Caellach looked out into oblivion. It was all fake, of course, a mental prison he had constructed in repentance. When it was breached again by the inheritor of his power, he turned to Veleria with the same neutral expression on his face.
That she could so easily reach him in dreams was a feat all on its own. He wondered if another deity had granted Veleria the ability sometime in the past. Or, perhaps, this was an extension of his own that he did not fully grasp. Were it possible she truly did have some affinities for magics, Caellach did not know.
“Do I have to continue to isolate myself or are you willing to talk yet?” She asked.
He did admire her determination. In truth, there was no denying that Caellach saw great potential in his unintended host. Her flat rejection of their merging had both hurt and fascinated him.
“I have thought it over.” He said, noting how quickly Veleria appeared to perk up. “While the uncertainty of facing that being cannot be understated, I understand that we are in no position to act rashly. Will you continue to deny me?”
Veleria looked away, “I don’t know. It’s hard to reconcile what you did in the past.”
“Yes…” Caellach trailed off. “You have my promise that I will not harm those you confide in, but I am not yet ready to face him…To see Edgar again regardless of the form he chooses to take.”
* * *
While he admittedly disliked them, Caed found it fascinating the usages that wizards found for magic. Before him, the lich was multitasking. On his workshop were Veleria’s favored clothes being interwoven with some kind of reinforcement magics, on a nearby desk his quill moved independently as it signed and dated documents, and then Cromwell was in the far corner of the room using his actual body to flip through a book. It was something pertaining to sword training.
“Who would even teach her how to use a sword?” Caed asked, eying Cromwell warily.
Many under my tutelage in Ashvale wield a sword effectively. Either they, or perhaps Giarmund can do so.
That was a much bigger stretch, dragging Adrian into all of this. It was possible, though, as the man had one hell of an attraction towards Veleria. It was too obvious to ignore, if even Caed could see it during their farewell.
Noting that the needle had stopped moving on the workshop, the sorcerer looked towards Cromwell again.
“Question, what will this reinforcement do?”
He found this more interesting than the prospects of Veleria learning swordplay.
It should allow her to use her power unimpeded. Given her gender, I would not wish for her to expose herself unnecessarily.
Caed observed the workshop table. The dark green blouse that Wren had bought her had been completed, as had a dark pair of trousers, boots, a set of bracers, a number of belts, and a red silk ribbon for her hair. He, himself, had picked out the ribbon. There was no ignoring how heartbroken she had been over the original burning.
I will reinforce more clothing as it arrives.
Caed raised a brow, “will this magic also protect her from other sorcerers?”
Yes. This is the same spell I have on my own robes and armor.
“I have to admit that you’re resourceful.” Caed sighed.
Magic should be useful. Cromwell placed the book back and grabbed another. I cannot presume to understand what it must feel like to have been born with dependencies, and the origin of my phylactery means that I do not have such withdrawals myself. That you chose to pursue Veleria is its own form of resourcefulness.
“Not gonna berate me for tying up a half naked woman?”
One could say that my binding a godlike being to our realm was a form of kidnapping. While society dictates that our methods are brutish, in my eyes I care little for what we do in the pursuit of good. Do you regret your actions?
Caed sucked his teeth, “yeah, I do.”
Do you regret the outcome of your actions?
All the time he had spent with Veleria since capturing her was worth it. For the most part he had enjoyed each and every moment. While they had not shared the comforts of the flesh again since the night of their “transaction,” Caed was pleased enough just to have her nearby. Their conversations were always enlightening.
“Not at all. What about you?”
No. This outcome is preferable. The blue lights in Cromwell’s mask appeared to look in the sorcerer’s direction. Caellach is and always was a difficult creature. Tempered by this young woman, I believe that he, alongside Veleria will accomplish great things.
Taking the shirt in his hands, Caed started to fold it. He could feel a needlepoint tingle in his fingertips when he did so. The hum of magic, as it were. While he folded, he heard and felt Cromwell project words into his mind.
I can see why Istvar chose you. Will you take those items to Veleria for me?
“Sure,” said Caed with a small grimace. He did not know if that was meant to be a compliment.
