Half Soul Chronicles

Ch. 2: Breath of Life

A rich and silk darkness cradled me, holding me still, keeping me in place. Cold, sweet air flooded my lungs releasing the knots in my muscles and joints. 

Where am I?

Even as I asked this question to no one in particular, I knew exactly where I was. The place of eternity, Luvana, a golden light exploded above and all around me, splintering into colors I’ve never seen and couldn’t hope to describe. The colors sparkled, surrounding me like raindrops caught by the suns. Peace flooded my bones, into my soul blood, beating just as human hearts do. I followed the beating, lost in its rhythm, I looked to my right hand, a fiery DeathBrine firm in my palm, my markings glowing iridescence  on my wrist, blood flowing from my palm. 

In my left, elveslotus clutched firm in my palm, no blood pooled but flames still engulfed the lotus. Not understanding, I glanced ahead through the light-ancestors, none of which I’ve met, but all of whom I know stood audience as far as the eye could see. My siblings from every tribe watching me, all of them wearing both modern and ancient armors, furs, leathers, all of them welcoming me not with words but silent emotions as loud as any voice. 

Welcome home, A’Kei. Are you ready? They asked in unison in the ancient tongue, thunderous in my mind but calm and sweet, beckoning  but not forcing. As if they were truly curious if I would leave my flesh behind and join them. 

Should I be? Where did I go? 

The choice is always yours, brother. You already know your answer, take the first step. We are always here with open arms. 

So I should go? Did I-die? I asked, scared to even breathe the question. 

What is death in the face of eternity? Your bones may decay, your mind may fray, but you and your soul will always live on. 

Understanding, but unsatisfied, gripped my blade a little tighter. A sharp pain ripped through my stomach and up my chest, lacing around my brain, I flinched falling to my knees. Clutching my stomach, I tossed my blade, the ancestors disappearing into clouds one by one, mist right before my eyes until all of them were gone. The mist collected into a single frame, I stood before me, my eyes a solid but glowing blue, he knelt to me meeting my eyes. Pressing his fingers into my forehead, my body shivered, the deep dark ground below me cracking, I fell through into frigid waters. 

Plunging down into the dark, I sank away from the burning light, my lungs full of water I never drowned, but couldn’t bring myself to breathe. Sinking farther and farther, the glow of an orange sun eclipsed the dark below, the rays of the sun branching out like limbs, one limb latching around my ankle pulling me into the light. My body heavy as gravity, I didn’t fight the fall as I fell into the light- 

A jolt like lighting shot through me, forcing me awake, I sprang up gasping fresh air, my spine screamed as my entire body lit aflame with jolts of pointed stabs of pain, I hacked up blood. My head pounding, I fell back on the rough surface I was on; my skin raw, like I was dipped in lava, pinpricks of fire stabbed at my stomach and the small of my back. Glancing down, a gruesome scar darker than my skin, tiny tendrils vining out over my entire lower. 

Where am I? 

My head throbbing again, I let the cool, but stale air fill my lungs. Looking around, I was in the middle of a cramped living area, surrounded completely by all manner of magical item and book. Every shelf filled with jars of powders, liquids, sands, shimmering faeries trapped. Vials of glowing and mundane liquids. Straining my eyes to read some of the books, they were all in a language I didn’t recognize but looked familiar still. Rolling my neck to the side, off the rough slab I was on, a shallow pool of water surrounded me, glowing yellow filling all of the space with its magic light, candles burning blue surrounded the pool; six in all, three floating, three on the floor. 

A sorcerer..? Ryh doesn’t know sorcery..

Coughing again, my blood coating my chin and lips, I lifted my arm-it heavy and stiff, I flexed my fingers wiping myself clean, violet staining my fingers. 

What happened? The last thing I remember..the battle...Borolith-that Necro...then

Nothing. 

A door creaking open behind me, my ears twitched at the sound, I strained my neck back to find my captor. the sorcerer, approaching stopped midtrack staring down at me neutrally. 

