The Nameless Necromancer (Part 3)

         Once more playing the Game. Another month has gone by, and I can barely accept it. Under the tutelage of Azrael, I admit I have made more progress than ever before. The downside is that he takes up so much of my time. Days, nights, the angel seems to have no concept of time. Or sleep. Though one of the complaints I cannot have is that he is keeping me from spending time with Liz. Avriel is keeping her busy as well, though I have no clue what they are doing. Liz and I barely see each other nowadays. But right now, that hardly matters. I climb a tree and wait in the branches for someone to happen to pass by. But eventually, I get bored and prepare to climb back down and go hunting on foot.


         Just as I put my foot on the tree's side, I sense someone approaching. I twist myself back up on the branch I was sitting on, and sit, waiting for my new victim. A Gatekeeper, if what I sense is correct. He walks past my tree, and I notice he is the guy who came here last month. The one with the imp, whom I sneaked past the night Paul died. But giving him a quick look, I do not see any minions of his, so I prepare myself for the attack. He ambles by, seemingly unaware of me, and I cannot wait any more. If I do, I think I might go crazy from boredom. I will the Daggers of Heaven and Hell into my hands, while simultaneously sending the Dagger of Tribunal into the air behind me. It floats there at my mental command, a little bit of a surprise for the new kid.  The first time I tried using it as a third weapon I almost cut my arm off, but I have gotten a bit better since then.

         I coil my legs, and spring forward at the Gatekeeper's back, both blades extended for a quick kill. At the last second, when I am sure I have him, he suddenly rolls to the side. I immediately send a surge of energy into the Dagger of Heaven, forming wings long enough for a single flap, just enough to stop me. I drop to the ground, wings gone, and watch the new kid. He stands with both arms open, just staring at me. I dart forward, one dagger out to each side, a bit too confident that he is inexperienced and his roll aside was luck. I swing low with my left hand, high with my right, and flip the third dagger over my head to smash into his skull. But all he does is flick his wrist and a massive flaming mace appears in his hands. He stops my first two strikes and whips his arm up, bringing the mace around to stop my third dagger, before shoving forward at me, forcing my knives back.

         He is a lot stronger than I expected, and he almost has me, before I slide backwards, right before the mace takes my head off. I flip back about five feet, and we simply stand there looking at each other for a moment. I take a closer look, and notice that I definitely underestimated him. I get a brief glimpse inside him, to see a horned demon of fire and death hiding in his body. Did he bind a demon within himself? Apparently noticing my look, he cocks his head slightly, and his entire body is surrounded by flame. “So that's how you want to play it, huh?” I ask, without a response. I laugh, and draw in necromantic power, until my entire body is covered in swirling shadows. They twist and writhe in the air around me, and I raise my daggers again, letting Tribunal float around my head in a circle.

         He observes the change, and we have a brief staring match, a living inferno, and a cloud of darkness. He raises his hand and flame abruptly gushes out, his own personal flamethrower. I dash to the left, just barely keeping ahead of the flames licking at my back, and do something really stupid. I run up the side of a tree, hoping to get some maneuverability, and I am about to spring to another tree like a modern day Tarzan when the tree collapses under me, burnt down. I fall to the ground and the flames come at me again. Does this guy never run out of juice?

         As I ponder this, I keep running, knowing that if the flames tag me, it might slow me down enough to allow him to finish me. I pull a sudden flip backwards over the flames, face my enemy with my right hand held out, and fling as much of the chill of death as I possibly can at him. He moves quickly though, and our blasts meet in midair, colliding with an audible hiss as fire and cold battle for supremacy. I think maybe the only way to beat him is hand to hand, so I spare a bit of concentration to activate the ring Liz gave me, pointed at the Gatekeeper. Light flashes in his face, and he stumbles, blinks, and loses control of the flames. Just for a brief second, but long enough for me to lunge forward at him. He calls up his mace again, swinging wildly, and with almost unbelievable luck, slams me in the right shoulder.

         


         The bone shatters instantly, and my robes catch fire. I yell, and scramble back, dropping the Dagger of Heaven in the process. I shunt aside as much of the pain as possible, like Azrael has taught me, and try to call the dagger back to its sheath on my wrist. I fail, too distracted by the pain. My right arm hangs loosely while fire burns my arm, and I know I am doomed now. The Gatekeeper knows it as well, and takes his time straightening himself out. I notice that I had cut him once on his left arm, and he observes it for a moment.

