Kalenden paced over to him, easily a foot taller than the mage. "When I broke free, I was able to wrest the most of your volition from you. After all, it was my ‘information’ that enabled you to banish the demon after all."
"You couldn’t have arranged that!" Endrance interjected.
Kalenden walked closer and Anna stepped between the two. "No closer!" she shouted.
He swung his gauntleted fist in a casual backhand. His fist clashed into her shield and knocked her away as if she were a toy. She crashed straight through a bookshelf, landing in a pile of books.
Endrance turned to try to help Anna, but Kalenden thrust out with that hand, catching him by the throat. He lifted the mage into the air effortlessly, grinning as the man grabbed at his wrist uselessly.
"Tsk, tsk." Kalenden said, shaking his head. "You think you’re powerful because you managed to kill my body. You succeeded because I was betrayed."
"You failed." Endrance gasped, struggling to draw breath. "Because you let your ambitions blind you. I only found the flaw in your education before you could kill me."
"A problem I am about to rectify." He said, squeezing his hand. Endrance struggled, but could not release his grip. His face turned deep red and his eyes rolled back in his head.
"Kalenden! Stop!" Anna cried, shoving books aside. "If he dies, then we all disappear! You’re dead!"
"I’ve already thought of that." Kalenden retorted. Endrance could feel the pressure of his gauntlet slacken. "I will simply destroy his ego and take control of his body. It’s pathetic, but I am sure I can make more of it with enough time." Kalenden laughed. "I might teach the two surviving bitches a lesson first, though!"
He was being strangled by the echo of an enemy that he had killed, his dead wife was arguing for his life and the assailant was going to use his body as his own. The mage was having trouble finding a solution.
Kalenden hauled the mage around, slamming his back into the end of one of the few remaining standing shelves. Stars swam in his eyes and Endrance struggled to stay conscious. He could see the silver lined pool in the center of the library over Kalenden's shoulder. The silver was warping, tarnishing. It was near the breaking point.
Breathe, Endrance. Gullin’s voice came faintly, barely heard over the sound of blood pounding in his ears. You must maintain steady breath to remain in your fabrication.
Fabri...cation?
Endrance finally realized what he was doing. He was reacting like it was the real world; but he was inside his mind! Regardless of the analogs to reality, it was no more real than a dream. So what was it he was breathing? Even more so, who was it that was really choking him?
He closed his eyes and repeated that fact to himself over and over. As he reiterated the mantra, Endrance’s face returned to normal and he focused again on the dead king.
"You almost had me there, Kalenden." Endrance said, despite the fact that the king’s crushing grip would have made talking impossible. "You had taken the parts of me that hated me for failing Anna for yourself. No one ever knew how to hurt me quite like I did. For a moment there, I was just about to give you the control you needed."
"Dammit!" the dead king shouted, thrusting the barbed bastard sword through Endrance's head. Blood sprayed across black steel and punctured wood.
Endrance, standing next to the summoner, sighed. "Ehh, that would have left a stain."
Kalenden turned to the mage, and then back to the shelf. There was no decapitated wizard, nor did any blood drip from his sword. He looked back at Endrance and scowled. The silver reflecting pool was unblemished.
"You really did almost have me there." Endrance replied. "I was truly afraid of you."
"You should be!" Kalenden growled, advancing on him.
Endrance took a half-step towards him and grinned. "I used to be. But I've found that everything here is a part of me, including you."
Kalenden swept his arms at him and Endrance ducked out of the way amused. "You were powerful, true. You frightened the hell out of me, true. But you're gone now, and there is nothing left to fear."
"But I'm here, inside your head." Kalenden retorted. "I have a stronger will than you, that much you realized when you tried binding that demon! I can take control of your mind!"
"You had a stronger will than me, Kalenden." Endrance replied. "But you are just an echo in my mind, an impression of who you were. You were strong, confident, and powerful. That made me think you really are those things. That's the only reason you could affect me."
