The Sorcerer Prince

Chapter #8

"So this is the purple Sorcerer that you've always mentioned? He seems a little young for all that". The Zemrlt woman sitting across from Phantom is looking both of the newcomers over with rapt attention. Phantom knew that Bodil had been hanging around her for years, but he didn't know that the Dark Angel had given up his immortality and had a son. It was a bit of a shocker.

"No, this is his reincarnation, as you call it. You were the same age when we took down the immortal sorcerer king!".

"As if! All I did was carry you around in a rock for a few days", the Zemrlt, who's name is Keeli, huffs and rolls her eyes. In a weird way, the pair complement each other well.

     Seto, Phantom, Bodil, and Keeli are all sitting at a small table in the kitchen of the Dark Angel's home. Abigail and Sorin are actually playing outside while being watched by Keeli's sister. Seto is a little uneasy letting her out of his sight, but Phantom seems to want to keep her away from.... whatever it is that they came for.

"I still don't know what's going on.......", Seto mumbles".

"That makes two of us", Keeli smiles reassuringly, her motherly side coming out.

"Bodil...... we need your help", Phantom seems to hate himself for speaking those words. There's a lot of tension between the two of them.

"I seem to recall you cursing my very existence the last time we met. What's made your furry behind crawl back so suddenly?", Bodil laughs and teases the familiar with a smirk. He knows exactly what buttons to push to grate on Phantom's patience. After all, there's only so many immortals running around at any given time.

Phantom silently fumes at the Dark Angle, but then begins his story. He explains the attack on the palace in detail. Seto already knows why the sorcerers has attacked, but hearing Phantom's point of view adds another layer of mystery. Phantom seems single-mindedly loyal to Seto even when the prince has no clue why. "I'd been hanging around the capital for years, but when I heard about the revolution plot, I snuck into the castle's barracks. I stole a guard's uniform and memorized Seto's schedule. I wasn't sure when he was going to be in danger, but I was already playing guard in the dungeon when the attack started".

      "Wow, stalker much? I wonder how Vincent is doing in all of that", Bodil comments, "....... but what I don understand is why you came here instead of fighting back. I know Seto's probably lost a little power since his last loop, but magic like that doesn't fade".

     "I don't have magic", Seto says again, although it sounds hollow to his own ears. All these people believe that he was some powerful Sorcerer in a past life. Was he really........ immortal? Death gives life meaning. Without that........

"No magic!?", Bodil looks skeptical, "Your sorcerer aura may be faint, but humans don't have that. I'm not sure what you want me to do even if it's true. I might be old, but sorcerers still figured out how to draw magic way before my time. I think you were born in the first loop just after the skill was lost".

     "I was thinking that there might be something in Seto's old gate that could help. He learned all the magic types, and opened a dark magic gate to store a bunch of supplies. It opens for a few other specified people with blood runes, but Seto never put down his own name", Phantom says, talking like the prince should know exactly what it all means.  Seto just stares with a blank expression. Blood runes? Nobody's used blood runes in a thousand years!

       "And my name is on the door. And you want my blood?", Bodil's voice looses its teasing tone as he becomes more serious.

      "....... Yes", Phantom says when the Dark Angel remains quiet.

      "I don't know if my blood still has the same effect as before, but demon blood is nothing to mess around with. All sorts of nasty alchemy spells use it. You haven't exactly earned that trust, rodent", Bodil growls a little and bears his teeth. The tension from before rises back to the surface.

      "If I knew you both so well in a past life, why does it seem like you hate each other!?", Seto speaks up before the two can say anything further. Keeli looks just as alarmed at either the blood or the arguing.

      "Isn't it obvious? I don't really care if he has a bit of angle blood. He's a demon. He's done bad things and caused a lot of people to suffer. I never understood why you always put up with it".

     "Is that so? You're failing to mention that I killed the God who created me when they threatened Seto and his friends. It's not like you're perfect, either. You let him die".

Seto can practically see the change ripple out in Phantom's body when he goes from annoyed to pissed. The prince can't fully understand the conversation, but these two have a lot of unresolved history. Phantom lurches to his feet with a snarl. Bodil slams his arms on the table, a feral snarl ripping out of his throat. The sound isn't human. Seto flinches back when it looks like a fight really will break out.

"What are you two? Dogs!?", Keelie sighs in exasperation and pulls on Bodil's arm. He surprisingly lets her pull him back down onto the chair. "I swear that all you immortals or former immortals never learned patience in all your years. How long ago did all this drama happen, exactly?". The Dark Angel's anger seems to melt away with the Zemrlt woman's belittling. It shocks Phantom as well. Bodil really does get a happy ending. The familiar sits down, but he's still angry from the last comment.

"Seto, you don't remember it now, but you were the one who gave me my freedom", Bodil starts speaking a lot softer, smiling a little at the memories, "If you need a little of my blood, I'll do it for you. I never would have met Keelie if you hadn't of spent all those years looking out for me. It's about time that I repaid the favor".