The Wielder of Death Magic

“What’s the matter, Undrar?” wondered Igna, “-I thought...”

“You thought wrong,” her focus zoomed upon the lass’ peculiar wounds, “-she’s been riddled with bullets, I must know how she died. Raphael resorting to the bodies and matching the souls is a simple thing. The body won’t be used for the recovery, will it? and I know I’ll have to find her soul.”

“Astute and sharp-tongued,” the collective regards turned towards Julius who bore a look of disrepair.

“She died trying to rescue me. Laurance and I were trapped in the kitchen, the assassin took one of his arms, we had no option to act. One bullet remained, I pulled from the counter the moment her steps stopped – pressure in that instant, I missed and she managed to fire her blades. Laurance, fortunately, created a barrier, I thought I hit at first, but no, my bullet landed on the wall and her head exploded. I glanced at the corridor and saw Malley with a gun, pregnant or not, my wife’s still a murderer for the church. She breathed a smile and accepted the incoming barrage, I couldn’t do anything.”

“Understood,” fired Undrar, “-no need for a show of tears, we know how much she meant to you,” the eyes rolled, “-I’ll ask the angels to bring her soul.”

“Here’s my plan,” said Igna unmounting a bench, “-Julius, the Shadow Realm won’t be long until permanent damage is left.”

.....

“What do you need?” there laid determination in righting a wrong, “-anything, cousin, anything!”

“That’s what I like to hear,” a tap of the fingers and some gestures upon the dirtied wooden floor conjured a magical circle. Lines within the set area had neither geometric nor symmetrical sense. By all accounts, what stood were stray lines pushed abstractly. Undrar, counting her knowledge from Death’s library of knowledge, stared dumbfounded at what the symbols meant. ‘-No way the activation will work,’ said the sternly judgemental sneer.

“Don’t question me,” he returned, sensing her growingly sinister stare.

“Don’t disturb me,” she fired, “-let me call upon the angels,” by Julius and Raphael’s surprise, Undrar reached under her armor and pulled onto a flip-phone, her fingers slid across the number-pad, “-yeah, hello, you’re god speaking. Has any soul by the name of Malley, here,” it unglued from her ears and snapped a picture of the body, “-there, anyone who looks like that?” by the nods and gentle motions, good news awaited.

“She’s there,” the phone snapped, “-her soul’s being transported.” Before her loomed expressions of concern, “-don’t bother,” she fired at Julius, “-this little device here has access to gods, angels, and demons alike. Let me tell you when deities take a liking to the mortal realm, they often steal said devices.”

“Heaven seems nice,” said Raphael, “-not that I’ll ever experience it,” a randomly thrown remark, none knew what was meant, nor did they care to decipher

“Done,” proclaimed Igna, “-Julius, mold a vessel for your wife.”

Immediately, Undrar leaped forth and did an ‘X’ with her arms, “-what little remaining lifeforce will kill the twins, is that the end goal?”

“We don’t have time for assurance. I won’t guarantee their survival. Julius,” he glared, “-create the damned vessel or I retract the Shadow Realm.”

“Molding a body won’t be easy,” he said, “-tis complex and requires time.”

“None of which we have,” he snapped above Julius’s head, a cloud of rain summoned and cried droplets grey, “-supplements, take them and create a damn body.”

Julius’s mind drew a blank, the muffled rain upon his skin felt nice, ‘-the shot in power,’ he paused, ‘-each drop’s a massive pool of mana, and cousin’s throwing it around like nothing. Summon a body for Malley, come on,’ the eyes shut, ‘-start at her core and build around, the structure, the layers, and finally, the skin.’

Beginning of a waist hovered above Igna’s created circle, “-Undrar,” he said in a lowered tone, “-as he creates the body, I want another soul to reside into the wife’s body. Have it last a few hours – about enough time for us to take her to the hospice and extract the twins. Premature births are gambles.”

“Is that why you called me here?”

“No, if I remember, you’re the one who came...”

“So much for being a good friend,” her shoulder rose, the crinkles around her lips strained.

“Undrar, I’m sorry, there are things I must do to honor the promises I’ve made.”