With her clothes and accessories in hand, he found Veleria sitting alone in her designated room. She was writing on a sturdy cherry wood desk that their host had provided her.
“Hey,” greeted Caed. “Ya ordered some reinforced clothes?”
“I certainly hope they work.” Veleria, smiling, met him at the door and helped him set everything out on her bed. “These all look the same, though. What did he do?”
“He wove a needle through each thread. If ya try hard enough ya might be able to feel the magic in ‘em.” He said, smirking as Veleria did just that. Unable to feel anything she looked back at him, disappointed, while he merely snorted in response. “Wild how a girl with your prowess struggles to detect magic. Ya gotta wonder why that is.”
Veleria pursed her lips, “well why do you think that is?”
With his smirk undiminished, he sat down on her desk chair and pulled Veleria on top of him. Both his hands stroked her upper arms. Like this, he had to restrain himself from feeling up anything else.
“My honest opinion is that it might actually be below you.”
“What?” Veleria almost slid off.
“Ya got a godlike being in your noggin who singlehandedly resurrected you and reconstructed your body to be more like theirs.” Caed shrugged. He felt his gaze lingering on the fold of her breasts and immediately snapped his attention back to her face. “The magics of this world are just too weak for ya to care about.”
Veleria placed both her hands on his shoulders. If that was true, then…
“You just feel like yourself.” She stated.
“Ha! Well, I’m just a measly little sorcerer. Got my ass rocked by Raker—a true powerhouse—real good.” Caed, with his smirk transforming into something a little more devilish, lowered his palms down to Veleria’s sides. She had a fine figure despite her more visible bone structure. “Bet if ya gave me another round ya might feel somethin’…”
The two met each other’s gaze. Nearly embarrassed, Veleria smiled shyly even as Caed brought her lips against his. They shared a short, passionate kiss until a thought invaded her mind.
—he showed you his cock—
She started to tremble.
—and you decided you liked it—
She pulled away, eliciting a gasp from Caed as she did so. Initially he considered continuing, but quickly noticed the distress marring Veleria’s face and paused.
“Sorry, I just figured…We’d been touchin’ and…” He trailed off, noting Veleria was staring off to the side. She was still straddling him but he was in no mood for further antics now.
“Am I bad a person?” She asked quietly.
Caed returned his gentle grip to her upper arms and said, “hell no. What got you thinking like that?”
“Does it make me a whore for doing what I did with you?”
That was a question he didn’t like. Since he had to vet her, he knew well that Veleria had nearly been sold into servitude by her parents. She had been young, too. Hardly even ten, if he was remembering correctly, and Istvar made it clear to him that it was heading towards a sexual agreement. He could spit on their graves for even putting her on the docket.
As he thought back, a small vision of Adrian graced him as a gift from his goddess. Ah, hell. He had nearly forgotten about that little exchange between them.
Except, it wasn’t so little.
“Veleria, I seeded that thought in your mind ‘cause I was try’na scare ya. If anything, I goaded you into it.” He tilted his head to continue facing her as she started to turn back towards him. “You were in a real poor position. I took advantage of our situation and—“
“You really are not what I thought you were.” Veleria smiled again, though Caed thought it was fleeting. “It was my choice. I thought, if you could use me, then I could use you too. Fair’s fair. Except, you were gentle, and kind, and I felt relatively safe despite everything.”
“I’m glad I could make you feel that way. Never was into degrading women.” He said that, then shook his head lightly. “Ironic, considering I tied ya up and all. Didn’t know what the hell I was doing.” Moving her off of him, he stood up, glanced around the room, and then settled once more on Veleria as she stared up at him. “I’ll let ya get back to what you were…”
Before he could finish, Veleria tugged on his arm. He leaned down, she kissed him again, and Caed gave her another on her forehead for good measure. He turned to leave. On his way out he found Cromwell gliding down the hall. The two appeared to exchange looks, though with Cromwell it was difficult to tell. The trailing lights in the eye holes of his mask were hardly indicative of attention. The lich tapped on Veleria’s door just as Caed rounded the corner.
“Hello, Lord Cromwell.” Veleria said, opening the door wide.
Is the room still to your liking? Visitors are not often something I entertain.