“Ah, you’re awake. Finally.” She said glancing over my body. 

Skin as mine, a mortal, I could vaguely feel the magic in her veins, having hair dreaded down to her waist, finger blades laced at the ends, she carried a dark wand in her left hand, a book in her right. A coldness surrounds her, and even though my senses are dulled and my body in more pain than it ever has been, I was on high alert. 

Staring at her, cautious of her intentions, she rolled her eyes snapping her book closed, it flew from her hand onto a stack of books as a vial of glowing pink liquid floated into her hand. 

“You’re welcome.” She said coming closer to me. 

Flinching as she gripped my arm, her fingers and nails sharp as blades, she flipped my wrist over. “..I’m in a unfamiliar place, with a sorcerer I’ve never seen. My body is in pain, my senses are dulled. I need answers.” 

Dropping my wrist, a slight flare of annoyance washed over her face before shifting back to neutral. “I hate stupid questions.” She said, a chair flying under her, she sat down. Sighing heavy, she crossed her covered legs, her entire body wrapped in the strange black garment. “But, ask as many as you like..I suppose.” 

Ignoring her tone, i flexed my fingers. “Where am I? What happened? Where are my friends?” I asked quickly, my lungs burning at the words. 

“Drink this, it’ll sooth the pain,” She said, uncapping the vial holding it to my lips. 

Narrowing my eyes at the vial, she rolled her eyes again pushing the liquid into my mouth, burning then shifting to a cold sweet down my throat, I drank it down greedily. 

The sharp, hot pain coursing through my body subsiding a fraction I took a non labored breath. “I don’t know what happened to your friends, I found you in the aftermath while I was collecting lost souls-” 

“L-lost souls? But-” 

“Let me finish, Elvin.” She huffed, spitting my race like a slur. “I was collecting souls when I stumbled upon you, a mangled mess of a corpse. Except..elves are resilient I suppose. Your body was dead but not your soul blood, I brought you here to piece you back.” She explained. “It was delicate work, but now that you’re awake I can heal the rest of you-” 

“And who says I need your help? I heal on my own!” I barked snapping up from this ridiculous slab. My legs stiff and cold as ice, my stomach throbbed, collapsing into the water face first knocking my nose against the ground. Lifting my head, I frowned. “...this... proves nothing..” 

Nodding, she knelt by my side. “Sure, Elvin.” Flicking her wand, soft dark clouds manifested around my arms and legs hoisting me up and back on the slab with a thud. 

“When you’re ready to stop being a child, we can continue the healing Elvin-” 

“My name is A’kei.” I said getting the barest of nods. 

“Didn’t ask, try to sleep,” She said, leaving me. 

Watching as she went back to the back door, she traced her sharp nails around the door, light trailed it until the door itself bloomed white light before opening up to a long narrow hall. This isn’t an average sorcerer, that much I am sure now. Spatial magic is very hard to wield and she uses it for doors? It took me two years to even become adept at collapsing myself. To manipulate a whole hall that’s not connected to her? I wonder how powerful this mortal is. Our eyes meeting, she turned and left into the hall leaving me alone. 

The roof above, a leaking wood structure, thrummed with the gentle thud of rain soothed my wandering mind a fraction, but not enough to not wonder how I’m in the care of this person and not Ryh, or why Gemini didn’t try and find me after I was attacked. Maga, skittish as she is, is no coward. I refuse to believe that they simply abandoned me, but I’m alone now. Probably for the first time in my life I don’t have anyone here that I know and love at least knowing I’m alive. The weight of what happened not really settling in, I’m simply at a loss for me losing the battle at all, but to-die? Elves don’t die as disgracefully as I supposedly did, not surrounded by my family waiting for me to pass on my essence to the next generation. That is the Elvin way, as my flesh turned to jewel, my soul blood would live on.   

