The tale of Silas

It was the next day, and while the area was not completely excavated yet, it was big enough for some weapons training. Yvraine and I faced each other as Washu watched. “From what I have seen in your memories, you have been training with your poleaxe, but without a proper teacher, you are less than average. Hopefully, by the time I am done with your training, you will be able to fight on your own, " she said as she pulled out a curved sword.

I gripped my pole axe with both hands as I looked her down ready to see what she could do. “Are you two ready?” Asked Washu as she prepared to give us the signal to start. The two of us nodded our heads before she shouted. “BEGIN!” I immediately started running toward Yvraine preparing to strike with my poleaxe but she suddenly grinned and disappeared. I wanted to stop but for some reason, I started falling, and I felt a sharp pain in my neck. I hit the ground and I rolled before I eventually stopped.

I tried speaking but no words came out. I looked around and my eyes were frozen in horror, as I saw my body standing on its blood squirting out of the stump that used to be my neck. “Yvraine seriously! you chopped off his head!” Shouted Washu as she and Yvraine came into view. Yvraine was cleaning the blood off her blade as Washu yelled at her furiously. All I could do was watch as I watched the two bicker as I watched helplessly, unable to move, unable to speak, or even breathe.

“He needs to see that gap that he needs to close to survive, plus it takes a lot more than cutting off the head of a pureblood to kill them.” Yvraine said bluntly as she sheathed her sword. Washu would only clench her fist before she ran over to me, picked up my head, and brought it back to my body. She placed my head back on and my blood regeneration kicked up quickly reiterating my head to my body and repairing any damage to my body, while my mental fortitude prevented any damage to my mind.

I took deep breaths as the feeling returned to the rest of my body, and I opened and closed my hands to make sure everything was like it was supposed to be. “I need some air,” I said suddenly walking out of the room before walking down the tunnels till I got outside. I took a few more deep breaths to settle my nerves. ‘She fucking cut off my head.’ I thought in a panic. ‘We hardly even begun training, and she did that to me. If she’s willing to do that what other torture is she willing to put me through.’ After experiencing that maybe getting the crypt may have been a terrible decision but one that was too late to rectify.

I wanted to know what I should do now. I now knew that these two, while supposedly loyal, were more than capable of cutting me down over and over if they liked. This revelation made me uneasy and unsure of what to do now. Either allow them to continue training me or try figuring things out on my own. Both did not bode well in my mind, especially with how weak Yvraine showed me I really was.

“Master!” Shouted Washu as she ran out of the dungeon and hugged me. “I’m so sorry if I had known she had planned to do that I would have stopped her.” She said, at first I was frightened at what Washu might be able to do to me, but I quickly calmed and remembered how she scolded Yvraine for her actions.

“It's alright. I’m just glad at least one of you is normal,” I said, letting out a sigh. My mind was finally calm enough to go back into the dungeon.

“Still, she shouldn't have used magic against you since you dont even know the basics yet.” Said Washu surprising me.

“She used magic, but I didn't see her do anything.” I said confused.

“Almost all forms of magic have a means of enhancing their user, not all can be easily seen with the naked eye and some are more effective than others but unholy enchantments are especially effective when used on undead beings such as us.” Washu explained as she walked beside me.

“That makes sense, but as for Yvraine, while I can not agree with how she showed me how weak I was, it was inevitably and the quicker I realized it the better.” I said. “I just hope she isn't so brutal the next time.” I said with a worried tone. “Perhaps it might be best for you to train me to use storm magic.” I suggested but she shook her head.

“Storm magic is a powerful but volatile magic. Without proper control over your magic it could seriously backfire and greatly harm you. Unholy magic is both powerful and stable so learning it first and using it to help you control your magic would be the wisest decision.” Washu told me which made me rub the back of my head in annoyance.

“When you put it that way I can't argue.” I said as I saw Yrvaine approaching us. I immediately became wary of her, and she quickly caught on to it and had a sorrowful expression on her face. “Yvraine I can understand you wanting to show me how far that gap is between you and me, but that was no the way to do it, I didn't even know I could survive being beheaded.” I said rubbing my neck.

Yrvaine said nothing and looked at the ground. “Yvraine look at me.” I told her, and while hesitant she looked up at me. “I’ll forget about this little incident, but from now on you must hold back until I can handle it. But I would like to learn magic first before we continue weapons training.” I told her, and she nodded her head in understanding. “Now Washu.” I said looking at her.

Washu looked a little surprised that the spotlight was now on her suddenly. “W-what did I do something wrong?” She asked.

“No, no.” I said shaking my head. “While Yvraine is training me, I want you to take command of the undead. Keep them on track, and make sure things are going smoothly.” I told her. She straightened up and nodded.