“Oh, it’s fine. Really, that you put so much effort into all of this…” She sighed. “Thank you for the reinforcement on my clothes.”
Of course. Such a thing is only necessary. Now, would you please put them on? There is something I would like to show you.
She nodded, then closed the door. After a short while she reemerged. She found it strange to wear her belts and bracers without weapons, but they had all burned up when Caellach exploded.
“They don’t seem any different, Lord Cromwell. Caed said it might be because it’s a different kind of magic than Caellach knows?”
To a degree that is an accurate assessment. You are also untrained, though I aim to change that.
She walked beside him. They were headed into an area of his home that she had not yet explored. Following some silence, she turned to look up towards Cromwell.
“This might be a silly question, but from what Caellach showed me you were not a mage back when the two of you knew each other. I’ve heard people call you the most powerful wizard of our era. How did that come to be?”
Many factors contributed to that honor. When the elven domain was destroyed, I set about learning their ways, though I admittedly had a head start. He paused, then swiped an armored finger before them, revealing to Veleria a hidden door in the hallway. A narrow corridor awaited them. Time and effort made me what I am today. I had a fair teacher as well, though I’m afraid that I had little choice but to end them. They were a lich much like myself.
“Why?” Veleria asked. He was ahead of her.
They were everything that people fear when the term lich is used.
“I see…” She scratched her neck. “How did you have a head start?”
My time spent with Caellach allowed me to see the world as it truly is. Sorcerers, conceived under the gaze of the arbiter, are damned by the Judgment of Phos and given his sight. When extending beyond our mortal bonds we may also receive this judgment, but Caellach cannot. I had heard the voice of the arbiter long before his leaving.
Veleria considered his words. They hearkened back to an old conversation she had had with the sorceress.
“The arbiter, and the Judgment of Phos…Isn’t that the power of names?”
That is correct. The arbiter is judge, jury, and executioner to those with power beyond their means. The lich opened another door. I renounced their judgment when I created my phylactery.
Veleria followed along behind him as they entered a large circular room, “how were you able to deny the arbiter?”
My phylactery is made from materials beyond this realm.
Her chest was hot momentarily. She touched her scar through her blouse, watching Cromwell as he glided over to a far wall. There were multiple items on a grid-like structure stacked against it. Behind her she felt the wall move and turned to find that the doorway had been hidden. She looked forward then, gasping, the fact that Cromwell was in front of her barely registering. An incredible force pushed her back against the wall and a sharp pain ripped through her exposed palm. The lich held her around her neck, squeezing tightly while he sliced into her hand with a glowing blade.
Her blood boiled on her clothes. However, it did not burn them.
How dangerous…You truly do not understand your new body at all. He turned the blade onto her neck and plunged it directly into her jugular. You do not need to breathe.
Veleria lost consciousness quickly. It lasted but a second, but in the short moment before her body healed, she saw Caellach watching her with concern. He was holding back.
She returned then, with Cromwell still holding her by her neck. It scared her to realize he had been correct. Like this, and despite the wound having closed, she realized that she did not fully need air. But when she tried to talk she did.
“Lord…Cromwell…I…”
His grip went slack and she collapsed to the floor. She coughed hard, taking in heaving breaths almost involuntarily.
“I need to breathe to talk.” She said, her throat normal again. “You could have warned me.”
That would defeat the purpose of this exercise. The enchantment on the dagger faded as Cromwell returned it to its holding place on the grid. I have identified a starting point. Your body overcompensates by overheating. What we should do first is train you in cooling, which Caellach should be able to assist with. You do not want your cards face up.
“Face up? Cards? What…?”
Your blood heats to heal your wounds. This has been involuntary for you only because you do not understand it; however, it is essential that you learn to control this, before an enemy sees what you are capable of.
Veleria knit her brows. That made sense, though Raker had already caught on.
Or you harm a companion by accident.
At that, Veleria looked down. It scared her to think that she might harm Caed or even Adrian just because someone else spilled her blood. She considered herself lucky that Raker hadn’t managed to burn Caed that night.
“I’m ready to learn, Lord Cromwell.” She said, taking a hand that he held out towards her. The lights in the eye holes of his mask transformed into four blue flames.