The Aspiring Archivist

"I'm not sure. I think it depends. When I got my soul all... messed up, it was because I got caught with my body halfway separated from my Cognitive aspect. But when I died, I was in Death's domain. Maybe it's sort of everything at once? One way or another, whatever information you're made up of is preserved, at least for a little while."

"More pleasant than getting caught in between the two, though."

"I can tell you it's not pleasant."

"I don't think he hates it. Anyway, he would be dead otherwise. But yeah, probably not."

He walked out with her. "Looks like Lerac is back to work."

TAAron looked to Haly. "Maybe we should wait outside for a bit?"

When they arrived, they found Aventine talking to the form of a young boy, made of a bluish light. Behind the boy was Lerac, now cloaked in dark gray and leaving an afterimage behind with any movement.

TAAron nodded. "Hopefully we get a break, though."

"Think we'll end up in a dangerous quest again?"

As they began to walk, he spoke again. "Whatever happens, we do our best to stay together, okay? No going alone to protect the other, or anything like that. Unless something is specifically dangerous to just one of us, or something."

He tried to let go of the strange dread for now. Everything's okay right now. It's perfect. He smiled warmly at her and kissed her on the cheek before reluctantly pulling away and standing up.

"I think I am. I like it here, though. I kind of wish we could just stay like this."

"Want to go see what's going on with the others?"

A bluish light appeared in Lerac's hand. He cast it in front of him, and Lukas appeared, forming out of the same light. @Ancient Elantrian

"Yeah, of course. You want to do it now, then?"

"Are you sure you want to do it?" he asked concernedly.

"Okay." He smiled uncertainly. "He agreed."

"I don't want to, either. I'm just worried. I can leave it."

"I'm... back to work. And I talked to Death."

Lerac lowered his hood to make his face clearly visible. "Aventine?"

Lerac died, more or less. Though for him, that meant something different than was typical. He appeared in Death's throne room, before the god himself at a kneel, the cold still filling him, nearly unbearable. He remembered feeling this at first. With time, he would get used to it again. The room was cavernous and made of of dark stone and trimmed with that same burnt-seeming metal that made the hilt of Lerac's dagger. Massive double doors stood at one end, and a fairly modest throne at the other, both made of the same materials. There were also neat stacks of papers around the floor, and sheets of writing fluttered in and out of the room through a gap in the ceiling that let in the pale light of Death's domain, assisted by gray flames in braziers that gave the room a desaturated appearance. He looked up, meeting his master's gaze. Today, it was displeased. "You disobeyed me, Lerac." Death's eyes held twin flames, and his angular features formed a scowl. His voice sounded weary, but it reverberated with a powerful force in the chamber. "You know very well that you should not have healed the woman with the scar on her neck. I do not make a habit of meddling with other gods. You also healed knowing full well that doing so could harm you. I cannot give you leave if you go risking yourself on petty things. There is much at stake." Lerac held his gaze, and just nodded solemnly. He wasn't particularly afraid of Death. He knew the god would not punish easily, nor would he stay angry. Despite immense power, he was reasonable and followed strict restraints on how he used it, without any indication that doing so felt like a hinderance. Lerac did know that Death was right in his admonitions, and he internally reprimanded himself for his choices, though he knew that he would still do the same again. After a moment, he spoke up. "Aventine wants to speak to her son Lukas, who recently died." He did not need to specify. Death was not ignorant of people, especially those that Lerac knew and spent time with. Death sighed. "You know that that can hurt more that it helps." "I think that it can provide closure, master." Lerac met his burning eyes with determination. "Aventine is a friend. She has lost a lot, recently. I would like you to do this for her. She won't try to overstep, and I think she can handle it. It was a recent loss, anyway, which could make it easier." "Or, if she has not fully accepted the loss, it could make it worse." Lerac stared Death down. He figured it was a toss of a coin as to whether Death would accept. The god was not inconsistent, but he had his own way of making decisions that took into account more than Lerac could comprehend. There was nothing more he could say that would have any meaningful effect. That last exchange probably hadn't either. He hoped, though, that he was right about the situation. "You waste my time on frivolity, avatar. But very well. I assume you want to do it?" Lerac exhaled, letting his eyes drop, and releasing a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He didn't need to breathe in this state, but it usually felt too odd and uncomfortable not to. He may not have been afraid of Death, but it was still uncomfortable and tense facing him like that. He nodded. "Thank you." There was a tugging sensation, and Lerac appeared back in the Clinic library as through from shadows. He wore a grey cloak now, and his whole body left an afterimage with his movement just as his dagger had, both indicators of his leave being at an end. @Spark of Hope TAAron thought a moment longer. "The connection between us, though..." He shook his head. "Never mind. It's fine."

TAAron nodded. "Then it really did happen." He looked distressed. "I'm worried that there might be consequences I don't know about to getting all of this energy."

"That dream? I think so... Did you maybe see me glowing at any point while I was asleep?"