The misadventures of the necromancer

Saca and Adar walk toward the orphanage where Esther and the children are. Saca had stayed at Esther’s house so she could get some of the work that needed doing done. Allowing Esther to spend some time at the orphanage. And now she was heading there to tell her what chores had been done and to say goodbye to Delmic before going home.

Adar had arrived shortly before, announcing that Nero and Sena would be delayed because, apparently, the men who had previously tried to kill Nero had reappeared.

From what Adar says, they seem to have followed Nero’s instructions to the letter. Something that amazes them all. Right from the start, Adar had told her how Sena and he had stood there discussing the unbelievable scene of the two assassins reporting their actions to Nero. Something she also would have liked to witness.

“It’s hard to believe they followed Nero’s orders!” she can’t help commenting, considering the events.

“They want something more,” Adar replies as they walk down the street. Even though the shops are still open, there are not many people around. Allowing them some peace while talking.

That lets her ask, “Oh yes? What?”

“When I was leaving, they were talking about the Guild.” As always cautious, Adar does not specify which Guild, out in the open street. But what other one could it be?

“Really?” she blurts out, a little surprised, while he merely nods.

“What do you think they want from the Guild?” she voices the first question that comes to mind.

“I don’t know. Maybe they want to work for the only member of it they know,” replies the dark-haired young man beside her, shrugging as Nero would.

Although Saca can see the logic in his comment, after all, she understands why the two assassins might want to work for someone who had belonged to the Guild. She still cannot help saying, “And do you think he would accept them?” Considering the two had been hired to kill him.

He falls silent while walking thoughtfully. “Maybe. It wouldn’t be that strange for him.”

His answer reminds her of the scene of Nero leaning against a wall with Delmic in his lap while feeding him, and at the same time explaining why they should not trust the boys.

Something that had never sat well with her, because at the same time, she still remembers the two boys standing between her and the Clue forces. Her and Delmic’s only defense back then.

That had led to several conversations between her and Sena, where they ended up agreeing to act cautiously around the boys.

But now, walking beside Adar, she cannot help wondering whether the boys do not deserve more consideration.

“Yes, he has accepted people who tried to hurt him before.” He nods absentmindedly. Until the weight of her words hits him.

His head quickly turns toward her with an expression that says, “And how do you know that?”

“Nero told us to be careful around you,” she answers the unspoken question.

He lets out a sigh, looks ahead, and recovers the pace he had slowed. “Makes sense. It’s not like he ever hid what he thinks about us.”

“But how did it happen?” she asks, giving in to her curiosity.

“How did it happen?” he repeats, still looking forward.

“If you want me to guess what goes on in Nero’s head, you’ll be disappointed,” he says with a faint tone of humor. The joke is easy to understand for anyone who has truly interacted with the necromancer. Even she feels her mouth form a smile at the idea.

“But if you mean the inn?” He pauses slightly, as if considering his words, before continuing. “He told you about the inn, right?”

“A little, but not very specifically. Just that you had imprisoned him. And others...” Here, the words fail her slightly before she finishes, unsure how to phrase it. “And what they were wanted them for.”

Adar keeps walking, ostentatiously avoiding looking at her.

“You know, it didn’t start out evil,” he begins in an almost calm tone.

“Yes, we knew the kind of magic the person we followed practiced. But...” He glances around, though the street is now practically empty, still avoiding saying the word necromancy. “...we thought we were different. Or maybe we just weren't thinking much at all.”

She remains silent, not knowing what to say and somewhat afraid that saying the wrong thing would make him stop talking.

“The first time someone died and someone was captured... it was more fear than anything else.”

“A group of... bandits. Were trying to... let’s say seduce Agatha.” The tone he uses immediately tells her what kind of seduction he means.

“Agatha was a member of our coven and worked as a servant at the inn. She was an attractive woman,” he clarifies, allowing her to better imagine the scene.

“There were three of them, violent and armed...” During this small pause, she sees a smile forming on his lips.

“But we had Shorty. He’s still one of the biggest people I’ve ever known.” He spreads his hands as if trying to indicate Shorty’s size. Judging by his gestures, the man must have been at least two palms taller than Adar and a palm wider.

“Even so, they hurt Seres and Bren.”

“In the end, two died, and we captured one.” His tone reveals some satisfaction with that conclusion.

“It all could have ended there. Nobody would have blamed us for dealing with them. We probably would have been rewarded instead. But...” Considering what she already knows, that is not what happened.

“But now we had two human bodies to use... It was an opportunity the Master couldn’t refuse. Besides, the one who was alive was perfect for testing the obedience collars they had found.” As he speaks, his head shakes from side to side, as though reflecting on what it all became.

“The next ones were also criminals trying to take advantage of an isolated inn. Never realizing why we maintained an inn there.” Again, he speaks with a trace of humor.