         Then, he calls fire to his hand and sticks it directly in the wound. I stare as he betrays a slight wince, but the wound cauterizes, and he jerks his fingers back out, facing me again. And the moment of defeat for me is the exact time I choose to remember that I often a complete fool. I bare my teeth at the Gatekeeper, and hold my left arm up, clearly showing him I still plan to fight. He grins back before hefting his mace, apparently planning to finish me up close. I turn tail and run, and feel him slowly start to come after me, apparently unafraid. And as overconfident as I was earlier. Of course, if I were him, I would know that I had already won, just like he knows it.

         I put as much distance as possible between us before spinning around and hurling the Dagger of Hell at his chest. He raises his mace almost contemptuously, preparing to bat it out of the way. Right after he swings, I shift the dagger through the air, back to exactly the same position it was in before I moved it. The difference is, that his mace is past the dagger, and the dagger is still moving. It sinks directly into his chest, though it misses the heart. Still, that's fine with me. He glances down at it, apparently amazed that I managed to hurt him. He looks back up, and I notice his eyes are glowing now. Glowing red with anger.

         I will Heaven into my left hand, and float Tribunal around where my right would normally be. I call up my powers to block the pain and fill my blood with ice, before sprinting for the Gatekeeper as quickly as possible. I am sixty feet away, hoping I can make it to him before he realizes my trick. He looks back up, reducing my existence to that of a gnat, an insect to be crushed. I am fifty feet away. He puts his hand back, and brings it forward in something similar to a karate chop, as if he has been watching too many martial arts movies. I am forty feet away. I see surprise in his eyes as nothing happens, the Dagger of Hell cutting off his fiery power before it can leave his body. I am twenty-five feet away, feeling like a glacier has formed in my body. He looks down at the dagger and quickly moves to yank it out. I close to within ten feet, already bringing my daggers out for the final attack. He yanks the dagger out, along with a small ocean of blood. He looks back up, swings his mace, and my daggers sink into his hearts, just as the mace smashes into my head. Both of us collapse.

         I prop myself up on my left arm after a moment and look down at my defeated enemy. “Take that...you....demon...” I pant out, feeling  the pain in my arm grow from feeling like I have been hit with a baseball bat, to feeling like I have been with a car. Maybe just a small one, though. I groan as I struggle to stand up, and finally manage it after a bit of fumbling around. I look down at the Gatekeeper again, and I can't help it. I start laughing like a maniac.

         “The champion!” I screech. I have no clue how long I stand there like an idiot, but I do know when I finally stop my ribs hurt along with my arm. I think about what someone would do if they saw me laughing like that, and that makes me laugh again. They would probably think I had gone insane. I finally regain control of myself, and will my daggers back into their proper places. I step over the Gatekeeper's downed body, and make it almost ten feet past when I remember my robe is on fire. I make it another five before I faint.



         I spend days in the infirmary, partially due to my arm and partially due to the second and third degree burns on my entire body. Apparently the magical fire the Gatekeeper wielded burned through the cloth and the protections before swarming all over me. But I had a friend with me in the bed right next to mine, even if I would have preferred Liz. For about a day, all the Gatekeeper could do was glare at me, but by the next day he was able to summon up the strength to rail at me endlessly. I was not exactly in condition to argue, and I noted that although he was mad, he seemed pleased that he had actually come away better than I had. That demon. I finally managed to get his name out of him, and Malkovich and I became friends by the time we got out. Apparently trying to kill each other is something that forges strong bonds.

         I also got a better chance to observe him, and learn a bit more about him. He had been at another training center for Magi before coming here, not that he knows why he moved. Looking at him more closely, I could see that pretty much anyone would underestimate him. He was not outstandingly tall, very pale, which contrasted with his black hair, and looked to be almost emaciated, rather than just thin. I also noticed he had tattoos up and down his arms, as well as on his mostly shaved head. He had a bit of a buzz cut, to be precise, and the hair was thin enough for you to barely see the reddish symbols under it.

