Nora forced herself out of cultivation, barely managing with the aid of the knock at the door. Her breath escaping her as the sudden change in power immediately hit her. Panting, she slowly composed herself. The two puppies at either side of her attempted their best efforts to comfort her.
Composing herself, she slid off the guestroom bed and onto her feet. Unaccustomed, her legs betrayed her commands and caused her to stumble as she approached the door.
Opening the door, there stood Sev, on either side of him two large hulking creatures. The laboured breath of the two creatures emitting faint traces of smoke.
'What the fuck...'
"Sev, would you mind explaining them?" gesturing to the two menacing creatures.
"Well... remember Scraps and Brook? I remade them into Karthus and Malphus, Shroud-Wights. These two are my magnum opus. The height of my dabblings in necromancy." the pride on Sev's face gleaming as he spoke of his new creations, "Karthus, Malphus, this is Nora. My inheritor, you must protect her at all costs..." his heartfelt command, releasing a pitiful smile.
"What's a Shroud-Wight?" Nora beyond curious at the two creatures questioned.
"They are creatures who stand on the line between the spectral plane and the material plane. A variant of Wights which have adopted absolute darkness. Technically part ghost, they possess an incredible ability, well besides their predator anatomy, they can partially phase portions of their body into the spectral plane. Making all close-combat fighting a near impossibility. Honestly, even if I were to fight them, I wouldn't be sure of victory..."
'Damn...'
-
Lucius, having completed his 'tasks', started making his way back towards his mansion. His carefully paced stroll began completely uninterrupted, the common people of Retford fearing him and the stigma around him. Unwilling to interrupt him, the once crowded streets split, clearing a path for Lucius' stroll.
Having long grown accustomed to this treatment from the town people, Lucius calmly made his way. He began to contemplate many of the new things which had only suddenly exploded into his life. 'Why had Sev returned? Who's Nora? Why was she the inheritor of two separate Great Mages?' while the myriad of questions clouded his mind, he failed to realize that a woman in a black-robe was running straight down the clearing, and directly at him.
Although old, Lucius was far from weak. Although he failed to realize that someone was barreling towards him. He simply remained unfazed as the robed figure charged into him. The collision leaving him unmoved but sending the black-robed figure backwards.
"What was that?" the impact unaffecting his stance, still disturbed his thoughts. Noticing the black-garb he slightly raised his guard. Unlike most people, Lucius had known countless black mages during his hay day. If anything, he feared black mages less than traditional mages, his experience with black mages dwarfing his combined experience with other mages.
"Are you going to apologize?" Lucius' words giving the impression of an aged old man who didn't really care anymore.
"Old man! You should watch where you're going!" in her haste, not realizing how the old man hadn't moved a single inch.
"You should really watch your tone young lady..." Lucius was surprised. No one in Retford would ever dare talk to him in such a manner...
"Don't talk down to me! Get out of my way!" clearly having a bad day, the mage didn't heed the old man's warning.
Not bothered, Lucius didn't move. He knew who he feared, and who should fear him.
Angered, the black-robed mage activated a blood-drawn array on her hand, "Fireball", summoning a blue ball of pure fire.
Seeing a black-robed mage cast fire magic already intrigued him, let alone blue-fire magic. He sprang forward, in a single movement, instantly closing the distance between himself and the robed figure. He reached forward and latched onto the mage's neck. Lifting them clear off the ground.
"Do you mages ever think about the people around you? Are they just acceptable casualties!?!" as he spoke, a few things clicked in his mind. Finally putting the information in order in his mind. With his other hand, he unhooded the figure, "Great Mage Mirlie I presume, Sev told me to come look for you... You may have heard of me, one of the four 'Saints of Death' Lucius Blackblight