Magic Within

The fat flakes of snow were taking their time, drifting leisurely down in every direction. It was bitterly crisp that morning, Nir's breath puffing into clouds that could rival a kettle, but without a strong wind to rip the warmth from his body he found the weather to be rather tolerable. It didn't hurt that he was bundled into layers of coats; Chronas had all but insisted upon it, pushing an extra one onto the astrean on the way out and refusing to take no for an answer. Exploring the frozen landscape now, he decided he appreciated it.

Precipitation wasn't much of a thing in the sea. Although Nir knew of snow, and had even seen it atop the glaciers and ice floes of a youthful trip north, the near-silent forest seemed a world all its own. Dark trees bowed under the weight, and the scattered light bathed everything in a glittering bluish hue. Even his own red markings seemed dulled by the atmosphere.

Behind him trailed an ominous shape. Chronas was about the same level of excited about everything they did together, which was to say that he'd smile in his (annoyingly) knowing way and make some casual jabs at whatever he liked least. But he did attend, seemingly content to shadow the astrean everywhere he went, and in moments alone like this Nir could almost pretend that what they had was a proper friendship. He was catching up now, his long stride making it easy; ahead, a great dark structure loomed between the trees, smooth save for its achingly detailed door, packed to each edge with grotesque carvings of beasts and brutes who hadn't walked this planet in millennia.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Chronas came to a stop a few paces away from the thing, and Nir backtracked to join him. "It's not for the faint of heart, you know."

Nir didn't need to remind Chronas of all the preparation that had gone into this tomb-delving plan. Instead he flashed him a playful smile, hands folded neatly behind his back. "Even if I wasn't, I already made my bargain with you, didn't I? No turning back."

Chronas returned the smile wryly. "I like your enthusiasm, little fish."

It wasn't untrue. Power and knowledge were not without cost, and a facet of death was nothing to be toyed with. But, Nir had always preferred play over work.... Pressing onward, he approached the door, scanning the intricate runes that danced between the twisted figures carved into it. One, a slender beast with bulging eyes, had its hands cupped with a devilish grin, beseeching him through space and time.

Nir drew a small blade from his sleeve. Its modest edge glinted in the winter light--first silver and white, then red as he sliced his palm, blood immediately pooling in its wake. A twist of the hand and it rose, crimson pearls of it drifting into the hollow where the stone figure cupped its hands; all it took was mere drops for the figure's eyes to go even wider, a glowing red light tracing like veins away from the tiny well, bringing sweet life back to the long-forgotten door.

The minute it took for every rune to be illuminated felt like an hour. Nir stepped back, but found himself bumping into Chronas, who placed a hand on his shoulder. It was icy, no doubt unbothered by the bitter cold; but as the excitement for what lay inside fermented into apprehension, Nir found himself taking that cold hand, pressing it to his cheek and leaning back into the satyr behind him.

It was a long road to the mastery of death. The consequences of failure were dire. But, the yawning pit beneath him felt so far away when his mentor was so close to him.... As the spell reached its zenith and the ancient door began to open, Nir gave the satyr's hand a tiny squeeze before descending into the depths of his tomb.