Necromancer

Chapter 17

I collapsed on the bare ground beneath me. "I can't believe I actually made it, it's a miracle!" Vance began to yawn. "I told you the pathfinder worked." I got up shakily from the ground. "Thank you Vance I appreciate it." He looked suprised, "You thanking me!? What happened to you?" I glared, "Oh shut up before I take it back." He shielded his face as he look up at the midday sun. "Crap it's already noon! I better get going hes going to kill me for being late! Farewell Nazul, may our paths cross again one day!" I waved as his form got smaller and smaller into the desert horizon. I looked back towards the old monastery. "Well I guess there no going back now." I made my way down and found myself in front of the giant metal doors in front. The flower branch symbol sat near the door roughly carved into the wall. A raven sat on the perch above glaring with beady black eyes. It quickly flew away as I approached. Sweat trickled down my back. Three quick pounds in succession echoed loudly. "Hopefully this place isn't abandoned." I put my ear against the door. I heard nothing. Crap where are they? I learned my back against the door and sat down. I looked at my filthy black hair covered in orange dust. I shouldn't even be here. If that stupid necromancer didn't kill everyone I would be fine. But now I'm running from a crime I didn't even commit. How did that man even get there in the first place? It doesn't matter I guess, all that matters right now is a nice cool bed and some food in my belly. I sat for what seemed like hours before o heard a voice. "No one's here leave now." I jolted up and looked at the door. "Hello? I need to speak to someone called Janshai." The wiry voice shrieked in reply, "Janshai? I've heard of no such human, now get lost." I pounded on the doors, "Please I beg you! There are necromancers here are there not? I'm one too please help me!" "Who told you that?" "Does it matter? My name is Nazul Sathish apprentice of Sanju Sathish." I stood close to the door waiting for an answer but none came. Dammit I knew this was stupid! Such a waste of time. Why would other necromancers be here? It was foolish to think that. The doors began to creak open behind me I quickly turned around and saw a cloaked man about 5 foot tall. The simple fabric cloak had a strange symbol I did not recognize. His hood his face from view. "Hurry up I don't have time for you to doddle around!" I quickly came into a large sqaure courtyard. A  large tree stood in the middle with a koi pond surrounding it. The water was a pristine blue that shone brilliantly in the light. I couldn't  help but be in awe at how beautiful the place was. Plants off all kinds surrounded the area with large vines that climbed up the pillars. "What are you looking at follow me." The man waved his hand for me to follow. I walked close behind him. Similar cloaked figures emerged from different rooms and corridors all turned to stare ominously under there dark hoods. "So how many are there here?" I asked nervously. "No questions." We made our way through a long hall way. The right side was lined with many doors while the left had giant windows. As we got to the end we turned left  and made our way to a set of double doors. The man pointed inside. "Janshai is in here, he'll answer all your questions. I walked inside and looked at the face of my old master. His white gotee and hair looked the same as it did 5 years ago. For the first time he smiled at me. "Hello Nazul, I've been expecting you for a long time. I stood there wide eyed in shock. "Master?" The man chuckled, "I'm afraid we've never met  I'm Janshai, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'd heard great things from Sanju about you. "Master Sanju knew you?" He cracked a smile. "Well of course I'm his brother after all." I placed my face in my hands. "Master never told me he had a brother, how is this possible?" Janshai made his way over to Matt on the ground and sat down. "There were many things Sanju never told you, now sit." He motioned for me to sit across from him. On the small table was a tea set. "Luckily I knew you were coming so I made you some tea." Janshai began pouring hot tea into two small wooden cups. The steamy auroma hitting my nostrils. "How did you know I was coming?" "Word travels fast in the spirit world, they told me you were on the run from the law as well." "So you know about that too?" I looked down in shame. I couldn't believe this, Master had a long lost brother and supposedly he knew I was coming. I looked up at Janshai; His resemblance almost uncanny to my master. He had the same white wispy hair and beard. The only difference was how he smiled. Master never smiled, not even once. Janshai had the same simple cloak the other Acolytes had, except his was white.  The strange symbol of an hourglass and a snake wrapped around it was on his cloak. He scooted the cup towards me, and I picked it up and took a drink. It was sweet with a hint of herbs that reminded me of home. "Master Janshai, I know this isn't the best time, but I came here for your help." He looked up from his tea. "You can just call me Janshai, what do you seek Nazul?"  I hesitated, "I need help with a ritual, a summoning one to be exact." He raised his white brow. "Oh?" "But I lost all my notes in the incident at Hadensburg so I don't even know where to start now." Janshai placed his tea down on the table. "We have a library here that can help you. There are many ancient manuscripts used for summoning. Andre can help you find them." I smiled, "Thank you Janshai I couldn't be in more of a debt to you." "You must be confused with all that has happened to you right now, but you shall get answers in time but I need something to ask of you." Janshai got up and walked over to retrieve something he came back with rock that that glowed a dull red. He placed it in front of me. "Have you heard of this stone before?" I looked at it the strange rock glowed a red deep inside it. Almost like it held it's very own star inside. "No I'm afraid not." Janshai frowned "I didn't think so Sanju wouldn't  have told you. It's called a seer stone, there extremely rare and powerful artifacts used to gain knowledge." " It is how I knew you were coming. The spirits of the dead communicate by this seer stone." Janshai picked it up and put back where he found it. He turned back to stare at me. "I have a favor to ask of you Nazul, will you do it for me?" I hesitated staring at his crystal blur eyes. This was madness I thought, why would I help someone I barely knew and just met. "Sure, what is it?" He smiled, "I need you to go into the spirit world and retrieve something for me. "What how is that possible? Nothing living can enter the spirit world." Janshai laughed, "That's where you wrong Nazul, Necromancers for centuries have traveled to the spirit world. Though it's not easy to do." I retorted, "Why can't you go? I have no experience with such things." Janshai placed around the room. " In simple terms I can't go, at least not anymore. And you know Sanju better than anyone, Only you can do this for me." Ifoc7sed in on what he said, you know Sanju better than anyone, why does that matter? It could be my chance to find her... "I will do it." "I knew I could count on you Nazul." I struggled to stay awake as I got up. "I can see you are tired better go get some rest. Andre can show you to your room, Andre! Come here!" The door creaked open as the man called andre popped his head into view. He was the same guy who I saw when I first got here. Janshai guided me to the door. "This is Andre he is an Acolyte here, also a wonderful necromancer. Andre can show you out." I held my hand out to shake but Andre ignored it. I quickly put it down and followed him out. He went to the right into another corridor I hadn't seen before. We came to a set of spiraling stairs and made our way up. The marble floor beneath us echoing as we walked. We came to the second floor and to the left was a huge room filled with books up to the domed ceiling. Andre spoke, "This is the library, it's free to use for all Necromancers here, just make sure not to make a mess."  I nodded in agreement. We made our way through the darkened library and into more hallways. It seemed like forever but we finally got to a simple room. A small cot was near the corner and a wax candle that burned blue sat on the ground. "There isn't much here but it should suffice for a little while. I thanked him and he hurried away into the darkness. I laid down in the warm blue light, not even bothering to change clothes. I stared at the stone ceiling above and quickly fell asleep.