B1C16: Necromancy 101

‘Nolan,’ I insisted, but it wasn’t my request that made him put the gun down. He was reading the expression on his mother’s face, and there was a hint of something there that I just wasn’t seeing.

What did she reveal about what she saw that made Nolan trust her?

He brought Scarlet down but kept his eye locked on her.

“Ahh, yes. Much better!” she said, then summoned a seat for herself with the snap of her finger. As she sat down, she summoned something else—a small circular bench with what looked like a built-in burner in the middle of it. “You two may stand if you wish, but at this age, you’re asking too much of me. I am going to sit and make myself some tea.”

On the burner was a small cauldron with clear liquid inside of it, judging by the bubbles spewing out. And along the side of the bench were net pockets that carried various vials of what looked like herbs. She reached into one of the pockets, pulled out a glass jar of leaves, and then sprinkled some into the cauldron. A bright red flame erupted from within the cauldron, illuminating her face with an eerie glow.

Was she making tea or crafting a potion?

“Sooooo,” she began, continuing to brew as she settled her back against the seat of her summoned chair. “I suppose we should get to the heart of the matter.”

‘Did you cut the connection?’

“I did. I glanced, and now, my interests are piqued.”

‘What do you mean?’

“Where are you from?” she asked me frankly.

Wait, I thought I was the one asking the questions here?

‘Earth.’ I said simply.

“And your parents?”

‘From Earth, too. Why ask about them?’

“Curiosity, dear, nothing more.” She smiled. “How did you get to Etheryn from Earth?”

‘I… ugh, died. And then I was reincarnated as a dragon and shipped here.’

“Oh, that is all?” she said, as if reincarnation were commonplace!

‘Yes. What are you trying to gather from asking me these types of questions?’

“The reason your codex marked your path as such. Codices do not do this. This is an unnatural occurrence.”

‘Well, how often do you meet reincarnated Earthlings?’

She giggled. “My, you’re a spunky and cheeky little dragonling. And oblivious to so many things….”

‘Well then, I’m talking to the right person.’

“It goes deeper than that, I’m afraid.” The creases of her eyes smiled at me. “Am I the first to see your codex?”

‘You are.’

As soon as I told her that, she tented her fingers into a steeple, settled her elbows on the armrest of her table, and inched forward, her gaze on me steady. “And necromancy proficiency is your only question?”

I paused for a second and then agreed.

Ah, Wilna was reading me….

She knew that I was lying, and that I had more questions about my codex. Having an infernal bloodline being one of them.

She drew back into her seat, continued to brew, and looked at me more seriously. “Necromancy is seen as a branch of magic that is highly forbidden. Its roots are linked to the God of Death and War, Aradamus. He is the deity we pray to conquer lands and cripple villages into ruin. He is also regarded as the god of pride and power. It is no small matter to discover such an appointment within one’s codex.”

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

‘I never asked for it. It just appeared,’ I said defensively.

“In the natural order of things, a codex follows a path that is chosen by its bearer,” she continued. “A codex doesn’t exist to offer abilities without merit. You must provide it a foundation, and with it, skills are developed for magically gifted races. For instance, a pure elf may be offered the path of cleric or paladin. The codex then assesses the elf’s strengths and develops skills according to their path of cleric or paladin. But you, my dear, have been granted necromancy. This is not a path that one stumbles upon by chance; it is earned through a deep connection with the darkness of death itself.”

Connection to death?

“In all of its wonder, mystery, and splendor,” she replied, her voice calm yet full of undisclosed excitement. “It suggests a connection to the underworld, a bond with the spirits that roam in the darkness.”

Her words hung heavy inside me. A silence fell between us, dark and palpable. The implications of her statement struck me like a bolt of lightning. It was strange enough that I wasn’t given a choice, but to be given a path that had nothing to do with who I was, or what I stood for?

I hated death, and hated war even more! Why the hell did this path choose me?