         I asked about them, and he mentioned that they were a focus for his powers, and demonstrated for me, gathering a slight amount of energy, causing the tattoos to glow briefly. Apparently his robes had hid the glow when we had fought. I found out that the principles Necromancers use for binding and those Gatekeepers use are actually fairly similar. There are some differences, but theory was almost exactly the same, and we spent hours trading knowledge on summoning and binding. I was interested in knowing how to imbue a captured spirit in yourself, but with a grin on his face, he said such knowledge was only for Gatekeepers, and no mere Necromancer. I laughed, but later wondered if he was serious, because he had acted as if I had struck on a fairly important point.

         Even more interested than I was in this, though, he practically begged me to tell him how I had managed to counter his powers. He said that the dagger was the only thing he could think of, but there was always the chance it might have been to throw him off guard. I told him what I knew, which was not too much. I knew the Dagger of Hell could control fire, but I had no idea what Azrael had done to it to create such a weapon, such an ability. He seemed a bit put out, but accepted my explanation. I knew he would be a good friend and a strong ally in the future.

         The day I get out of the infirmary, Azrael comes to give me a new task. Most of the time, he has shown me new techniques, or ways to harness power, but only when we first met did he give something to do on my own. I walk into my room in the graveyard and he is standing in the corner. I walk towards the angel, and he speaks. “Your trick with the dagger was a skilled move, but you could have ended the fight more quickly.” I stop, before responding “Do you watch everything I do? Don't you have something more important to do? Honestly.”

         Unfazed, he replies “Training you is currently one of my most important tasks. But since you do not desire my presence, I shall give you your new task and leave. You are to find a Lycanthrope pack currently residing in the city. Perhaps you should even take your new friend along with you. He may be moderately useful.” I nod, then ask “You seem to be leaving a few blanks, though. What do I DO when I find them? If I find them. Whatever.” I have managed to pick up a few cues as to his motions, so I can tell he is giving me the equivalent of a stare when he says “Kill them, of course.”



         He stretches out his hand towards me, and a belt appears in midair before floating towards me as he says, “This will increase your strength, both physical and magical, giving you the ability to fight them with your bare hands, if need be.” “Wait, I can't just kill them...” I start to say, but Azrael vanishes, leaving me holding the belt and wondering what to do now. Lycanthropes. Humans born with a beast inside. The more they fight, the larger and stronger they get, and the longer they live. Claws, enhanced senses, really violent, stupid, but with an animal cunning. Add in the fact that they can regenerate from almost any wound, given enough time, and you have a true monster on your hands. They inspired the legends of werewolves. And now I am supposed to wipe out a pack of these things.

         I put that thought aside for now,  and examine the belt in my hands, noticing that is made of something that looks like leather backed by steel. On the front, there is a skull shaped buckle. I examine it more closely, noticing that the shape of it corresponds well with necromantic magic. The skull's mouth is made up of three slits, the general shape has two extensions, as if the skull is made of three main parts, and the eyes and nose are the only visible parts of the facial structure. Altogether, this means the buckle consists of three sets of three, a very potent number in necromancy. I wonder what exactly it will do when put on, and I decide to test it later. I put it on anyway, and am attempting to figure out how to buckle it when the belt moves of its own volition and sweeps into the skull's mouth, which immediately closes. I stare at it for a few seconds, hoping it does not try to bite anything else. It remains motionless, so I stretch before walking back out my room, aching, annoyed, and on a mission.

         I think about getting Malkovich to help me, but I decide maybe I should find the Lycanthropes first, then figure out why Azrael wants them dead, then if worst comes to worst, get help to remove them. The best place to probably start is at the Stake, but I have some free time until nightfall, so I twiddle my thumbs for a bit, trying to think of a way to pass time. I have no clue where Malkovich is, Liz is busy training with Avriel somewhere, and I don't have many other friends. It's possible I had some class arranged for today, but I have not received any messages, and no one has told me anything. They may think I am still in the infirmary, but I don't know. I don't know much, actually. So I decide to practice a little bit and see what I can accomplish.

