He examined the streets of Northwatch, looking through the crowds of people. The occasional guard passed but payed no heed. Many men had hoods up, and faces down. A few women. His blood red eyes scanned people. Some Thanati citizens might recognise him. Or they didn't know. He found a food stall, paid for some bread, and continued on his way. Eventually he became bored. He looked at the sky, and saw the suns position. He tried to remember where the graveyard was. When night fell he would set to work animating skeletons and zombies for a warm up. Then possibly summon some spirits to haunt the area. He felt mischievous and summoning the dead was fun.
Night set in, and he walked to the graveyard. No one stopped him. No one questioned him. He liked this town. Maybe when he retired he would settle here. Or he could simply overrun the town with zombies. That would be more fun. He noticed the man in the graveyard was tending to the grounds. Why did he have to be there?! He would simply kill the man if needs be. Then he remembered his promise to Nadya. No killing unless they posed a massive threat. This groundskeeper did not fit the bill in his humane eyes.
Instead he took the hilt of his knife, walked up to the man, and took a massive swing at his head. The man crumpled under the blow, but silently he went. He took the mans body and dragged it behind the tomb, in the shade of a bush and headstone. He checked the mans pulse, and tied and gagged him. Didn't want him getting up. He took a minute to make himself presentable. He found a suitably damaged and unloved headstone. The flowers were, by his reckoning, at least a year old. He doubted anyone would care.
He needed no book to summon the zombie. He summoned the energy, spoke the rather longwinded incantation for an undead warrior. He waited to hear the pounding and scratching of a flesh hungry zombie. It eventually clawed its way to the surface, and he stroked the skull. His new friend was gonna be this skeleton. It would keep him company. He just hoped no one else was going to be in the graveyard tonight.
Eleni walked into the Graveyard. It was a quiet place, and not to mention a beautiful night. She pulled the dark cloak around her tightly. The night was brisk and young. Her ruby eyes seemed to gleam in the light of the moon, leaving behind the dullness they usually hold. A peaceful place where she can think and feel safe; a sanctuary.
As she walked around the graves and read the names on the tomb she saw a shadow. A murmur of words were given and suddenly a second Silhouette joined the first. Her fingers trembled as she looked at the thing. Could he have....? Eleni let her hair fall over her eyes, not wanting to be hurt or yelled at again. She was tired of it.
She backed up and tripped over a tomb stone. Why was she such a klutz? Why now? She fell to the ground with a thump and prayed the people didn't hear her.
The skeleton clacked as it heard the thump. Both the skeleton and Xerordir turned to see the person. He darted over, as the skeleton trudged behind. He grabbed the figure by the throat, drawing his knife. He snarled as he stared at her through his mask. His eyes met hers and he noticed she possessed crimson eyes. That made him all the more wary. She was, in some way, linked to evil. Only two explanations were therefore possible. She was like him, or she was demon born. If she was a practitioner of black magic, he would have to kill her. If she was the child of a demon, he would release her.
"Explain yourself!" He kept his voice down, but still had it raised. "Explain your eye colour while you're at it."
The girl clawed at his hands, trying to get him to let go. She stared up at him, the mask on his face blocking her view. She couldn't breath but she strained to reply. He parted her lips, her crimson eyes wide with fear. "I-I...!" She began, her hands gripped around his in attempt to push him away. "I... I'm a daughter of a d-demon!" She managed to choke out.
Immediately he released her, turned round to his own skeletal warrior and decapitated it. A demons daughter. An exceptionally rare but welcome sight. He felt already that he would get along with her. He sheathed his dagger, and turned to face her. How to introduce himself? Great and mighty or great and terrible? Great and terrible. "A demon child who cannot defend herself? Pathetic." He grinned behind his mask, sending his piercing red eyes so she could see them. "Ah but you are young. You will learn how to fend for yourself." He taunted.
She frowned at his words. "I could!" She put in stubbornly. That's when she noticed his eyes and her face softened a bit. He was like her? She wasn't alone? Well, he couldn't be that bad.... Could he? She put down her hood and looked at him curiously. Who was he? And, what was he doing here?