‘But I haven’t committed any terrible atrocities.’ I finally protested. ‘Nor do I have thoughts of being a tyrant.’

“That may be so,” she said thoughtfully. “However, we need to consider that there is something in your past life that wrought this ability forward.”

‘A past life?’ I asked, the words barely a whisper in my thoughts. ‘Are you saying that this is the second time I’ve been reincarnated?’

“The answer may be simpler than that….” She grinned. “For now, we cannot know for certain what brought about this destiny. All we could do is learn to understand it, wouldn’t you agree?” Wilna’s eyes softened slightly, “Your codex picked this path for a reason. Instead of dreading it, you should embrace it. Your past may be clouded and your future uncertain, but that need not be a cause for fear or distain.”

‘I am not scared. Just… confused. Everything has a reason, and everything has purpose. I just want to know where this darkness came from. It’s hard for me to embrace something I don’t understand.’

“It is not as difficult as you may think. But I digress…. You approached me with only one question. Yes?” She flashed me a sly grin. “To learn how to build proficiency in the dark arts. Clearly, that wasn’t your only concern. It bothers you that you are a necromancer. As interesting and exciting as the endeavor is, deep down, you feel yourself cursed in some way. You don’t see this path as a blessing. It only serves as a tool to get you where you need to be.” Wilna continued. “First and foremost, you must alter your mindset. Otherwise, it won’t work. Embrace the darkness, only then would you be able to manipulate it!” she motivated. “Darkness is merely a state of being. Think of the night. It may seem mysterious and frightening, but without it, there is no day. Nature requires balance, and so too does the world of magic. Learn to live with your darkness, for without it, there’s no light.”

Well, when she put it that way, it was easier to accept the idea.

“Getting comfortable with the concept is the key,” she counseled, her voice dipping low. “Mastering necromancy isn’t about exploitation but harmonization. Yes, it may seem profane and wicked, and evil at first, but once you see beyond the surface….” Wilna allowed the sentence to dangle, her eyes twinkling with a wild light, “You’ll learn to appreciate its intimacy with life’s perpetuity.”

Only Wilna could put a positive twist on something so forbidden!

She was right though—I was drawn in by the coolness of the power, but dreaded the meaning behind it. I hated thinking that my codex locked in my fate because of some deeper meaning. I guess I hadn’t given it much thought because everything was happening so fast. Being a dragon was hard enough, being a dark mage, well, one crazy episode at a time, please!

I wanted to digest everything the witch had to say, even though Wilna sometimes spoke in riddles, answering questions with vague answers that led to even more questions. Honestly, I was finding it hard to believe that I’d been reincarnated before. She did say that the answer to my path could be simpler than that, but I hadn’t a clue how.

I wouldn’t bother myself with it further. After all, what’s done was done. And there’s no changing the past.

All that was left to do was embrace my calling and make the best of it. I had a job to do—becoming an Etheryian Champion. Truthfully, I should be more accepting of this necromancy business since it’d make leveling up easier. I hadn’t been in this new world for two full days, and I was already nearing level 20. Once I started building my army, my stats were going to climb even faster….

Wilna smiled. “Ah, I see something changing in you already, little one.” She grinned as she swirled the spoon in her cauldron around. “I am glad you are ready for enlightenment.”

I nodded. ‘Thanks for letting me see a different perspective of this, Wilna. I didn’t realize how much it’d bothered me until now.’

“No need for thanks,” she said and waved her hand dismissively. “Your journey to understanding has only just begun. It’s a long path, strewn with hidden truths and lessons that you must decipher. One thing that you should always remember is to never fear your potential, and to never submit to it, either. Oftentimes, necromancers become so grossly consumed that they allow the shadows to devour them. I would hate for something like this to happen to such a smart girl.”

‘I don’t have an addicting personality.’

“Well, I sure do hope it stays that way.”

‘What else do I need to know about practicing necromancy?’

“Your first step is complete—accepting the void. Next, you must learn to wield it.”