The Necromancer

Summary: I am Ceferna Lunaris, an immortal necromancer - a living bridge between the living and the dead - and a former queen. Ever since I was betrayed by my own kingdom, all I lived for was revenge. That's why, this is my battle. And for all who died protecting me, - my knight and my king - I will not fail.

Spell 01

"Evaska!" I screamed blood sprayed on the floor after she blocked the ghouls that attacked me. "What the hell! Why did you - !"
"Because you're spacing out, fool." she replied, piercing their chests with her knife-like hand and kicking them away. "Focus, Cef." And, as if she feels no pain, she took the swords out of her flesh. I glanced at her wounds which are supposed to be fatal, only to see them healing up. Yeah...right. As if she'll die by that.
"I told you to get the book." I reminded her as I stood up, patting my cloak off.
"I can't touch it. " she said. "Only a human can."
"Then I'll be going first." I said and turned around to leave.
"No need." she whispered, halting me as she held her hand up, a crimson aura oozing from her. Suddenly, the air around us circulated as her hair fluttered in the wind at her back. "Lightning dragons," she uttered in a melodic voice. "I call upon thee. Rest thy power in my hands and become my swords." lightning bolts struck the ghouls that surround us. Toasted, were reduced to ashes as she looked back at me with a pair of emerald eyes that seemed fierce, unwavering, and strong all at the same time. "There. Done." she turned around and walked pass me. I followed her with my gaze and watched her back as she leaves, her orange wavy hair dancing at her waist in unison in her moves. "Let's go." and I immediately followed her. In that mere moment, I really thought our positions as master and servant was reversed.

I blinked a couple of times. Was that a dream?
"- Xandra! Caxandra!" the professor thundered, calling me. I sat up and yawned then lazily stared at him. Oh, he's glaring at me. I slept at his class again, didn't I? I sighed.
"What are you being so loud about?" I asked. I saw a vein on his forehead became visible as it throbbed faster and harder than normal.
"You dare to sleep in my class? What is respect!" he said and the other students laughed. He glared at them and then, at once, the laughter died out.
"I always sleep on you, Zel," I told truthfully.
"Forget about respect - you don't even call me properly!"
"Calling you 'Zel' is already enough." I pouted.
"No!" he raised his voice. "It must be 'professor Zelander'!"
"I'll call you that when you're already a middle-aged man." because despite his skills as a sorcerer, I'm still thrice older than him. Of course, that doesn't physically show. "Well then, since you're already awake, demonstrate how to make a healing potion here." he said, trying to be calm.
"Alright." I said and stood up. An orange haired girl beside me, Jalena, sighed as she closed her book that she was probably reading. The other students were for sure having a hard time again since Edgar became this angry. He normally doesn't mind when I sleep. That's to be expected since Jalena also seemed bored. She hates this subject a lot. Every time she demonstrates it in front of the class, the others will cling to her like leeches and ask 'can you teach me this, that, these, those' etc. So she's always passive in alchemy.
"He didn't send her out?" I heard a guy near the table where the ingredients for the potion are neatly arranged asked his seatmate.
"He won't." the girl answered. "Because that girl, Miss Caxandra Sol, is the top one of the academy."
"Really?" I saw Jalena glaring at them from the third row. "I thought it was Miss Jalena."
"Formerly, yes." said the girl. "But three years ago, Miss Caxandra enrolled here and topped the academy. Thus, placing Miss on the second rank."
"Oh." the guy sounded amazed. "And here I am thinking she's a lackey because of her attitude."
The girl chuckled and continued, "That's why it's so formidable to see them close to each other. They were the worst rivals before when Miss Sol was still new here. Now, they are such a scary pair." I tried to ignore them. But just then, I caught Jalena whispering something I can't make out. It was only made clear when the girl attempted to speak but failed. Horrified and wide-eyed, she dared to look at Jalena who was smirking at her smugly. She shuddered and looked away.
"What's wrong?" asked the guy who felt her discomfort. But she didn't put up a fight and just gave him a reassuring smile and looked back to what I'm doing.
Thirty minutes later, I went back to my seat. The healing potion must heal all the wounds of a person in one try so it took me a while to balance the ingredients and took the expected shade of light red. If improperly created, it can cause the opposite effect and become a poison instead.
"Hey, meanie." I whispered to her. "Why did you do that?"
"They were annoying." she replied without looking at me as she fiddles on her hair.
"Based on my own experience, that silence spell will wear off after half a day." I said, remembering the first time we became partners in potion-making.
"You were too talkative that time so I used the spell on you on its third degree." she said. "I only used first on her. It must wear off by the next two minutes." and she glanced at me, locking her gaze with mine - emeralds to sapphires. I looked away and she uttered a small 'hmph'.