"Then why didn't you defend, considering you were at the mercy of a necromancer?" He jested, sneering and grinning. He removed his hood and mask, and gave a courteous bow. He had followed with his introduction. Now he was going to study her own introduction. She seemed to have fight in her. That was good. All the easier to corrupt and turn. He needed allies badly. All he had was Nadya. And she just wasn't a resourceful ally.
Opened her mouth to say something but sighed, defeated. She looked at him, trying to figure out his motive.
"Well, I'm a very curious person--I wouldn't get anything out of you if I killed you." Smirked at him. She studied his face now that he had taken off his mask. "Who are you?" Eleni asked, trying to hide the curiosity in her voice and lifting her chin. She was too proud and stubborn to let him get the best of her.
The girl's cloak hung loosely around her shoulders as her hair messily moved in the breeze. Her face showed arrogance; her voice clipped. Though, curiosity danced in those eyes of hers.
Her ruby eyes were simply stunning. Oh gods, Nadya had left him in a state by which he was falling in love. He wouldn't hear the end of it if he hurt Nadya though.
"I am Xerordir. Kill me? Bah, I am invincible to those without the right means. I would fry you in quilts of fire. But on a serious note I command death himself." He felt that the bluff was good, and he could pull a flame fan spell or a dark bolt if needed. Something in her was curious. He could see it in her eyes. If she was as proud as he thought, she would be easy to conquer.
Eleni Raised a brow. Commanded Death, huh? A grin reappeared on her face, her eyes twinkling. "Death? Fire doesn't hurt me, by the way," turned around, leaving her back to him. That mischievous grin still splattered across her face. "Ask those angry men at the tavern. You won't believe the living hell I have to go through sometimes." Eleni sighed before turning back to the man. She jabbed a finger to his chest and looked up at him "And I doubt you command death. Liar. If you did, you must have stories about it. It would be rather exciting!"
The girl was petite in comparison to the man in front of her, but she didn't mind. She felt comfortable around him for whatever reason. Maybe it's because of his eyes. They couldn't be that different, could they?
"Girl, I am a necromancer." He recalled the summoning incantation. "Derockt, Imkil varsada deru!" He pointed the bolt at a grave, and it struck. He heard the scratching of the newly born zombie as it clawed it's way up to the surface. The creature clocked the girl, and began stumbling towards her. He stepped back, smiling, waiting to see what she would do to the zombie. If she did nothing, it would feeld on her, then follow him till it found more prey. He wanted to see how it would turn out. He thought of the fire ball incantation. "Pyrios balletia." He hurled the fireball at the zombie and it caught fire instantaneously. "Show me some moves girl!" He laughed at the sight. She would prove herself or perish.
'This guy was crazy,' she thought. She looked at him indifferently as an incantation escaped his lips. Her eyes widened as the bolt passed through his fingers and struck a nearby grave, though.
Eli noticed the dirt shift as a hand slowly emerged from the grave, followed by a newly born zombie. The half demon girl took a step back as it stumbled towards her. She zoned everything out and soon all she could hear was the creature's pained moans and the echoing of its steps. A faint murmur of words was all she could hear as the zombie was lit. A spontaneous array of flames and sparks surrounded the burning and melting flesh.
Make it go away. Fear settled in her eyes as the girl took a step back. She turned on her heels and ran to a nearby shed, putting her hands above her head in fear. But, then she thought. She could fight too! Why would she let herself loose to a dead and wasted piece of meat? Eleni looked around too see a shovel and let her face grow emotionless. No more hiding. Eyes flickering blue and with confidence, Eleni stood up and extended a hand towards the zombie. A gust of wind blew across the graveyard; the flames Extinguishing. She growled with disgust at the thing as she charged at it, bashing the shovel into its skull. It desperately clawed at her, trying to pull her down but the girl only kicked it back. No more games. The side of the shovel sliced right through its neck, messily and harshly decapitating the thing. Her lips curled back in disgust, showing her fangs. Eyes glowing dark blue, Eli stabbed the thing in its chest, keeping it nailed to the ground.
