viktor bowed and pointed at Nadia.
“It’s good to be back, little ones. This is Nadia. She’s going to be helping me from now on. So, get along with her, alright?”
“Alright!”
“Missed you!”
“Hello!”
“Where’d you go?!” Viktor frowned as he tried to find the spirit orb that spoke, but they kept moving around them, and more kept pouring in. Nadia laughed as she leaned against Viktor’s side.
“It feels like we’re about to drown. I can’t even see through them, can you?”
“Didn’t you hear that?”
“Hear what?” Viktor tensed, trying to focus, but the spirit orbs were too many, and their cries were mixing together. This isn’t good. It’s only been a couple of months, yet they’re acting like they haven’t seen me in years. Is the royal graveyard this bad?
“Never mind. We need to let them use some of our mana to calm them down. Do you need to wait outside, Nadia?” She shook her head, dislodging several spirit orbs that had been resting on her, and grinned.
“I’m fine, Viktor. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to give them something I don’t have, though.” Viktor winced, rubbing his temples as he felt the spirit orbs touch him. The contact itself didn’t hurt, not in the way a stubbed toe or a broken bone did. But the more they did, the more mana slipped away from him.
Viktor swayed, feeling the ground lurch as Nadia cried out. “Viktor?!”
The sun was high overhead when he opened his eyes. The grass was warm, and the air was strangely still. Where…? “Viktor!”
Nadia blocked out the sun as she leaned over him, lightly touching his face while she stared at him. “Oh, Viktor. That was so scary! You fell down! I don’t understand. The ones at home didn’t affect you. So why did these ones did?!”
He groaned, patting her head as he tried to sit up, but Nadia wouldn’t move. “Nadia…”
“You need to rest! We should have brought out those gems you used for the barrier. Then, they could have sucked those dry instead of you!” Viktor winced and shook his head.
“It wouldn’t have worked… I’m sorry… I should have warned you about that.” How could I have forgotten something like this? Nadia can’t use mana, so she had no way of helping me… Nadia frowned as she finally helped him to sit up, but still stayed close to him.
“What do you mean? They were taking your mana, right? That’s what you said they were doing before. Why did they do that? And why wouldn’t the gems have worked? You didn’t even try!”
Viktor sighed, allowing his head to rest on Nadia’s shoulder as he explained. “Spirit orbs are drawn to Death Clerics and those touched by death. The ones at the other graveyard were doing the same thing, taking mana from me, I mean. But these ones haven’t seen me or another Death Cleric since Brother Dmitri died…”
He looked at her and tried to smile. “They were just excited, Nadia. They meant no harm.” Where are they?
Viktor looked around, but the graveyard was silent. A feat that should have been impossible given his abilities. He started to stand up, but Nadia grabbed his arm. “What are you doing? It’s too soon for you to move!”
“I’m fine. I… Where are they?” What happened after I passed out? He looked at Nadia, but she refused to meet his gaze as she shook her head.
“They wouldn’t stop touching you. Not even after you fell. It was like they couldn’t even see that you were hurt!”
“Of course, they wouldn’t notice. I told you. The spirit orbs don’t care about things like that… Didn’t I?” Nadia shook her head, and Viktor sighed. Some teacher I am. She must have been terrified.
Viktor gently turned Nadia to look at him and smiled. “I’m sorry, Nadia. This is my fault. I shouldn’t have delayed coming here or let others keep me from my duties. What happened today is my fault and mine alone. I will do better to prepare you from now on. But we must check on the little ones now.”
Nadia squeezed his hand, refusing to look away as he continued. “I’m assuming you convinced them to stop, right? We need to reassure them so they don’t begin lashing out. We already have one ghost that wasn’t handled properly. We don’t need an army of them.”
Nadia closed her eyes and slowly said. “We’re. Not. Going. To.”
She stood up, fingers limply curled around Viktor’s hand. As if she wasn’t certain if she wanted to let go or not. Viktor frowned. “What do you mean, Nadia? Did you… do something?”
