As Rahkim continued his meditation, and greedily absorbed the energy that the Void gem produced, he slowly began to realize that he didn't really have a sense of time. He was certain that he had sat in meditation for many hours if not a day, and yet he felt as if to him that time was like a second to the time that would pass in his existence. It was strange, but he was sure that the passage of time would have no effect on him, after all his skeletal remains continued to exist long after this city had begun to crumble.

Somewhat unsettled by the idea, Rahkim turned back to the Gem and started to contemplate over what he had discovered during his mediation.

'The Void Gem's three powers which I, for now, shall call Darkness, Death, and Void appear to exist in a strange harmony with each other. Darkness obtains energy from the outside world which then feeds Death which in turn feeds Void allowing the three to exist in a perfect balance. Of course, you would think that Void would grow stronger as it fed off Death with nothing to feed off of it, but strangely enough it seems to devour even itself.

What I gain from the Void Gem seems to be leftover remnants of energy from all three of the powers, but even when I first obtained it the energy it gave off was the same amount ... perhaps it always releases the energy it makes to ensure a balance? If that's the case then there might be a way to store this energy in something when I'm not holding it, after all my Life Well can only hold so much energy and it feels almost full right now.'

Pulling his senses out of the Void Gem, Rahkim turned them inwards and examined his Life Well to find it filled with Life Energy though he could feel that it was somehow more expansive than the last time he had used it. Satisfied by what he had gained from his meditation Rahkim returned his senses to the outside world, and found himself back in his hastily claimed room with the feelings of hunger and exhaustion gone entirely.

'So the Life Energy I have is connected to whether I feel hunger, or not? The exhaustion I can understand since the Life Energy quite literally represents my life force, but to feel hunger from exhausting it seems a bit strange ..'

Rahkim thought as he returned the Void Gem to its place in his bag. However, as he placed it in the bag he noticed a faint light flickering out from within one of the tears at the chest of his robes. Driven by curiosity Rahkim took off the robe to reveal the entirety of his skeletal frame, and was instantly shocked by what he found. The damage he had sustained against the other skeletons had been repaired completely leaving no sign of a struggle, and hovering in the middle of ribcage was a small black and white flame.

Rahkim stared at the flame in confusion and attempted to cast his senses into it only to find himself reaching towards his Life Well once again. The moment he felt that a realization started to dawn on him, and Rahkim retracted his senses to try and directly touch the flame with his hand. As his finger came into contact with the flame Rahkim could feel nothing, it was like the flame didn't even exist as he tried to grasp it in his hand.

With that Rahkim had come to a conclusion, and one thought filled his mind.

'This is my soul, or what became after Teacher cut it from the 'Cycle'.'

Following that he sat in silence just staring at the black and white flame as an idea started to form in his mind with the tiny flame as the catalyst. Seemingly have decided on something Rahkim stood up, and his bones audibly creaked after having sat still for so long. Throwing his robe on and snatching up his sword that sat off to the side, Rahkim muttered to himself,

“And now, let the hunting begin.”

Turning to the stairwell leading upwards Rahkim quickly made his way up to the roof, and began to examine the area around his building looking at the few patrolling groups of skeletons he could find. After standing their in silence he finally found what he was looking for, a group of three skeletons who split off from a group heading out into the city to patrol the alleyways a street over. Feeling a sense of excitement building up inside of him Rahkim rushed down the stairs, and made just enough room in the shelf barricade for him to squeeze out of.

With nothing else to obstruct his way he quickly made it out of the building, and out into the adjacent alleyway where he stepped into the shadows and crouched down low. He wasn't sure if the other undead could see as well as he could in the dark, but on the off chance that they couldn't he slowly started moving from shadow to shadow as he headed to intercept the small patrol.

It wasn't long before Rahkim came close enough to hear the patrol's feet clattering against the rough stones that lined the alley up ahead. Pressing his back against the wall of a junction that the patrol was soon to cross as he clutched the sword hilt tighter, and waited for the sound of their steps to get closer. When he felt the guards were almost right on top of him Rahkim burst from corner, and dashed out into the alley as he grabbed the sword's hilt with both hands.