A chill ran through me, if i’ve been dead this whole time, and arguably the most capable warrior on the hill that day, and the only thing standing between Borolith and my warriors I may have to accept the possibility that the cause of no one coming to find me, to save me is that… 

No. I refuse to accept that. But..mother raised no coward, so I must be honest with myself; there were casualties that day. More if that unnamed villain succeeded. Ryh..Gemini...Maga...my three thousand. All of them could be dead, are most likely dead. Borolith had the strength of a thousand souls, and if that daemon had its full strength it would’ve obiltered half od Yeral, with us along with it. No, that masked Necro had a plan, and I helped them achieve it, my blessed blade-my armor! My blade! 

Did I lose those as well? 

A heavy weight settled on my chest, infecting the rest of me into a sadness that I haven’t felt since Gemini’s brother fell to a winged viper. I mourned for a year with her, he was a true friend..I feel as if I’ve lost everything and I don’t even know what I have yet. It could be, indeed, everything. And all I can do is sit here, my body broken, my senses numbed, away from my home, away from my friends who may or may not be alive. I’ve never felt so..so...helpless.

I refuse to fail, I refuse to let myself wallow in this pity I’m finding myself in. This is just temporary, my broken frame can be mended, my mind won’t be so splintered, I’ll heal as I’ve done a million times before. This is just temporary. 

Time faded away as I closed my eyes, searching my mind for any indication of how I failed so spetacuralry- the last of what I can remember is-my hand finding my stomach, I flinched at the soar skin. 

The blade.

A mortal blade, a mortal blade found its way through my armor and through my skin. Skin that’s been lit aflame yet emerged unharmed. Skin that came face to face to an Essence Thief and lived to tell the tale. I am no minor mage, no mortal that can be slain without a fight, to be struck down so quickly-I smell treachery, but from where? And why? 

Slamming my fist into the slab, sick of all the questions that can’t be answered while I’m trapped in this sorcerer’s shack, I focused on my feet. Stiff and inmobile, it’s a feat that I can still move at all, being dead doesn’t allow for rapid movement, my entire body feels so stiff and cold. But I can’t just lay here, I have heads to collect, and they can’t be severed from this hovel of a base. 

Focusing on my toes, I knew it wouldn’t be easy to will my lower into movement again. I remember falling into a magical coma after that ridiculous fight with a green sibling-a misunderstanding she took the wrong way resulting in my month-long dream. Once I awoke, it took me an entire day to get my legs working again. 

I later found the sister and tore off one of her wings, birds have no business attacking actual threats; and I’m the biggest as she learned that day. 

I wonder how she’s doing? 

Imagining my legs rising and lowering, my toes flexing and unflexing, an image of me running from this shack, so clear in my mind I could almost feel the stone under my feet. The warm grass of the season (if it is the warm months that is), under my toes, the dirt just under that. I could feel the sun’s heat on my skin, the night breeze blowing through my hair; all of this running through my mind as I stared at my immobile feet, still as boards. 

This is going to be a long trial..

Time faded away, the soft thuds of the rain keeping me grounded in reality as I stared at my slow working feet, a toe twitch after what felt like a planet rotation. I could flex my left foot after three rotations, could twist my ankle after six, could move it gingerly after nine. A long and agonizing trial and error, through it all it occured to me that my natural healing, the ability that sets us apart from the other Elvin tribes, never aided me. The pains and aches continued to course through me with a soft vengeance, a bug I couldn’t crush, couldn’t ignore. The answer I want to believe is that I’m just too injured and my magics haven’t had a chance to catch up to my now waking mind, that they too just need to be healed. 

But the realist in me knows the truth: my magics have been severed. Three hundred years of carefully practiced magics, the refinement that I fine tuned to make me the deadliest blue elf in all of Yeral, gone, with one swing of a blade, a resurrection and I lost that too. True, I could feel the change in me as soon as I woke; even as I sleep, I heal. I shouldn’t be so injured still, especially from mortal attacks. They stole that too. 

Pushing the panic to the back of my mind, I pushed myself up, my new arms (vile thin twigs masquerading as arms) shaking and straining, my entire body burned and screamed until I was upright. Slowly moving my legs off the board, into the cool healing water, my toes thanked me for the relief, the water tickling under my soles. 