Did she get in a fight with the spirit orbs? They understand some emotions, but why is she acting so cold? Nadia nodded, opening her eyes as she stared at him. “I did it to protect you. I thought you were going to die. And I’m sorry, but I’m not ready to trade your life for those who are already dead!”
“What are you talking about? I can understand why you thought my life was in danger, but”-
“But what? You were passed out on the ground, Viktor. What was I supposed to do? Stand there and watch them kill you? I refuse to do such a thing!”
“Nadia…” Why is she getting so angry? The spirit orbs wouldn’t have killed me… Viktor gently placed his free hand on Nadia’s shoulder and tried again. “What happened, Nadia? What… What did you do?”
“What I had to do.” She stepped away, letting their fingers slide until Viktor couldn’t touch her. Viktor’s heart chilled as her expression became empty. Her eyes lost the sparkle that often made Viktor think of her as a child instead of a woman. Nadia hugged herself, but if the wind was blowing, he couldn’t feel it.
The graveyard was still. There were no birds or insects singing. There was no sound of people shopping, despite the distance between the cottage and the town. It was as if the only people in the world were Nadia and Viktor. And Nadia continued staring at him. Almost taunting him to flee.
“Nadia?”
“I love you, Viktor.”
“I know.” She says it so often it’s impossible to forget. Nadia tilted her head, studying him as she softly asked.
“Do you love me?”
“I… I don’t know.” Have I ever loved anyone? I can’t even remember what my parents looked like! Nadia nodded.
“Are you afraid of me?”
Viktor shook his head. “Should I be?” You’ve had more than enough chances to hurt me. But this is the first time you’ve come close to making me regret taking you in.
Nadia smiled, but it did nothing to ease the tension. “I don’t want you to fear me, Viktor. I’ve never wanted that.”
“Then stop playing games and tell me what you did. You say you were trying to protect me, and I believe you. But I need to know before things go any further!”
“You want to know if I’m a threat to the living?” Viktor hissed, eyes widening as her lips pulled back, revealing far too many teeth and gums. “I’ll show you. If that’s what you really want. But I want to make something clear right now. Are you listening?”
“Of course. How can I not be?”
“You’d be surprised at how well people listen, Viktor… Or maybe you wouldn’t. You’ve always strived to listen to both the living and the dead. It’s why they love you, you know. I felt it… Their love…”
She looked down, and Viktor found himself reaching for her, wanting to comfort her in spite of his fear. Am I under some kind of spell? She’s toying with me, yet I can’t stand the thought of her being in pain… “Nadia..”
She nuzzled into his shoulder before whispering. “I ate them.”
“What?!”
“Well… more like absorbed, really. It was the only thing I could do. I tried to talk to them. I did. But they wouldn’t stop coming. So I ate them. To protect you.” Nadia’s arms tightened around Viktor as she looked at him. “Do you hate me now?”
Nadia… ate the spirit orbs?! “I don’t know. I don’t understand what you’re saying. How can you eat a spirit orb? Is it like a possession?”
She shrugged. “I doubt it. I’m still in control, and as far as anyone else is concerned. This graveyard is no different from the others.” Nadia stood on her tiptoes so their faces were level, hands pressing into Viktor’s shoulders as they stared at each other. “No one else is going to know because you and I are the only ones who can see them, right? We’re the only ones who can see the dead?”
“I… we should be. Are you… going to make a habit of this? Eating souls? Is that what you meant when you said wars are wasteful? Are you planning on devouring the souls of everyone in this city? The world?”
“I only did that to keep you safe, Viktor”-
“Don’t dodge the question, Nadia! I already told you. I won’t stay still and let hurt anyone. I don’t care if they’re already dead. Those spirit orbs had enough feelings”-
“But they still chose their lives over yours. I won’t apologize for protecting you, Viktor.” She moved closer, close enough for her lips to brush his as she spoke. “And I don’t think I need to answer that question, do I? My master sent me for one reason, and I can’t fail him.”
