Crossed

Chapter 2:

The months after were painful. Queen Mirialla didn't want to build The Residence back up, at least not at this time. Most of the kids had lost their guardians or other family. I couldn't get out of bed for a while but then forced myself to get up and work on my craft as a Necromancer, I needed to fulfil Iliana's last wish, she wants me to find her again so I will.

I was the only one with the ability to see and feel passed one's in this Dragon Territory, I was the only one who would be able to practice this craft, I was the only one who could teach me how to bring back her ghost. I had looked into traveling but found out I really am the only Necromancer Archimage in the world and I would be for years to come...

I had gone to all three libraries this Territory had and managed to collect about ten books involving anything to do with my craft. I wanted to speak to the dead, I wanted to see if I could manage bringing back ghosts om command. I needed to start small. I found little mice and rats, bunnies and wasps in the forest and started working. I kept my notes with me and spend hours alone in the deeper parts of the forest, away from anyone and everyone. Practicing the spells and energy.

"Archimage Wren?," I look up from the little souls of the animals I finally managed to summons back to earth, it took too long. "Guard Morris?," I let go of my spell and get back up to properly face the Dragon standing before me. "The Queen wants to see you regarding the attack on The Residence last year," he says. "Oh, okay, I'll go," I say and quickly pack my bag.

Guard Morris took me back to the ruins of The Residence where the Dragon Queen still resided. I swallowed while looking around at the ruins and how broken and empty the place looked now... It was difficult to believe this place was once one of pleasure and entertainment. Enjoyment and festivities. Now I could not even imagine music playing anymore, it was less than a shell of its former personality and life.

"Archimage Wren," the Queen's voice echoed through the ruins before she appeared from what previously was the ballroom of The Residence. "Queen Mirialla," I say while walking up to her," why the request to see me? Did something happen inside The Residence again? Did they come back?," I ask. "No they did not come back," she says," but I was wondering if you could help me identify something here? My assumption was that it came from Death or was at the very least connected to it in some way." "And because of my Specialisation...," I nod," I'll come with, what is it?"

"I'll won't lie," I start," I'm not sure what it is... it's not dead but not really alive either?" "I thought so, but it seemed closest to Death," the Queen says, I nod and then get up. "I'll have to search the libraries for some more information," I say," if there is any that is." The Queen nods," if I can be of any help, let me know," she says. I nod," thank you." "I have something that might be of interest to you as well," she then says," most of the library here in The Residence had been torn down but I managed to retrieve some of it back to its original state, including some of its books."

I had gone through all that was safed of The Residence's library before going back to the main library of the Territory. I wasn't sure how something could be alive but dead at the same time. Could this have been what attacked The Residence a year ago? How dangerous is it? What is it? How does it exist? My little home ended up being filled top to bottom with books and research papers after months, no room was empty anymore. My frustration had started to grow when not one page was left unturned and still no information became useful.

"Queen Mirialla?," I call out into the ruins, hoping she would be here, I climb over some broken wall to get to the library where I sensed some form of living energy. "I'm here Archimage Wren," I hear her say, I make my way over to the library and find her re-organizing part of the book cases," what brings you here? Did you find anything?" "No, sadly," I admit," I was wondering if you had some time to... discuss a different approach?" "Go on," she stops what she was doing and we sit down.

"Months ago I was working on my Magical Speciality, as per Iliana's request I would contact her after her... death. And I have been spending all my time trying to find out what the energy could be, that you showed me a couple months ago, but I have not been able to find anything even remotely close. So I'm here to ask permission to continue working on my craft to ressurect the dead," I say. The Queen stays silent and just watches me for a bit.

"Does this mean you want to abandon the quest to find out what this might be?," she says after a while," Wren, it might be dangerous to our Territory and more." "No I didn't mean to say that," I take a moment," if I can form a stable and consistent contact with passed one's on Death's side, we can attempt to ask if they might have more information. I cannot guarantee that passed one's can fully interact with earth after I pull them back but my hope is to form a line of communication."

"I give you permission to do so," The Queen says," on the condition that if you're practicing the practical aspects of your craft, I want you to do that here. I am aware that this place might be uncomfortable for you right now, with the loss of your partner in here, but when we build The Residence here centuries ago we did so with purpose. These grounds are home to many death signatures. I was told so by the previous Necromancer Archimage of our Territory. That makes this a weak spot, meaning it should be easier to make contact with the dead."