         I try levitating the Dagger of Tribunal in midair. I set it up in front of me, and try to see if I can use it to lift myself. If I were not so bored, I would probably think of something better to do with my time. I jump up on top, land on the dagger with one foot... and immediately hit the ground, unable to hold my weight with just the dagger. I frown, put the dagger back in its sheath, and wonder what to do next. Eventually I end up leaving the graveyard, and the strange aura of darkness that surrounds it so that I can ensure the ring Liz gave me is fully charged. I'm not certain if sunlight never shines on the graveyard or whether it just seems that way once you are inside the boundaries, because you can see it perfectly clearly from a distance.

         I walk to the eastern woods that end up merging with the nearby park, grow some wings, and fly up to the treetops. I make sure the ring is in the sunlight and unlikely to fall, then settle down for a nice nap. I wake up just as the sun is setting. I use my wings again to flutter back down to ground, before walking out to town. I have no reason to stop by my room, since my robes burned, and I really do not need anything there. Unfortunately, I cannot go to the Stake yet because I have no robes, nor the materials to make new ones.

         



         But, I can walk around town and hope to find out something. I spend the night roaming the town, crawling over rooftops, and hoping to find out something about a Lycanthrope pack in the area. I know Lycanthropes will come by the Stake occasionally, but we have never had a pack set up here before. I guess they think that the Academy might object. They are probably right.

         Still, plenty of Lycanthropes pass through, and if they do, they will probably know something about a pack being nearby. But the strange thing is, I cannot find a single one to interrogate. Normally I would be able to find at least two or three out on the town. But tonight we are Lycanthrope-less. I spend half the freaking night looking for one of those furballs, and come up empty handed. Eventually I just give up, return to the Academy and get some sleep.

         I spend the majority of the next day creating the magical frame for my new robe, making sure to spend a bit more time on it than I did my last one. I want this one to be fireproof, as well as tougher, and resistant to magic. I make sure to go by the Astral Halls to ask the Gatekeepers for the blood of a fire demon. When night falls, I retreat to the graveyard with all my needed equipment. I set up the frame there, before weaving the demon's blood into it, along with moonlight. Finally, I cut my wrist open, feeding the frame my own blood to give it energy. I probably keep it open longer than I should for my own good, but more blood means more power for a Necromancer. I barely manage to staunch the flow and seal it up.

         Then, I sit back and watch as the ingredients spin about the frame, twirling faster and faster, before finally merging together into the robe, which tumbles to the ground. I walk forward and pick it up, feeling the power in it. It is black, just like my old one, but it has something new to it. When I look at it from the front, quicksilver slowly emerges, shifting and swirling until it coalesces into the same skull shape as the buckle on my new belt. I move slightly, and the design retreats back into the darkness of the robe. Satisfied, I put it over my shoulder before heading to the main hall for a brief midnight snack.

         The next day I have class again, and Grave teaches me some new principles for the binding of spirits. I struggle to control my impatience, and I am about to go crazy when night falls. I put my new robe on and head down to the Stake. I order Envik'ty again,  despite the misgivings of my wallet. About an hour after I get there, a Lycanthrope walks in and heads for a corner table. He eats and drinks alone, like most pack-less Lycanthropes would do. When he leaves, I follow him out. He heads left after leaving the Stake, and I follow him for a few miles, until he finally takes another left before passing Nick's shop. I am amazed that he has not detected me yet, but instinctively mutter a brief thanks to Azrael before I stop to think about what I am doing. I creep behind the shop and the Lycanthrope is gone.

         I wait and look around, thinking he might be planning to ambush me. After about ten minutes, I decide he must have just moved on. I start to turn around, and a fist comes out of nowhere to slam into my face. I spin around as I hear a crack from my cheek, and slam into the ground a few feet away. I look up to see the Lycanthrope standing above me, already changing his form. He hisses out, “Magi following me?  And thought I would not notice?” The words coming from his changing throat sound like he is vomiting up shards of metal. His claws finish growing and his fangs extend as his eyes turn a mildly glowing yellow. I scramble back as he stalks towards me, and just before he lunges I use my ring, and light explodes in front of his eyes. He lets out something similar to a howl and jumps back, giving me time to regain my feet.