Nadia kissed his cheek and whispered. “But I don’t want to break the promise I made to you either, Viktor. You’re supposed to help me… You will help me. You must!”
“I can’t look the other way on this. No one would! What you’re describing, Nadia, is… It’s worse than necromancy. It’s evil!”
“Of course, it is. Did you forget my master’s name? Zum craves souls. All of them. But you don’t need to panic! I’ll protect you. The spirit orbs from this graveyard have bought us some time… It will be enough to keep Zum satisfied… for the moment. I’m not asking for you to do anything right now, Viktor. But you need to understand that this is going to happen. Even if I’m broken. Zum will send another to finish what I started. Do you understand? I have to do this to please him and save my life as well!”
Viktor froze at the raw pleading in her voice, but it was her previous words that held him in place. “You already sent them to him, didn’t you? That’s what you meant when you said you can’t change things back… You can’t bring back any souls you’ve captured once they’ve gone to him!”
“That’s right. The moment they pass into me is the same moment they go to him. I’m merely a door. I don’t need to do anything, really. And I haven’t harmed the little ones back home. This… was the first time…”
“Why are you telling me all this? You just ruined any chances of my helping you, Nadia. I have to report you to the Fire Clerics, and”-
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“You won’t.” Viktor shook his head, almost laughing at how calm and certain Nadia sounded.
“What do you mean I won’t? I have to. This isn’t some freak accident that can be explained away. You could easily kill everyone, and”- Nadia pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him as she shook her head.
“You won’t do that. Because you’re going to help me. Master Zum will have those souls one way or the other, Viktor. But he doesn’t need to have these souls… not yet.”
“Are you trying to get me to sacrifice the rest of the world and save this city for last?”
“Not necessarily. My master never said how many souls he needs in order to come to this world. If we give him enough, spread the word that there is a way for the survivors to continue living. Then there’s still a way for the people you care about to survive.” Nadia smiled, sounding excited again as she continued. “That’s better than everyone dying, isn’t it?”
“I doubt the people who get killed will agree to that.” Viktor pushed her away, stalking towards the middle of the graveyard. But Nadia followed after.
“Of course, they wouldn’t agree. I doubt most people would. But I’m not asking every person I meet if they want to die, Viktor.”
“Then why are you telling me this? Are you going to kill me if I refuse?”
“No. I would… never do that to you, Viktor… Not to you.”
“You’ll forgive me if I don’t believe that. There’s no way this plan of yours will go as simply as all that. This world has many countries… Countless lives. Your master has no right to this world!”
“My master is a god. One that doesn’t like to be denied.”
“Have you tried?” Viktor stopped, turning to face Nadia as she almost ran into him.
“What are you talking about, Viktor? I think you need to lie back down. You’re not making any sense.”
“You said the spirit orbs from this graveyard were your first offering, right? And the only reason you attacked them was because you thought they were going to kill me, right?”
“Yes, but”-
“Why did you wait so long? We’ve been living together for a little over a month. If your master truly doesn’t like being kept waiting, then why haven’t you done something before now?” If there’s a time limit, then I might be able to come up with a way to turn this around.
Nadia sighed. “I didn’t want to rush things, Viktor. I needed to learn more about this world. My master doesn’t want to lose too many souls, but I knew next to nothing about how things work or how to go about fulfilling my mission. And I still don’t know enough to justify what I just did for you!”
She glared at the ground, clenching her fists hard enough to turn her knuckles white. “This is why I need you. I could kill everyone in this city in roughly a day, given the size and population. But things will become more difficult if I miss any of them. I don’t have the skills to fight a well-trained cleric. But my destruction won’t save anyone. Zum will sense I’ve been broken and send in a replacement.”
“But, Nadia…”
“I don’t want to be replaced! And I don’t want to see you die! Can’t you understand that? You may not like what I’m doing, but at least my way can spare some people, including you! I’ll do anything to keep you safe, Viktor. But I need you to work with me!”
