The Healer and the Necromancer (Stosuh)

Chapter 5

Hosuh had forgotten why he hated school so much until now. Of course the idea of learning new spells was exhilarating, who doesn't like magic, right but? But, having to simplify them for himself so that he could put them into practice was terrible! He wished he was someone smart like Stephen. Or Daniel.

"Okay how about this one, all it requires is a dance!" Stephen exclaimed as he pointed to a spell that allowed flowers to grow from a dancers feet.

Hosuh lazily looked up at the page blowing grey strands of hair out of his face. "I'm a terrible dancer" he whined slumping back into his seat.

"Ugh! It's not even a hard dance" the necromancer facepalmed. The spell was no more than a chant and 4 repeated dance moves. Looked a bit like a waltz actually. "You can do it with two people what if I help you? I don't mean to brag but I'm a pretty good dancer" Stephen remarked, very obviously bragging as she swished his hair about.

"Mmmmmmmmmm.... fine okay whatever" Hosuh reluctantly answered as he lazily got out of his seat and followed the king into the courtyard where Stephen had casted a musical spell to play for them.

Stephen outstretched his hands towards Hosuh making a grabbing motion, to which the healer replied by handing his hands over before being pulled in, smashing his head against Stephen's chest. He felt a blush creep onto his cheeks as he pulled away.

"Sorry, Hosuh" the necromancer king mumbled awkwardly, "follow my moves" he stated a little louder, suddenly regaining his royal confidence.

Hosuh tried desperately to follow Stephen's motions as they clumsily dance around the yard. Hosuh's feet seemed to really like the latter's as he was constantly trampling them. "Sorry" he had squeaked when he had let down his foot particularly hard on Stephen's own.

They had trampled roses, bumped into people passing by and stained both their clothes with grass having both falling on their butts several times, but eventually, the healer had managed to get the hang of the dance looking up happily at Stephen once he had. Stephen smiled back at him, enjoying the music and the dance, "start the spell"

A blush had once again found its place on Hosuh's cheeks. Had he seriously been so entrapped by the king's presence that he had forgotten why they were out here in the first place??? "Oh yes, o-of course" he stammered.

Hosuh began the chant, now mindlessly following the dance routine of the spell with Stephen chanting with him. He felt the ground beneath him begin tickling his toes as he was only wearing sandals. He looked down to see the various flowers growing from beneath his feet. "Woah" he mumbled, eyes starry.

Then he smelt... burning?

It was coming from Stephen. "Why are you killing my flowers!?" Hosuh questioned, face laced with concern.

"I cannot perform the healing spells of Life's knowledge. I am a creature of the goddess of death. I destroy what you create" Stephen said not looking Hosuh in the eye but instead taking sight of his castle.

"Oh" was all Hosuh could reply looking down at the ground with disdain, but why did this make him feel so bad. They continued the dance for a while before coming to a stop as they had both grown rather tired and the air surrounding was a bit more depressing than what either were used to.

●○●

The next day was to be Hosuh and Stephen's first sparing session. It was the main reason that Hosuh had been learning so much plant magic. It was one of the few things under Life's reign that was both easy and could be used for combat.

They had both dressed differently today. Though both sporting their usual colours the two had dropped their robes for less loose clothing both wearing loose pants and tight shirts accompanied with small inclusions of amour: simply a chest plate and shoulder pads. Hosuh had his hair tied up in a tight bun.

"You sure you're ready to go up against me" Stephen smirked activating the purple swarms of glowing fire around his hands that represented his magic.

Hosuh did the same except his hands were covered in green glowing crosses and red hearts. "Go a little easy on me please"

"Ha, I-" the necromancer did not get the chance to finish as a flash of vines sprung out the ground grabbing at his body and lifting him into the air.

"You should really stay on guard necromancer" Hosuh smirked, mocking the remarks Stephen would make towards him.

Stephen only chuckled in response releasing fire from his hands and sending searing hot flames in Hosuh's direction. In quick response Hosuh released the magic within his vines leaving them to retreat into the ground so swiftly that they had blown out the purple flames. "Pretty good healer" Stephen quipped.

"I learn from the best"

Hosuh felt the ground suddenly begin to shake beneath him. Way to close to him, a skeletal hand burst out from the ground attempting to grab at him. He stumbled back in response only to be grabbed by a second rotting, fleshy hand, at which point he realised, "zombies?!"

He used his other leg to kick at the hand on his ankle only for it to fly of its wrist and land in a nearby bush. Then it started crawling back.

Gross.

Hosuh grabbed at a nearby branch extending it into a platform and launching himself into the sky where the undead could not follow. He cast a quick healing spell on his ankle while he had the free time.

"You can't stay up in the trees forever healer!" Stephen yelled bringing up undead birds to attack Hosuh in the sky. The launched their rotting bodies like torpedoes towards Hosuh only to be knocked out by a stick that Hosuh had levitated as a weapon.  He extended the branches even more to cover him in a wooden cave before breaking off everything, crushing the birds and the undead people beneath him.

Hosuh jumped out of the tree almost tripping as he landed safely on the ground. "Never planned too." He stomped a foot on the ground causing the earth underneath Stephen to quickly rise and fall launching Stephen up in the air at which point Hosuh send all sorts of plant life hurling towards him.

Stephen smirked as he realised that this was not something that he and Hosuh had covered together. This was something that Hosuh had learnt all by himself, but that didn't mean he was gonna let him win.

Stephen had began dancing mid-air, performing the spell he and Hosuh had performed the day prior that set his feet ablaze. Hosuh could only watch as Stephen gracefully kicked at every plant Hosuh had sent his way.

Why did he1 ever think using plant magic against a fire user was a good idea???

Now on the ground, Stephen sent a wall of bright purple fire in Hosuh's direction forcing him to pin himself against a tree. Through quick thinking though Hosuh was able to sense the king moving through his flames as an attempt surprise attack and managed to grab him, pinning him to the ground.

The healer quickly grabbed both Stephen's arms pinning them above his head casting a magical lock on them, simultaneously planting himself on top of the latter so he could not move.

Hosuh waited for any sign of movement and when he didn't sense anything he looked down at Stephen panting heavily. Stephen only smirked cockily in response, " I was totally going easy on you" he bragged.

Hosuh didn't respond, he couldn't for a while actually, being too out of breath. Once he finally caught his breath he realised how long he had been seated on top of Stephen who was only looking up at him in concern. "You okay healer?"

Hosuh silently got off of Stephen. "Fine, just tired"

"Good because that was awesome!" Stephen cheered. "You obviously wouldn't beat me in a death match but for someone he couldn't lift a hairbrush- like what? A week ago?- You're doing great" Hosuh felt himself blush. "Go and get some rest healer" Stephen smiled patting Hosuh's shoulder.

-
We're like almost halfway through this bitch