The Runesmith Chronicles Ch. 25 - Final

"He was going to trap his soul in a giant emerald that had been soaked in necromantic power for years. That would go into an ornate box covered with runes and placed into a shrine just above the largest flawless magic crystal I'd ever seen. All he needed to do was drink the potion which would both kill and preserve his body as well as move his soul to the emerald. Then through a mixture of necromancy to move his old body and astral magic that would allow him to move his mind back into the corpse he would be reanimated as a lich."

Ikuno shook her head, "No, Azrin, tell me this is some kind of joke, that there is some other way you are still alive." Ria had said that he had died, according to his story she would have been telling the truth.

Azrin opened his mouth and hollow sounding maniacal laughter poured out. "Of course it's not a joke. Using magic extends a human's life, but not forever. By this time, my hair had turned gray and each morning I could feel the chill of death coming closer. I had given up on you, but this revelation gave me new life, new purpose. Once again, I could hunt down my dear sister's killer but this time without the weight of the passing years to hinder me.

"I waited until the day before Loran planned to carry out the ritual. Though he still hadn't told me what he was going to do, he promised that I would be handsomely rewarded afterward. Even offering me my own kingdom if I decided I wanted it. By this point I had watched and listened to him practicing many times while dreamwalking and knew the ritual nearly as well as he did.

"It's amazing how easy it is to incinerate someone when they've no clue you are about to kill them. After Loran was dead, I found the potion and performed the ritual, going through the motions and saying the words without really understanding what I was doing. I had no idea that becoming immortal required near mastery of necromantic and astral magic. I paid for that mistake dearly, spending years as little more than a ghost trying to learn enough about necromancy to move my carcass. Once I could animate my corpse I used the necromancer's library to learn what I needed to know, even that took years of my time to master in that pathetic spirit form. Nearly two decades went by from the time I drank the potion to when I finally rejoined my body."

Ikuno choked back a laugh, "So you killed yourself only to become the most pathetic lich this world has ever seen." She clapped her hands in a slow, mocking applause, "Congratulations."

Azrin's seethed for a moment but managed to control his anger, "Perhaps, but now I have all the time I could ever need to become insanely powerful."

"You seem to be managing the insane part pretty well," the oni quipped then immediately regretted it. She was looking for information and comments like that weren't going to help. Ikuno guessed that the last few decades had been very solitary for Azrin and that was why he was being so forthcoming with her now. There was a chance she could play on that weakness, "So you just became a lich and figured out how to get back into your body. What then?"

Azrin's face went from anger at her derision to an internal battle between lashing out at the oni and continuing his story. Ikuno had to hide her smile as the lich's expression calmed and he began speaking again. "From there, my hunt began. Again, I was set back by my single-minded pursuit of pyromancy. Hiring diviners was no longer an option with this body, most of them attacked me on sight, a couple even killed themselves as soon as they saw me." The corners of Azrin's mouth attempted to form something that looked like a smile. "I guess that they were true to their craft and knew what would happen to those who failed to find you. Finally, one of them, an old sage, directed me back to my and Midora's keep, telling me that what I required to find you would be there. Amazingly, he was right, it almost made me feel bad for reducing him and most of his forest to ash.

He held up two fingers as if holding something tiny between them, "A single white hair tucked into one of the corners of my very own headboard. Decades old, but still enough for a spectral wolf to seek you out. Against the suggestions of Loran's grimoires, I rode along with the wolf. If it found you and killed you, I wanted to see it."

"Instead, it ran into Aradelle, who was well aware of how to deal with such a monster," said Ikuno with a smirk.

"True, but its death, much as it hurt me, gave me an idea of where to search. Your wards against divination have proven to be annoyingly effective."

"I like my privacy."

"I'd noticed. Oddly, when I attempted scrying for you, I kept being led to your little boy toy. Yet there were times he would just wink out of existence as I watched him, usually in the same area. Eventually, I came to realize that these absences were when he was with you."

Ikuno frowned. Until that moment she hadn't considered that the part of her lifeforce within Kal might lead one of her enemies to him. "The boy is a dalliance with a nice cock, little more. Your issue is with me, we can leave any others out of our quarrel."

