Necromancer For Hire- Arc 5

Arc 5, Chapter 15

The Sickness

Once again, Victor and Seraph stumbled through the humid jungle. This was beginning to become a common thing for Victor, and he didn't like it.

Victor wasn't sure if it was the heat or his anemia, but he felt horrible. He was sweating like a pig, and his head was spinning.

Shoving his clammy hands in his pockets, Victor let out a sigh. “So…” he murmured, longing for some sort of reaction from Seraph, “It's, uh, been kinda crazy, huh?” Crazy? He thought bitterly, that's all you can think of to say?

Seraph kicked a rock out of his way as he took nimble steps. “Indeed. I did not expect our party to end up like this.”

“Hey, Ser?” Victor croaked, feeling his stomach twist in knots. There was something he needed to ask, something important.

Seraph paused, noticing the severity in his voice. “Yes, Victor?”

“Are…” Victor's throat was threatening to close. “Are you okay? I mean, like, um, I saw what happened with your mom, and, um-”

For a brief second, Seraph’s serene expression broke. Quickly, he found his composure and forced a smile.

“Do not worry about me, Victor,” Seraph murmured, his small wings wrapping around his body. “Everything is perfectly fine. As a high-ranking spirit, I am endowed with very specific expectations. It is my responsibility to achieve them.”

Victor frowned. “Well, um, do you wanna achieve them or whatever?”

Seraph coughed into his palm. “That is not my decision, Victor. It is my duty, and I must follow it.” His voice had taken an almost aggressive edge, like he wanted to end the conversation.

“That doesn't sound that nice…” Victor whispered nervously, wringing his hands.

“It is amazing,” Seraph murmured, gritting his teeth. It was almost like Seraph was talking to himself, not Victor. “To be able to fulfil the great destiny that I was created to preform.”

Victor blinked, unsure how to respond. Seraph was obviously done speaking on the manner, and Victor felt it would be wrong to push the issue any further. His friend already seemed frustrated.

Cheeks flushed, Victor gently touched Seraph on the shoulder, offering him an unsteady smile. “I, um...If you wanna talk about stuff, Ser, I'm here. It's okay.”

Seraph looked tired, but still nodded. He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but he suddenly jumped.

“Over there,” he hissed, “in that tree! We can bring that back to Lacertille!”

Victor’s eyes followed Seraph’s pointing finger, and he quickly understood. A small, furry beast was crouched on a branch, nibbling on a leaf. It munched away on its food, completely ignorant of the two children that desired to kill it.

Seraph held Victor back with a firm hand on his chest, raising his finger to his lips. “Stay still. I will try to stun it.”

Creeping closer to the tree, Seraph kept his body low, and Victor kept his breath bated. He had never hunted before in his entire life, and Victor wasn't even sure if he wanted to. He knew it was crucial that they hunt for food, but killing innocent animals made him feel queasy.

Seraph was only a few yards from the beast when he fired a searing beam of light at it, nicking it on the side and burning its fur. Dazed, the creature fell from its perch, smacking onto the ground in a twitching pile. Victor squeaked in alarm, but Seraph smiled reassuringly at him.

“Do not worry, Victor, I will make sure you get to eat soon.” But Victor didn't feel as calmed as Seraph probably wished him to be.

Seraph knelt down beside the squirming beast, holding his fingers against its throat. Magic twisted and shined around his hands, another beam of light preparing to release itself.

However, before Seraph could deal the killing blow, his eyes suddenly went wide. A fit of coughing overtook him, harsh, concerning hacks that made him double over.

“Seraph!” Victor cried, running to his side.

The celestial spirit was trembling violently, coughing and holding his chest. He gagged, vomiting a glowing, gold-tinted liquid onto the ground. He continued to cough, more of the strange bile being expelled out of his mouth.

Victor couldn't help but scream when he saw his friend so horribly ill. Fighting back fear, he grabbed Seraph around the waist, clumsily pulling him into his lap.

“Ser! What's wrong? Are you okay?” Victor demanded, tears filling his eyes.

“I-It is getting away…” Seraph rasped, his pink eyes having lost their vibrancy.

“That doesn't matter!” Victor sobbed, “Tell me what's going on!”

Seraph was gasping for breath, his coughing slowly subsiding. Weakly, he rested against Victor, silently holding eye contact with him. His eyelids fluttered, like he was about to faint, but he kept conscious.

Finally, he pulled himself up, wiping off his mouth. “That...that was nothing. I am fine.” He staggered upon standing, Victor immediately throwing his arm over his shoulder to support him.

“You don't look fine,” Victor pressed, feeling like he was going to cry. “Please, I want to help you if you're sick.”

“I do not need it,” Seraph murmured, his voice sounding drained of energy. “I am not the one that needs to be protected.”

Victor sighed, hugging Seraph close to him. The spirit’s body felt warm, almost feverish. He was still shaking from coughing so hard.

“L-Let's just get some fruit and bring it back. I think you need to rest right now,” Victor said softly, hanging his head.

Author's Note-well then