A Message that was Crystal Clear

1

As dawn breaks a shift in the air signals the success of a ritual. Light shines through the stained glass windows which decorated the halls of the large castle. The rush of footsteps on cold stone echo to signal an approach.

"We felt the surge of power, are we right in assuming it was a favorable outcome?" The man stood tall with an imposing frame, blocking the entrance to the room.

"It went well, but she can't keep doing this. I can only hold off the inevitable for so long Malachi." A woman ran a hand through greying black hair as she faced the man at the door.

"Where is she Veda? I need to check her vitals," Malachi strode into the room with a sternness of which demanded respect.

"She rests in the other room, it might as well have her name on it with how much it is in use." Veda rolls her eyes at the man while she begins to clean up, "One would think that after all this time you would have more faith in my capabilities as a mage, Malachi."

"You know the importance of Evelyn. It is not that I have no trust in your abilities. Necromancy is an art in which I can never hope to grasp, but the Council worries over the possibility of losing her. If she passes before finding an apprentice the magic will be lost to us."

"You both worry far too much..." A voice grumbled from the other room, "Stop dallying and get in here already!"

Startled, Malachi strode into the isolated room, Veda on his heels, only to throw his arms up in exasperation at the antics of the woman before him. There upon the bed a woman of older years had deemed it the ideal time to attempt a handstand. Her grey hair fell loose from its tie as she met the eyes of her commerads.

"Evelyn right yourself at once!" Malachi demanded despite hearing Veda's amused laugh.

"You were the one that wished to check on her, you know she only does this to get a reaction," rolling her eyes Veda turned to address Evelyn next, "I know the effects of the ritual tend to leave you a bit more active, but I suggest not giving our resident Healer a heart attack."

Evelyn sat upright on the bed once more with an exaggerated sigh, grey eyes shining, "A bit of fear is good for you, gets the blood pumping!" A bright laugh came from the woman as she caught the look on Malachi's face.

"An early grave is what you are sending me to Evelyn, and I will refuse Necromantic aid out of spite!" Malachi approached the bed and began to run diagnostic scans. The soothing warmth of the magic as it flowed through Evelyn reminded the woman of peaceful nights curled within a blanket, reading by the fireplace. "There are no problems from what I see, but as always I want you to adopt a slower pace the next few days. I want to make sure your health doesn't relapse or worsen."

Evelyn only gave a smile that highlighted her aged skin, "Caution is always a good thing to have Malachi, but I refuse to live as if I were merely a porcelain doll afraid of being broken." With those parting words, the mage walked out of the room.

"I don't know why you try, you know how she hates being told what to do," Veda watched the other woman go with an affectionate smile.

"We can't afford to lose her," Malachi pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, "She is the only Combination mage within our realm, Evelyn knows that she cannot rest until she has passed on her knowledge to a new mage."

"But how long can she go on like this?" The two walked out into the larger chamber, Veda turns to face the taller mage, looking so their eyes meet, "Malac, we can't hold onto her forever. Powerful she may be, but this still takes a toll. It has been years since she was granted her title, we have no way of knowing when the next Combination mage will present themselves..."