I want to scream. So weak and broken, like a malnourished child, I feel as if a breeze could topple me. When I find the Necro who did this to me, I will ring their neck until it’s dust in my hands..then sever their head. I want a trophy. 

Light flooding the room from the back room, the sorcerer came through looking me up and down. 

“You’re not one to follow advice are you?” She said.

“No. Not when my home could be in danger and I am trapped here! My muscles are gone! My magics are dry in my veins! My armor and blade are-” 

“Outside,” she said jutting her chin to the front door. “I use them to scare away vermin, quite effective,” She said simply. 

Staring at the sorcerer, I couldn’t believe my ears. My blood boiling I tried to summon a flame, but nothing happened except a slight warm, tingling sensation spreading through my palm that was somehow more embarrassing than having nothing happening at all. 

At least my magics aren’t gone completely, they can be fixed too. Thank the Goddess. 

“Y-you use my armor as vermin repellent?” I sneered. “That armor was crafted from the very fabric of magic itself! Blessed by-” 

Holding up her hand, silencing me. “Save your speech for someone who, um, cares? You’ve been dead, Elvin. What did you need it for?” 

“I…” Trailing off, seeing her point, I sighed. “I…I am sorry. I’m being an ox. I never thanked you for saving my life. I really am grateful. To lose everything and to wake up in a strange place is...not easy to take in all at once.” 

Nodding, she stood in front of me. “I can imagine,” she said, offering me her hand. “I prepared a healing bath, it should stir the dormant magic in your veins, jumpstart the basic magics you hold.” 

Nodding, I took her cold hand as she hoisted me up, me nearly collapsing, I cursed as she caught me. Throwing my arm over her shoulder she practically dragged me to the back room to a washroom. Less crowded than the other room, a marble bath stood in the middle of the room, surrounded by candles of all varying sizes and flame colors, my eyes fell to the waters, they shimmering as if filled with gemstones. 

Just as we approached, a low groan escaped the lips of something to my left, following the noise a large beast of which I didn’t recognize spread out over the wall,a magic circle surrounding it. I recognized the markings, the beast was bound to the circle, unable to escape. 

“Um-” 

“Ignore him. He’s a nuisance,” She said blandly. 

“One day, sorcerer, I will be free from these mortal chains and devour every ounce of your soul!” The beast moaned pathetically. 

“How many times are you going to make the same threat, Tiben?” She groaned, bored sounding as she gently lowered me into the warm waters. 

“Until I have your bones ground into soup and your brain made into sweet pies!” it groaned again. 

“Keep it up and I’ll take another tooth!” She snapped making the beast whimper. 

“One day! One day!” It whined. 

Rolling her eyes, she fixed her gaze on me and the water. Sitting on the bench off to the side, a book floated in front of her flipping open to a random page. “Soak as long as you need, Elvin, we have all the time in the world..” 

Following her advice, I dipped deeper into the water, submerging myself until my chin kissed the surface of the water. My stiff joints and muscles soothing down to the bones, I could feel my veins flex breathing strength into my magics, but I still felt so dull, weak. I’m not used to this feeling, how do mortals feel this way all of the time? So weak and frail? 

The water threatened to relax me to the point of sleep, I lost track of time again as she read in her corner and I tried to ignore the whimpering of the beast behind me, the antlers of gold, dark fur and six paws, it was a strange looking creature. I wonder what happened for it to be in such a position?

Having no intention of leaving the water, a thought popped into my mind. “You said I was dead-” 

Huffing, she peered at me from over book. “This better not be a foolish question.” 

“I didn’t even ask anything yet,” I said lifting myself up a fraction. 

“No, but I can always sense a stupid question.” 

Ignoring her rudeness, I continued. “I was dead. But for how long? How long have I been away?” 

Staring at me, her book lowering, a shadow crossed over her face. “...As I said, it took time to piece your soul back together..a lot of searching, spells, incantations..” 

