What Makes a Monster

♱Twenty-Three♱

Third Person P.O.V

The Unborn are unsightly creatures, skeletal in nature with leathery skin, rusted in color. Their eyes have long since faded to gray then went nearly white after death. Their long limbs are gnarled like old tree branches with talons rather than nails and sharpened teeth that could tear through flesh with ease. They are hideous to behold, although Soran certainly has no issue cutting into their corpses with a scalpel to inspect the black blood and organs that all hold a purple tint that vilis is known for.

"Smells awful in here," says Silva, bringing with her yet another crate, blessed and chained shut for safe keeping.

She sets it aside, double checking the doors shut behind her while covering her face with her arm. The stench reminds her of a dead animal left to rot in the hot sun. Looking at the two open corpses spread out on stone slabs, organs being removed and placed in enchanted jars or bowls, they may as well have been that.

"Keep a distance," Reiner warns, standing aside with his back pressed to the wall. He, like Silva, is wearing a golden charm around his neck, glowing with a soft white light that keeps the darkness of the room at bay.

"No need to tell me twice."

Silva joins him, watching Soran work without care, even when a purple mist has formed around The Unborn. It's an after effect of vilis, what is left behind from the magic that will taint, or kill, that which cannot defend itself. Soran is not bothered by it while Reiner and Silva are on edge even with the charms that keep it at bay. If the mist so much as creeps towards them, it stops short about a foot out, forming a smoke ring around them.

Soran's enchanting room is closed off from the staff and unseen. Past the bedrooms, at the very end of the west side, second floor hallway is a supposed dead end. In reality, there's a secret only magic can find. Press against the wall in the right spot with the right words and it will open to reveal a spiral staircase leading far deeper than the basement. A long and wide room waits behind dark double doors, chained and marked with enchantments and talismans that, as soon as it is opened, leaves a bad taste in the mouth and a chill in the air.

Most magic users have an enchanting room of their own, a place to enhance a weapon, fortify a shield or create potions of healing and illusions. In Soran's case, it's more to do with research, after all, he is the one that can most easily research vilis without hindrance. It has no affect on him like it does mortals so it isn't uncommon for such situations to arise, for the king to send word for Soran to investigate an old artifact or a corpse. The enchanting room was built for such occasions and so it is littered with medical equipment from scalpels and jars to items of magic and enchantments. All given by the Baylor's, of course, since none wanted Soran to get his hands on anything they would deem a threat.

Soran works like Silva and Reiner aren't even there. He cares not for getting the blood on him nor does he have an issue with the smell that has both Silva and Reiner's eyes watering. He never asks if they are alright when he starts to sever limbs or cut open organs. Both have seen such sights before so they wait patiently for any news.

They do, however, stiffen when Soran brings out a few binding stones. They appear as nothing more than translucent rocks, but they are actually capable of holding energy and magic. Normally such stones are used to help soldiers and priests learn to wield magic, practice maintaining and focusing their powers or even carrying in case they need to replenish but haven't the time to rest.

"I hate this part," hisses Silva, choosing to look away rather than watch. Reiner does the same only after Soran holds out his hands over The Unborn and calls to Tethros in broken words that sound cracked and harsh.

The mist retreats, twisting around Soran's form as his eyes glow in the dark that consumes all until only the red of his eyes are visible along with the twisting black and purple storm at his fingertips. Vilis continues to rise from the corpses, growing and growing in Soran's grasp until it takes him entirely, but neither Silva nor Reiner attempt to move. Then, more than ever, they are most in danger so they only wait until Soran's voice quiets and the darkness is chased away. Bit by bit, Soran forces the energy into each stone until they are as bright as stars on the stone slabs.