"Lying bitch," Azrin said, laughing at the oni. "I don't fully understand what it is that ties you to him, but I can tell that it is strong. Far too strong to be some mere 'dalliance.'"

Ikuno shrugged, "Your concern is with me and not him. In that respect, nothing has really changed. How was it that you finally found me?"

"At first I thought I had made a mistake. I formed this pocket on the astral plane and thought I had pulled you into it but when I came to check, it was empty. The next time you were here waiting for me, however, you had never mentioned your club while we were together and I was unfamiliar with its abilities. After much research, I figured out how it is tied to you and summoned from the spirit realm, as well as how it allowed you to escape. Interrupting a natural summons such as your iron club was going to be extremely difficult, so I took an easier route. I locked away your intelligence, so you wouldn't even know you could summon your weapon. That's what should have happened this time as well, but perhaps I expected too much. In hindsight I should have figured your intellect would be too strong for such a spell, after all, it was one of the things that I found so attractive about you."

"And here I thought you just liked my tits," Ikuno was trying hard keep the worry that was creeping into her mind from reaching her voice.

"I did, sadly I have little use for pleasures of the flesh anymore. Had I been properly prepared and able to move my body as soon as the transformation was complete there are a number of ways to keep the flesh supple and soft, however, once it turns to this," Azrin held up a leathery hand, "there is little to be done."

"After I escaped from you the last time I took precautions to prevent this from happening," said Ikuno as she waved a hand indicating their surroundings. "I must say I'm impressed you managed to break the spell."

Azrin lips curled into a smile, "Oh but I didn't, Ikuno. You simply let your anchor spell lapse."

Ikuno's eyes narrowed, she remembered lifting the covers and calling Kal to bed, she then recast the anchoring spell... and was suddenly back lying in bed holding the covers once again. "You altered my memory," she growled.

"Just enough to think that you had cast your spell these last couple of times," he was still wearing his creepy smile of amusement, "and now you're mine."

Ikuno's eyes widened as she felt a strange absence. Like a soft breeze that isn't noticed until it stops, Ikuno felt her connection with the spirit world suddenly blocked. Holding out her hand, she tried to summon her club, snarling in frustration moments later as her weapon refused to appear and she remained in Azrin's astral pocket.

"To be fair, I could have done that from the start," said Azrin. Ikuno looked up from her empty hand, her fangs still bared. "I doubt we could have had such an enjoyable conversation had I done so. People are far more likely to chat if they think they have a guaranteed escape."

------

Kal was woken up by a low growling noise coming from behind him. He summoned a light and looked back to see the oni lying next to him with her fangs bared.

"Ikuno?"

------

The lich made a motion towards the clouds behind him and moments later the ground shook with heavy footsteps that made the shards of cracked earth dance around Ikuno's feet. The largest minotaur Ikuno had ever seen stepped from the fog and bellowed in rage at the sight of the oni.

"I've no desire to attempt fighting you one-on-one," said Azrin, the hint of madness returning to his voice. "My friend here will take care of beating you to a pulp. Remember Ikuno, what happens here also happens in the real world. If you die here, you die there as well."

The lich's cackling laughter was drowned out by the bellowing charge of the minotaur. A fist nearly the size of her head came swinging down only to be batted away by the oni, she was nearly thrown off balance with how easy it was to deflect the beast's arm. Quickly getting her feet beneath her she reached out and raked her claws down the minotaur's chest, the bloodless wounds healing almost instantly.

------

Kal looked down in shock at the eight deep gouges running from his collarbone nearly to his waist. On instinct, he activated his healing rune on his back and was pouring enough power into it to light up the room behind him. The wounds were healing quickly but not before the bedclothes were stained red.

Kal tried to throw himself backwards out of the bed but a blue hand closed on his shoulder. Claws sharp enough to gouge stone cut deeply into his flesh, drawing a scream from the mage. As his hands came up in a futile attempt to dislodge Ikuno's fingers, Kal looked at the oni's face and his heart sank, even after his shriek of pain, her eyes remained closed. Knowing that he could never hope to defend himself against her as he was, he looked back over his shoulder and willed the vambrace with his strength rune towards him.

------

The minotaur was looking back at Azrin, both hands weakly trying to pull her claws out of its shoulder.

