Aslynn and Percy are both fifteen here. Yes, I know I'm horrible to my characters. And yes, they are the same Aslynn and Percy I mentioned on my profile. For some reason I've been writing one-shots of my characters instead of the main story. Aside from that, I hope you enjoy reading this. Feel free to review. I love feedback.
"What do you think?" Aslynn asked nervously, playing with the hem of her black t-shirt, which was actually a few sizes too big for her and threatened to slide off her shoulders every so often.
Percy looked up at the ceiling. It was about as dark a color as Aslynn's shirt. Ever since she had come back from the cult, Percy had not been able to get the image of her pale, emaciated form out of his head. It hurt to think of that, even if he wouldn't admit it. What was worse was she had rescued herself. He and Marron had been looking for her for months, and then they found her passed out on their couch one day, looking like one of the undead and covered in blood. He wasn't sure what had worried Marron more, the thought that she was grievously injured or the fact that it wasn't her own blood.
"Why do you want to learn this?" he asked, looking back at her.
Aslynn looked down. "Skeletons can be found almost any where. Do you know how big the revolution against Slugwrath was?" Percy nodded. "And there have been so many other wars. Even if I can't find anything dead, I can animate what's attacking me." Aslynn looked up at him through her red lashes.
The way her head was tilted made the hollows in her cheeks more prominent.
"What about their souls?" he asked, concerned.
Aslynn had thought of necromancy before. The only reason she hadn't started practicing it was because it felt very wrong to her. Trapping a soul in an inanimate object, forcing it to obey her, just wasn't right in her mind, and it wasn't in Percy's either. Being held by the cult had changed her, and Percy wasn't ready for that.
For a second, guilt showed on Aslynn's face, and Percy thought she would let the idea go.
"I won't keep them around all the time. After they've done what I want I'll let them go." Aslynn said softly, tilting her head up to properly look him in the eyes.
Percy sighed inwardly. That meant destroying them. He had started thinking, though, it wasn't a horrible idea; bad, maybe, but, moral ambiguity aside, it wasn't the worst plan, and they'd had a few of those. Aslynn was definitely more attuned to darker magics than others. The only thing she was more capable of was elemental wind magic. What she was saying made sense, except for the last part. The undead would probably think she was punishing them, and the idea of killing things when they no longer served a use went against everything he had been taught. It was still a bad idea.
"Have you asked Artix about doom weapons yet." Percy changed tactics. It was a seemingly off-topic question.
"Yes. He says they corrupt the wielder." she answered, monotone.
"Because they're so infused with darkness. Imagine what would happen if you started channeling that directly." he pushed.
"I'll use other magic too, Percy." Aslynn said in a tone that implied she would study necromancy whether he agreed or not. "Besides, knowing how the magic Sepulchure uses works could help us find his weaknesses."
Percy tensed. She was right.
"Fine, but you're not going into that alone." he brushed some dark red hair out of her face. "I'll study with you."
"You're so dependable." she smiled tiredly, leaning against him and getting comfortable. "Thank you."
Minutes later, she was asleep. Percy leaned his head back and closed his eyes, rubbing the back of her bony hand with his thumb. He wasn't able to protect her one time. He wouldn't let that happen again.