" Master! Why?! After all this wouldn't you rather move on?" Hargo lifted his head and spoke. His jaw moved and the hoarse voice that I recognized came out. "I have lived for 300 years. 100 longer than any dwarf. We are a long lived race. But I lived far longer than I should have. Over these past few months I've come to realize how little I've done for my nation. I leave a small legacy. Even with you young one. So I wish to be of some use after all this time. Besides. It's not that bad. Some sleep would do me good after all, undead never rest anyways." He said as he approached the hearth.
"My apprentice.... It is time.... time to let me rest." He said solemnly. I solemnly approached the hearth to stand beside him. "Master... If that is your last wish I will heed it." I said doing my best to control the emotions that rampaged within me. (Who am I to deny his last wishes?) I thought angrily.
He stayed facing the fire and reached into the flames with his bare hands. "You'll know when the time is ready. Throw the gauntlets into the flames when it is." He said.
As soon as the bones touched the ghostly flames they began to disintegrate and his soul began to pour out into the fire. like water being poured into a bowl. A small white flame pooled into the middle.
Soon, only his clothes remained laying on the floor coated in white powder. I stayed standing there in shock until I felt the gauntlets begin to warm in my grasp.
I looked at them and back at the fire. The runes coating the gauntlets had originally been quiet. Now they glowed an angry, fiery red. I continued to wait. My instincts said to wait. As time went on Hargos soul turned whiter and brighter. The runes colors turned almost black. That is when my mind screamed (Now!).
I threw the gauntlets into the flames. What happened next was awe inspiring. Instead of sinking to the bottom of the hearth, the gauntlets floated and twirled amongst the flames. They danced around Hargos soul fire. As they did so I noticed wisps of light coming from Hargo's soul and entering the gauntlets. The flow was slow yet beautiful. It took till night when the process was finished.
All that was left of hargo was a tiny, tiny light. It floated toward me until it entered my chest plate. I heard Hargo's voice enter my mind. " You've done well lad. Yu'v done well." Then it was gone.
/ Host has gained titles: Loved One of the Dwarven Smith King: Dwarves are now more liable to enjoy your company and get along with you.
Master Smith Hargos Disciple: Smithing ability is increased. Any and all items smoothed will have special abilities granted./
Tears filled my eyes as I fell to my knees. "I didn't know him for long. But why does it hurt so much?" I let the tears flow and cried till I felt the sun hit my crouched body. The warmth calming my trembling frame. And with that calm warmth I felt comfort. A peace of sorts.
When I raised my head up I had a new resolve. Hargo had wanted to make a difference. All Sam and I had done for this trip was wander. It's time to make a few things right. I turned to the fire. The gauntlets were still floating within the fire. The runes which had covered them now were formed into images.
I took them from the flames for a closer look. And I noticed what they were.
It was Hargos life. From him as a baby all the way to his transformation as a skeleton. The story was spread across both gauntlets. On the left, the Beggining. On the right the end. I was even involved. The last image shown was one of a dwarf hold my shoulder as I knelt with my back to him.
I understood then what this was. These represented the legacy he handed down to me. These were his life that he had given. His power that was now imbued to the metal. And now it was my turn. I held them close and finally I went and changed. Out of the things which he had given me, and into the clothes that were made for me. I turned to Sam when I returned from changing.
" Come with me." I said firmly. Sam's sword had broken recently and she had told me she would get a new one at the next city. I wouldn't allow it. My master certainly wouldn't have.
I took the metal of my smithing vest and forged her a new sword. I took her old sword and took it apart. After I was done revealing the blade in it's fullness I began heating it just like Hargo taught me. "Heat it till it's nice and red. Don't let it lose it's temper." He'd always say. As I worked I took the metal vest and put it into the smelter. After some time I moved the now red pieces of blade and placed them into the mold I made while I waited for it to heat. I Poured the molten steel into the mold along with the pieces and let it form. The rest was easy. When the metal was solid but still red I began to beat and fold it. As I folded it I knew it would be harder, stronger, sharper. I continued and Sam watched the entire time.
After the blade was sharpened and dipped in the oil and water she spoke. " What happened to Hargo?"
I was silent for a while as I worked. When I finally turned away from Sam I spoke.
" He's gone....." I said as I continued.
As I worked on the blade it was still hot. I noticed a few things. A couple marks were on the blade. Tear marks. My tears were still falling on the blade as I worked. (She needs a blade even one made from my sadness will be stronger than that toothpick she had before.) I thought.
