Maid with Necromancy

Xera was in danger. The uncomfortable feeling came with a crystallization of the oath the girl made to Harmony. [Renew Spirit] pushed through the strengthening field and changed, magnified from a healing mist to a fluid that pushed to heal deeper into the area of her soul where she experimented with the change. It wasn't an immediate danger, but it was there.

Come, my pet. This would also satisfy one of Adric's pet-training requirements of being summoned to her at least once a day.

The few minutes allowed further experiments, and overdoing an action when Xera was in danger was a formula for disaster. [Cold Touch] Shot a spike of ice. [Disintegrate] turned a small branch of a nearby tree into sawdust in a flash, and [Poise and Bearing) had more flexibility in what kind of image she wanted to project, as well as loosened her joints to nearly double-jointed flexibility.

“Yes, Mistress,” Adric answered, kneeling before her after dashing in like the wind.

“Get up. This isn't one of your training games. Do you know where Xera is?”

“She should be in her first Deflecting Fatal Blows class. It's the second building where defensive practitioners train.”

That wasn't too far from The Gregory House, where she had her final class, Deworming, Decursing, and Deconstructing Skills happening soon. The school’s house of healing often took care of student injuries, like the partial mauling Alex had performed in bear-state.

“Lead the way. And tell me how your education is going.”

“I gained a level. I know that me being what I am makes you uncomfortable, but some of this pet stuff really gets me more aligned with my profession of The Lady’s Pet Prince. It's boring training overall, though. More importantly, whatever words you had with Tun’Knee got him to open up to me more. We have an invitation to the beast-kin’s private club. First fur-less in decades. Alex and Tasha could use your knowledge in combining skills. Their first class was a bit rough. I managed to pass some of what I learned from you off as planar knowledge, but you’re better at this kind of thing.”

He was changing the topic. “Fine, keep your training secrets. Any of your more physical relationships I should be aware of?”

“Come on. You’ve never asked about my dalliances before.” Adric whined.

“Because back home, either everyone knew of your reputation, or I knew it wouldn’t come back to haunt me. I saw you with Becca.”

“I’ve only visited her a few times.”

A few times in a little more than a week was a big thing. Only Adric could keep busy and still have nearly infinite time for meeting up with women for such things. Becca was not only her resident associate but also a classmate, someone who claims to know her secret, and someone with a very unusual soul. “And if it becomes a mess I have to clean up or splashes on me, then I’ll…” Damn, he was giving her those big pleading eyes again. “This is why I told Tyler not to get a pet; at least you’re not as much trouble as Loap will be for him.”

Giving up, Harmony switched her attention to the kind of danger Xera was in. This was the third time she’d felt this. First was sending Hyacinth after her, then there was the Quartus… damn it, he’s in this class. Intent to do harm. If it hadn’t been a temporary episode, then Kevin would be an issue.

Seeing Xera walk out of the building while laughing as she moved beside the golden-skinned boy with the feeling of danger still magnifying her abilities didn’t ease Harmony’s worries.

Though the girl going a tad rigid and formal at the sight of her didn’t help either, as she rushed over and bowed, “Healer White, I wasn’t expecting you.”  

She’d taken the girl out to the slums for that little performance to gift her more joyful childish memories, not enhance this formality. Perhaps she had been a little dismissive of the girl's physical changes, as she was now an inch taller after them all.

No point in hiding her concerns. [Final Silence] built a wall to create privacy. “You’re in danger. I think the Quartus is involved.”

“One doesn’t accuse the sixth prince of the golden emperor of maliciousness. He wouldn’t harm me. My family is too important to the empire, and I’m one of his potential future consorts.”  Xera responded with a small spark of defiance.

That just made him the source of danger more likely in Harmony’s calculations, but her relationship with Queen Talia, or at least those controlling her, was a tad complicated and possibly shading her opinions. It explained the boy’s authority and attitude. The grave save her from rulers and their children.

“Trust in [Two Against the End]. Twice in Kevin’s presence, I have felt danger to you.”

“Then he must be in danger too.” Xera insisted.

Not knowing enough about the skill, it was theoretically possible. “I hope that is the case, Xera. Warn him if you wish.”

“And when will you let me be with you when you’re in harm's way?” Xera asked.

“Outside of the nightmares, you’ve admitted you’ve felt very little real danger to me. More of an echo from my late-night training, and then the changes to yourself.”

“Then involve me in your training. We are linked!” Xera demanded.

The girl might as well have been demanding to spill all of her secrets. One oath did not mean she got to know about being a forbidden necromancer. Not when they still had conflicts over boys like Kevin. “No. You’re not ready yet.”  

The girl looked like she was about to throw a teenage temper tantrum, only to reign it in at the last moment and give one more bow. “I will prove myself to you, Healer White.”  Xera stomped off.

