Chapter One: Fated Meeting
After days of walking, a mysterious child finally escapes the dense forest. His small body couldn't keep up it's efforts for much longer, not after stumbling into the sludgy marshlands. Stepping into the marshy surface without care, continuing his path through the boggy wastes and blindly placing one foot in front of the other. His mind can't even fathom what direction he's heading by the eerie mist floating above his knee's and leaving his heading blinded from sight.
He marches onwards, through the intense pain of starvation and sleep depravity. No matter what little rational thought exists in his mind, the boys instinct urges him to carry on and proceed with his impossible mission. It leaves tremors in his soul, constantly speaking 'Onwards, almost there!'. No longer can he cry, speak or question mentally against his repeated desire to move forwards. He weakly carries on, ignoring his surroundings and mustering every ounce of willpower to remain awake and continue.
Too worn out and no thought to even bother if he noticed, a strange figure hides within the shadows and follows his every movement. The unidentified creature maintains a vigilant watch over him, never hesitating in the duty bestowed to observe and keep track of this boys peculiar behaviour... Although thoughts were beginning to bubble within her mind, trying to understand or at the least, make sense of his goal.
She continues to relay messages back to her master, and await further orders. It had being a few days since then, yet, no additional commands were sent beyond the first of keeping track of this would-be invader. 'Why does this mortal attract your attention, my liege?' She ponders absent mindedly. Never would she ask openly question nor pretend to understand her master's boundless wisdom but this situation was just that unheard of.
The boy's mental state was diminishing rapidly, with no source to refuel his body or aid to tend his wounds. He finally stopped in his tracks, tilting his head back and glaring towards the sky and was about to about to begin his breakdown till that appeared. Fear, confusion or awe. He honestly couldn't decide what he felt at this moment of time while his mind was overworking to find answer to what the heck he was seeing. A massive skull, dragon-shaped according to his current understanding and damaged memory.
Whatever it was, it turned what seemed to be it's eye upon him. It's fiery-purple ember glaring curiously into his own terrified eyes, gauging his reaction and facial response. He opened his mouth widely once realising his mistake. It was a dragon! His eyes shot open, it wasn't just his imagination. No, it couldn't be. Not looking as it did. The beasts ivory skull pridefully shown it's sharpened maw, and countless scars chiselled into it's form. Golden horns lined from the ridge between it's eyes, starting from small and appearing like steps till they reach the tip of it's nose.
Its body was also ivory, no scales or flesh. Only bone with a strange purple glow emitting from it's stomach that stretched but never leaving it's bony imprisonment. He was still gaping in shock, questions and fears plaguing his mind before being silenced as it spoke. "How is it you entered my realm, mortal?" The skeletal Dragon demanded, spitting out some sort of deadly ooze from it's maw which hissed upon contract with soaked marshland.
He tried, he really did. Using every last fibre of his spirit to try and reply but nothing escaped the dry well, rather, his throat. Shaking under the dragon's dominating stare that completely shattered his resolve before his mind was forced to shutdown and shield what remains of his child mentality from the horror above. The child fell unconscious, his body falling to the ground before a bony hand interrupted and kept him suspended by the roots of his hair.
It had only been a few minutes, give or take before the silence was broken. She sighed, having managed to emerge from the shadowy magic seal to catch the boy and quickly lowering down onto one knee before her master. "Was it out of pity or compassion?" He bellowed with a hint of amusement in his voice, though she was too shaken to pick it up and hurried to find her voice. "I-i.. Don't know, m-my liege." She whimpered, clutching the child tightly and hoping to avoid her master's wrath for what she deemed punishable.
'My suspicions were correct.' He thought before gazing at the fallen boy once more, trying to imagine if pink hair was natural or a side effect of magic before internally shrugging and discarding the thought entirely. "Shadow, take the boy to the castle and tend to his injuries. Inform me once he awakens." He commanded before turning about and shaking the earth with his stomps, no longer needing to act with caution. Before having a chance to thank him for his mercy, he had left the scene and vanished into the mist. She signed thankfully, regaining her composure and returning to the capital to complete her assignment.
Upon rising from another magical seal, she arrived within the charred cobblestone hallway and stormed towards one of the guest rooms within the castle itself. The once dormant and unlit braziers sparked life as she went by, lightning up the hallway. It had been far to long since these quarters had being used by the living and in general. As she kept on pacing down the hallway, her gaze lingered on the boy and scrutinizing his condition further.
