Magical Education

Necro's cape billowed behind him as he and Catherine walked through his darkened home. The house felt cold for being in the middle of the summer. The only light in the building at the time came from what sunlight could peak around the curtains, and the small green flame that Necro had conjured in his hand. Catherine crossed her arms, trying to warm herself up. Necro didn't notice. Catherine was wearing an outfit she made herself once she became the apprentice to the man in front of her. Her outfit consisted of a short black cape attached to a hood with a piece of black metal in the shape of a bird's beak resting in the center of the hood, and a smaller metal beak connected her cape together to hold it up. She had a black mask under the hood with white cloth patches where her eyes rested. She also had on a purple vest with another black metal beak in the center of it, resting between her breasts. Under the purple vest was a long sleeve black shirt that met her wrists, while her hands were covered by gray leather gloves. She had on black pants that were slightly covered by knee high brown leather boots, and two belts that were holding up a small satchel on her hip.

Necro, was wearing a similar outfit, as her's was based on his. However, the black cape and cowl he wore covered his entire body, hiding his garb underneath. A purple gem rested below his chin and kept the black fabric of his cloak together. His face under the cowl donned a black mask with another mask made of bone and fangs with a trio of slits covering where his eyes would be. His feet came out of the bottom of the cape, and they were covered in bandages attached to a black metal plate on the bottom of his feet for protection while walking. There were also, from what Catherine could make out in the dim light of the building, black rivets attached to black rings around his ankles. Necro didn't falter in his steps as his apprentice studied his outfit further.

Necro then stopped in front of a dark oak wooden door, with a small silver handle attached to it. Catherine peaked over Necro's shoulder, while the two sat in silence. Necro extinguished his small flame as he opened the door, and a warm wash of light poured out into the shadow infested hallway. Catherine let out a sigh of relief as she felt warmth from the glow as well. Inside of the new room was a lit fireplace, with a crackling orange and yellow flame held back by an iron chainmail fence. Necro headed inside of the room, which was revealed to be a library with shelves that reached the ceiling, hanging above the pair at a height of more than twelve feet. Catherine stood aghast as she looked at the setting. There was a large, wooden table with chairs around it in the center of the room, a pair of lounge chairs rested by the fireplace, and there was an extravagant carpet that rested under the center table set. On the center table rested papers and books strewn about with different notes on different subjects mixed together, and they were all well lit by a pair of golden lamps that rested evenly spaced in the center of the table at the different ends. The floor itself was made of the same dark wood as the door, and the walls were a dark maroon color that made them seem like healing wounds.

Necro spoke up for the first time since they began walking, "This is my research library," his voice sounded like the bass drum of an orchestra, "Here is where we shall begin your teachings."

Catherine looked around and walked over to the table, she then picked up a paper. At the top of the paper, in bold letters, it read "POSSIBLE RESURRECTION?" and below it was a mixture of garbled notes that she couldn't understand. Necro snatched the paper away and put it on top of a pile forming at one end of the table. He moved with stern movements, so Catherine could only guess he was slightly frustrated. She held her hands up in a defensive gesture, "I was just looking. I'm bound to learn about it sooner or later. Right?"

"Wrong"

Necro walked to the book shelf and began grabbing different texts with different lengths and covers. Every book looked as if they were read a thousand times or more. Catherine then picked up one of the books on the table while Necro was looking away, "'The Fundamentals of Apothecary Botany'? I thought I was going to be learning how to keep my powers in check? I'm not exactly in the mood to learn how I can grow nirnroot for a cough."