Dawn- An age of Darkness

Chapter 189 - New Responsibilities

We were talking to an undead and there were chances he could have been lying. However, no matter how I looked at it, he didn't seem to be. What could he possibly hope to gain by lying in the first place?

"Believe it, don't believe it. It's all up to you." I turned to Boriosa. "Is there a way to, perhaps fix this?" The whole point of this was to find out a way to cure the curse anyway, though there were no curses, to begin with. 

"I don't know. Maybe you could try purifying them using some other methods like casting holy magic for a few decades. But how would you do that? Besides they'd probably be dead by then. Actually, death might be a relief to them after two thousand years. Because after that they'd be pretty much worthless. I learned this after I was sent to jail when I reevaluated my findings. I tried to find out how this happened and why. But after what they did to me, I gave up all my research. Besides I was poisoned anyway. "

I translated what he just said. Lianne broke down even more. She didn't cry but the horror in her appearance was something I couldn't ignore. 

"Is there anything you'd like to ask him Lianne?"

"When Jowy's father ascended the throne he sent all the elders of my lineage including my other uncles and father to exile. I never understood why: I even cursed him for it. Now it all makes sense…" Lianne's pupils were dilated and she looked in the distance, focusing at nothing.

I guess things weren't really looking all that good for her or her relatives.

I sighed again. "So, anything other than that? Just ideas are fine, really." I didn't know if Boriosa had any or not, but I really wanted him to have at least some sort of theory. 

He grinned. "Even though you were betrayed you still take their side." He burst out laughing. "Very well, in your honor, I'll share with you the fruits of my last labor." He focused for a good ten seconds. "The god sickness is caused by overusing a God's mana. Mortals can't really stand much of it. So perhaps ridding one of mana might be a good alternative. Though even with all my knowledge I do not know of a way you can do so."

Mana. The root of all evil in this world. After speaking with Sisrael I'd decided that I'd erase mana from this world, but I never really understood it, let alone find a way to erase it. And if this guy was lost, did I really have a shot?

But he did provide me with a decent answer. "Thanks for that." But there were a lot of other things I wanted to ask him. "How about you answer some of my own questions? I'm from another world you see. I wanted to know if you knew anything about summoning…" I explained my situation to him. I kept it brief.

"Another world? Interesting. I've heard of such spells during my time as well. But unfortunately, they weren't off much interest to me. However, I can tell you about spirit magic. They are like summoning. Maybe you could figure something out with it."

I didn't think he would be willing to teach me anything. All this time I thought undead were mere monsters. But this was a new discovery. "You'd teach me? Really?"

Not only was he telling me all of his deepest secrets, but he was also willing to teach me. 

"Of course. But you'd have to do something for me." I guess it was a give-and-take relationship. There were no free lunches anywhere. 

But this wasn't a bad deal for me. "I won't kill the king for you if that's what you want." But I certainly couldn't go around killing Lianne's relatives either. 

He chuckled. "No. I want you to secure my family's graves. I have them right here." He handed me a ring. The ring didn't have a gem but had spiraling, sparking letters written in elvish. Almost like that one ring from that one movie centered around rings. 

"This is?" I really hoped this wasn't a cursed ring that'd start to whisper things at me out of nowhere. 

"A storage artifact: my most prized possession. Pour in mana and you'll see."

I poured my mana into the ring and instead of whispers, a black space appeared before me. I could even reach far in. I poked inside and there was at least enough space for a truck to fit in. There was one body inside, fully intact and crystalized: and two severed heads. 

"You don't have to engrave their names. Just give them a proper burial: one is my eternal friend while the other two, my birth giver and sibling.  I could not leave this forest so I could never bury them. And I could never find anyone suitable for this ring. I met elves who were capable but I couldn't trust them. But-" He was conflicted. "I had sealed my friend before she had died. Her wounds were too severe and I was almost out of mana. As you possess holy magic, would you… would you!" He was too excited and yet, it felt like he was crying. Not a single drop fell from his skull.

"Consider it done. Where do you want them to be buried?" It was the least I could do for him. Maybe I was derailing from my original perspective and maybe I was getting myself into bad shit again. But just this once, I felt like doing this of my own accord. "And if your friend can be saved, I'll see to that - that he survives. Of course, I can't guarantee it." And of course, I had no idea how. 

"It is fine. Just your word is enough." He was relieved. "Anywhere but here. But if it's okay with you, please bring them to Alablaster village of Destoa. I do not know if it's still there or not, but my father's grave should be there." He held his hand to me. "Alright then, hold your hand upfront."

I never thought the day would come when I'd listen to an undead of all things. But I listened to him. Not because I pitied him but because I wanted to listen.

He held his palm against mine. His bones were cold and yet, warm at the same time.

Our minds connected for a second and memories came flooding in. His pain, sorrow, joy all came rushing in. They were warm memories. They were memories of his training days. I learned not only about spirits but also about how magic worked fundamentally. It was different from what I'd learned till now. 

Magic wasn't just something you wish and it came true, thing. It had more to do with careful calculations without actually knowing. When I cast holy magic I imagined it being particles of light. I was right to do so. And Boriosa had figured it out nearly four thousand years ago.. If he'd been treated well he would have probably changed the world for good.