We left the city of Crystal and started west to head more inland toward he more populated areas. The land remained harsh and mostly unchanging. It was rocky with few patches of grass or trees of any kind. ( This really looks like a place meant for monsters.) I thought to myself as we walked along the paths. There were few roads and fewer places that were good to rest at. Apparently dwarves hardly move between cities and live similar to hermits. Staying in one place and hardly speaking to other cities unless absolutely needed.
We ended up passing a sign with directions. it had three arrows on it. One of 5he arrows pointed south and had a symbol on it that said danger in dwarven language. The others pointed north and east where we had come from. We talked with each other and came to the understanding to go north. The roads would be colder but it was safer this way till I got used to fighting in my new form.
We spent another two weeks on the road till we reached a settlement with Granite walls. The guards at the gate pointed their spears at us. " Who are you and what is your business here?!" One barked at us. We both raised our hands and stood facing them.
"Bram of Crystal Sky sent us." Sam stated loudly. The dwarves immediately raised their spears and stood slightly more erect. " If you have been sent by Bram tell us what being is under his care." They said in return. ( wary bunch) I thought. " The Crystal Serpent" I replied.
The dwarves opened the gates. " Enter. Though we warn you that you must have a certificate to leave." The dwarves eyed us cautiously.
"Certificate?" The dwarves merely faced forward again without answering as we entered the settlement.
The doors slammed shut behind us as we entered. The place was cold and not a soul could be seen. We ventured forward as we cautiously peeked in windows looking for any signs of life.
The only sign of life came from the smithy. A dwarf sat at his anvil pounding on some red hot metal. He was covered in leather from head to toe. He continued hammering as we approached.
"You should not have come here strangers. This place is for the dead. Not the living." My eyes widened as the dwarf turned his head which was covered by a bandana.
But what showed of his face was that of a skull. Sam quickly pulled out her sword and faced the skeleton. "What is it that you want from us undead one!" She demanded. "Why have we been let in to a place of death?" Her eyes were locked on the being before her.
"The dwarves outside are meant to keep others out. If they let you in they have plans that you do not leave. If you can leave it is by the certificates I give. I teach only the willing. And only the willing can leave." The skeleton replied solemnly. "I have taught very few students. And fewer still that could handle the flames that brought this place distruction." He pointed with a gloved hand toward lime green flames that sat in an opposite hearth to the one he was working. " The Ghost Flames. They are the flames which brought destruction to this place."
Sam's eyes locked onto the fire. "The flame ranked 5th among all the elemental fire you can get is here!?! How did it get here?!" She exclaimed.
" Ghost Flame?" I asked confused.
( Is his stuff much different than the soul flames?) I thought. Sam turned to me and started quickly explaining.
"Spirits and ghosts in this world can't be hurt by any means that mankind knows... except one. Ghost Fire. A literal gathering of flame elemental spirits that no longer have a body in one place. It scours the soul and cleanses evil. Undead are normally very afraid of it." The dwarf turned his head to look at her.
"You know much girl. Not many know about the abilities of ghost fire let alone it's existence." He turned to me. "A dragon men should know of its existence better than a normal human. Though... looking at you, you're not an average dragon man."
I stared at the flames and thought for a moment. After a couple seconds I raised my hand and a portion of the ghost flame flew out towards me. " DON'T LET IT TOUCH YOU!" The dwarf shouted.
But it was too late. The flames continued to fly to me and landed in my grasp before suddenly covered me from head to toe. I felt excessively warm. I felt a sudden pain from within me as hatred screamed out of me before seemingly being eaten by the flames. Smoke poured from me in great clouds and I felt like something was scraping my soul.
After a time I sat there with memories playing through my mind. Both of this world and the old one. My hatreds were burning away as I realized all that was left was resolve. Resolve to get back what was rightfully mine. To live and be what I wanted.
And as my resolve grew. So did my power. Pure energy began to eminate from within as I began to overcome my hatred. I stopped feeding it. I stopped hating my life before my reincarnation. I stopped hating the people who took so much from me. Was wasting my life hating them worth it?! Was my life so fickle and momentary to live it hating people who didn't exist here?
Questions like these filled my mind as I focused. Growing and maturing in the process. It felt like it took hours to do. Like a lifetime within moments. Until finally I reached the present. The green flames turned an emerald color with grey smoke surrounding them.
/ Host has successfully conquered the Ghost Fire. Flame Monarch leveled up. Flames 4/10 gained. Host can now use ghost flames in attacks. Titles gained. Conqueror of Sorrow
Conqueror of Ghosts. Combining. Titles. Host has now acquired Title Death Lord. Host gains additional bonuses against Undead beings. Undead beings are now more friendly to you. Host has acquired the Necromancer job class due to evolution to dragon man and ghost flames involvement. /
The flames that covered me gradually decreased till all that remained was me kneeling on the ground. My clothes were burnt to ashes.
From the ashes and buildings bones that were scattered across the ground clambered together to form an armor across my bare skin. A loin cloth of bones was formed to cover my exposed lower parts. Dark fabric fabric materialized from the shadows to fill the gaps and wove the bones together.
I heard a wail fill the air. And in my confusion I looked to see where it came from. Only to realize that the sound was coming from myself. Like a newborn scream it echoed and flooded the night.
When it was over I hunched down tired and worn-out. A puddle of sweat had formed around my feet as I knelt.
As I stared at the sweat pool I saw something staring back at me. It looked like a Liche. It had a Cape clinging to it by skeletal hands that were seemingly made out of torn black drapes. It had a couple human skulls on it's shoulders. The remaining clothes were torn from it as shadows condensed into a thick cloth that covered the rest of it's exposed skin and scales. And then I realized. This thing was me.
I heard a clatter of bone on something hard and turned to find the dwarf laying on his back on the floor.
I turned to ask Sam if a skeleton could faint but found she had fainted as well.
" Damn it..... now I have to carry her heavy ass..." I grumbled as I picked her up and went to the inn close by. I plopped her in a bed and room of her own and laid on the ground in front of her door in the hall.