Viktor watched, amazed, as Nadia’s chest rose and fell. Is she breathing, or has she gotten better at impersonating a human? What am I going to do with her? “Nadia…”
“Don’t hate me for trying to survive, Viktor. I may not be human. But I like my life enough to know I don’t want to lose it. And you’re the reason for that… You’re my first friend. My teacher. I want us to walk this path together, but if you tell me that you’re still going to try turning me in, then…”
“Then what? You said you weren’t going to kill me, Nadia.”
“And I don’t want to do that… Do you believe me?” Good question. If she’s prepared to sacrifice the city if I refuse… Viktor sighed, scratching his head as she stared at him. He didn’t want to see the hope in her eyes. It couldn’t have hurt more if she was crying. But Viktor didn’t want to know what Nadia was capable of… Not like this.
“I… believe that. So, when you made your promise to me… What were you planning on doing?”
She shrugged. “Honestly? I was probably going to start on those already close to death. I don’t need to touch my target… But being close to them helps me stay accurate. Souls are fragile. If I use too much force. There’s a chance I’ll tear them, and then my master will be mad at me. Are we done talking yet? We still have to inspect the barrier and wait for Brother Mikail to ask for our help. Please, Viktor… Don’t throw your life away for something you can’t change!”
Viktor sighed. All we’ve done for the past minute is repeat ourselves. If she doesn’t have a set time limit. Is there a way we can stall? I can’t rely on Ivan. I have to find a way to defeat Zum and save these people! He looked at Nadia and forced himself to smile. “You’re really set on this, aren’t you?”
Nadia smiled back as she nodded. “It’s the only thing keeping me alive. My master can kill me using the same method he uses for feasting on souls. I don’t want to give him a reason to do that. So, I need you to at least pretend you’re not going to get in the way, Viktor.”
He raised an eyebrow and folded his arms. “Pretend? You’ll settle for a falsehood from me?”
“I need to believe that our friendship means just as much to you as it does to me. And friends help each other! This city can be spared… as long as you don’t try to throw me to the Fire Clerics. Neither of us will like what will happen, so let’s keep going as we’ve been!”
Nadia held out her hand. And Viktor was shocked to see it was shaking. How much of what she shows is fake? If I’m really the reason she isn’t going on a rampage, then do I have the right to refuse? Viktor shook his head but grabbed Nadia’s hand, holding it gently as he pulled her close.
“I can’t forgive this. And I won’t look the other way if you kill someone.” Nadia nodded, burying her face in his chest as she hugged him.
“You don’t need to forgive me. And as long as your life isn’t in danger, then…”
“Then what? Are you saying you’ll only kill if my life is in danger? Because I can work with that. I’m only in my thirties, so I’ll live for a long time.” Nadia giggled but said nothing else during the hug. Viktor didn’t want to think about the implications, but since she hadn’t said anything. He chose to see it as a good thing.
If Viktor’s safety was a trigger for Nadia, then he’d be more careful from now on. The two stepped away from each other, and Viktor forced himself to laugh. “We’re a bit behind schedule. But let’s see what the Life Clerics have been up to while tending this graveyard.”
“Alright!”
In the two months that Viktor was regulated to the poorest graveyard, not much had changed in the one reserved for the wealthy. Yet the differences between the two were clear, and Viktor didn’t mind Nadia’s anger. Not only did each grave have a proper tombstone, and healthy grass to cover it.
But each had a barrier around it, ensuring that the occupant didn’t turn into a harmful spirit. And acted as extra insurance against graverobbers of all kinds. Nadia couldn’t stop scowling, earning a light laugh from Viktor. “What’s so funny? Not that I’m not happy that you’re in a better mood, of course.”
“Nothing, really. I just think it’s ironic, that’s all.”
“What is?” Viktor sighed, looking up at the main barrier far above their heads as it pulsated a healthy purple.
“That, despite your mission, you still have the decency to be outraged at things like this. Perhaps you’re more human than you think, Nadia.”