As soon as it started, it ended. The girl crumpled to her knees, holding her head. "Wha--?" She groaned looking at what she had done.
Xerordir gave a slow applause. She had killed it. Although the manner in which it had happened showed a clear sensitivity to killing. Bless. She had a conscience. He wasn't curious about much. Except the wind spell. No incantation. Very skilled in some magical powers. He wished to know more. "Where and how did you learn that spell?" He asked curiously. She would be easy to train for combat, ruthlessly efficient, gloriously brutal, with looks that the opponent would hang on. A true marvel.
Eleni looked up at him. She caught her breath only to let it out with a sigh. "I don't exactly know," shrugs "Sometimes I do things without realizing them at the moment... Hm. Perhaps I read it in a book? I usually just try things and see what happens, then pick it up from there." The girl stood up and walked past the dead thing. Soon, she was passing the man as well, brushing his shoulder as she passed. She couldn't believe he sent a zombie after her! Sure, she was very curious. He may even be able to teach her something... But he tried to kill her...! She had reached a decision in her head: If he called out to her, she would stop. If not, she would leave him. What business did she have with a man who didn't care if she was dead or alive? Then again, nobody really did care.
"Ah but if you leave, you can't learn how to control that power." He grinned, trying to remember the incantation for wind or an air bolt. He remembered the hurricane summoning but that was useless unless on a boat. He finally recalled wind, and drew it towards him. He threw the wind to her, let it move, then pulled her back using the wind. Demon magics were easy to execute, but hard to perfect. Maybe she could.
Eleni Felt the wind wrap around her and felt herself be pulled back. She fell back as the wind dropped her and landed at his feet. She crossed her arms stubbornly "But maybe I don't want to learn to control it... But if I said that, now that would be a lie." Grinned looking up at him. Honestly, she was interested in her powers and what she could do with them. Maybe she'll even learn a thing or two about herself!
She was certainly of a demons personality. Stubborn, proud, an instinctual survivor. Xerordir had dealt with many demons, mostly observer demons, who scryed the mortal world and recorded dark secrets. Barons conducting secret affairs. Nobles disposing of illegitimate sons and daughters. People doing business with Xerordir. That was a fond memory of his. "First we shall tell a story each. Not a tragic story, an amusing one. One day, I was in Connlaoth, doing business as usual, summoning an observer demon for a duke. This duke was the enemy of a previous client of mine, and he wanted a dirty secret about the client. I summoned a demon, the usual practice occurred, when the demon displayed an image of me and my previous client doing business. You can imagine the shock when I told him that the client had also paid me significant amounts to kill this man. The last thing he saw was me driving a knife into his throat." He smiled grimly.
The younger girl frowned but thought a bit about what he said. "The irony of the situation is grimly amusing." Pointed out with a small-but devilish- smirk. "Poor Duke, though." She shrugged before thinking. He had said she had to tell an amusing story as well, right? She thought back a bit before her eyes lit with amusement. "Ok. My turn, correct? Well, after getting chased out of a pub once again, a couple of buff men were on my tail. Long story short, I chased them into the square and tripped them out of no where! The one guy fell on top of a woman who started screaming thinking he was trying to assault her. The other slipped on some cloak and ran into a guy carrying some pails of water...! Next thing you know, the woman's husband was screaming at the man while the other had his rear stuck in a bucket!" Giggled. After calming down a bit she frowned and continued, "Too bad they pointed me out and accused me of being a 'blood thirsty demon.' Those poor people..."
She Shook her head remembering the scene afterwards. She could remember their bloodcurdling screams and the sound of their fingers clawing against the tough ground. They brought it upon themselves when they pointed at her in disgust; accusation glowing the the townspeople's eyes. They had remembered the death of a towns' person caused by a demon. Why did her species have such a bad reputation? Then again, when she loses control, it's not like she proves their expectations wrong.