Kalenden howled in rage and leapt at Endrance. Endrance ducked under the man and slapped a hand against the dead king's armor as he passed. The man changed direction midair, rocketing up to slam into the stone of the ceiling near the hole in the roof. The man dropped, and Endrance sidestepped, letting him crash into the floor.
"You see?" Endrance said. "You only have the volition I was letting you have. Stand up."
Kalenden stood up.
"You are a guest in my mind, my house." Endrance repeated. "You will not attempt to usurp control of my mind again. You will not cause me trouble again. You will not assail me again."
Kalenden sneered, but didn't respond.
"Now go find the goblin." Endrance said. "He's the last one I have to deal with."
Kalenden turned and looked around. "I know where he is." Kalenden offered, the malice in his voice all but vanished. "He does not have access to his power, so he is hiding in the darkest places of your mind."
"Either way." Anna responded, walking back over to Endrance. "He had submitted to your will long ago. There is nothing that needs to be done with him."
Endrance could feel that with the incorporation of his will that had once been taken up by Kalenden's will, his mind felt clearer than it had in days.
"You are right." Endrance replied. "That's all of them then."
"Not quite, dear husband." Anna replied. "You have some left to recover."
Endrance stared at her for a second. "You?" he asked.
"Yes."
"But you said it yourself; you're the weakest of echoes."
"Yes."
"And if I took that bit of will back keeping you in place, then you might vanish."
"Yes."
"I cannot accept that." Endrance whispered. "I already lost you once."
"You already lost me, Love." Anna whispered in return. "I'm barely an echo of what I was. I can hardly remember anything of who I used to be, only the strongest of memories and feelings."
"But-"
"No buts, Love. I may not be able to return, but you will have what memories and skills I leave behind. Use them in honor of my life, my sacrifice."
Endrance hung his head. "I could never say no to you."
"Which part of your will did you think I took over?" Anna replied with a wink. "The only bit that ever did resist."
"You got me there." he replied, his tone muted despite the jesting nature of their conversation. "I guess I better take that part back too."
"Don't worry." Anna assured him. "I'm not afraid. It has been long past my time for this echo to fade, as will they all, eventually."
Endrance surveyed the other two forms in the library. Kalenden watched the exchange with contempt, but did nothing to interfere and the tiger remained unmoved, but watched him with bright eyes. He knew that their personalities would eventually fade from his mind, but their knowledge and skills could remain behind forever.
"Anna," Endrance began. "I can say that knowing you, even for as short of a time as we had, has changed my life. I cannot express to you how painful it is to see you go for good. Thank you for this one last chance." He looked her in the eyes as he took back the sliver of his will remaining. "Goodbye."
She smiled at him reassuringly and faded; dissolving into specks of color that drifted out of sight. Endrance closed his eyes, feeling the entirety of his will restored. It was a whole feeling he hadn't felt since he had managed to bind the demoness, but it was also something more. He felt a closure that he had been year
ning for since the day that he had faced Kalenden on the mountaintop. A closure long desired, but only now achieved.
He had a chance now. With a little reimagining, he could make the place much more comfortable for any echoes he gathered. By finding a place for them to reside, their wills would no longer impose on his. Endrance concentrated, focusing on the area that had been bedrooms. The area repaired itself, expanding and becoming richer, better quality. The doors were sturdier, the walls hung with tapestries of some of his fondest memories and the beds were larger and more comfortable.
In the first room, he also put an armoire of dresses, shelves and a desk containing all of the little things he knew Anna liked. A portrait of her took up one corner of the room, framed on a stand. Even if her echo never could come back, he would reserve that room for her.
Endrance opened his eyes to the real world. He had no idea how much time had passed. The suns gleamed through the shutters of the window and Gullin appeared to be sleeping while perched on the back of the work chair. From the color of the light outside, it was late afternoon already.
Endrance stood, the twinge from his muscles protested being in the same position for so long. He rolled his head on his shoulders and stretched as he took a deep breath. His face felt strangely cool, and he touched his cheek. He felt drying tears on his fingertips.