“Yes, as you said. But how long?” I asked again, getting annoyed. 

Sighing heavily, she shifted on her bench. “..in your time...two sun rotations...it took…” 

My ears burning, I didn’t hear anything she said after. A hot white blade stabbed in the back of my mind burning away any rational thought and feeling. I couldn’t be-no-no that’s impossible! I couldn’t be gone for so long! How can I-how could I be dead so long and-no no no no!

My chest rising and falling, my breath coming quick never settling I felt the walls start to close in and swirl. I couldn’t be-I-I-I. 

“Ouch. That must suck blue one,” the beast behind me chuckled. 

“IT’S A’KEI!!!” I screamed springing from the water. 

Rampaging through the door, back through the cramped room, I screamed so loud i swear my lungs exploded into flames.  If I had my strength and my magics I’d find the nearest beast or daemon I could find and decapitate it, that always calms me down, but I have neither of those, as well as my missing armor! 

Throwing open the front door I stopped in my tracks. Sprawling out before me was a seemingly endless field of moon grass, surrounding the endless fields were towering mountains the same dark blue, clouds surrounding the peaks. There was no moon nor sun, but a broad swatches of bright and dark clouds of different hues of blue, those too swirling into a portal of grey. The “rain” I heard were falling white gemstones, picking one up from the safety of the shack, it was smooth to the touch and melted in my palm like water. 

I’ve read of this place, but never been. Footsteps approaching from behind, my anger spiked again. “You’ve kept me trapped in the Abyss for two sun rotations? Goddess knows how long I’ve actually been gone!” I roared. 

“It’s true. But this place nullified the curse that was marked on you, as well as the blessing that kept your armor and blade attached to you. The Abyss kept you alive, so be grateful-” 

“You’ve been awfully concerned with my health and safety! Why go through the trouble! Who are you!?” I yelled facing her. “None of this is making any sense and now I find that a random Abyssal is taking it upon herself to rip me from destiny! If I was meant to die on that hill then I should have!” 

Scoffing she stared me dead in the eyes. “It was me who saved your life, Elvin-” 

Throwing open my hand, a buzz vibrated through my arms and chest, up my spine and around my skull. The air turned, whooshing as DeathBrine launched into my palm. “My name is A’Kei! And you have one chance to tell me why you stole from my dimension!” Pointing the blade to her, she stared at me. 

Walking up to me, into the tip of the blade,she smirked. “Careful of whose hand you bite, Elvin. You have no idea who I am, but I’ve been in your mind the entire time you’ve been dead.” 

Her dark eyes glowing a dark blue, my lungs suddenly started to burn down into my blood, my veins turning to solid glass, I gasped dropping my blade, I fell to my knees, then to my hands unable to breathe, unable to fight back as the glass tore through my body. 

“Y-y-you-” I gritted out. 

Kneeling to me, A lock of her hair snaked and choked around my throat stealing what little air I had left, the blade aimed right for my holy eye. “You see, it cost a lot to bring you back from death. That debt will be paid, Elvin. You will recover your strength, re learn your magics, and you will never point a blade at me again because if you do...this slight pain you feel right now? Will be heaven to what I will do to you. That is a promise.” 

Freeing me from both her hair and her curse, my hand launched up automatically, grabbing her by the throat. “I am no one’s slave!” I growled. 

Smiling, she grabbed my wrist. “Wrong.” She hissed, her grip growing tighter, stronger than my force, crushing my wrist-I yelped then screamed as she ripped my hand from her throat. “You are mine.” 

Tossing me into the dirt, I rolled to the side gripping my shattered wrist fighting the pathetic tears bubbling up inside me. “Play your cards right and you will be free. Disobey and you will die. Those are your options. Take them or leave them.” 

Glaring at her, it occurred to me right then that I truly had no say in my own destiny. This abyssal has the magics and strength to kill me-for now. 

“W-why me? Why didn’t you leave me to die?” I cried. 