         

         He faces me again and growls, annoyed now. I shift the Daggers of Heaven and Hell into my hands and take up a guard position. He rushes at me, claws outstretched, and I dart to the side, cutting him with both daggers as he rumbles past. He darts at me again, but jumps at the wall and uses it as a springboard to propel himself at me. I roll to the side and watch the Lycanthrope fly past. Suddenly, he completely  reverses direction in mid air, and swats me aside. I manage to control my landing, but now have several long claw marks on my arm, from where my robe sleeve had blown back. He charges me again, and like the first time, I move to the side. This time though, he's ready, and lunges out and grabs my arm before turning around and flinging me over his head. I smash into the wall of the store by Nick's, some type of gardening center and lawn care place. I feel my bones crack, but not break. Not yet, at least. I ignore the pain and get back up.

         I consider covering the area in darkness, but he will probably just smell me through it. I also know I don't have the strength to fight him close up. Then, I remember the belt, and  send a slight amount of energy into it. The skull's eye's glow a faint, dark-violet color, and what looks like lightning of the same color briefly flickers around it. I do not feel too much of a difference, but I trust in what Azrael told me. I put up the Dagger of Hell and charge the Lycanthrope with one open hand. He rushes back at me, like we are playing a game of chicken. When he claws at me, I remember him throwing me, and try the exact same thing. I grab his arm, spin around, and fling him over my shoulder with all the strength I have. The Lycanthrope goes clear THROUGH the wall and smashes to the floor inside, battering several lawn mowers out of the way.

         I walk inside without my daggers in my hands, making a show of brute strength. The Lycanthrope whimpers as I come closer, and crawls backwards. Eventually, he backs into another wall, and I stand over him, saying, “I just want to know one thing. Do you know anything about a pack of your kind in the area?” He whines again, but does not say anything, although he does revert so that he once more looks normal. I flip a dagger into my hand, hold it up, and say “Listen, I just want an answer. Either you help me, or I start cutting things off. You being what you are, they'll grow back eventually.”

         He stares at me for a second before speaking. “Fine, Magi. I'll tell you what you want to know. A pack is passing through this area, and they are hiding in the hills just outside town. They are using some caves as their den, for now. I don't know why, though. Packs don't come here because of you Magi.” “Thanks,” I reply, before turning around and leaving him in the store. I don't know what it is that alerts me, but I turn to look around behind me and he has fully changed again. He lunges at me, claws aimed at my back, and I don't even stop to think. I spin around, grab his head, and break his neck instantly. I let the body drop to the ground and stand there like an idiot. Then, I can suddenly feel some new power, some new strength in my body. As I watch, the claw marks on my arm vanish, not even leaving behind scars, and the same violet energy that I saw on the belt pulses around my body briefly, before fading into nothingness.

         I have heard before that when a Necromancer kills, he can consume the life force of his slain enemy and use it to empower him, enabling him to accomplish amazing feats. But I have never used it before, or been taught how to do it. I am partially amazed and partially horrified at what I have done. Vampires do the same thing, after all, even if they accomplish it a different way. This is something I have to ask Azrael about, because I can't explain how it happened. I shouldn't be able to do this, especially not as young as I am, but I can. Even older Necromancers generally avoid using this power, because it can be addictive. A Necromancer who feeds on death in vast amounts can gain massive power, but that same power will corrupt the wielder. Many powerful Necromancers who couldn't quit feeding on death have been destroyed by the other Magi in our long history. Some even thought we should abolish Necromantic teachings, but in the end, it was decided Necromancers would still be trained. 

         Not sure what else to do, I walk out of the store through the broken wall, leaving the body behind me. I walk past Nick's shop and blend into the night, heading back to the Academy. I don't sleep at all that night, apparently still running off the death of the Lycanthrope. It bothers me some, but what really annoys me is my need to talk to Azrael. I try contacting him several different ways, but he does not respond. Then, it occurs to me that maybe Azrael knew this was going to happen, which is why he told me to wipe out the Lycanthrope pack. But then the main question is why? What is the point? Is this supposed to be some important part of my training? That is the only reason I can think of for him to set me up like this.

         Finally, the sun rises, and I go to the Astral Halls to find Malkovich. I ask around until I find his room, and walk in without bothering to knock. I look around his room, noting it is fairly bare. In one corner, Malkovich, snoring loudly, sleeps on a bed made entirely of what looks like metal of some type. I muse that it must be uncomfortable, also noticing that the only other furnishings, a table and three chairs, are made of the same metal. I walk up to the bed as the snoring continues unabated, and shift the end of the bed. It moves with a good bit of difficulty, and Malkovich continues sleeping. Discarding my plan to flip the bed over, I walk out and search the Halls for a bucket and some water.