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The patrol of three skeletons was only a foot, or so away from Rahkim and before any of them could react the skeletal mage stabbed his sword at the face of the middle soldier. As Rahkim started to pull the sword blade up he lashed out with one of his feet at the target's legs causing the unprepared soldier to fall. The sound of bones cracking filled the air as the skeleton's skull got caught on the blade and the opposing forces caused its neck to shatter along with portions of the skull.

By the time the first patrolman was dead the other two had launched themselves at Rahkim, one stabbed at him from the side with a spear while the other came at him with a battleaxe raised over its head. Feeling the axeman was the greater threat Rahkim ignored the incoming spear entirely as he raised his sword to clash with the falling axe. Sparks flew through the air as the blades locked skid across each other, and Rahkim fell to one knee as the force of the axe blow pressed him downwards causing the spear he had ignored to stab into his shoulderblade.

Grunting, Rahkim felt his right hand loosen its grip as his entire right arm suddenly refused to move after the blow he had taken. With a slight clatter his right arm fell to his side and hung limply causing a bit of anger to well up inside of him. A growl seemed to utter forth from Rahkim as he threw himself upwards and twisted his body in the direction of the spear wielding skeleton. His left arm which had been holding the off balance blade whipped towards the axe wielder and smashed against the skeleton's forearm causing the bones to shatter.

Rahkim could almost feel himself grinning as he pulled the hilt of the sword towards his chest to put the blade between him, and the head of the spear. Clashing against the spear caused Rahkim to stumble back a step, but created an opening as the skeleton overextended himself after the spearhead skidded off the blade and to the side. Rahkim took advantage of this and stepped forward as he brought knee up against the stumbling skeleton's leg and smashed the pommel of his sword against the back of it's skull sending it crashing to the ground. With the spear wielder incapacitated he spun back to face the last patrolling skeletal soldier to find it struggling to lift the battleaxe up with one arm.

Almost effortlessly Rahkim strolled over to it, and slashed at the skeleton's chest with all the force he could muster. The blow allowed the sword to tear through the patrolman's armor with ease, and easily shearing through several rib bones before stopping as it lodged itself in another. Letting go of the sword, Rahkim raised his free hand and grabbed a hold of the skeleton's skull.

With a bestial roar he ripped the skull off and tossed it to the side as the rest of the patrolman's remains crashed to the floor. Yanking his sword free, Rahkim turned to the spear wielder and found it crawling down the alley trying to escape. He walked towards it slowly as he raised the sword with one hand, and spoke to it,

“This 'Master' thinks the city is his, but just wait a little while, even if I have to reduce the entire thing to rubble I will ensure that he rules over nothing. Before you pass let me thank you for the aid your remains will offer.”

As the last word rang out Rahkim's blade fell down, and the skeleton ceased it's movement. Looking at the skeleton's remains with mild anger, Rahkim knelt down and started to tear off the armor covering it's chest with his good arm. He wasn't sure, but he had to check if he was right, he had to see if they have a flame just as he did …

After a short struggle the molding leathers that passed as an excuse for armor fell away to reveal a pale white ribcage in which sat a flame similar to Rahkim's. However, unlike his this flame was smaller, maybe the size of a thumb, and it was a mixture of black and crimson. Looking down on that flame there was only one thing Rahkim's mind, a sudden all encompassing urge that told him to devour the flame, to make it his own.

In answer he stretched out his hand towards the small flame and as it grew closer he could feel his Life Well begin to surge before the black light emerged around his hand. When the tiny flame came into contact with that black light it seemed to suddenly retreat backwards only for the light to surge out, and devour it. The flame grew smaller with every moment as the black light devoured it, and Rahkim could feel the energy inside of himself expanding as even his Life Well grew to accommodate the influx of energy.

When the flame was no more the black light receded back into his Life Well and a new feeling of strength surged through Rahkim.

“Sorry to those whose bodies these used to be, but now I have a need to destroy them. With those flames I can grow stronger.

Let the 'Master' of this city's soldiers become my strength, and in turn the blade that I slay him with. Your Knight was too confident 'Master', now watch as a hunter is let loose among your city.”

Rahkim said as he stalked towards the other two skeleton remains. The first of many to come ...