The Aspiring Archivist

"Sure you could. You're immortal, and smart. You probably don't need my healing, so what do you need me for?"

"Good luck with that. Anything I can do?"

"So what is happening today? More of the same?"

"No one needs me. Not you all, and I know for a fact that no one back at home misses me. Honestly, I was a burden. The only thing I'm good for is healing." He said this matter-of-factly.

"Why are you mad at me? It was better I died than him. People need him."

"Unpleasant. You... hugged me. And then you punched me."

"Ow. You... what?" Lerac looked dazed. Suddenly, his gaze locked on her. "Wynn!"

Lerac bolted upright, gasping. "What..."

Lerac was there, still pale and unmoving.

She arrived, and everything appeared as it had been. The flowers were there, obscuring Lerac's body.

"If I did not, I would be no better than any other silly god. You have your mortal friend. Go to his body, and awaken him." Death disappeared in a swirl of mist.

"It is a lie," he remarked simply.

"Go on, then. Send your message."

Odd. I can't see you there. One of your tricks? Death was waiting for her. "So, you agree to all the terms?"

Hello Wynn. How are you feeling?

"Do that, then return here. Then I will give you the man."

Ah. I get that feeling. It just isn't always at the end of the year. I think a lot of people have those kinds of problems on the holidays, though.

Yep. Is that a bad thing for you?

Death sighed. "I am not an evil man, Wynn. I have no interest in destruction. Tell them that you are mistaken. That may not stop them, but I have more power that you know, and it should still help. As for your little trap, I would appreciate if you release me, although this is hardly a significant portion of my self. Finally, you must kill Malum. He is still weak, but he grows stronger. He is an idiot, but one such as him with that much power is even more dangerous than a less interfering deity like myself. "If you agree to this, I will give you the man Lerac. But know that if he dies on your mission, I keep him. If you fail to defeat Malum, I take him. Am I understood?" Death's apparent anger and self-important air had vanished. His tone now resembled more that of a weary parent.

"I am not here, child, I am merely a vision. If you can do nothing for me, than I will do nothing for you. Is that all, then? I suppose I'll have to go and deal with your Hunt."

"I have no involvement with Malum, child. That is hardly a bargain. You have already sent them sniffing around my underworld. I'm afraid you'll have to do a lot more if you want him back at all, let alone permanently."

"I have come to propose a deal. I don't appreciate these councilmen breathing down my neck, and I don't want to do anything drastic. If you call off your dogs, I give you the life magician for the length of your mission to kill the idiot Malum."

"Think, child. Did you really believe that I would obey the whims of that idiot god?"

"You're more of a fool than I thought." Death stood behind Wynn, unnaturally tall, emanating that cold aura.

Oh, no. I'm... so sorry, Wynn. What can I do? A sensation of cold came over Wynn. It was consuming and vast. It communicated pure entropy. It could only be one thing. Death.