"Your champion seems a bit distracted, Azrin," Ikuno jeered. "He's also the weakest minotaur I've ever heard of," her claws sunk a bit deeper drawing a bellow from the bovine-headed monster. Looking over at Azrin she saw that he seemed a bit distracted as well, staring off into the gray clouds just off to the side of the combatants.

The lich smiled as his eyes focused on her again, "Not to worry, he'll be getting stronger in a moment."

Even as he spoke the minotaur began pulling Ikuno's fingers from its shoulder. With a growl the oni began raking at the beast's chest with her free hand, watching in frustration as the wounds quickly closed. The creature attempted to back away again but Ikuno sunk her claws deeply into its side, holding it in place as the beast howled in pain.

------

Kal was running low. Healing the damage Ikuno was inflicting while maintaining the strength rune at such a high level was draining him quickly. His hands were locked on Ikuno's wrists keeping her from hurting him even more, but that was only a temporary solution. Her strength was natural while he would eventually run out of magic. Knowing that she wouldn't let him escape meant that he couldn't get to any crystals, and gods help him if he had to continue this ordeal without magical help. There was only one source of energy close enough, he just had to hope he could hold out long enough for the oni to wake up.

------

Far faster than she expected a beast of this size to move, the minotaur let go of her wrist and grabbed one of her horns. Her claws immediately dug deeply into his side before she pulled them forward, leaving deep furrows in flesh and bone.

Ikuno's eyes flicked to Azrin and saw him once again staring off into the clouds beside them laughing maniacally. Her attention returned to the minotaur as she felt him begin to draw magic from her horn. The oni grinned, if he was stealing her magic to fuel his regeneration then all she needed to do was wait him out. Once they both ran dry he wouldn't be able to heal himself and she would still have her claws.

That idea was cut short by Azrin's laughter. If the minotaur burned through all of her magic she would have none left to protect herself from the lich. She tried jerking her head out of the minotaur's grasp, but his grip proved to be too strong. Her hand came up and shredded the muscles on the beast's arm allowing her to pull away. Again, with unnatural speed, the creature's other hand let go of her wrist and grabbed her other horn, drawing large amounts of magic from her as it healed its damaged arm while attempting to protect itself from her claws.

Growling with annoyance Ikuno raked her claws over every piece of flesh she could reach, the minotaur bellowing in pain as it gave up trying to defend itself and held on tight to her horns with each hand. As her opponent howled in agony she was momentarily distracted by Azrin howling with laughter. She finally felt the minotaur start to weaken, likely because she was nearly empty of magic, and brought a foot up, kicking the beast away.

The oni looked up at the lich to see a disturbing display of happiness on his face.

"I was going to kill you, but when I found out about your little wannabe-mage lover I decided that something more appropriate was in order. Now both of us will spend our immortality without someone we loved. Only you will have the knowledge that your lover died by your own hand," Azrin threw his head back in screeching laughter as Ikuno felt her connection to the spirit realm restored.

She looked down at the minotaur in horror, its wounds still closing but much more slowly now. "Gods, no," she whispered as energy swirled around her hand. Azrin's ecstatic laughter followed her as the club appeared in her hand and she vanished from the astral plane.

------

Ikuno sat bolt upright in bed, "Kal?! KAL?!" she felt wetness on her hands and held them up in the dim light of Kal's glowing orb to see they were soaked in blood. Looking down her body and at the bed told much the same story. Facing away from her and lying in a heap on the furs in the center of the room was Kal's body, the healing rune on his back flickering and fading as he ran out of the energy to sustain it.

Vaulting out of bed and landing next to the young mage she rolled him onto his back, gasping at the ripped and shredded state of his chest and abdomen. As she summoned a magic circle in each hand to continue healing him, the light from the spells drew his attention.

"You're awake," he said with a pained smile as he labored for breath, "thought I might have lost you." Kal's eyes glazed over while staring up at the oni's tear-streaked face. In that same moment her healing spells sputtered and died, Kal had drained all of her magic trying to heal himself.

"Ria!" Ikuno screamed, knowing that she only had seconds before she lost him for good.

"How can I help y..." the sprite's words changed into a scream at the sight before her. "Goddess! What happened!"

"Nevermind that! I need those large crystals to keep healing him!"

