Perfect Soul

Chapter 6:

The northern mountains, a land so famous for harsh cold weathers, the dwarven kingdom and many ancient structures of old darkness and powerful evils from a time long since forgotten by most of the world. A cold afternoon sky hung above the land, even if the glow of the sun did little to warm the cold and icy landscapes below it.

No-one around to see the singular bat, black as night as alone away from any others who would usually be seen around the creature, so commonly known for travelling together in large groups at a time, rarely ever otherwise, the sight would seem almost, supernatural.

The part of the mountain the creature flew towards was an old tomb of the ancient world, likely belonging to someone from one of the first ever to live in a race still around in the current day like a human, elf or dwarf of some kind. The walls carved with old patterns that were withered by the wrath of the cold weather and the effects of time.

As the bat flew into a crooked opening in the wall and reached inside, it was immediately met with the endless corridors of the ancient area, corridors that seemed to stretch on forever, bodies of skeletons who could get up at any moment and a cold that was no different to the one outside.

After a few seconds after entering the tomb, the small creatures body morphed in an instant, becoming a beautiful woman with light brown skin, crimson red eyes, flowing pitch black hair and armour that matched. A woman, who just a few days earlier, had massacred a small group of adventurers without mercy.

She walked through the corridors for what felt like forever, each step echoing deep across the entirety of any hallway that could hear the crisp metal firmly pressing down against ancient stone. Her face remaining ever cool as it seemingly had always been from that last moment to now. Each step filled with a purpose in knowing exactly where she needed to go.

Eventually, after navigating what felt like an endless maze of pitch black darkness, that a vampire like herself could easily see in, she eventually reached a pair of double doors, its height and width like what one would expect to see leading towards a large banquet, but not here, all there was around ever corner of this tomb was cold death and unloving darkness.

Opening it, she was immediately met with the familiar sight of a large room with all kinds of alchemy notes and items across the room, like they were being used for some kind of long term experimentation as to best identify the most successful means as to reach a huge long term goal like immortality or ultimate power.

In the centre of this room was him, an Arch Lich, back turned to her. It’s robes were quite clean for someone who had been in a place so cold and unloving as this. It appeared to be black with purple fabrics and topped off with gold trim like some kind of royal mage.

“Master…I have returned.” The Vampire woman said, getting down onto one knee like a knight would before the monarch and lowering her head as a sign of absolute subservience and respect. “I have come back with news.”

Silence, piercing silence that any mortal would hate when in the presence of a cold, unfeeling monster such as this. The last statement she had said felt almost like a conversation ending sentence, if she had not started with it like she had. Finally, he responded.

“And what is it you have learned, Vesperia? Was there something of use to me?” He asked in a tone that was void of any emotion or concern for her well-being, like he had expected her to go through the most absolute dangers possible and walk out again just fine, or at least, without any complaints.

Then again, they had an agreement and she had gotten used to it a very long time ago.

“I have reason to believe I know where she hides…Zerinia Von Istvan.” She said with a careful tone, understanding the seriousness of saying a sentence like this and choosing to try letting him know carefully before continuing. “There was an adventure group moving towards it just a few days ago, I have dispatched them and immediately made my way back to you as to share my discovery, Master.”

The Lich paused, the silence returned with a powerful weight that wasn’t there just a few moments ago like the other one. This one wasn’t filled with a cold empty uncaring, but a firm anticipation and careful thinking that one would only do if they wanted to be very careful with what was to be done next.

“Zerinia…Von Istvan.” The Lich repeated out loud, slowly turning around to face her, his cold light blue eyes peering into a depth into the soul that felt more like a corruption of the soul than an intense glare. He said the word like he had just heard it for the first time or was just remembering how to say it after a long time.

He put down what he was holding, which seemed to be a stone of some kind and floated over towards her. Stopping just a few feet away and staring down at her with those same cold blue eyes. “So many centuries, I have not heard another speak her name so confidently…she is a vampire, you know, much like yourself, and yet…so different…it is wise we leave for this place soon, I will not have this opportunity taken from me so easily.”

“But is it wise to leave for her so soon, master?” The woman asked, concerned at the prospect of not achieving what he was hoping to get, whatever it may be. Clearly knowing what he wanted while also equally as concerned it may not function as he is hoping. “Is it that likely she could leave and hide for another extent of time like last?”

“She has been in hiding for this long, away from even myself, a state of secrecy that has helped her survive for this long, just as it has with us…prepare whatever you need and be ready by dusk, we leave for this place she has burrowed herself in for all this time.”