“Thank you for the compliment. But I don’t know how Zum made me… Is that strange?”
“I don’t think so. But it might help if we can find out how he did that… Nadia?”
“Hmm?” She looked at him, and Viktor braced himself for the worst outcome.
“Do you… like killing?” Nadia blinked, looking at Viktor before turning her attention to the barrier.
“I don’t know. I’ve only used that ability once, and I was more concerned with your safety than anything else… But it doesn’t matter if I like it. It’s my mission. I have to do it. What about you, Viktor? Do you like being a Death Cleric?”
“That’s a strange question.”
“Is it?” He looked at her and shrugged before continuing his inspection.
“I suppose it’s not strange so much as… unimportant. My fate is to be a Death Cleric. It might have been different if Dmitri hadn’t found me or if I was born in a different country. But I’m happy with the way my life is. I help protect people and make an honest living. There are worse things than being a Death Cleric.”
“Like what?”
“Being a necromancer.” He said without hesitation. Nadia laughed, earning a small smile from him as she replied.
“I guess I should have seen that coming. You’ve never said anything good about necromancers or necromancy.”
“That’s because there’s nothing good about it.”
“But isn’t it possible to communicate with loved ones? Some of the books I found mentioned it’s one of the reasons necromancy hasn’t died out.” Viktor sighed. I don’t remember any books like that. Perhaps I should inspect them when we head back for dinner.
“There are… easier ways to speak with the dead. But all of them, including necromancy, are dangerous. If you’re lucky, whatever ritual or spell you used will fail. If you’re unlucky, you can die, get possessed, lose your soul, or have any combination of the three affect someone else. It’s also painful for the dead to be forced to return to the land of the living. It’s cruel to force them to speak to us when they’ve already moved on.”
“What about the ones that don’t move on? Like the spirit orbs or that ghost haunting the noble’s house? Why are they still here? Did a necromancer do that?” Viktor paused at a fountain covered in fresh flowers and washed his face.
“I think I need to start hunting for the right books for you. It’s clear someone has been dabbling with things they shouldn’t and ignoring the truth…” He looked at her over his shoulder and smiled when he saw her pouting. “What’s wrong? It’s not your fault someone placed bad books in our cottage.”
“There’s no such thing as bad books, Viktor.”
“Incorrect. But I don’t feel like arguing about that… Are you hungry?” She shook her head, sitting down at the base of the fountain, and glared at him.
“Stop stalling, Viktor. I need you to help me. Not tease me.” And I need to figure out a way to save everyone… including you. Viktor shrugged as he knelt beside her and began.
“In most cases of death, be it peaceful or sudden. The soul will pass on to wherever the person imagined it would go. Not everyone who was murdered will turn into a ghost, and we’re not sure what results in a ghost or spirit orb appearing. It’s one of the tenets of the Death Clerics to investigate such things… But that hasn’t happened recently.”
“Because of what happened to Brother Dmitri?”
“Yes. But given that there were only two of us. We couldn’t be at every murder sighting on time. I doubt we’d be able to do much better if we had a third person.”
Nadia bit her lip and stared at her lap. “Viktor?”
“Yes?”
“Was… did Brother Dmitri turn into a ghost?” Viktor shook his head.
“I almost wished he had. But Brother Dmitri passed from this world, despite his cruel end… I like to think he’s at peace. Taking a nap under his favorite tree, surrounded by the spirit orbs he loved the most…” I should bring him some flowers when we return. Would he have handled things differently? I want to believe Nadia is a kind person, but…
“Can I ask another hard question, Viktor?”
“You may. But I reserve the right to refuse to answer.” She nodded, smiling at his light tone, and hummed to herself for a moment.
“I was wondering… how did he die?”
“I didn’t tell you that?” She shook her head, and Viktor sighed. “He… was killed by a drunk soldier. There was a small band of homeless people living in the city slums. They were mostly harmless. They knew they had to follow the thieve’s guilds if they wanted to survive… But the soldier had too much to drink, and the beggar was in the wrong place at the wrong time…” Viktor dug his fingernails deep into his palms and growled. “Brother Dmitri overstepped himself that day. That’s why he died.”