         I return to Malkovich's room and throw the water on him. He immediately responds, twisting and gagging a bit before rolling off the bed and onto the floor. The water on his body begins to melt, and he looks up at me, red eyed again. I wave and say, “Good morning, Mal. Glad to see we have plenty of early risers here, hmm?” Initially, the only response I get is a glare, but then the red fades a bit from his eyes. “What time is it then? Besides too early? And why are you here, anyway?” Glad to get a decent response, I say, “It's time to get up. The sun just rose. Come on, I need your help. I need you to summon something for me, for information.” Picking himself up, he grumbles, “And you had to get me. Anyone could have done it, but no, you need my help.” “Yes,” I respond, “That's absolutely right. Hurry up, we are burning daylight.” Grumbling something about Necromancers being inhuman, he walks out of the room.

         I follow him to a summoning chamber, where he turns around and faces me. “Alright,” he says, “I'll help you, but I have to summon it alone. Just tell me what you want to know.” “Fine,” I reply, “Just find out whatever you can about a pack of Lycanthropes in this area.” He looks slightly confused, but shrugs and walks into the chamber, the door sealing itself behind him. I wait for about an hour before he returns, and he says, “Well, there is a pack up in the hills west of here. But none of the elementals seem to know why. Why do you need to know?” I shrug nonchalantly. “I plan to get rid of them. Want to help?” He laughs for a minute, before realizing I am serious. “You are planning to take on an entire pack of Lycanthropes by yourself? You are either suicidal, or stupid. I don't know which.” I grin back at him and say, “What, no brave option in there? I'll take my chances with stupid, since I have no plans for leaving this life just yet. So, are you up for it, or not?” He grimaces for a minute before finally replying. “I must be really stupid. Yes, I'll do it. But we'll want some help. I know an Elementalist who will probably be willing to go along for the ride.”

         My turn to grimace. “An Elementalist?” I ask, but it only takes me second to do my internal surrendering. I need Malkovich's help, and if he wants to bring some crazy berserker along, we do need cannon fodder. “Fine,” I finally say, “Can you meet me in three hours at the Academy gates?” He looks angry at the time I set, but nods and walks off without another word, apparently concentrating. I muse over how to prepare for a battle with a small Lycanthropic army, but eventually give up. I head to the cafeteria and have a leisurely breakfast, before going to find Liz. I scour the campus for her to find that she and Avriel went...somewhere for some kind of training. This is really starting to get annoying. Liz used to be my greatest friend, but we hardly see each other nowadays. I bury that concern along with my others, knowing I will need to be fully prepared when we head for the hills. I return to the graveyard and spend an hour summoning up Magi who have fought Lycanthropes, and I do my best to learn from them. I recheck the enchantments on my new robes, as well as my daggers and belt, before I head for the gates.

         I stand around for about twenty minutes before Malkovich and another Magi arrive. I glance at the other Magi, this Elementalist. He is slightly below average height, about average weight, and has flaming red hair. He is dressed in robes that slightly resemble military fatigues, with a slight bulge in the back which I cannot explain, and his head is shaved. He looks a bit less like a berserker Magi than I expected him to, with straight posture, and a bit of pride in his step. His fingernails however, stand out. He almost reeks of proper, by the book warfare, but they break up the pattern. They are much longer than regular for a human, and almost resemble talons. I also notice the air seems to waver and bend strangely around him, but when I look again I cannot be certain if I am actually seeing anything or not. He steps up and offers me his hand, which I shake gingerly, afraid of being impaled on his claws, and he grins.