His stomach growled and he sighed. He hadn't eaten all day; he should make something. An idea sprang to mind and he opened the door to the kitchen.
Gullin. He called. Come on.
The bird's eyes opened and he spread his wings.
You are back. The bird stated. Were you successful so quickly?
No. I am not done yet. Endrance replied. But I have repaired some of it. I will need more time to construct the rest.
You seem more confident now. Gullin observed. It seems that you have at the least regained your focus.
Endrance smiled and held out his arm. Gullin hopped into the air, flapped his wings once, and glided over to land on his forearm. The bird leaned against him as he slipped out of the room so he didn't clip the door frame.
You have made excellent progress. Gullin stated. Perhaps when you have healed from your injury, we can explore the second circle of our spell.
Endrance smiled. It will take some time, but I would like to do that.
The wizard and his familiar went into the kitchen to prepare some food. He remembered some new recipes he wanted to try.
Joven swung open the door to the house and limped inside. The smell of delicious food reached his nostrils and he sighed with satisfaction as he set the bundle down on the bench near the door. Shucking his cloak, he picked the bundle up again and walked around the dividing wall.
What caught him by surprise was the sight of Endrance cooking. Wearing a loose fitting shirt and pants, Endrance was scooping a spoonful of chopped venison into a flattened disk of dough. Endrance glanced up for a split second and returned to his task.
"Joven!" he exclaimed. "You've returned! We were wondering what the delays were."
Joven frowned. "Sorry." he replied. "Ran into some trouble. I needed to rest a bit before I could return."
He turned to pull up a seat and saw Gullin perched on the swing arm that held pots over the fire. "Gyah! Bird."
The bird glanced at him, but fluffed his feathers and sank back into a doze.
The mage ignored the interaction as if the familiar had always been there. Endrance pinched up the dough around the meat and set it aside. "Recover?" he asked, looking up with concern. "What do you- what happened to you?"
Joven's arms and legs were covered in red markings. Scrapes and scratches had turned into bright red and swollen welts. Endrance could see obvious claw marks across his left bicep.
Joven shrugged. "It was just a few wolfmen."
"Just a few!" Endrance exclaimed. "Why were you fighting wolfmen?"
"Well," Joven began, confused. "They were attacking the village the baby was in." he said, lifting the bundle and setting it on a clear section of table. Endrance quickly leaned over and checked. The baby looked up at him and giggled. He had the fingers one of his hands shoved in his mouth to the knuckles, and he waved his other hand around as Endrance looked him over.
"The baby's fine, Endrance. I got the job done." Joven exclaimed, sinking into a seat. "I just need some time to rest, and then I'll be fine."
Endrance looked up from the infant to his bodyguard. "Fine? You look like you went rubbing filth into your wounds! Go get the medical supplies, I'll take a look at-"
"They already did that in the village." Joven said, waving him off. "Nothing to be done now. Just gotta let it take its course."
"And that is?"
"No idea."
"Then I'm not going to let it." Endrance stated, rolling up his sleeves. "My healing spell should accelerate your recovery time."
Joven glanced past the mage. "Your cooking would do the same, if you're as good as it smells. What is it?"
Endrance waved a hand dismissively as he approached the barbarian. "It's something Anna taught me. Now hold still."
Endrance closely examined the clawed area of Joven's arm. Four parallel slices in his skin were red and aggravated, and burned hotly compared to the undamaged skin around it. Endrance could smell a strange, sickly odor coming from it. "These are all infected, Joven." he said.
"Are they?" the barbarian said in reply. "Damn. And here I thought the stuff worked."
"What stuff?"
"A remedy for infections from animal bites. Took it before the battle started."
Endrance didn't know how he had the time to do that, but it was apparent it didn't do its job. Endrance reached out to touch the wound and felt a tell-tale tingle along his fingertips just before he made contact. He frowned, withdrawing his hand.
"So... is it bad?" Joven asked.
