ALLEN THE UNDERWALKER


Lavi quickly realises that the house is just as creepy on the inside. Black walls, red candles and an unnecessary accumulation of skulls decorate the single room.

Lavi slowly moves forward, spotting the glowing green cat sitting on an armchair.

"Hey there." Lavi grins nervously. "You live here?"

After exploring the room, Lavi concludes that the necromancer isn't here, but it won't be that way for long.
Unfortunately, it's then that a loud creak signals the door opening, meaning someone else has arrived.

"Shit." Lavi swears, looking around desperately for a hiding place as the door opens fully.

A cloaked figure steps into the house, surprisingly short and holding a shorter, steel wand. The metal is about the length of the figure's arm and is tipped with a shining green crystal.

The figure moves closer to Lavi, the black cloak swirling behind them.

"Uh…" Lavi smiles weakly at the figure, shuffling backwards.
"Who're you?" The voice speaks as the glowing wand is pointed at Lavi's chest.
"I-" Lavi starts before being interrupted by the cat. The feline skips forward, grabbing onto the figure's legs. A tail wraps around their ankle and the cat pushes up against them.

"Hey!" The figure reaches down to the cat. "Jasper, stop that!"

"Jasper?" Lavi grins slightly.

"Come on." As the figure picks up Jasper, their black hood falls back, revealing their face.

Allen doesn't know what to think of the intruder. He definitely isn't from town and is probably a traveller. The long staff suggests that he's a magician or specialist. Along with the charms and thin scars over his fingers, he's likely not just a tourist.

Allen tries not to scowl as his oversized hood falls off, it's not his fault there weren't any smaller sizes. Readjusting his grip on the glowing Jasper, Allen turns back to the magician.

"So? Who are you?" Allen looks at the older teen distrustfully.

"Um…" The teen grins sheepishly. "Call me Lavi."
"So, 'Lavi," Allen drops Jasper, pushing the cat away from himself. "What exactly are you doing here?"
"Funny story, actually." Lavi starts.
"I doubt it." Allen crosses his arms, slipping his wand into his cloak pocket.

"Well, apparently there's been some trouble in town." Lavi casually explains. "And the mayor thinks you're the culprit."
"…What kind of trouble?" Allen wonders. "I try not to go near there."

"Animals dying or disappearing, freak weather, weird diseases-"

"I don't think that was me." Allen says.
"What do you do then?" Lavi asks. "You're place isn't exactly normal, if you don't mind me saying."
"Meh." Allen shrugs. "I need them for my spells."
"What kind of spells?" Lavi eyes Jasper curiously.
"Oh, well… Jasper had a bad fall a few months ago." " Allen heads over to the cat. "I found him in the forest, but he'd already died." Picking up the cat, Allen holds them out to Lavi. "So, I fixed him and kept him around."

"You brought him back to life." Lavi pats the cat's head. "So you are a necromancer."
"I never said I wasn't." Allen counters. "But I haven't been hurting the town. I probably couldn't even if I wanted too."

"Why's that?" Lavi takes a seat in the armchair.
"Well…" Allen drops Jasper in Lavi's lap. "I'm still learning. I never had proper magic training."

"You did this by yourself?" Lavi gestures to Jasper.
"Uh, yeah." Allen nods with a smile. "By the way, you're rather relaxed."
"Is there a reason I shouldn't be?" Lavi smiles back. "You seem calm enough and I'm plenty capable of defending myself."
"You're a magician right?" Allen points to Lavi's staff. "What do you do?"
"I'm a Bookman." Lavi clarifies. "A seal and written magic specialist."
"That's pretty useful." Allen muses before finishing with a grin. "Maybe it would be easier not to learn a dead magic."

Lavi tries not to laugh at the pun as Allen shoos Jasper away.
"So, you're trying to figure this stuff out by yourself?" Lavi asks curiously.
"Yeah, why?" Allen nods, taking a seat on a smaller chair opposite.

"Gramps always says that learning magic from scratch, without a teacher, could lead to 'unwanted repercussions'." Lavi recounts.

"…What does that mean?" Allen asks curiously.

"It means…you might have been accidentally messing with the town." Lavi explains. "Have you ever tried a spell, but nothing happens?"
"All the time." Allen sighs.
"Then, it's probably hitting the town instead." Lavi concludes.
"What am I supposed to do, then?" Allen retorts defensively. "It's not like I can just go somewhere else!"
"Why not?" Lavi asks.
"Because…" Allen shuffles uncomfortably. "I'm waiting for someone."
"Who?" Lavi looks intrigued.
"I can't believe I'm telling you my life story." Allen mumbles before answering. "I used to have a kind-of teacher."
"And you're waiting for him?" Lavi asks.

"He ran off about a year ago." Allen explains. "He said he'd be back soon, but, well, you know."
"Yeah." Lavi shrugs. "My guess is he wasn't much of a teacher."
"He was the worst." Allen agrees. "But he was better than nothing."

"What now?" Lavi stares up at the ceiling.
"If my magic's hurting the villagers, then it's probably best to stop." Allen sighs.
"Or move away." Lavi adds.

"Or move away." Allen nods sadly. "But I don't have anywhere to go."

"You could try looking for your ex-teacher." Lavi suggests. "If you're that worried."
"I'm not worried." Allen counters. "Just annoyed."
Lavi looks up thoughtfully before starting suddenly.
"What?" Allen watches Lavi jump to his feet.
"I've got it!" Lavi grins excitedly.
"What?" Allen raises an eyebrow.
"I have a solution to all your problems!" Lavi declares proudly.
"All of them?" Allen doesn't sound convinced.
"You're teacher problems. the village and your magic." Lavi grins.
"And what exactly is your wonderful solution?" Allen prompts.

"You can come with me!" Lavi waves his arms around.

"With you?"
"Think about it!" Lavi says excitedly. "I basically a magic expert and I travel the world! You'll have better chance of finding this mysterious man if you actually try looking."
"You want to teach me magic?" Allen looks unconvinced.
"I can help with basic spells." Lavi tries. "And we can go looking for some old necromancy books! It'll be better than nothing."

"…I guess you're right." Allen admits. "But, what about all my things?" He gestures around the room. "I can't exactly take everything."
"Please, Al, have you ever heard of shrinking spells." Lavi smirks. "You could fit this entire house into your pocket."
"Yes. I have heard of shrinking spells, Mr Bookman." Allen says. "But I'm not exactly the greatest magician ever."
"That's why you've got me." Lavi grins.
"Also, Lavi?" Allen stands.
"Yeah?" Lavi does the same.
"Since when do you call me 'Al'?" Allen asks. "We just met."
"And now, we're partners." Lavi outstretches his hand to Allen. "Partner?"
After a second of thought, Allen slowly takes Lavi's hand as he mutters. "I can't believe I'm doing this."

There's something weird about all this… It doesn't make sense, but I think I trust him.


Yeah, it's not great, but I'm fleshing out the idea still, so don't be mad.

If you have any tips, please tell me! I'm still a little new at writing stories from scratch. If u haven't already noticed, most of mine follow the original storyline pretty well, or at least obey the laws of the universe…

Anyway, thanks for reading!

-Cheese Wizzard.