But that ends when his voice echoes once more. “That lasted until poor Ged suddenly showed up, staring at several drugged bandits lying on the floor of the inn.”

Finally, he turns toward her and says with cold, tense eyes, “What could we do at that point?”

Turning forward again, he continues, “And when there were too many bandits. Well... the master needed subjects for his experiments.”

A brutal description, but one that lets her understand how the boys ended up in that situation.

"In the end, it all ended because Agatha had the brilliant idea of capturing a lost beggar!" The humor and frustration echos in his voice. Which, once again, is understandable considering who that beggar must have turned out to be.

“I think I understand.” She tries to keep her voice as gentle as possible, so he knows she is not judging him.

“No, you don’t, Saca,” he replies somewhat sharply. But still without looking directly at her.

In a calmer voice, he continues, “I’m not telling you this as an explanation.”

“I’m telling you this because there’s no point in hiding it. Especially after he already told you guys!”

Once again, he lets out a sigh, as if preparing for what comes next.

“I’m telling you this to warn you...”

Immediately, she turns toward him. Only the fact that he does not stop walking forces her to keep moving, because she truly wants to hear the rest.

“If you actually ask him, Nero will be the first to tell you! That no one obtains power like his without first crossing a river of blood.” And with that statement, he finally looks at her, as if he wants her to understand it just from that gaze.

But she does not understand. What does he mean by that? It sounds like he is trying to warn her about Nero. But they already know how powerful he is.

He looks forward again, maintaining his pace.

“You’ve already gotten used to the mule. But I doubt you truly understand what it represents...” Her mind goes to the undead mule that is with Seres, hidden in the house. The mule that had proven so useful for transporting them to this city. And for defending the group on that journey. Something even Adar had commented on. So, what does he mean by this?

“In the inn where we met Nero...” He hesitates here, seeming lost in thought.

“No. Better. The Master who taught Seres and me wanted, in a way, to create something like that mule! ”

She still doesn’t understand and is about to speak, but Adar continues.

“Now think about everything the Master did to try to create something like that mule... and how he always failed.”

“And then think carefully about what Nero must have done to so easily achieve it.”

The idea is something she can barely understand. But she can still see where Adar is going with it.

“But then...” she tries to ask Adar, but he cuts her off.

“Why do I stay by his side?”

“First, because I don’t really have a choice. To this day, I’m not even sure he wouldn’t kill me if I tried to run away...” Something Saca finds hard to believe. Nero would hardly do that, right?

No, surely not. It must be an exaggeration on Adar’s part.

“On the other hand, I’m not saying he’s evil or anything like that. In fact, despite being difficult to tolerate at times, he’s quite reliable.”

Again, he turns toward her as he speaks.

“I’m just trying to warn you. You should be careful around us, yes. But that includes him... Do not forget what used you guys, to reach him.” And that warning truly resonates with her, reinforced by the memory of the god’s servant who looked like a dog.

“Yes, I’m—” she begins when a series of screams can be heard.

The sound seems to come from a little further ahead. Screams from several people, or more precisely, children. For a moment, she even thinks they might just be the children playing.

But something is wrong. The sound does not carry the joy of play, but fear.

Looking toward it, she hears herself say, “The orphanage.” Before both of them start running toward the sound.

Arriving close enough, she can see a group of people dressed in colorful robes. The large clothes preventing her from making out many details about them, as they grab children who try to escape.

On

the ground lie the bodies of some adults. Near the entrance, she thinks she sees Esther, pressed against the wall of the orphanage.

With that, a single thought comes to her mind so strongly that she screams in terror. “Delmic!!”

She tries to run, but something holds her back. When she turns to see what it is, Adar is holding her.

“Take out your knife,” he says.

His voice is tense but controlled, making her think again. She really cannot go forward defenseless. That would only put her brother in greater danger.

So she reaches into the pocket where she keeps the knife she bought because it reminds her of her father, and prepares to go save her last family member.

“Try to stay behind me. If anyone comes forward, we attack together,” Adar instructs her while seeming to focus on something.

“The last light of magic,” he announces, extending a hand. And although she has already seen the spell cast many times, what comes to her mind is the first time. Seres casting it when the Clue forces stood before them, demanding Delmic’s life.

As Nero had said, and as had happened in her memory, when the ball of light forms above Adar’s hand and begins to rise into the air. Silence falls around them.

Not total silence, because several children are still struggling for freedom. But she can feel the attackers’ eyes focusing on the two of them, trying to assess what this magic display means in this confrontation.

She, in turn, understands what the boys felt at that time. Certainly fear, but also the certainty that everything now depends on time.

Sooner or later, Nero will see the light and realize it is a call for help. And when he arrives here. This will be over.

“Come on,” she hears Adar’s confident, steady voice as he starts walking.

And she follows, knowing she must find Delmic and wait.

Wait for the necromancer to make these bastards regret what they are doing.

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