The Bizarre Adventures of a Half-Elf

8. Necral

Wind blew past Charlotte's face, tangling her loose hair around her neck and ears. An endless landscape of charcoal and grey stone stood against a twisting verdant sky before her. In the distance stood a great, winged monstrosity: Necral. 

The Half-Elf's body was bare, save for pieces of cloth that hung over her breasts, groin, and rump. The cold, sharp rocks dug into the bottoms of her feet as she stood and began to walk, but she ignored it. 

The destination seemed far and near at the same time, and clouds swirled overhead in discordant patterns. Charlotte could see other figures around her, stumbling in the same general direction, but none of them mattered—they were all featureless blurs in her peripherals. Her eyes were focused on the black scales and blood-red eyes of her target.

Time passed in an instant and an eternity, but Charlotte never tired and never thirsted. Material things no longer troubled her. She was neither content nor regretful. She was resigned to walk as long as it took.

Then the scenery shifted around her, and she was there. Charlotte kneeled before the mighty Elder Dragon God of Death. "Necral," she droned, her voice unfamiliar to herself, "I humbly beg your judgement on my soul."

Necral's curved claws scraped against stone as he turned his massive head to look down upon the Half-Elf. "Charlotte Lithelon..." The gravelly voice boomed all around, echoing even in her mind. "Daughter of Rhys and Irdis, sister of Christa, and half-sister of Gerred and Lansear. You have sent many to my domain for judgement." 

Her reply was without hesitation. "I have."

"And you will continue to send more if your soul is returned to its mortal vessel."

"I will."

His tail swished back and forth, sending up dust to obscure the sky even more. "I sense confusion and pain from you. You have committed many sins, but many sins have been committed against you in turn." 

Charlotte said nothing. The ground between herself and the Elder Dragon shimmered and shifted, until the rogue realized that it was actually a murky pool of water. When the rippling stopped, it showed another dragon from the shoulders up. This one had light green scales and soft pink irises. 

"Zaø." Necral's gaze locked onto the Elder Dragon God of Life. "What news have you brought?"

"Magic from my domain was used to restore this one's vessel," Zaø replied, her gentle voice like a beacon of hope in this desolate place. "With your permission, sibling, she can be returned to the Physical Plane of Existence."

The Death God's breath came out as a cloud of steam as he closed his eyes, preparing to announce her fate. After an immeasurable amount of time, the eyes finally opened, and Necral reared, extending his mighty wings out to the sides. "Charlotte Lithelon, it is my judgement that you are not finished with your task. You may return to the Physical Plane."

His maw opened and released a deafening roar.

**AN: Charlotte got lucky this time! What did you think of Necral and his Death Domain? Please drop a comment, and don't forget to vote!