         “I'm Solar,” he introduces himself, “Your resident Elementalist. I hear you need some help with a pack of Lycanthropes.” I nod, and he smiles again before stepping back. Malkovich comes up, asking, “Do you have a plan? Or do you even know exactly where they are?” I shake my head and say, “Nope, just going to find them and work everything out from there. What can go wrong?” Malkovich mutters something that sounds negative under his breath, but Solar grins again, something he seems to respond to every event with. He seems almost inanely cheerful, but it's not annoying like it should be. He almost radiates a sense of not caring how we do it, as long as we go do SOMETHING instead of just standing around. A bit of a contrast to Malkovich's constant brooding, which makes me wonder what kind of connection they have to be friends. I store that question for later, and motion to the other two to lead the way. Solar turns to Malkovich, who frowns at me again before walking out of the gates and turning right. Solar and I follow him for blocks until we come to the city entrance, where he stops for a moment.

         I almost question him, but he immediately starts walking again, out of the city. I estimate we walk a few miles before he turns right again, and we enter the forest outside of town, heading up into the hills. Suddenly Solar grabs Malkovich and myself to stop us from moving, and whispers, “Lycanthrope ahead. Alone. I can smell him. We need to get him quietly so he cannot alert the others.” I don't know how to respond to this sudden change of behavior in Solar, as he is suddenly intensely focused instead of amusing himself constantly. I start to speak up when Solar says, “I have him. No worries.” He turns and leaps up into the tree tops, climbs up a bit, and vanishes.

         I turn to Malkovich, who mutters something about a show off, then motions me to head towards the Lycanthrope. I am not certain this is the best idea, but start walking anyway, trying to keep the amount of sound I make to a minimum. Suddenly I can feel death ahead, and I dash forward through the trees to find Solar standing over a dead Lycanthrope, his fingernails that I noted looked like talons covered in blood. He bends over and wipes them on the Lycanthrope's pants, and I notice a large gash in the back of the poor guy's neck. Solar stands back up and waves me over, before pointing north, east, and northwest, before pointing at the Lycanthrope and holding up three claws. I mean fingers. I nod to show him I understand, and point north. He nods, and points east, then to Malkovich. Malkovich frowns, but begins walking east despite this. I glance back at Solar, and he leaps up into the tree tops again. I creep forward through the trees, looking for my target.
         I jump up into the trees myself and affix myself to a branch before walking around and turning myself upside down. I struggle for a second to fix up and down in my mind properly, before I continue walking from branch to branch, tree to tree, upside down the entire time. Eventually I find the Lycanthrope walking a path in the woods, and I perch upside down on my branch, imagining my attack as I cloak myself in shadow. I shift the Dagger of Tribunal into the air in front of me, and slowly float it downwards. The Lycanthrope walks under me without seeing me or the dagger following him just above his head. I send it lower and lower, until it is at the level of his neck, where I draw it back slightly, so that the tip is pointed squarely at him. I shift the Dagger of Hell into the air, and it falls to the ground behind the Lycanthrope. As soon as it hits the ground, he turns around to find my dagger in his face. I thrust it forward with my will and watch as it spears straight into his throat.  He immediately starts clawing at it, but I loose my shoes from the branch and drop down to finish the job with my third dagger in his heart. He drops to the ground and I feel a brief rush of power as I feast on his death like I did with the last Lycanthrope I killed. I shudder a bit, and replace my daggers in their sheaths.

         I turn around and walk back to the our last victim, to find Solar awaiting me. He nods to me, and clicks his talons back and forth as he examines them. I still have no explanation for those, but assume it is part of an Elementalist's magic. We wait for about a minute before Malkovich comes trudging back, mace in his hand and a new cut on his arm. The cut is covered in burnt blood, and I assume he cauterized like he did when he fought me. He nods, and Solar speaks up. “We got their outer perimeter guards, and now the only ones left are the guards at the caves themselves. Well, those and the ones in the caves. I wish I could tell how many are at the caves, but there are too many, and the smells run together.” He turns and leads the way towards the caves, and I notice that his robes seem torn slightly in the back. I don't say anything though, figuring I can ask later. 

         We walk for a few minutes before Solar holds up his hand in the classic military “stop you idiot” gesture. Malkovich and I both hold still, and Solar moves his hands in some complex gesture I don't understand. I frown, and he shakes his head, before pointing at himself and creeping forward. He looks back at me, and I nod my understanding. Move quietly. We creep forward and eventually he points to three different directions, indicating we should each take one. Malkovich and I both nod, and we split up, going off to attack a Lycanthrope pack in their own den. We're crazy, and we know it.