She'd blink, if it were possible at what her starry eyes were revealing. This boy's hair was filthy with the elements, numerous cuts and scabs along his arms and his feet resembled more of two giant blisters than what they were supposed to be. Loincloth or what remains of trousers sheltered his dignity, heavy black marks beneath his eyes and dried cheeks. Her biggest worry wasn't his injuries but his fat. He had far too little mass for a child, it was his most alarming health risk above all others. Shaking her head, pouting at the sight if she could before returning and hastening her steps.
It wasn't long until she found the most suitable room, ignoring it's décor and softly laying his body onto the bed. Her gaze lingered on him before foot steps echoed in the hallway, shooting a glance towards the rooms entrance and bowing politely at the robed figure entering.
"Our master wasn't kidding, was he? Truly, a child has entered our lands." He stated while walking towards her. His gaze also lingered on the child briefly, examining his injuries. "You don't happen to know why, do you Shadow?" He asked while starting his treatment of the pink haired boy.
"No, he asked I observe him before bringing here once he passed out. He walked for days without rest. " Shadow answered, keeping her gaze fixed over the boy. "Forgive my rudeness, Priest Van'tor, how did you know I was here and with this child?"
Van'tor laughed softly, his icy voice carrying on throughout the room before silencing himself enough to answer. "Who do you think requested me here?" He snickered loudly before turning his attention back to the patient.
Shadow mentally cried, lowering her head and slumming over once stupidity left her. "Of course, my apologises. I should of expected our liege to have sent you here. This isn't a task I can complete without aid."
He resisted laughing again after pointing out the obvious yet Van'tor kept his focus on the child. He understood why this strange request to visit this room was given to him. It was quite sometime since he lasted tended to a mortal with magic that'd work on their bodies. In fact, he could have boasting rights for the next century or two now over the other priests. Proving his loyalty by maintaining skills they themselves no longer required.
True to her master's command, Shadow remained by the boy's side as the days flew by. She had never spoken to any of the priests before, given their different roles and grounds they remained in. While the nameless boy was still in his coma, she had the unexpected pleasure to speak and exchange banter with Van'tor during his regular check ups.
Neither of them had any further orders from their master beyond asking if the boy spoke during his comatose state. Which, of course, he didn't but that didn't stop the persisting question being asked daily. Twice, thrice. Hell. Almost hourly. They would of rebelled and butchered the child by now with the persisting questions. Alas, they respected him far too much to do so.
Shadow and Van'tor were both exchanging idle banter as usual before perking up several weary childish groans, turning and watching the boy awaken from his long slumber. The boy slowly opened his eyes, his hands rubbing against his eyes and slowly his sight was adjusting to the dimly lit room. He blinked several times, recalling the horror he had seen before passing out and shot up to examine his nearby surroundings.
His heart almost exploded when he gazed at the two towering figures, clutching the blanket tightly and pulling it over his nose while weakly moving his knees to hug his chest. He didn't expect to ever wake up, never mind the sight before him. They were skeletons, he wouldn't dare believe it. If they won't presented before him. His breathing increased as panic began to set in, hearing only his beating heart and trapped breath. He didn't hear a voice at first till he was forced out of his mindset, once a bony finger flicked his forehead.
He bolted upright, leaning against the large headboard and stared in fear at his attacker. A large skeleton was in a black, well made robe with silver trimming along its sides and hood resting behind it's head. The skeleton held a simple wooden stave, it's tip was made of oak and shaped into a fist curled around a white orb of some sort. He wasn't sure, far too afraid to focus and study him further. His gaze remained glued on skeleton's misty eyes that glowed subtly, reminding him of the sky by their colour.
"Boy, can you hear me? Boy? Boy! BOY!" Van'tor was losing his patience with being continually ignored by the child. Deciding to flick his forehead for good measure before receiving any sort of response. He sighed heavily. "Good. Can you understand me?" The terrified child nodded several times, tears dripping down his cheeks and shaking under the covers. Still not daring to look away and fearing for his young life.
Van'tor smiled, relived to know the child understood him and wasn't some empty minded mortal. Not that he could smile with him being a skeleton but thought is what counts, right? "Good, good. Very good!" His voice was beginning to boom and echo, becoming overexcited before resuming his line of questioning. "Let's start off pleasantly, shall we? I'm Van'tor, a servant of the Undying Dragon King Azzadiss!" His voice lined with extreme pride while speaking his lieges name before continuing politely. "What of you, child?"