“Quit pitying yourself. You wouldn’t have been satisfied with death,” she said turning away from me. “When you’re ready to comply I'll be inside. Your armor is on that post. I’d wait until the rain stops, sharp as blades when it falls.” 

A million different curses and threats sprang to mind but I bit my tongue despite all the things I wanted to do to her. Like severing her head from her shoulders, that would make us even for what she’s put me through and Goddess knows what else she’s done to me while I was dead. 

It’s still so surreal...dead...for two suns. I wonder what’s changed, whose changed, if anyone made it from the battle alive. I worry about Gemini..my best friend, she’s seen me through the worst of situations, been my rock and most trusted ally..I don’t think I could forgive myself if she died, slain by a greedy necromancer claiming power they know nothing about. It makes me even more sure that this enemy is mortal, they hold no regard for souls beyond their own because they can’t hear and feel others as elves, faeries, and even orcs to some extent. It is exclusively mortal to be so selfish and self absorbed...and it’s cost me everything; they will pay with their life. As well as the one who did the killing blow, two enemies that need to be snuffed from the mortal dimension, and every other plane and dimension known. I will make sure that they are destroyed down to the very embers of their souls-and stomp on those sparks as well. They will cease to exist beyond empty space and even that I will take too. 

But, how can I do any of that with my body the way it is? My magic stunted as it is, I can only sit and watch as my entire world is ripped away from me. 

Kicking the dirt with my bare foot, hot pain shot up my wrist and arm, wincing I pushed myself up despite the pain and watched the rain. It fell for what felt like years. I wonder if Ryh is mourning me, wondering how everything got so insane so fast. A jab of regret struck my chest, she always said I rush into everything too fast, never thinking, never looking back, slowing down to see despite my blessed eye. I never listened, why would I? With all the strength I have-had- I was strong enough to hold my own against thirty mortals alone, on one occasion I found myself in that exact situation. Maybe she never gave up on me? If she went back to the hill and didn’t find me, maybe she figured I survived somehow. 

I’d like to think that she would keep looking for me like I would never cease searching for her if she disappeared. If her soul was lost and could be found, there wouldn’t be a force on this plane or any other that would stop me searching. Despite everything, something deep in me knows she probably forgot me, mourning my body that’s still alive, no matter how broken. I always told her not to mourn me if I died..I just didn’t think it would be so soon. 

The rain slowing, then finally stopping, I escaped from under the safety of the shack into the abyssal’s garden of odd blue fruit, sweeping the fenced in area, the soil under my feet wet from the rain, I sensed my armor before finding it, as she said, hanging on thin metal post like some common vermin repellent. 

Cursing her, I stomped to the post and ripped my armor down, pulling on my pants-painfully slow-and chest plate; sliding on my left arm gauntlet, leaving my right hand and wrist bare, I slid on my hunting boots. Once all of it was on, it resized to fit my small frame, sadly it made me feel a little better. And also a little worse. My muscles were my pride, strong enough to lift a three thousand cubit beast with both hands, now I worry if my blade wasn’t enchanted if I’d be able to lift it at all on my own. 

Still, it does feel good to be back in my armor, makes me feel not as weak as I am; glancing at my arm, the four runes, however, were nowhere to be found, searching around the post there was no trace. Closing my eyes, to try and feel for them, I felt nothing. It could be my weakened state but..

Those runes took me fifty years to craft, each one formed from the core elements and blessed from the High Elves themselves. Elluin, Garrix, Lexisis, Myrdrin. Balance and fortitude (night and day), grace and power (water and flame). I enchanted them into my gauntlet so they would never leave my side. For them to be gone is impossible.

That Abyssal! 

Grabbing my blade with my good hand, I kicked the front door open, a heavy sigh emanated from her as she picked at her nails with a dagger of all things. “Break the door and you’ll fix it-” 

“My runes! Where are they!?” 