Her story beat his, which was slightly depressing considering hers was awful. He decided to keep his thoughts to himself. If she was a demon child, she would do some damage if she was angry. He remembered the dark lightning spell. Maybe she had claimed a victim to power the spell. Or she could learn the fire bolt spell. Or the raise zombie spell. Or the soul drain spell. He grinned viciously. "Care to learn the fire bolt spell? Or perhaps the electricity spell? Or another spell?" One fun thing about what he knew was that he knew how to defend from it. Most normal magic was simple wards, fire, lightning, ice, just cast a ward with the desired prefix. Dark magic was more complex. Advanced wards needed to be cast, and some dark magics, which fed on souls, just couldn't be blocked. The best way to survive them was not briny a target in the first place. Dark lightning was one of those spells, and exceptionally difficult to dodge. It was powerful, but he didn't want to waste a soul. Maybe he could trick the girl. Surely she wouldn't know what incantation was what. This left him with the chance to steal her soul. A demon had massive reserves of power in its souls, she must have a decent reserve herself.
Eleni thought for a bit. Should she really trust this stranger? But, then again, if he wanted to kill her he could've done it already...! Hesitantly, she answered, "An electricity spell...?" Something about this guy was weird, but if he could help her in any way, she'll take her chances. Besides, she wanted to believe more than anything that someone wanted her around. As far as she was told, her own parents abandoned her and left her in the streets! Perhaps her hopefulness that someone could help her-- wanted to talk to her-- was clouding her sense. Influencing her judgement.
'If something were to happen,' she thought, 'I could defend myself...!' A voice in her head seemed to be trying to convince her. Of course, she grasped the consolation and looked at him a bit more surely. Yes, she wanted to learn. She was tired of running and hiding and was ready to embrace her power. She wanted to be that person in stories that learned to fight! She was eager to finally learn.
"Yes, a lightning bolt at your finger tips. Electricity to stun and electrocute your foes. You could make your immortal parent proud. The parent of yours which was a demon I mean." He smiled at her, and decided that she was rather attractive. Oh that was a tease that Nadya had left him. He was human enough to be attracted to women. That irritated him. He found himelf attracted to the wrong people constantly. And if she was powerful, he liked. Majorly.
"You have been given a unique gift from your demonic parent. You have massive energy reserves to draw from. You would be a good travelling companion to most." He gave her a small wink for a laugh. She was very pretty, and her eyes were so defining!
Eleni makes a face at his last comment but can't help but smile as he winks at her. "I would be the best companion and you know it. You know you are just dying to scoop me up and run away so I can forever be your little travel companion!" Says jokingly with a smirk. She admired his features quietly. He was quite handsome, though she'd never admit it. She mentally kicked herself for thinking that. People never stuck around for long and she knew that. The last time she got too close to someone, the girl had run off in fear of actually connecting with the other. She could not think that way. She shrugged it off "Anyways... How do you do the spell? I doubt it would make anyone of my parents proud considering they just left me, though." She shrugged nonchalantly, slipping in that detail of her history quietly.
He laughed at her remark. Maybe she would be a good travelling companion for him. He was a necromancer. Why shouldn't his companion be half demon?! They could masquerade as brother and sister or some rubbish like that. He liked the idea. He could protect her. She didn't seem to know how to defend herself, and he could teach her. She would be a good student. He finally decided to make her an offer. "You would be a good companion. How would you like to travel with me?" He gave her a sincere smile. "I can teach you magic that some mages only dream of. I can teach you to summon demons, raise the dead, all that. If you want me to." He tried to think of how else to convince her. "You know, there are demons who could tell you what happened to your parents. Demons that watch this realm may know. Demons like the ones in the story I told you." He cast up a ball of electricity, with no incantation needed. When mastered, the incantation was meaningless, and he had mastered most basic elemental spells.
