It had been a full week since school started at the academy, and Ojero was not learning much of anything.
The teachers claimed they would learn the majority of spells in the next few years, and that this year was mostly theory and learning proper spell management for if a problem occurs. It has something to do with safety.
Although Ojero saw some wisdom in this due to the huge amounts of students that would undoubtedly cause some issues, he also believed that those with skill should be able to advance at the fastest pace possible.
Currently, Ojero was in Familiars class, and was being studied by Professor Erica.
"I just can not seem to find the issue with your familiar. You should be able to summon it like anyone else. Usually it would take only a few hours to rest and recharge the energy needed to cross domains."
In truth, Ojero was purposefully keeping the Night Demon inside, not allowing anyone to see it.
'He is simply too… undead for people to think anything besides him being a creature of undeath! I can't expose my secret like that, they would kill me in an instant.'
"Do not worry, master. In time you shall be strong enough to not worry about any of their puny spells or weak weapons. Your strength will make them tremble and quake in fear, all that it requires is your dedication to learn the art of Necromancy."
"I really do not know what is wrong, Professor. He keeps saying he used way too much energy when he moved domains, something about having expended too much to cross through. He says it may be a few more weeks till he can manifest himself."
At these words, a frown was etched onto Erica's face, as she contemplated the situation.
'I have never heard of a familiar taking more than a day, let alone multiple weeks to first manifest. Is it possible he too has a mythic familiar? But those wouldn't take this long either! What exactly is going on here? Is it possible his familiar is lying to him to bide for time? Very interesting…'
As the Professor was thinking, a nearby student needed her attention. Their familiar was an uncommon Fire Fox. It looked like a normal fox, with flames dancing up and down its body. The child was having issues controlling the flames to not set his own clothes on fire, which was eliciting chuckles from the other students nearby.
Once she stepped away, Ojero quickly moved away from her position, trying to negate any further confrontation about his familiar. He himself wasn't yet comfortable needing to make dozens of lies that fast. It wasn't the act of lying itself, but he doubted he could keep his story straight if he had to lie over a long period of time.
As he walked off, he continued speaking to the Night Demon.
'Couldn't we pass you off as a shadow familiar? That is one of my elements after all. We can claim part of the time element made you age very quickly, becoming a skeleton.'
"You may try master, and I have no doubt we will eventually need to showcase my power, however as of now it is a risk that could give us nothing but our deaths. It is an ill-advised plan."
'Fine fine, you are right I suppose. Until then we must train hard though. I also do wish to complete your teachings on the Domain of Death."
"Of course master, whenever you are ready I am more than willing to show you the truth behind that domain, the hidden secrets within. However, I must warn you, the secrets learned may be traumatizing, for the Domain of Death has very little known about it to mortals such as yourself."
'Then how could I strengthen my mind to have no issues with it?'
"The goal of many Necromancers, master, has always been Lichdom. They cast off their human body in exchange for immortality and great arcane secrets. It requires great and ancient knowledge, and should provide the necessary adjustments for you, master."
'What exactly is a lich then, and how do you become one?'
"A lich is an undead being that has trapped their soul within an object, making it so even upon death they live on in a new body. To do this requires ancient and powerful knowledge of Necromancy, and the ability to wield it."
"The direct instructions are something even I do not know, as it was achieved by ancient Necromancers at a period when I did not care about the affairs of this domain."
"They were feared as the peak of Necromancy, however we now know there exists further goals for a Necromancer to achieve."
"For you to find the knowledge, master, you need to find the journal of an ancient Necromancer who detailed their method of transformation. It is a daunting task, but it will be a great leap forward on your path to power."
These thoughts stopped Ojero in his tracks.
'Give up my mortality and body? I would become an undead being?'
"Being undead is no curse, master. As a lich, you would have greater power over undead for they are more apt to follow one of their own. It would only help you in your goals. However, if your appearance is that important to you, there are spells to reconstruct your appearance, however they are costly and viewed as nothing but a waste of time by many."
'So that shall be my new goal: Lichdom. Having something tangible to reach makes my future feel more real, more achievable. This shall be a great step forward, and once I reach my goals may all the world know my name…'