Chapter 34: Cleansing ritual

Erik:

When Giv and Nate come to pick me up, I am already stiff all over. The tree is not as comfortable a perch as I thought. Yet, no one disturbed me. For a moment, I even thought, that the tree was protecting me.

Maybe, I can talk the Elder Dryad into not killing off everyone, but the plants? After all, the world is such a colorful place, when there is life to fill it. If the landscape becomes one big jungle, then all the variety will be gone.

When Givontair removes the barrier stone from the roots of the tree, I climb down. The two of them look a bit tired, but still alert. I wonder, what happened?

"Did someone try to come to you?" Nathaniel asks, as he takes a hold of my shoulders. He seems to be taking a good look at me, for he is searching for something.

"No, no one came this way. Why, was there someone inside the city?" I ask. Nathaniel nods.

"A necromancer, one who is more skilled than me," I blink at that. Yes, I haven't met many necromancers bar Nate, but isn't he like a super necromancer?

Givontair chuckles, as if he has just read my thoughts. I scrunch up my nose at him.

"Nate, I dare say you are Erik's favorite," Giv says, as Nathaniel still keeps on checking me for wounds.

"I am not harmed," I say, as he turns me around. "The tree guarded me."

I don't know how I can explain it, but it is the truth. The tree practically hummed when I was in its crown.

I get out of Nate's arms, and then take off the water skin that is strapped to my hip. I go to the hole left behind the barrier stone, and pour the entire thing inside.

"Thank you for taking care of me. I hope you have a nice and peaceful slumber," I say, as the leaves of the tree begin to rustle.

"Did the tree tell you anything?" Givontair asks. I shrug.

"Nothing much. Just that if I need to hide, I can come back," I say. At least, that is what I understood from the rustle of the leaves. "Why? What messages do you get as champion?"

"None as pleasant," Giv says, as he sighs. "Mostly, I get messages from something I like to call, my inner dragon. Most of them are it, urging me to destroy this or that. Normally, I don't listen to it."

"We decided that you should come, to the cleansing," Nathaniel says. I tilt my head to the side. What cleansing?

"What sort of ritual is that?" I ask, dreading that it would have something to do with a human sacrifice.

"Nothing too dangerous. We will need to let Nathaniel get all the necromantic mana inside of him, and store it in a crystal. This will have the added benefit, of giving him a weapon, for when he needs it," I breathe a sigh of relief. Of course, we can't let the priests of Harika do a cleansing. Nate might die in the process.

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I take Givontair's hand, and he leads me towards the graveyard. The entire way, the trees whisper that they want to awaken. That they need to take Istaquila for themselves. I ignore them. If Giv can live with an inner dragon, then I can leave with a couple of trees whispering in my head.

When we reach the graveyard, my eyes widen.

"What happened with the corpses," I ask my guardians. Givontair just gives my hand a light squeeze.

"Harvested, more than likely," he says, and then let's go of my hand. "Do you want to give some of your mana for the ritual?"

What sort of question is that? Of course, I want to help.

"Yes, Giv. If it's ok with you," I can feel the trees trying to give me their mana. I wonder what will happen, if I take it. Will I become a monster? Or, will I be able to control myself?

"Use just your mana," Givontair says, and I nod. Yes, it is best if we don't play with fire. Nathaniel takes out a spray can, and then drawls a circle on the door of a tomb.

I wonder, just who used to call this marble building their final resting place. Do they feel indignation, at having been called to answer the call of the Dread? Can they be laid to rest, once more?

We all sit next to the door of the tomb, and take each other's hands.

"This is going to be intense for you. Just remember, don't let any of the mana enter under your skin," Nate says, and I nod. I won't fail now. For some reason, I have been chosen as a champion. I don't care if it is for the dark side. What I do care about, is that the nymph saw my worth, and deemed me good enough.

As Nate begins to call the mana to us, I shiver. This mana is vile. I do my best to let it pass through me, and into Nate. He gets a wild look in his eyes for a moment.

I fear that he won't make a crystal out of the mana, but change instead. Givontair also sees this, for he speaks to Nate.

"Remember, you are a human. You don't worship the Dread. Whatever happens, you can't absorb this mana. Promise me, Nate," I can see that Nate is conflicted. Yet, he turns towards Givontair.

"How did you just call me?" The necromancer asks.

"Nate. I would love it if you call me Giv," Giv gives his soulmate a soft smile.

"If I let this mana stew in me, I will lose your goodwill, won't I?" Nate asks. Givontair shakes his head. I can see that he is hurt, at the very mention that he is going to leave Nate just like that.

"I can forgive you many things. Yet, you will have to content with my sour temper, if you do end up a rotting Lich," I look at Nate, whose neck is covered by black vines. Slowly, they vanish. A crystal appears on the ground right before him.

"I can find other ways to power," Nate says, which doesn't bring me any relief. Yet, it seems to be enough for Givontair, who picks up the crystal, and goes to check up on Nate. 

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