A Lesson in Necromancy

Lim and Estra sat together on the wooden floor of their tavern room, huddled around piles of books. They had closed the blinds, immersing in the dark and damp atmosphere lit only by the flicker of fire held in Lim’s hands.

“I will teach you something new.”

Estra sat next to Lim lecturing him with her black grimoire in hand.

“You casted magic as a human using demon techniques but this time I want you to cast magic as a demon.”

“How? Doing this and maintaining it is hard enough.”

Estra placed her hand onto Lim’s beating chest.

“Whhaaa… Wait what are….”

“Shhhh. Feel it all around you, the magic. You in this moment are no human or elf but a demon. A creature of pure magic so attune to it.”

“I…I don’t get it.”

“Silence!”

“...”

Lim closed his eyes with an expression filled with skepticism to Estra’s words. He found it absurd, how was he supposed to become a demon?

“Let me tell you who we are, Lyse.”

“Lyse? Why are you using my—”

“Shhhh.”

“Ok. okay!”

“Demons are creatures born of tragic vice between fallen elves. A contradiction to the natural order of the world so embrace it. Bend the laws of nature, bend the laws of magic.”

Lim silently nodded, continuing to listen to her words.

“You learnt how to capture the ocean, ‘The magic of the world’ and the river, ‘your own magic’ into a container made of itself but now I want you to cut off the river. Will the container from the mana of the world and force it to bend to your every whims.”

A magical glow of blue emerged out of Lim as glowing strings wrapped around his body. His fingers twitched as runes are cast on top of the fireball changing its shape briefly.

“Demons are creatures of contradiction as are you. A creature of undeath whose body is tied only to the magic of the world. Revel in that contradiction!”

Lim’s fingers twitched once more as additional runes circled the fireball.

*Woosh*

The fire imploded into itself with a pool of water emerging out into a fast moving orb of water. This orb then transformed itself into a ball of ice, dirt and finally pure magic itself.

*Vrrrrr*

Lim opened his eyes as the room was lit brightly with an intense blue glow. In his palm was an orb of pulsating blue light vibrating with intense ferocity.

“This?”

“The unadulterated power of magic. The truth and lie of the world. This is demonic magic, the magic of contradiction.”

Lim’s emerald eyes could not turn away from the glowing orb. He was breathing heavy, not from the strain of casting spells but from the weight of knowledge that filled his mind. If anything he was lighter than ever before, due to not having to spend a single mana from within.

It almost felt wrong but at the same time it gave him an immense feeling of liberation.

“Lim, keep in mind that you still need a portion of your own mana to take from the world. You are “borrowing” magic using it to aid you but be careful to not let it consume you.”

“Kind of irresponsible of you Estra.”

“Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, shut up next lesson.”

***

“Tada!”

Lim frowned with disgust as a dead rat was placed in front of him.

“Is this some sort of a joke?”

“You said you want to learn more about demonic magic so don’t weasel your way out now.”

“Fiine! So what now?”

“Simple, I want you to perform necromancy!”

Lim chuckled with a side eye that rolled around jokingly.

“Ha…Ha…Ha good one.”

Estra simply retorted back with a blank serious look.

“No, I'm serious.”

“HUH! You want me to revive the dead rat?”

“Technically you can’t revive it… doing that would be more complicated. Case in point you.”

“So? What's the difference?”

“Think of it as you puppeting the creature from beyond the grave.”

“Really? Does all demon magic consist of necromancy?”

“Not all but most. Although there are rules and customs… yadi yada… complicated mess. Now let us begin?”

“Sure.”

Lim held his hand atop the rat with Estra looking down next to him.

“Now remember what I told you?”

Lim took a deep breath in as he concentrated on reanimating the rat. A blue aura filled the room once more as bright strings coursed around his body and into the rodent.

“Bend it to your will and forge the contradiction of the dead and living.”

“L…live again… mr rat?”

*Woosh*

The rat’s body convulsed, shaking violently as its eyes opened once more. Lim nervously laughed with his body shaking from the thrill of it all.

“This is bad Estra.”

“It sure is but that's what makes it feel so good right?... Pfft ahahaha!”

Estra burst into laughter tapping on Lim’s back.

“Don’t be so serious it ain't alive. The soul has long departed; it is just a mere puppet in your hands.”

“And what about me? Am I just a mere puppet?”

Silence filled the room with an air of heavy awkwardness. Estra bluntly spoke, shaving off her joking demeanor.

“You were different Lim. Even though you had died your soul still lingered stuck in the mortal realm. You refused to pass. Even in death you still are a stubborn fool.”

Lim gave a gleeful grin almost blushing at her words.

“I really am a thorn to your side huh?”