She looked at the ball of electricity that sprouted from his fingertips. Could she really? "You could teach me...? You can tell me what happened to my parents?" She seemed interested in his offer. Well, what's the worst that can happen? "I... I'm not sure... I guess it's be cool..." Admitted. "I guess it'd be okay" Eleni finally answered. She lifted a hand and curiously reached at the ball of electricity, her fingertips almost touching it in curiosity.
"Hold your hand out. Go on, it won't hurt you. Perfectly safe unless I want it to be unsafe." He put his hand out. The energy was trapped in suspension, and wouldn't hurt her. He could detonate it, and the longer he waited, the more it was dangerous to detonate. He was unlucky enough to have witnessed one of his detonate, two hours after he had created it. Electric burns were hard to heal. He focused on the ball, keeping it from detonation. "We won't constantly be together, just as long as you don't go running over province borders, I'm fine. I will show you where I have set up my base. For the next few months, I intend to work around in Serendipity."
Eleni nodded, holding out her hand "So, I will stay at...base with you?" Listened to him as she picked up the ball of electricity. "Can I go visit your clients with you?" Asked looking back up at him. Excitement swirled in her eyes and was evident on her face as well. She really wanted to see some stuff he did up close so she could Learn from it!
"Not always. Some of my clients are dangerous, and would use you as leverage over me. It's not fair on you if that happens. Of course when you are accustomed to magic, we can make our income more effective, we can meet multiple clients, and take multiple payments. More money for us to go on the town with, and more that we can own. Obviously I will visit my allies, and I can introduce you to them. If we are successful enough, we can employ others. I have heard of dragons and demons and assassins who are perfect candidates for that. But first, our business should grow. So where should we set up HQ?" He felt excitement welling up in his heart. He had never felt that before! He had a friend, a travelling companion, and a potential business partner! He had prospects, ambitions he had never considered before! It was a dream he had only just gotten that was going to fall into place!
The girl laughed "Calm down! Fist, I barely understand what you are talking about. What is it you do again? I could use some money." She commented. If she had some money, she could actually buy things instead of steal them. Stealing could be a hassle sometimes and not having to walk around with her hood up would be nice. The little money she found she usually used at the taverns. Some well earned cash would be good, she decided.
Xerordir seemed really excited about these new business Ideas and she figured she could help. The idea of having a 'friend' excited her a bit, too! Someone who could teach her demon magic and show her new tricks. Meeting different people with different ideas made her think as well.
Ah. He hadn't fully explained himself. "I am a summoner by trade, I summon the dead, demons, or put others in a position by which they need resurrection. I don't kill, I just make you eligible for my other services!" He smiled grimly. He was a murderer, but only when required. And he was learning how to be nicer. Might as well start by recruiting! "If you wish, I will split my profits, if you learn the tricks of the trade. An apprenticeship. I will teach you exactly what I do, how to conduct the business and dealings correctly. And a few sneaky bits of bussinessmanship. Like how to extort money from clients who can afford it. It's convenient when the zombie barrier spell is the spell I relate to fairly hefty quantities of coins." He gave her a vicious smile. He began making a list of things he would need to make her. A cloak, she would need to craft shadow armour, a mask.
She didn't like the idea of killing. The fact that she was capable of killing millions off scared her and she didn't want to cause anymore hurt. But... She could use some money and a place to stay... Besides she didn't have to do any of the killings herself, right? And she was eager to learn more and become stronger and more independent like she wishes to believe. A grin creeps onto her face as she nods her head "Okay, so... Deal?"
"Deal. Now,first thing is first, you need a good cloak and mask. You will need to forge some shadow armour, and a list of basic spells to learn." He studied her cloak. It would do for now, but he would get her a better cloak when the time came. The mask and armour would be the worst ones to get. The armour was magical so that was the worst, and the mask was enchanted. So as soon as she had the armour, it was relatively easy. If she was a good fighter he would need her.
"But I like my cloak just fine...!" Sighed before realizing something, "Wait, where do I get shadow armour... And a mask? Why do I need a mask? You should let me borrow yours...!" Grins. But, honestly, she had no idea what she was doing... Did she really just agree to work with a necromancer? Well, this should be fun...!