Motes of light flew out and landed next to the kneeling oni. Ria positioned the crystals so they would lean against her legs when they materialized.

Looking around and seeing the bed and floor soaked in red the sprite flitted over to Ikuno, who was already frantically using the crystal's power to finish healing Kal's body. "Ikuno," she said quietly, "you can't save someone who's lost this much blood, even I know that."

The oni sobbed at the avatar's words, "I know, but I did this and I'm going to fix it. A life for a life." Ikuno reached deep inside herself for the first time since making the potion for Merantha. Ria watched as wispy white tendrils appeared from the center of Ikuno's chest and ran up her arms. When they touched the healing spells the magic circles became blindingly bright, making both Ikuno and Ria close their eyes from the glare.

"Wouldn't mind a bolt of lightning about now," the oni smirked.

Moments later she heard Kal take a gurgling breath, without halting the healing spells she used her knees to roll him onto one side, letting him empty out the fluid that had collected in his lungs. After coughing a few times and leaving a red puddle next to where his head lay, Kal's breathing fell into a steady rhythm.

Ikuno felt the tug from her faraway shrine and knew that she had gone too far. Instead of stopping, she continued to pour her lifeforce into the healing spells. No matter the cost, she would make things right again.

------

Kal awoke with a start, "Ikuno!" he yelled while scrambling to his feet, only to slip and fall back to the floor on the red-stained furs. As he pushed himself up he heard a quiet sobbing coming from over by the bed. His eyes widened from the sheer amount of blood in his vision, covering not just the furs but his arms and body as well. Looking over he saw Ikuno sitting up against the side of the bed, smiling. Next to her was Ria's ghostly form and the source of the crying.

Instead of trusting his legs Kal quickly crawled over to the oni, shoving emptied magic crystals out of the way in his haste. "Ikuno! Are you okay?!" he asked in a panic, seeing that she was covered in red nearly as much as he was.

"No," she said still smiling, "but I will be in a couple of years."

"What?!"

She directed his attention to the small glowing ball of light she was holding in her hand. As he watched wisps of white streamed off of it towards the east.

"No, please Ikuno. No," he begged her. From his experience healing Master Ellis, he recognized it as what remained of her lifeforce.

"I nearly killed you, Kal. I had to make it right and it was the only way to save you."

"But... what happened?"

"Ria will tell you, I don't have enough time left and I explained everything to her while you were asleep." Ikuno touched her head with two fingers, a small mote of light seeming to attach itself to them. She then brought the fingers up to Kal's forehead and when she touched him his mind was filled with an image of a small roadside shrine with statues and symbols he didn't understand carved into an assortment of stones. "It will take me two years to recover from this," she said with a sad smile, "It's a long journey to my shrine. You will need to finish that flight rune if you want to make it there in time to meet me when I can form a body again."

Kal opened his mouth to speak but Ikuno pressed a finger to his lips. "Tell Perra and Aradelle I love them. Let them know I'm sorry I couldn't be there to tell them in person. Remember this isn't 'goodbye forever', just 'goodbye for now.' I love you, Kal." As the final wisps of light floated away from her hand Ikuno's body faded into nothingness.

"I love you too, Ikuno."

------

Kal stood next to the shack just east of Aradelle's clearing, staff in hand and once again wearing his black cloak with the red designs along the trim. Winter had been hard without Ikuno and he had been champing at the bit to get on the road after she disappeared. Though she sympathized with Kal, Perra had been insistent that he wait until Bea, Adalena, and Aradelle woke up in the spring so he could tell her what happened in person. As an added incentive, Perra also told him her decision. With him leaving in the spring and the possibility of him not coming back, she wanted to have his child growing inside her before he left.

Lady Nina confirmed Perra was expecting just before the winter solstice and the young woman had been positively glowing ever since.

Goodbyes were hard, especially with Kal knowing Perra was carrying his son or daughter. However, she flatly refused to hear any arguments for him staying. "I miss Ikuno too," she'd said firmly before he let the issue drop. Gerda and Bea were sad that he was leaving but understood that this was something he needed to do. Just as with Bea and Aradelle, Ikuno and Gerda had gotten closer over summer and the golem was desperately missing her friend. It seemed to help Gerda's mood when he assigned her as caretaker of Ikuno's house while he was away.