The mage looked up at him with an arched eyebrow. "It is bad." he replied. "And it has magic in it."
Joven grunted. "Then that alone makes it bad."
"I can't cast any spells on you until I know what kind of magic is infesting your wounds. But I can tell you that the remedy you took wouldn't have been able to correct this no matter how much you took." Endrance explained. "How did they do this to you?"
"The wolfmen were all very feral." Joven replied. "Almost like wild animals. Not... smart."
"Smart?"
"Able to think. They just threw themselves at us."
"Just... rushed at you?"
"Yep. Didn't even use weapons. Or wear armor." Joven replied with a nod. "I've seen enough naked wolfmen for two lifetimes."
"I don't want to know." Endrance replied. "Did they die easily?"
"No. They fought on despite injuries. Only massively damaging the body or head stopped them."
"So they could fight on despite having a limb cut off?"
Joven remembered several in the pile of corpses he had made. "Yeah. I guess."
Endrance didn't like the way the questions were leading. "And the blood. Did they bleed a lot?"
Joven paused. "No, they bled," Joven replied. "But not very much, and it was very dark."
"And the wolfmen we fought before?" Endrance asked.
"The ones we fought before had much brighter red blood."
Endrance sighed, hanging his head. He had a solid idea now what had happened, but how was beyond him. He had no real education in the field other than the fact that it was considered 'taboo' by other wizards.
"Well, this is a bad thing." Endrance said. "Those wolfmen had died, but not by your hand. They'd fallen prey to the same disease that is infecting you."
"What is it?"
"It's a necromancy spell. One designed to convert the ones that die into undead."
Joven paused, considering. "So does that mean I'll die?"
"I... have no idea."
"And the wolfmen were all dead?" he asked.
"Yeah. Sure of it."
"Dammit." Joven said, pounding a fist into his open pal
m. "Then they didn't count."
"That's what you're concerned about?" Endrance asked. He shook his head, holding out a hand to stop Joven's response. "Never mind. That actually sounds like you."
"So can you fix me?" Joven asked.
"I have no idea." Endrance replied. "Spells might lapse on their own, considering that there needs to be a source of power behind such magic. If you can survive long enough for the spell to lapse, the disease would vanish almost immediately."
"That doesn't sound like a plan."
"It's not. The other plan is I can try to make an alchemical solution to the problem. Except my lab burned down when the longhouse was incinerated."
"Which you did."
"Not helping."
"Sorry. I'm sick."
"Then stay away from the food I'm cooking. And the baby, for that matter."
"You can't do anything now?"
"I will once I can finish this. There’s no sense in letting this food go to waste, and you don't seem to be on the verge of death."
"Ah. Food would be good."
"Yep." Endrance replied. He resumed cooking. "Do you know where Bridget and Selene are?"
Joven shrugged. "Didn't see them on the way here. Probably out doing whatever you asked them to."
"They're probably discussing the Ascension ceremony with the Ergknoa" Endrance replied. "I would have thought they'd be back by now."
"Do you want me to go look?"
"After food's done."
"Okay. Smells good."
"Thanks."
"What is it?"
Endrance looked down at the three rows of dough-wrapped balls of chopped meats and shrugged. "I have no idea. I just remember how to make it."
Joven blinked at him a few times, and then leaned back in his seat. Used to the changes in his charge's behavior, his thoughts changed from curiosity to dismissal in a split second. "Well it smells good." He said. "I guess that's all that matters."
Endrance finished the dough balls and dropped them in a bubbling pot of vegetable stew. He set a lid on the pot and turned to the barbarian. "All right." he said. "Let me put the baby to bed and we can try to get you to not die."
"Not dying..." Joven responded. "Is also good."
* * *
The two Draugnoa returned just before the food was ready. Both Selene and Bridget watched in shock as Endrance carefully extracted the dumplings from the stew with a slotted spoon. He placed the last one on a plate and grinned at them.
Spellscribed: Ascension Page 12