“You don’t believe that.”
“No. It was politics. The soldier belonged to a noble family, and they didn’t want to lose face because of his actions.”
Nadia shifted closer and held his hands, gently working her fingers until he relaxed and entwined his with hers. “What happened next? Don’t tell me he got away with it.”
He was going to be suspended. It’s against the law for anyone on active duty to be drunk in public. Ivan was furious. He kept shouting that a simple suspension wasn’t enough. Dmitri was dead. Yet no one seemed to care outside of those who knew Dmitri. And they still had one Death Cleric to handle things…”
“Is that all that happened? If that man is still alive”-
“He’s not.” Viktor closed his eyes, feeling a rain that still chilled him to the bone two months later as he whispered. “He’s not. His body was found two days after his suspension was started.”
He died in an alley. Alone. Covered in the filth he despised like the coward he was… Death was too good for that one. Viktor forced himself to smile. “Let’s change the topic. What else have those books been teaching you?”
“I’m sorry for upsetting you…” Viktor shook his head and squeezed her hands.
“You didn’t. It’s not an easy thing for me to talk about. But it helps, sometimes… Why did you ask, anyway?”
“I… was trying to find a way to pay you back for your kindness.”
“My kindness?” Nadia nodded, looking towards the gate as a breeze played with their hair.
“I overheard bits and pieces of what you were saying to Ivan during his visit. I know Dmitri is very important to you. So, I thought… if I used my power on the man who took him from you… No one would know, and you might gain some peace.” Viktor chuckled, but it sounded rough, even to him.
Nadia turned to face him, but he simply smiled. “I appreciate the thought. But please. Don’t ever offer to do that for me again.” I might have let you… if I hadn’t decided to beat him to death with my own hands.
“I… understand, Viktor. I won’t do it again.”
“Thank you… was there anything else you wanted to know?” She nodded, but it was several minutes before she asked.
“Will the spirit orbs in the royal graveyard be the same way?”
“I hope not. They shouldn’t be. There hasn’t been a Death Cleric allowed to spend more than a night or two in the royal graveyard in years. They’re used to being tended by those who can’t see them.”
“What about the little ones waiting for us? Are they going to swarm you when we get back?”
“If they do. It won’t be as bad as it was today. We should only be here for a few weeks, and I spent more time in that graveyard for my training. They won’t…” Viktor squeezed Nadia’s hands again and sighed. “I’ll handle it. Believe it or not, but I’m very good at knowing my limits. If I feel like I’m being overwhelmed. I’ll throw up a barrier immediately… I never want to see you hurt the little ones in our home, Nadia. They don’t know what they’re doing.”
Unlike us. Nadia nodded, and Viktor thought about taking a nap. The stress of learning more about Nadia’s abilities and thinking about the past. Have taken their toll, and the weather was perfect for an outdoor nap… But the unnatural stillness prevented Viktor from completely relaxing.
“Let’s head back inside. I’m tired, and we still have to get some of your lessons done.” Nadia let him pull her up, but she refused to let go of his hand as they walked back.
“Are we going to practice meditation now?”
“You can if you want. I’m going to browse the books and see if I need to make a complaint to Father Gregor. One should never romanticize or attempt to dabble with necromancy or the undead.” And I’ll probably pass out if I try to meditate now. Nadia nodded and remained silent for about two seconds before asking.
“Do you want me to show you which books I was talking about? I don’t think the author was trying to romanticize necromancy. They just… didn’t seem to hate it as much as you do.”
“I’d love it if you could… Are you sure you remember which ones, though? You read more books in a single night than most scholars do in a year!” Nadia laughed, nodding as she opened the door and skipped ahead of him into the cottage.
“I have a perfect memory for these kinds of things! I’ll get the ones I left in my room. It’ll only take a minute!”