“Yes, master.” She said before she went back inside. After she was out of sight I turned my attention to Yvraine. “Now let's begin, the faster I learn magic the better, and if I can master unholy magic we could greatly increase our numbers.” I said rubbing my chin as I thought of the future.

“It's Best you hold off on making any plans until after you start training. Unholy has many spells and abilities you can learn. It's best to see what best suits you before you think of doing anything drastic,” Yvraine told me.

“Yes, you make a good point. Let us begin.” I said before the two of us entered the dungeon. The two of us returned to the training room to begin.

“Let us start with a simple attack spell, " she said, raising her hand, and a green flame erupted from her palm. “This is soul flame, while it is a basic spell it is versatile. It can not only burn your foes, but it can also drain them of their life force if they are within the vicinity of it and if undead are also in the vicinity, the soul flame will empower them.”

“Hmm, that seems like a very powerful spell and you said this is simple,” I said looking at the green flame in her hand in intrigue.

“Yes, this flame is rather simple compared to the other spells and abilities that unholy magic provides, and you have a long way to go to master unholy magic.” Said Yvraine.

“Yes, I think I remember you mentioning plagues when we first met.” I said as I rubbed my chin. “But how do I even use magic?” I asked as I crossed my arms as the flames in her hand died out.

“Take my hand.” She told me, holding out the hand that was once wrapped in flame. I looked down at it and hesitantly took it. “Now, I want you to close your eyes and concentrate.” She told me. I nodded before closing my eyes and focusing my thoughts, and then I felt it. I could feel something flowing through Yvraine like blood it coursed through her entire body and where her heart was I could feel the greatest concentration of it.

“Wha-what is this?” I asked opening my eyes to look at her.

“It is magical energy; I shared some of mine with you so you could feel how mine flowed through my body.” She explained, and with a smile, she took one of my hands and placed it in the center of her chest between her breasts, making me blush. “Our vampiric nature offers us many advantages, such as great strength far greater than a normal human, as well as powerful magics, and while you have no need to fear the sun, there is still one thing you should know. Your heart is your greatest weakness, you can be stabbed, beheaded, or even blown to pieces your regeneration will keep you alive as long as you have blood, but should the heart of a vampire be impaled by something blessed with holy magic, all the blood in the world may not be enough to save you.” She told me.

“But what about my resurrection skill, wouldn't that save me?” I asked her.

“Yes, but you should avoid dying whenever possible because even with your mental fortitude it can't protect you from everything, and until you can get a coffin for yourself it is best to avoid dangerous situations.” She told me. I looked at her and nodded.

“Alright I understand, but now that ive felt magic how do I use it?” I asked her.

“You must feel your magic flow through your body, after that, you’ll just have to see for yourself. Soul flame is something that can’t quite be put into words.” She said with a grin, letting my hand go as she took a few steps back. I nodded as I looked at myself. I took a deep breath as I closed my eyes. At first ,I felt nothing, but then I felt something like a drop of water, but that singular drop soon turned into a flood which rushed through my entire body. My body felt energized like I was on adrenaline, but even more intense.

“You managed to tap into it quicker than I thought you would, but you must be careful. The magic of a pure-blood is quite intense, so you must be cautious how much magic you use lest you lose control of it.” Yvraine as she crossed a smile plastered on her face as she watched me intently. She took another step back before she spoke again. “Now bring out your flame.” She told me.

I was still a little confused, but I nodded. I imagined the flames that I saw Yvraine create, after a few moments, my body felt warm, but there was no fire. “You're getting close, but you’re not quite there yet, you must focus it.” Yvraine told me. I took a deep breath and then let it out. I could feel the heat start to pool in one but I could feel something else as well, something welling up deep inside my being.

Yvraine seemed to sense this as well and looked worried. “Master, you may want to stop.” She said but I felt like I was close to getting to creating soul flame. “Master, please stop, you dont know what you.” She tried to say but she was too late, as a large sphere of green flame formed above my hands, but things didn't end there. From where I stood, cracks started to form in the cave floor, which gave off a green light as they spread throughout the tunnels, and perhaps through the entire dungeon.

“What just happened.” I said as I looked around, worried as the green light that seeped through the cracks started to intensify which Yvraine chuckled nervously.

“It seems I may have underestimated your affinity for unholy magic.” She said with a nervous smile.

“Which means?” I asked before the save started to shake.

“The dungeons is about to get a bit crowded.” She as she sweat nervously, just as skeletal arms spouted from the floor, walls and even the ceiling of the cave.

TO BE CONTINUED