The classes ended as our last teacher - our teacher in fencing, Sir Wylfred - dismissed us.
"Jalena," I called her as she exited our classroom. "Wait!" she halted and looked back.
"I thought you were gonna stay." she said. I dash towards her, carrying my cloak over my shoulders.
"Are you free later?" I asked with a smile, which I tried to make as goofy as I can since my normal smiles always look evil. Or, at least, mischievous.
"Yeah. Why? Got a problem?" she asked, raising a brow. Probably thinking that it was unusual of me to ask her for something.
"No, it's not a really problem." I answered, waving my hands in my front. "You see, we're gonna have an exam tomorrow in - "
"Ah, I get it." she said, cutting me off. "You want to spar with you for a practice?"
I nodded.
"But it's alright if you - "
"No, it's fine." she said, cutting me off again. "I was also looking for a sparring mate. No one would accept so I was just about to ask you. Your timing is perfect."
I beamed at her. " Later, then?"
"Sure." she said and we both went to the dorms and parted at the usual intersection that leads to my room on the left and hers on the right.
When I arrived, I opened the door and got in, locking it behind me with a sigh. I undressed immediately and got into the bathroom, opened the shower and let the cold water soak me.
Before things got this way, I was a villager of Lunario. Stupid legends mark us, Lunaris(the villagers), as 'children of the Moon', a celestial being who fell in love with a human - which the 'gods' extremely forbid. When she gave birth to twins - a girl and a boy -, the gods cursed them. And those twins, again, according to the oppressive legend, were our ancestors. That's why each one of us have a crescent-moon shaped birthmark. People say the mark is the indication of the curse so when they see it, they creep away, fearing they'd get the curse and die - that we bring bad luck.
But, though people fear us, they are still those who're too selfish to take the risk just to use our power. We've been known as mercenaries a long time ago. All generations, as far as we can remember, have gone through different wars and fought for different alliances. Both men and women, young and old, go to war. Those who haven't got their coming of age ceremony are bound to be trained by both parents in the forest that surrounds the village. Life was tough because that's the only thing we can do when the rest of the world shuns us in shadows. But of course, we don't cling to that. We can refuse clients. And when we do, they don't try to persuade us for they are afraid to be cursed, yet again.
The world is populated with too much fools. But there's a man who's the most fool amongst them all - Elliot. He was the king of the kingdom I once fought for. But despite that, he personally went to the war and fought with the footmen. If I wasn't there, he was probably killed. However, that isn't his most stupid act. After the war, he personally went to Lunario without any accompaniment. Not even a weapon's. Why? Because he wanted me as his queen. Because he fell for me when he saw me in the war - which I didn't believe at first until he told me he escaped from the palace to be there and fight, not for his kingdom, nor his responsibility as the king...but for his people.
Foolish as he may, but he's the most sincere and bravest man I've ever met. It wasn't long before we went to his kingdom together. There, debate about me becoming his queen ensues. But, the officials, seeing me as a tool in war, eventually agreed in the condition of making me their war tactician.
But, it was a grave mistake.
We reigned for five peaceful years but when the time came when the neighboring kingdom waged war against us, I had to send every soldier we had. I even thought of going, and I really would have if Elliot didn't stop me. Taking advantage of the situation, Rancles, my king's brother and the prime minister, connived with our enemy and attacked us, knowing that the palace was defenseless at the moment. There, Elliot and Lanciviere - my knight- died in the effort of protecting and making me escape. After that horrible betrayal, even though I was already safe outside in the nearest town, after two days of recovery, I went back to Lahdaim to punish the traitor. But...I was surprised to have my own kingdom's fangs bared against me. Rancles made me his scapegoat and raised to the throne. And it wasn't a very hard thing to do since the defenselessness of the palace my responsibility; and he was the only one on the list to succeed it.