“Take your time. I’m not in a hurry, and you’ve gotten better at meditation.” She nodded, quickly disappearing up the stairs as Viktor began to browse the shelves. I don’t recognize any of these titles. Where are the books Dmitri kept? They were in good condition and still had accurate information. Does Father Gregor have them?
Viktor groaned. “I don’t need another headache right now!”
He sat down, liking and hating how soft the chair was as he waited for Nadia to come back downstairs. A series of quiet thumps alerted him to her location above his head, and he smiled. I used to hate that room. I had to force myself to sleep in it… Viktor yawned, leaning his head back while Nadia’s footsteps lulled him to a troubled sleep.
It had taken two days for Viktor to track the bastard down. Forgemaster Ivan had shared Viktor’s disgust but not his rage. Despite being Dmitri’s friend and helping to raise Viktor. The forgemaster refused to do what needed to be done. So, Viktor did it himself. Dmitri hadn’t left a ghost or spirit orb behind to help guide him.
But Viktor possessed the skills from his childhood. The ones that parents never want to teach, as the only true way to master them is to always be hungry. Viktor hadn’t known hunger since Dmitri found him. But it was back now. Not for food. He still had plenty waiting for him at the cottage.
It rested among Dmitri’s personal belongings and his Final Wish. But he didn’t have time to think about that envelope yet. It wasn’t his to open… yet. The hunger that spurred Viktor on was roaring, and he bit his lip to keep silent. There would be time to vent his rage later.
Once, the fool who took his brother away from him was dead. Viktor watched from the shadows as the soldier, a second son from a small noble family, stepped out of the bar with a broad grin stretching his face. The soldier said something to someone inside, but the rain blocked out the sound.
Or, at least, that’s what Viktor decided to believe. The bar wasn’t the best in the city. But it was clean, and the owners would look the other way if someone passed out at their table. It was a quiet place. A hidden gem that many Fire Clerics visited. Forgemaster Ivan had brought Viktor and Dmitri there to celebrate their victory over the vampire.
The irony mocked him. Brother Dmitri had played a key role in saving the city. And had served it in countless fights against the undead. Yet the nobles conveniently chose to forget past actions in the face of money. It made Viktor sick. He watched, keeping his fists buried deep in his pockets as the soldier leaned against the wall and slowly approached his hiding place.
The alley behind Viktor led back to the main street of the city. And despite the risk of someone spotting him through the rain, Viktor was glad he chose to wait there. The soldier was a foot away when Viktor made his move. He kicked the man in the small of his stomach, making him lurch as he doubled over and raised his head.
Viktor waited long enough to see the man’s bloodshot eyes focus on him. Then, punched him in the face. The soldier raised his hands, but Viktor ignored the block and kicked his legs out from under him. The man must have grunted or cried out in pain. Viktor could see his mouth moving, even guess what the fool was saying.
But he had nothing to say to Dmitri’s killer. Viktor straddled the soldier and quickly began punching his face and arms. The soldier tried to throw him off, but his attempts were no better than an infant’s. Viktor didn’t feel anything. Not the cold rain soaking his robe.
Not the man’s blood as it began splattering his face and hands with every strike. And most importantly, Viktor didn’t feel any pain. His heart was numb to everything beyond this moment. If the law wasn’t going to punish a man because of his bloodline and coin. Then Viktor would invoke the rights of a Follower of Death.
He didn’t stop punching until the man’s face was an unrecognizable pulp. He didn’t know how long that took or how long he sat there, staring at the life he took without any guilt. But Viktor didn’t stay with the body. No. He had to wash up back at his cottage. Dmitri might not have approved, but Viktor refused to let the fool live so he could kill someone else. “I’m sorry, Dmitri… You should have left me in that village.”
“Viktor? Are you alright?”
“Huh?” Did I pass out again? Nadia was kneeling in front of him with several books placed on the table. Her hand was resting on his shoulder as she studied his face.
