Necromancer

Chapter 18

I woke to the sound of thumping on my door. "Hurry and get up, Master Janshai would like a word with you." Andre walked away quietly as I rubbed my bloodshot eyes. Despite sleeping like a baby I still felt exhausted and drained. It's been a rough few days; Not to mention that creepy guy is probably still following me. I stared at the small opening above me that let the sunlight in. The scatter of the rays reminded me of the day before. I wonder where Vance is right now... It doesn't matter I shouldn't be caught up in criminals work. Despite this place being in a desert the place was surprisingly cool. The stone floor was cool to the touch. I quickly got dressed into a simple black robe that was laid out for me. The corridor outside my room was completely devoid of life. Where is everyone? I retraced my steps back and found myself once again in the library. Everything looked the same as before the giant shelves held thick and ancient text. The only difference was a burly figure who had his nose in some book. It was almost comical the figure was hunched over in a robe two sizes to small for him. He quickly looked up and stared, "Hey what are you looking at, get lost." I looked horrified at a inhuman grey monster staring back at me. His voice deep and commanding. "i-i'm sorry." Andre poked his small frame in the door. "Hurry up Nazul, I have things to do!"  I quickly followed behind Andre and his strange walk. "So who was that in the library?" "Does it matter?" "I just wanted to know that's all." Andre sighed "His name is Orguluk don't mess with him."  "He's not a human is he?" "Well of course not he's an orc. All sort of creatures delve into the magical arts you know." We made our way down the stairs and into the familiar courtyard. The large tree standing tall with the bright blue water pulsating. "What's that pool of water for?" Andre snapped, "No more questions! Your beginning to tire me out. Ask all your meddling questions to Janshai he should be happy to help a prodigy like you." I heard a bit of resentment in his voice. Andre sped off before I could reply. What's the hell his problem? I heard Janshai's voice coming from within. "Come in Nazul." I slowly walked inside the strange room from before. Except now there wasn't a table and mat. Now there was a pentagram circle engraved on the floor. The strange blue candles surrounded it. "What is this?" Janshai paced around the room.  "We can't waste anymore time, today you will enter the spirit world. Panic flooded in me. "But master I haven't trained at all. I'm not ready to do this!" Janshai smiled. "Nonsense of course you are everything you need is already within you." This is insane, I can barely create an apparition much less go into the spirit world and come back in one piece. Janshai came closer to me and spoke. His kindly smile warming my heart. His brown eyes looking deep inside me. Behind them I caught a glimpse of intense ambition. "Your seal, where is it." I blabbered out. "On my back" What I'm I doing? "Let me see." I began taking my cloak off and stripped to my underwear. The coolness of the room made me shiver. Janshai began studying my seal. "Your seal is a necromancers bridge to the mortal and spirit world. Without it's impossible to be in the world of the dead." I began remembering everything Master Sanju taught me. "Master told me it was impossible to enter the spirit world as a living soul." Janshai scoffed. "My brother held back many things to you Nazul... you could say he was afraid of your potential." "My potential?" Janshai put his hand against my skin. "Yes Nazul, have you ever noticed anything peculiar lately?" What did he mean by that? I was painfully normal. "No I haven't" Janshai walked in front of me I caught a whiff of a smoke scent." Before I could react a flame burst at my face. Janshai began shooting fire through his hands. I began to panic as adrenaline shot through me. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? TRYING TO KILL ME!" Janshai shouted through the hot flame that burned in my ears. Pain shot through my entire body. "Calm down Nazul!" Focus on the energy inside you!" My skin felt like it was being seared by a hot knife I screamed out in agony. "AGGHHHHH!" I fell to the ground and writhed in pain. "DAMMIT" Janshai shouted again. "Focus on the energy growing inside you!"  My vision grew dim as I struggled to breath. The pain to unbearable to think. Then something strange began to happen a glowing warmth was growing inside me, not pain. I tried to focus on it. I screamed louder and louder the smoke going in my nostrils. The warmth grew larger. There I found it. I focused all my energy on it and I felt myself trying to pry it out from internally. I clawed at it struggling to hold on. "Break it free Nazul! It is yours! and only yours!" It grew stronger and stronger as the pain dimmed. After a while the pain fully subsided and I stood up. I looked at Janshai he stroked his beard as he smiled. I lashed out in anger, "YOU DAMN FOOL YOU ALMOST KILLED ME." Janshai spoke "Look at you hands Nazul." I looked at my hands and they were on fire! My whole body was still on fire! Strangely I felt nothing just a glowing warmth that radiated from my body. "I'm I dead! What happened to me!" Janshai laughed "No Nazul, this is your power invulnerability to fire. It was sealed away when you were young, taken from you. They never wanted you to find it." I looked at him flabbergasted, "What the hell are you talking about? Who didn't want me to find it? I was burning alive just a minute ago thanks to you!" Janshai raised his hand and spoke a strange spell, the fire quickly dispelled and I was normal again. There weren't any burns on my entire body. Janshai was right somehow I was immune to fire.  " I'm truly sorry Nazul it was the only way to bring it out from you. A life and death situation would force you to find it." I was furious this old fool could've killed me. To think I trusted him; despite his calm demeanor Janshai wasn't afraid to kill. That glimpse of ambition in his eyes was more of my master Sanju.  He was tough and brash not afraid to do the unspeakable. "Your going to need this invulnerability to fire when you enter into the spirit world. That is why you must do it. I have no such ability. While it is possible for me to go I would die from the flames." Janshai grabbed my shoulder and looked at me, his face was grim. "I'm sorry Nazul I wish there was another way but you have to do this. It could mean the whole surviving necromancers dying If you don't do it. Please...." I closed my eyes as fear gripped me. What if I see.... her there.... "I'll do it."