The 13th Lich

Chapter 1: My Burden

The night was still as we walked down the sodden trail, and everything felt at ease under the veil of the black sky.

"Perfect," I said aloud whilst admring the brazen moon.

"What is?", my companion asked while she clearly obsessed over the light of my warming light of my lantern. I turned my head at my leisure and looked down upon my shorter company. I stood at a good 5'12'', but she hasn't grown since we were both 10 years of age. Shell was short, but  she always contained more energy than I ever could, which I admire her for.

I said nothing in response to her question, but instead gave a light, snap and pointed my clothed finger at the astounding full-moon. It was hard to snap with my robe on, but she caught the sound without an issue and like an aware hound, her eyes followed my hand as fast as I moved it to the spot that it was directing to.

"Ahhh," she said, calmy amazed by the pleasant spectacle.

I looked back to the dark, straight-forward path, listening to the silence that is only interrupted by the squishing of leather boots through newly-formed mud. It had rained the other day, giving the air an enjoyable scent and making it an ideal night to dig.

As we carried our glinting, silver shovels over our shoulders (Shell has to use two hands), I begun to think of the treasures that lied ahead. It pleases me whenever I get a chance like this to increase my knowledge, and I'm glad that Shell wanted to come with me. She goes out often and is a very busy human girl, but shes loyal, and I appreciate that to a certain extent.

My thoughts came crashing down on me almost as hard as the fallen girl on my right.

"Oof!", Shell had said in an unphased tone as she pushed herself up from the patch of grass that grew under an oak tree. She tried, but couldn't make it up again, so I went over to help.

"Goddammit," I uttered unaffectionately as I stepped over and lifted her white robed body without any trouble. She had dropped her shovel, and had no idea where it was as she turned her head franticly around the surrounding ground searching for it.

"Where's my shovel?", Shell said with a worried tone that I am quite used to.

"I'll get it, just stay still for a second okay? I'll need to check your knees." I had gotten down on one knee in a half-croutched position and proceeded to lift up the front of her cloak. She wasn't wearing pants, which made it easier, but I had no idea if she was wearing shorts and it wasn't in my interest to find out. Shell blushed as she eyed my lantern that I had to put down, and decided to affix her attention on its light once again.

I made a slight jab at her knee with a very thin needle, and she made a small, suprised squeak. I stopped telling her when I'm going to do things like that because if she prepares for it, she'll overthink it and build up an awful amount of fear. I looked up at her masked face to get a response on how much that hurt.

"I-I'm fine," Shell said softly, making me feel bad for examining her so abruptly. My concern wasn't on her emotions however as I needed to check the needle. I was concerned for her health, and I would try to help her as much as I could. I grabbed my lantern and dragged it over across the soft dirt to shed a little light upon the state of the needle's shaft.

It was green, which wasn't good at all.

"We're going home Shell; you can't walk anymore," I said while getting back up on two feet and picking up my lantern in my right hand, "Here, I'll carry you." I extended my hands behind my back, gesturing a piggy-back ride.

"I said I'm fine! This is a perfect night, like you said and we're not far fro-" I cut her off by saying her name in an annoyed tone that I hardly ever use. She stopped talking, but her energy remained as her hands clenched into fists.

"You should know by now that if I say you aren't well enough to do something, you can't argue with me. Okay? I know your limits, and you do too. You should've told me that you felt something, and we could've been home a lot sooner," I took a breath to pause myself, as I realised that there is no point in giving a health lecture to a 14-year old girl who doesn't even like it when I help with homework. "Besides, what good is an accomplaice who can't stand? Now c'mon, jump on." I turned around again, and remembered to bend down lower this time.

"Okay Hayden, and I'm really sorry about this." Shell walked over and placed her legs in between the openings of my arms and my sides. She was quite upset, but nothing I could have said would have made the failed night better. I wanted to tell her something nice, but she has a hard time believing my kindness, and sometimes I do too.

I handed her my lantern which she held down at my chest with both of her hands, and I used the shovels to support her bottom so that I didn't have to carry them or touch her anywhere I would prefer not to.

I walked all the way back to the city in complete silence, and Shell fell into a trance of defeat and mellowness that let my thoughts be to themselves. She must've been thinking about her problems, but I was too busy dodging sticks and roots to figure out a way to make it up to her. I did realise something on that perfect night that made it better for myself: I realised that if Shell was cured, maybe she could finish growing and finally be able to reach the top shelf. Thoughts like that didn't come often, but I did cherish them as dreams should be.

Shell will get better someday, I thought, but whether she grew or not wasn't a real concern of mine.