More the skeleton - identified as Van'tor – spoke, the more the child felt himself calm down enough and mumble as he tries to speak back. His throat felt rough and unused, coughing several times before his words started to take form. "I-i-i am N-natsu." He softly spoke, keeping the blanket over his nose for protection.
"Well, Natsu. My liege has waited patiently for you to awaken." His tone hissing the word. "You will do as I ask and follow me." Leaving no room to protest, Van'tor turned and looked at Shadow. "Inform our majesty, Shadow. We'll reach the throne room shortly." He slowly gestured again with his left bony hand for the boy to follow, making it certain his commands are easy to follow for the fear stricken boy.
Shadow swiftly bowed after Van'tor order, falling through a magical seal on the ground. Natsu had managed to catch a glance at her. She as well, was a skeleton. Wearing only black leather hides with no real markings and a cowl. He was still stunned by such unnatural sights but felt his life was still worth living. Or undeath, he wasn't certain at the moment. He hesitated getting out of the bed at first, taking in more oxygen and steadily lowering down onto the floor. He let out a childish squirm when his feet touched the ground, it was cold. It didn't feel natural, then he took notice he were naked and had no signs of injury.
Feeling embarrassment, he pulled the bed's blanket and wrapped it around his small frame, taking slow steps as his muscles got adjusted to being in use once more. After what felt like a lifetime, he managed to keep up with skeletal priest and kept by his side, eyes ahead to avoid looking up. Natsu had never come across anything like it before, the empty hallways lightning up with their approach and echoing with their footsteps. It wasn't a pleasure nor disappointing experience and the craftsmanship might of being something to marble at once but now it looked to be more of a ruin, a shell of it's once former glory.
His mind was burning with curious thoughts as his eyes kept ahead, feeding into his surroundings and trying to figure out where exactly he was. They have passed several ancient looking doors and passage ways now, still no words spoken between them and he couldn't help but feel the tension build up before coming out of his shell. "V-van'tor?" The boy asked quietly.
Van'tor hummed in reply, turning his gaze briefly towards Natsu and giving the boy time to question what's on his mind.
Natsu slowly collected his courage, forming a weak smile and continued with his soft voice. "Am I alive?"
Van'tor was taken back by his question, rising a non-existent eyebrow before laughing and pondering on his answer. 'Let's see his reaction with this.' He thought amusingly. "Yes, yes you are Natsu. You're in my masters realm, a place only the dead may enter."
"…." Natsu was left speechless. His eyes widened and he done the unexpected, his smile increased and looked genuine. "Thank you." He spoke with his lips, the words never leaving his mouth.
The priest was surprised yet kept laughing louder before shaking his head. "Natsu, I was kidding. You are in fact, alive and healthy after my treatment. Although you should rightly be dead to even come to this realm..." He spoke more to himself than to Natsu at this point before both of them directed their attention to the massive stone doors ahead.
They had come to a halt, one waiting silently while the other looked up in amazement as two doors begun to open. Creaking loudly, grinding across the floor heavily with what amounted to years of dust falling between the slit as they parted. Natsu found himself blinded as a flash of light kept growing the more they opened before left speechless at what they revealed.
Before him was a room beyond measure, crimson carpet in it's centre and leading a path to the creature he had seen before. Stood in pairs, overlooking the walkway forward were tall armoured soldiers with tower shields and pikes. Their eyes boring into him and Van'tor, sizing the pair up and allowing them both entry. Natsu could never have imaged what would happen to his life from this moment onwards and the effects it'd have on those around him...
Author's note; Hello and thank you for reading the first chapter of my story. Please leave feedback, as it'd be wonderful to hear what you like/dislike about it. Forgive the lack of detail, spelling mistakes and whatnot for the time being. I sorta rushed it in hopes of seeing if a story centred on necromancy would be welcomed or not.
If you'd like to ask any questions, then by all means throw me a message. The chances of this chapter being redone is a big possibility since I'm not entirely happy with it but it won't effect the progress of other chapters. ( Childhood phase is almost completed and notes for cannon chapters are progressing well. )
My profile will provide further information on the story and it's progress, which will be updated in a few hours time once it's edited. Till then, have a good evening and thank you for taking time to read this extra note as well as the first chapter.
MisterGrimReaper.
Updated; My re-write ended up revealing more than I intend and with that in mind, I decided to edit and correct mistakes here. Plus, it'd have messed up what I've written so far. My thanks again for taking time to read my story.
