Chapter 23: The man you brought to life

When Errik returned from the veranda he had a slightly wild look in his eyes. Veretta approached him at once and they began a turn of the room. In hushed voices, Veretta enquired into his conversation with the Red General.

"Well, what did he say? Will he help us?" she asked.

" He can't," Errik said with his gaze firmly planted ahead." He was lying, little necromancer, "

"About what?" Veretta glanced at him confused.

" He doesn't know how to help me," Errik gave a small smile, "I doubt he even knows me at all. He's just a demon and demons love to lie. But it's okay. We don't need him,"

Veretta halted in her step. She put her hand on Errik's arm stopping him as well, " but your magic Errik, it was so unstable before...what if it happens again?"

"It won't, " Errik met her gaze with a smile, " because you won't let it. Just stay by my side and command me as you did before, "

"But Errik..."Veretta started.

At that moment Errik took Veretta by the hands, " I trust you, Veretta. I know you won't hurt me, that's why I can say these words. It's not because I think you're a monster. It's because I know you are good and you...make me want to be good too. So just say you trust me and I will give you everything,"

Veretta felt uneasy but smiled nonetheless, "I trust you, Errik."

He pulled her close and they embraced tightly.

Veretta left the evening feeling all was right. More than right. It felt like a dream. She rose the next morning feeling eager to proceed with her research. Now that Errik had put her mind to rest, she could focus on the task at hand. After discussing a plan with Tomas, they set to work.

In the mornings, they met with Tomas for breakfast and they discussed their plans. Yona did not join them anymore since the general had arrived. He had remained on campus though they barely saw him for the most part. Meanwhile, during the afternoons, Veretta and Errik spent time in the library.

Veretta had even managed to source him a pair of glasses. He looked quite the part of the student and had almost as much interest in the books as Veretta did. Although every now and again, his interest turned from research to other concerns.

Come late afternoon, he slipped his hand into Veretta's and they departed to their usual secluded spot. His kisses only grew hungrier and more passionate by the day. Veretta couldn't get enough of it...

She had been in relationships in the past but none like this. She felt shivers go down her spine under his intense gaze. It wasn't just that. His knowledge of magic, intelligence and decisive nature were a source of wonder to Veretta. She still retained a small glimmer of hope that the man who wrote that book was still inside Errik.

One night, they ended up staying later than usual in the library. Errik offered to get them some food and Veretta gratefully accepted. The library was practically empty and they could often get away with taking a meal there. Veretta found herself reading with a smile. When was the last time she felt this happy? It was only a week since the ball but it felt like a month.

Across from her, she heard the seat pull out and lowered her book with a smile.

"Back already..." Veretta stopped abruptly.

"You look so pretty when you smile, miss witch," the Red General smirked," you should do it more often,"

Veretta swallowed uneasily." What do you want?"

"Where is your little pet wizard?" He leant on one hand with a grin.

" Not here but he'll be back, "Veretta met his gaze severely.

"That's fine. It's you I want to talk to, "the general inhaled deeply," It's about Errik,"

"Before I answer anything," Veretta glared at him suspiciously, "Why don't you tell me how exactly you know Errik?"

" Didn't he tell you?" The general smiled.

"Forgive my rudeness general but..."Veretta began.

"You can call me Ace," the general interceeded, " I don't really like titles, "

"Ace then," Veretta said through gritted teeth, " forgive my rudeness but I don't think you know Errik at all. I ask how you know him, it's a simple question. Why can't you answer? "

" You seem quite angry at me, miss witch," Ace remarked," I wonder what for? Didn't I save you and your quaint little village?"

"In exchange for answering a couple of questions? " Veretta smiled coldly, " I don't believe it can be that easy,"

"Yet you accepted!" Ace gave a laugh, " I can't tell whether you're smart or dumb, miss witch,"

"Even if you change your mind later on, you can't defeat Errik," Veretta replied severely. "So whatever game you're trying to play, I suggest you come out with it,"

" Oh miss witch, what confidence you have in him," Ace smirked.

" You conceded the moment you saw him," Veretta said shrewdly, " because you knew you couldn't defeat him,"

Ace gave an amused smile, " hmm, that's an interesting theory."

" You called him your friend, but I don't think that's true," Veretta replied sharply.

"You're quite right," Ace chuckled, " friend is something I decided on my own."

"Then what were you?" Veretta gained ferocity. "Where did you meet him? When?"

She hardly expected an answer but she would have been satisfied just to see him back down. Ace appeared to think on the question for a moment. Then the coldness returned to his gaze.

"I met him here," Ace answered with a smile." Did you know that this was the first college on the continent?"

" I did," Veretta said slowly. " Errik is the one who started the colleges but that is common knowledge,"

"Is it?" Ace murmured, "well, suffice to say, the black wizard was my master,"

" You were one of the black wizard's students?" Veretta stared at him surprised. " You, a demon?"

Ace didn't answer but simply smiled.

" Even if that's the case, you were just a student." Veretta stood her ground, " and Errik was the master,"

" That was over three hundred years ago!" Ace grinned. "Don't you think the student would have surpassed the master by now?"

Veretta clenched her fist," There is no one who surpasses Errik,"

"If that's true, how do you think he died?"Ace smiled darkly.

Veretta released a breath with difficulty. There was something about the general's intense stare that made her uneasy.

"Did you kill him?" Veretta's voice trembled slightly.

The stories never accounted for how he had died. Could it be this demon was the one that killed him?

"Me?" Ace sat back with a smug smile and drew a hand through his raven hair. 'Hmm...no, though not through lack of trying,"

Veretta released a relieved breath but her severity soon return, "but if you claim you know him, you must know who did,"

Since the general seemed so determined to look into Errik, Veretta hoped she might secure some information out of him as well. However, he quickly called her bluff with a cold rejoinder.

"I think Errik would be angry if I told you the answer to that," he tilted his head to one side with apparent disinterest.

"Then what do you know?" Veretta scoffed.

"Let me tell you what I remember, miss witch," he leant forward with his wide consuming eyes upon her, "the black wizard was an extremely dangerous person. The things they wrote about him aren't exactly true but nonetheless, he was manipulative, sometimes cruel and utterly consumed by ambition. That is the man you brought back to life. "

"You're wrong," Veretta answered quickly, " That may have been who he was before but that isn't who he is now. The present Errik has no agenda against you. We just want Silthus. We have no quarrel with you,"

" A quarrel with Silthus is a quarrel with me, "Ace let a derisive laugh, "but since you have my master I have had to protect you,"

" Why?"Veretta asked quietly. "What for?"

"To help him," Ace's black eyes appeared earnest, " so he doesn't make the same mistakes as before, "

"What mistake?" Veretta asked fearfully.

Suddenly, a set of plates slammed on the table between Veretta and the Red General. Errik wrapped his hands around the general's collar and ripped him out of the seat.

"I thought I told you to stay out of my business!" Errik snapped.

"Careful," the general held up his hands as his lips curled into a grin, "there's that nasty temper again. Are you sure you want miss witch to see it?"

Errik's eyes widened and he threw the general back with a shove. His eyes fell to the floor with barely contained agitation. The general leant back on the table indifferently swiping a chip of food from their plates.

"Hmm, this bland," he commented and tossed it back on their plate.

He sniffed seemingly unconcerned with either of them as he stared down at Veretta.

"Well, think about what I said, miss witch. Time is of the essence,"he said at length

With that, he left them alone once more.

"Errik," Veretta looked at him apprehensively. "what exactly.."

"Can you eat without me tonight?" Errik interrupted before she could finish.

Then before waiting for the answer, he disappeared.