Then, I was thrown in the dungeons. That place wasn't a place I couldn't get used to. Seeing corpses and being in dark places is a normal occurrence to me. What wasn't was finding a creepy pentagram drawn in blood. When curiosity got the best of me, I searched the area and found an old book which the oldest carcass was holding on and read it. What was written there were every spell concerning dark magic or necromancy. I knew from the very start where it would lead me but being as hopeless as I was, I pretended I didn't know the consequence. All I thought of was how to drag Rancles to hell with me. So I tried summoning a demon. My numerous failures almost got me eccentric but, for an unknown reason, I got it right and Evaska appeared in front of me like an angel cloaked in darkness.
The spell I used to summon her made me immortal after I offered her my blood and soul. I should have read the old book more before anything but not being able to die became handy as we traveled together. Mainly because we went after the philosophers' stone - Rancles objective. I don't know what he wants to do with it but I'm sure, he's up to no good. To stop him, I must reach the stone first.
Unfortunately, it's guarded by the grim reapers. They are also called as death gods but contrary to the human belief, they don't scuff souls up. They just come after death to lead the souls to the path of reincarnation. As an enemy, they are not only tough in fighting but also in sorcery. And now, they're stalking my tail because thirty-five years ago, I almost got the stone with Evaska's help. If not for the reapers' interference, I have already reduced it to dust like what I've been planning to do. But because I didn't finish the sp$ell I used, it only crushed in pieces. The reason why the reapers are still after me even though I failed is because I have a shard of it. Apparently, they're seeking for a way to restore the s.
The stone seems to be very precious and powerful. Based on what Evaska said, its power can both destroy and create a realm. If that were so, then the more it has to be gone from the universe. And crushing it was the first step. And first steps are important for they're always followed by a second, a third, and so on. But, it is as regrettable. I lost Evaka for it. After arriving at the realm of the reapers, she has prepared our escape route. She has already created a portal. But when we were making our escape, she made me go first. The last thing I saw of her was how chains gripped her and her black wings tightly, as if she would break.
Then, thirty years after that, I encountered Eleste, a high-ranking reaper. In the fight which rose when she was forcefully taking the shard back, she incidentally said that I'll never find my demon because she's in a place I'd never thought she could be. That gave me a clue that she's still alive and she's in somewhere near. Then, when I fled, I ended up here in Maulenburg and saw Evaska. Currently, she's called 'Jalena Lambeth' and has no memory of me except of the three years I've been here. The reapers most likely erased her memorized and dispatched her somewhere outside the said town. That's why she was so hard to find. And when we met, it was harder to approach her. Especially when I knew that she's the top student of the sorcery academy. Thankfully, she also lost half of her power. Probably forgotten. It was a disadvantage but if not for it, I wouldn't beat her in the ranking and get the chance to talk to her.
I didn't take too long and dressed up in my usual clothes again. I was combing my dripping hair when someone knocked on the door.
"Xan, this is Jalena."
"Come in." and she did. "Why so excited to spar?" I chuckled.
"That's not it," she replied and reluctantly sat on my bed. "Someone's looking for you at the gate."
"Someone?" I repeated. Who's idiot will go to Stella Sorcery Academy just to look for someone at this hour? "In the middle of the night?"
"Well, he said he's someone you know." I have a bad feeling about this. "Professor Zelander and Sir Wylfred were already sending him away, telling to just go back tomorrow morning, but he wouldn't budge."
"How does he look like?"
"I don't know." she shrugged her shoulders. "He was wearing a hooded cloak. All I saw was his hair."
"Was it red?" I frowned. If what I'm thinking is right, that person is Kael. He is another persistent reaper who's under Eleste. Nobody but him will hunt me anytime - when I'm eating, sleeping, or even when taking a nice bath.
She raised a brow. "Yeah. Why?"
"Nothing." I said and went out of my room.

[DA CAPO]