When I finished the blade I held it aloft. The broken sword had now transformed. Its blade now curved slightly with a single edge. It's guard circular and covered with a reptilian pattern. The handle covered with woven and braided cloth.
It was a Katana. My tear marks on the blade had turned into swirls that went across the back all away from the edge. It was like clouds had fallen across her sword. I worked a guard and handle into shape and fit the blade into it. As I lifted the blade to look at it I heard a whisper. "As fine a work I could expect of my disciple." I spun but found noone.
"Hargos gone is he?" Another person said. I jumped as Garishe floated through the open door. Sam's eyes went a little wide in surprise.
"Garishe... I didn't realise you could come out of the inn!" I said as happily as I could manage. He nodded but remained on his topic as he noticed my gauntlets.
"He had you do it didn't he?" He paused "He finally put himself into something he loved doing." Garishe floated to me while I laid the sword flat across my legs. He patted my shoulder but all I felt was a cold rush of air. "You are truly worthy of being called his disciple.
"We'll be ready to go when you are. We found some necromancy books in the old magic shop you can look through and study if you like. This way you'll be able to get a grip on that power of yours and be able to get us out of this hell hole."
After he left Sam looked at me and finally noticed the gauntlets. "You graduated... by turning Hargo into those.... didn't you?" She said slowly. I slowly nodded. I felt a deep pain in my heart, but no tears came. "He told me you know? About what he wanted you to do for the graduation." She sat down next to me on a stool.
I looked at her from the side. " Why didn't you tell me?" I whispered.
" Hargo asked me not to.... as a friend." She replied softly.
I nodded as she started talking about him. How he was kind and unwaveringly stubborn. He'd helped repair her equipment several times without me knowing. And he even made her a little charm that the dwarves made for good luck. It was a silver brooch of a sparrow holding a quiver of arrows.
We sat there till nightfall, me doing the listening to her talking. After that she finally convinced me to return to the inn and sleep. When we returned I found a large pile of books stacked in my room on the bed. I felt the standard cold breeze as a ghost went past.
I sighed. (It's time I uphold my end of the bargain.) i though as I quietly entered the room and moved the books onto a desk that the ghosts had built when they had possessed a mannequin.
The books weighed a ton it felt like moving a mountain. I grabbed a book and laid on the bed to read. Unfortunately I didn't even get to open the book before I passed out.
I dreamt of many things that night. Alot of my suffering and pain. Spotted with some of the good that had got me through the harsh times. Though in the end of the dream I ended up in the smithy. A nice warm fire sitting before me and a dwarf I had never seen flesh on till now smiling brightly at me. His beard was grey but his brown eyes held the light of the fire. His laugh was like a moving mountain. Just like I had imagined.
I sat next to him at the fire and we talked till I woke.
When the morning came it was different. The sky was actually clear and the sun felt warm as it entered the window of my room. I felt far better the next morning. Confidence was in my heart as I picked up the tome off the floor where it had fallen when I fell asleep.
It's cover was made of bone and had a skull carved into the front with small rubies embedded into them. It's cover was as big as both of my hands put together. As I opened it I read the dwarven words Theory of Necromancy. " Sigh..... I guess I have to start somewhere."
I started reading as I knew I needed a full understanding of the possibilities that my class possesses. As I read I realized levels were more based towards a person's comprehension and ability rather than the actual abilities of the person increasing. For mages and especially necromancers our minds and mana are supposed to be our greatest asset. Fortunately for me I have more to me than meets the eye.
I read that tome for the whole day. Sam brought me food and I continued till nightfall. When the moon rose I finally finished the book. My mind was filled with theory and philosophy. Many dark mages had left a poor image of necromancers.
Necromancers were supposed to heal the souls of the ghosts left behind. Guide them to rest and peace. The combat was based on souls who sought revenge or had no clue how to pass on and would rather be useful. Powers such as possession would increase their power exponentially but it was truly a sight when they completely merged with the item possessed that they became a new creature. A wraith. Wraiths control over things grows as they become more attached. Not only can they control it better, they can evolve like monsters do.
I was dumbfounded as I lay with the book closed on my lap. I turned to look at the other books on my desk. There must have been 13 maybe 14? Huge books filled with knowledge. All I needed to do was consume it.
/ Host has aquired new title. Bookworm: Increases reading speed and comprehension. Truly a nerdy title/ "Oh shut up you!" I waved my hands in the air.