Adric stifled a giggle beside her. “And you complain about my dalliances. None of them have sworn an oath to me.”

“Find out more about Xera’s family and whatever this golden emperor thing is, then fetch me that information.” She ordered through their bond. It stung that he was right.

Adric smirked as he ran off to do as ordered.

She couldn’t take him into class anyway. Of all the classes, this one was supposed to be the most advanced one. More of Von Trell, granting her valuable information? Was it that he suspected her time here was limited, and she’d have to flee as a wanted necromancer?

Questions chased Harmony into the building. The visit with Xera got her in early and down the stairs to the room in the lowest part of the basement.

After you passed the sixth floor, the maintenance crews slacked, and the rust increased. Pipes in the ceiling dripped water, creating an Erie music, as dying flow stones flickered, needing a recharge.

It was a side of The Academy she’d yet to see. The classroom was on the floor below the one dedicated to the morgue, one of three rooms next to the furnace room that made you sweat if you got too close.

Early as she was, two other students waited in a cramped room full of scattered magical equipment, a large crystal block, and empty gurneys for wheeling bodies. There weren't any desks or chairs in the room at all.

Hyacinth sneezed in her pocket, grumpily waking and complaining about the number of wards in the room.  

It did make her soul itch.

“A first-year, they must be scraping the bottom of the barrel to find competition for this spot.”

With a full set of badges, Harmony could read the history on the commentator's chest. Several she didn't recognize, and she'd memorized quite a few. The golden number one on his chest with a few decorations notating him as a fourth year was the most relevant information.

“No need to be rude, Primus.” Harmony chided him, [Recall] noting him as a turd in her thoughts.

“Houte, we don't duel freshmen verbally or attempt to goad one into a physical one. Even you should have heard that this year's Tertiary was a healer.”

“That just means the incoming class was weak,” Houte responded.

The second boy stepped into the path of Harmony's glare. “Apologies for my friend. This is his third attempt at getting noticed by the Hexologist. I'm Jasper.”

The social cues of diffusal were well practiced. Friendly, sincere, slightly frustrated at this role. Some servile base profession. It was a game she could recognize and respect. The Secondus badge showed he didn't really need to do this.

[Poise and Bearing], [Style and Grace] worked with life experience to return the favor as she gave the smallest of curtseys and extended her hand. “We all have burdens and struggles to be recognized that make us upset. I accept your apology. I have had annoying friends, too. Is this class really so stressful?”

“You can all choke on a guard's club!” Houte yelled.

Jasper's smile widened, and his eyes sparked with a twinkle. Maybe this wouldn't be a complete social loss.  “It's Houte's invisible giant. Driving him mad that he can't catch it. Only a handful of students get an invite here, and Hexo Curie only accepts one or two.”

Oh, a good chance to shed some of her already overbearing schedule, why couldn't she do that with Material Manipulation? See what there was to learn first.

“Stiff competition then.”

Jasper chuckled a little at that.

Wasn't meant to be funny. [Keen Investigative Awareness] attempted to pick apart why, but there wasn't enough information.

Two women joined in through the rusty door to the room. You could call them twins, except one had blue hair and the other white.

“Oh, are we getting another overachiever? We should meet at The Warden’s Rest for drinks tonight to celebrate.”  The one with Blue hair asked.  She was a Quartus of the third year, and the twin in white was another Tertiary.

Before Harmony had time to answer, in barged Hexologist Curie, not tall, but with arms and legs that looked a touch longer than was right and a wild mass of gray hair. The way she moved and erratic energy, Harmony instantly dubbed her the female Professor Dunphy from Hazeldown.

When Curie spoke, that thought solidified. “What a pitiful selection. One year, I managed to get seven students. Disappointments, every one of them. That seems to be a trend, the disappointments. Even the repeat is here as well.” She said, addressing Houte. ”I hope you improved your experience dealing with curses, or did you give yourself Barilvian screw worms this time?” With a wild spin, she looked Harmony up and down. “ Now we’ve got a first-year. What is this university coming to, sending me one of the babes who hasn’t even been in Oorty’s Tomb? Keep in mind, all of you were picked to possibly provide me with a shred of inspiration to allow me to inch forward in progress, and because I have to allow one of you the opportunity to pass and get a badge.”

Moving to the wall, she banged on it, and a panel opened. Out slid a drawer with a man lying on it. His body was twisted, and his limbs were purplish-yellow. The frozen look of despair and pain was draped across his face. Everything was frozen until Curie stuck out a finger and popped a stasis bubble with a fingernail.

The wailing had the students stumble back.

“Now, what are you waiting for! Save that man’s life!” Curie demanded.

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