Chapter 147: Skarr’s Dark Magic And The Ritual Offer!
Neve sat there completely confused.
Even as Popi was distracted by his sudden shout, she dropped her fruit that she had been trying to lift with her telekinesis ability.
"Are you okay?" she asked, concern crossing her face as she stared at Neve.
Neve gave a fake laugh and scratched his head nervously.
"Yeah, I was just deep in thoughts," he said quickly, trying to cover up his panic. "Haha! Just thinking about what we need to do to treat Maren’s mother. Nothing to worry about."
He turned away from Popi, facing the wall of the cave so she could not see his expression.
Now that he was alone with his thoughts, he could speak to Skarr properly.
"Hey, Skarr. It’s you right?" Neve asked internally, his mind reaching out to the presence inside him. "What happened that day you appeared and took control? What the hell do you mean by dark magic? I’ve never heard of such a thing before."
Skarr’s voice came back cold and dismissive.
"And why should I tell a thief like you?" Skarr replied, his tone filled with contempt. "Why should I share my knowledge with someone who stole my body? You don’t deserve to know anything about me or my power."
Neve bit his lower lip hard enough to taste blood.
He remembered Skarr saying something earlier. He remembered Skarr mentioning that the more magic powder Neve took, the more Skarr would consume it to increase his own dark magic. Dark magic. What was that even?
Was there really something like dark magic? It was his first time hearing about it. Damn it, he should have been smart enough to realize that if normal magic existed, then dark magic would exist too. It made sense. Light and darkness. Magic and dark magic. The balance of all things.
But why did someone like Skarr have dark magic? Was that the reason Neve had been unable to develop any abilities or powers? Was the dark magic blocking him? Was it preventing him from getting an ability?
And most importantly, was the dark magic harmful to his cubs?
He wished to ask Skarr these questions, but he knew Skarr would not answer him. Skarr hated him. Skarr resented him. Skarr wanted nothing to do with him except to reclaim his body.
Neve grabbed his long hair, almost yanking it out of his head because of the new information he had just received. His frustration and fear were building up inside him.
’Hey Skarr, if you have dark magic, would I be able to use it too?’ Neve asked, his mental voice calm and measured despite his panic. ’If I could access your dark magic, could I use it to protect myself? Could I use it to escape this place?’
Skarr remained quiet for a long moment.
’I’ll take the silence as a yes,’ Neve continued, interpreting the silence as agreement. ’If I’m able to use dark magic, I might be able to save myself and Popi. I might be able to escape and get back to Cael.’
But then Skarr’s voice came back, cutting through Neve’s hope like a knife.
’My powers are not for saving, you thief,’ Skarr said coldly. ’They are for elimination. They are for destruction. The same power I used to eliminate the Dhole tribe. The same dark magic that wiped out an entire species from existence.’
Neve gasped and immediately clapped his hand over his mouth. He turned quickly to Popi to see if she had heard his outburst, but she was still focused on her training. She was still concentrating on her telekinesis ability, her eyes closed as she tried to lift another fruit from the ground.
Neve turned back to face the wall, keeping his voice silent and internal.
’You... you were the one who eliminated the Dhole tribe?’ Neve asked, shock and fear mixing in his mental voice. ’You single handedly destroyed an entire tribe? You used your dark magic to wipe them out?’
’It’s a long story and I’m not interested in sharing it with you,’ Skarr frowned, though there was a hint of pride in his voice. ’That’s my business. That’s my past. You have no right to know about it.’
But Neve needed to know. He needed to understand what kind of power was inside him. He needed to comprehend the capabilities of this dark magic that was blocking his own development.
’Uh... If you tell me about it, I might... I’ll give you something in exchange,’ Neve said, his mental voice taking on a negotiating tone. ’Tell me your story. Tell me about the Dhole tribe. Tell me about your dark magic. And I’ll give you something valuable in return.’
’What can you possibly offer me?’ Skarr asked, his tone suggesting that Neve had nothing worth trading.
’Uh...’ Neve stuttered internally, his mind racing as he tried to think of something Skarr might want. ’What do you want? What would make you willing to share your knowledge with me?’
There was a pause. A moment of silence where Neve could almost feel Skarr considering the offer.
’You know what I want,’ Skarr said finally. ’My body. I want my body back. I want to be free from this prison of your consciousness. I want to reclaim what is rightfully mine.’
Neve gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. The demand was impossible. He could not give Skarr his body. He was living in this body. He was breathing with this body. He was growing cubs in this body.
’I can’t give you your body,’ Neve said firmly, his mental voice filled with desperate certainty. ’I can’t do it. I won’t do it. Find something else to ask for.’
’Of course, you can’t,’ Skarr said with a dark chuckle. ’I knew you wouldn’t be able to give me what I want most. And I can’t forcefully take it from you either. Not while you’re awake and conscious and fighting me for control.’
He paused, letting the tension build.
’But there’s a way for me to get a body,’ Skarr continued, his voice becoming more animated. ’There’s a ritual. A dark ritual. A way for me to obtain a new body without having to steal yours.’
Neve’s heart raced. This was important. This was something he needed to understand.
’How?’ Neve asked urgently. ’How can you get a new body? What ritual? What do you need?’
Skarr’s voice came back, cold and filled with a strange mixture of hope and malice.
’Get me a new body,’ Skarr said. ’Find another beastman. Find someone willing or unwilling. Find a body that I can transfer into. Perform the ritual with me. And I’ll complete the transfer.’