The Genesis Of A Necromancer

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The barren expanse stretched endlessly before them, a desolate canvas of black sands and jagged hilltops that rose like shadows against the horizon. The air was still, the faint crunch of their footsteps the only sound breaking the eerie silence. Jack walked slightly ahead, his fingers flipping through the worn pages of his book. His expression was a mix of concentration and frustration as his lips parted, then closed again.

'If I can remember very well…' he pondered, trailing off as his gaze scanned the cryptic symbols on the page. Something tugged at the edges of his memory—a fleeting thought that refused to solidify. When the realization struck, he snapped the book shut and turned to Alisha.

"The demons have several races," Jack began, his voice steady but tinged with the weight of his words. "But there are only three dominant ones. Here on the third planes, the ruling party is the Zharuks. And we're heading straight for their settlement." His eyes wandered to the horizon, his tone turning thoughtful.

Alisha frowned slightly. "And where exactly is this settlement? Do you even know?"

Jack hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line. 'The only problem is,' he thought, 'I don't know which of the cities we'll find ourselves in.' Out loud, he said, "There are three cities on the third plane. Krakor is where Zomaza should probably be…"

He let the sentence hang in the air.

"And if we walk into the wrong one?" Alisha asked sharply, crossing her arms.

Jack sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Let's just pray we don't end up in our enemies' den. Thanks to the blood of the beast, we'll pass as lesser demons to most. But to higher devils? They'll see right through us."

Alisha's sharp eyes bore into him, her mistrust palpable. "Very well then," she said slowly. "But if this is some elaborate trap to capture me—"

"Relax," Jack interrupted with an exasperated wave of his hand. "I'm not suicidal enough to take on the entire third plane. If you want to take the whole realm down with you, feel free. Until then, let's focus on survival."

Alisha rolled her eyes, muttering something unintelligible under her breath. Her gaze lingered on Jack for a moment, her thoughts unspoken. Before the fight, he'd looked like a walking corpse, his body gaunt and lifeless. But now, his movements were fluid, his eyes sharp, his energy seemingly replenished. 'How did he recover so quickly?' she wondered. Though his face was still pale, it seemed natural now, as though his very being thrived in this infernal realm.

Their journey continued in silence until the outline of a massive gate loomed in the distance. Intricate carvings adorned its surface, the most prominent being a horned sigil etched at its center. As they drew closer, the details became clearer—two stout demons, clad in dark, metallic armor, stood guard. Their short spears gleamed ominously, even in the dim light of the plane's false sun.

"Another exhausting day," one of the guards grumbled, pacing in irritation. "Why do we always have to stand watch? Nothing ever happens out here."

His companion leaned on his spear, yawning lazily. "You can never tell," he replied. "Nok wouldn't be happy if we abandoned our post. Better bored than dead."

The first demon groaned but stopped abruptly as he spotted Jack and Alisha approaching. He nudged his partner with a sharp elbow. "Hey, look over there. Tall ones, aren't they?"

His companion squinted, his black eyes narrowing. "They ain't nobles—no horns." He pointed a clawed finger at Jack and Alisha's foreheads.

"Right, right. My mistake," the first demon chuckled, scratching the back of his head.

The guards straightened as Jack and Alisha stopped a few feet away. The first demon coughed and puffed out his chest, his voice gruff as he demanded, "Who are you, mates? State your business."

Alisha glanced at Jack, her face betraying her unease. They hadn't discussed what to say upon arrival, but Jack seemed unfazed. He stepped forward, his expression neutral but his tone rehearsed. "We're lost. Our city was attacked, and we were chased by monsters. We barely escaped with our lives."

The guards exchanged glances, their dull eyes reflecting skepticism but little intelligence. "Monsters, you say?" one of them asked, leaning forward. "What kind?"

Jack shrugged nonchalantly. "Didn't get a good look. We ran before they could kill us."

The guards nodded in unison, their lack of curiosity almost laughable. "Right, right. Dangerous things, monsters," one muttered. "You're safe now. Enter the village, and we'll see about helping you find your way home."

As the gates creaked open, Alisha's tension eased slightly—until one of the demons stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with a lecherous glint. "Ah, what a beauty," he murmured, reaching for her hand. His gaze lingered shamelessly as he added, "Come, let's make babies."

Alisha froze, her face contorting in disgust. Before she could respond, Jack burst into laughter, his shoulders shaking as he struggled to hold back. 'Rub it more,' he thought mischievously, watching the scene unfold.

"What the—" Alisha started, her voice rising with indignation.

Jack intervened quickly, placing a hand over her mouth. "We're married," he said smoothly, casting a meaningful glance at Alisha. His eyes silently screamed, 'Don't blow our cover, idiot!'

The demon's demeanor shifted immediately. "Ah, my apologies, mate," he said, stepping back sheepishly. His companion smacked him on the head.

"Shameless!" the second guard scolded. Turning back to Jack and Alisha, he said, "Please, forgive my friend. You're free to enter the village. Stay as long as you need."

Jack offered a curt nod, while Alisha seethed silently beside him. 'Good thing demons respect marriage, surprising though. Humans can't manage it' Jack thought.

They passed through the gates without a word, the bustling village unfolding before them. The settlement was alive with activity—demons of various shapes and sizes bartered, argued, and went about their business. The air was thick with the acrid smell of sulfur and smoke, and the ground beneath them was rough and uneven.

Jack surveyed the scene, his mind racing with possibilities. 'We made it past the gates, but the real challenge starts now,' he thought. Alisha's glare burned into the side of his head, but he ignored it, his focus fixed on the task ahead.

As they wove through the crowd, Jack's thoughts turned inward. 'This place is crawling with devils and Zharuk enforcers. One wrong move, and we're dead.' He glanced at Alisha, who walked beside him with rigid poise, her face a mask of control. 'But at least she's keeping her temper in check—for now.'

They stopped at a small stall, its wares an assortment of strange meats and glowing trinkets. Jack reached for a coin pouch, only to realize it was empty. The vendor glared at him expectantly, and Jack cursed under his breath.

"Let's keep moving," Alisha said coldly, tugging at his arm. He followed reluctantly, his eyes scanning the bustling crowd for any sign of trouble—or opportunity.

"We need to eat something. You've expanded a lot of energy and so have I, you can stay without food, but it's best we have something inside" Jack said calmly, and Alisha stopped for second.

"Very well then do what you must. Let's eat" Alisha said, throwing him a glare that didn't seem to be in full support.

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[A/N: Hey, Lautrim... Do me a favor and upgrade to the third tier please. Pretty please, sniffles]