“Are you awake now? I’m sorry for disturbing you, but I found all the books I told you about! I was going to let you sleep, but it looked like you were having a nightmare… Were you?”
He nodded and sat up in the chair. “Remind me not to nap in this chair again… How long was I asleep?”
“Not long. It only took me five minutes to find the ones in my room. And there were only three or four of them down here. What was the nightmare about? It might make you feel better if you talk about it.”
No, it won’t. Viktor reached for the nearest book, not surprised to see he didn’t recognize the title, and shrugged. “I don’t remember. Thank you for waking me, Nadia. But I’m fine now. Start your meditation, please. I’ll tell you when it’s time to eat.”
“Can I help make it again?” Viktor smiled, putting the book down long enough to pat her head.
“Of course, you can. We’re going to be cooking all of our meals together from now on. Off you go now. I can’t promise I won’t be able to stay quiet while reading this nonsense, so you’ll be better off meditating in a different room.”
“Alright, Viktor. But don’t push yourself. I can help you find the pages if you want me to.”
“That would be nice, but I think I can handle a little reading. I’ll see you later, Nadia.”
“See you later, Viktor.” He watched Nadia leave the room from the corner of his eye and sighed. I’m starting to wonder if I’m in over my head. Nadia said she can wipe out the city in about a day. And even the dead aren’t immune. I should tell Ivan what I know about Zum, but will Nadia see that as a betrayal?
Viktor rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed. The book was clearly intended to be a manual, but he couldn’t figure out what the author was trying to do. She clearly states that necromancy is illegal, but she also includes several diagrams of summoning circles. Who approved something like this?
Viktor sets the book aside and picks up another, only to quickly become disgusted with it as well. I need to talk to Mother Anya about these books. She would know where they were made and who bought them. He looked out the window, frowning when he saw little over an hour had passed since he sent Nadia away and gripped his hair in frustration.
I can’t keep going like this. If I don’t find something to distract myself soon, I’m going to lose my mind! A soft thud came from behind him, and Viktor turned to see a small book wrapped in black wool had fallen to the floor. Well, that’s not suspicious at all… But I don’t sense any ghosts or spirit orbs around… Did I go near that shelf?
Viktor picked up the book and unwrapped the cloth, revealing a plain black cover with no title. Is this a diary? Why would someone leave it out here? Viktor flipped the cover open, confusion spreading as a blank page met his gaze. He continued flipping the pages, but each one was as blank as the last.
I guess someone forgot it… I don’t see any symbols on it. Is it supposed to be a test for whoever is taking care of the graveyard? Viktor looked at the shelf to see if there were more books wrapped in cloth. But not only didn’t he find any, but he also couldn’t see where the book had fit on the shelf.
Someone is messing with me… He looked at the book and sighed. I can’t risk leaving this down here. If there’s a spell attached to it, it might hurt Nadia… Nadia… Is this her doing? Viktor spotted Nadia meditating next to the door of the kitchen. It wouldn’t have been his first choice, but she didn’t react when he approached her.
She’s in the deep. I doubt she’d be able to hide something and make it fall just to mess with me. But who else could it be? Viktor carefully went upstairs and placed the book in his chest. The cloth blended into the shadows, and he’d never seen Nadia mess with the chest unless he asked her.
“This should keep you out of trouble… Now, what am I going to do?” Should I check all of the books and make a list for Mother Anya, or would it be best simply to tell her and bring the ones Nadia found? If Father Gregor is aware of the situation, then… Viktor’s eyes widened as he hurried down the stairs and back to the classroom.
Nadia jolted out of her meditation and followed him. “Viktor?”
“Not now, Nadia!” It can’t be. Necromancy is illegal. Not even the clerics are allowed to ignore that law! Viktor almost tore the pages in his fury as he found the diagrams and read the passage. “Those fools…. I should let the spirit tear them apart. How could they have been so stupid?!”
“Viktor, please calm down. You’re scaring me.”
“I’m sorry, Nadia.” But you’re not the one who should be scared!