“Your-what-” 

“RUNES!” I screamed. “I crafted them! Created them using the purest of essences, spells, I bled my own blood into them, got the blessings from the High elves themselves! How can they be gone How-” 

“FIrst of all!” SHe snapped getting up from her chair. “This is my home and you will never disrespect me in my own home! Secondly!” She yelled getting in my face, shoving me back. “If you’re talking about the piles of rocks that were around you when I SAVED YOUR LIFE, then I guess whoever you fought had a grudge against you! And your stupid rocks!” 

The accusation was a slap to the face. “T-that’s impossible-” 

“Yeah, well, I thought mortals couldn’t kill elves, yet here you are.” Turning away from me, her hair slapped me in the face. 

“You’re wildly unpleasant, obtuse even.” 

“Coming from the one whose done nothing but accuse me when I kept you from your death.” 

“Against my will. And you now have a curse on me!” 

“Because you owe me for my kindness. Nothing is ever given without something being taken,” 

“Profoundly selfish and mortal..” Feeling heavy, I slid back against the wall, shutting the door as I did. I’ve now lost everything, and all I have to show for it is my armor that barely feels like mine anymore. The power to kill me and destroy my runes..who is this Necro and what could I have possibly done to them for them to steal everything from me? My family, my magics, my strength, my sense. It all feels-

“Are you going to pout in that corner a long time? It’s making me nauseous..” 

“You don’t have friends do you?” 

Shrugging she picked up her dagger, cleaning her nails. “Never found the need,” 

“I’ve lost everything..” 

“You’re alive now. Do something about it...after you aid me of course.” 

Frowning at her, I sighed. “Where do I even begin?” 

“Finally, a question that isn’t completely moronic,” she said getting up, coming to me, she gripped my now swollen wrist, flicking her wand around it, the bones mended themselves, the swelling reversed until I was healed completely. “You’re useless to me pathetic and broken. You’ll regain your strength, learn new magics, help me, and kill the one who did this to you and your friends. That’s how you’ll begin and how it will end.” 

“How?” 

Rolling her eyes, she pointed outside. “The Abyss is endless, start running. Swing your blade, kill the abyss wolves that run rampant around here and steal my crops.” “What’s a wolf?” I asked, smacking me across the head she snapped in my face. “Focus! You need to be your best and beyond if you want to kill the one who did this to you-” 

“Why help me and imprison me?” 

“Because I believe your blood may get me what I want. Plus, I love revenge.” 

“That..doesn’t surprise me.” I said. “What’s your name by the way? You know everything about me, yet I know nothing of you.” 

Staring at me blankly, she looked above my head. “My name’s..Kora..” 

“Forget your own name?” I laughed. 

Frowning,  she stood. “I see no use for names, they bind you to something and I want to be a part of nothing.” 

Nodding, not really understanding, I didn’t say anything more. It didn’t escape my notice that she’s mortal and residing in the Abyss, a notoriously anti-mortal dimension. Dangerous for their kind, dangerous for my kind if I’m honest. In all my research the natural residents of this plane have always been here and never change, they want for nothing and are usually harmless..it’s the magics of abyss that sap the life force of non Abyssals that makes this place so dangerous. She must have a will of steel. 

I must leave here soon or else I may get killed again for just existing. I need to be cautious if I forget who I am-then again, that one time I was lost in the Makora Mountains, the place of sorrows, I forgot who I was completely for an entire season. For an entire season I wandered the endless tunnels until Maga found me wandering, she cast a stone spell of fortitude on my mind and made me snap back to myself. 

Oh Maga..I hope she’s safe. All those times I dragged her with me on every single adventure, battle, and random thought that popped into my head that usually ended with her getting captured, attacked, burned, and on one occasion her soul was ripped from her body by a particularly powerful daemon that took both me and Ryh to banish to heal her. 

I’m sure this is all teaching me a lesson, but until I have that Necromancer’s head on a pike, I will always fail to see it.  

“Fine. I’ll comply with your requests. Where are these wolves?” 

Smiling, she offered me her hand. “I’ll take you to them.”