“Taking the moniker of Devil literally. Let me say this, Igna, if you follow the path of Alfred, the end result will be evil incarnate. Same soul or whatnot, the personalities differs. All the boasting about accepting who you are is but a show, don’t lie to me, I see straight through. Take a good look inside and decide, there are plenty of voices. Resonate with one – Staxius, Tempest, me, the Silver Guardians, our characters and memories all have a part in the decisions you make,” she smiled, “-don’t forget, I bear the title of Death Reaper. The element inside is dead, not to be awakened again – you surrendered it for the betterment of an entire realm and the rescue of Persephone, your lady mother. Good or bad, I don’t know, my job’s to guide the dead, not the living. Regardless of the outcome, I’m a friend, and will always remain a friend. Don’t forget it,” her palms kindly rested on his forearm, “-my mark,” she chuckled, “-it’s still alive and well,” her face tilted as she admired the neck, “-I have my answer.”

“Can’t well remove an awesome mark,” focus turned to the building and broken items, “-inanimate objects broken and defiled, be restored, return to thy prior glory. Heal and shine anew for I, Watcher of the Shadow Realm, order so.” A tremor in a sterile and silent environment pulsed similar to explosions close to one’s ears. Subtle shakes created waves of backlash – ripples flowed through walls and hit.

“Tough,” Raphael buckled, ‘-it’s like being punched in the stomach,’ he dropped on one knee, “-master, you’re too entuned.”

Julius and Igna’s focused pupils linked, deeply crimson inside which burnt the symbol of Alfred, and amber-gold, wherein burnt the symbol of creation, they blinked in tandem, *Thud,* a simultaneous end of each spell.

*Gasp,* “-I’ve done it,” panted Julius. Malley’s empty body hovered in a tub of energy, Igna’s circle activated the moment the last cell formed. In the entrance hallway, Igna’s right cheeks bore lines of black of which were ancient writings running from the chest, up the neck and hooked the eye, ‘-use more of my power,’ said a distance echo, an outline stood blankly, no face nor recognizable features. “-Alfred,” he returned, “-you belong to me,” he gritted, “-we’re one and the same. Thy rage is mine to bear, surrender and rest, leave all in my hands,” the palm faced up and held Lucifer’s wings, “-I will take back what was stolen from us. I will have revenge on our creators, they’ll pay, there’s no mistake. Undrar was wrong, I have accepted who I am, and if the path deviated to wrong, I shall make the wrong right.” The gray outline cracked, half of the mask fell and revealed his face, Staxius’s visage, “-we’re the same,” he walked and phased into Igna. The heart pulsed, the Death element reacted, “-we’re the same,” he said, another mark burnt itself on the combined symbol of Origin, Death, Time, and Nike, a simple circle which englobed the symbols of power.

“Igna,” hurried from the common room, “-you done?”

“Yeah, I’m done,” he stood straight and exhaled, ‘-thank you, Undrar, the doubt brought what little reservations I had. Not anymore, I’m complete.’

“The souls are here,” said Undrar, two orbs fluttered above her index, “-get to healing.”

A simple motion brought the souls over, he nodded at Undrar and moved to the body. Raphael took the liberty of placing Malley’s actual body on a stretcher. “-Undrar, you’ll stay and watch?”

“Damn right,” she said proudly.

“Lose the armor and look pretty,” he said in jest, “-Raphael, you stay. Some people need healing once they reach the hospice. Julius, keep a close eye on Malley’s actual body – the moment the souls are transmigrated, I’ll retract the Shadow Real. It’s going to be sudden, grit and endure.” Drop dripped, time halted, *Conjured from the powers of which rules the law of nature, summoned to aid, mine quest art be left alone. Reality is as I dictate, matters affected in Mantia ought to be reflected in the outside world. Realm Retraction Shadow Realm Variant – Rantiam,* a deep, low rumble clanged.

*Thud,* time resumed – television toggled, those on verge of death reawakened. The distant clamor of helicopters marked the return to reality.

“Since last night, a deadly storm has laid its clutches over the capital. Military, the fire department, and the national disaster team have worked through thick and thin to answer calls of troubled citizens. Meteorologists are astounded at the sudden change, the vicious clouds have traveled throughout Oxshield and caused landslides,” the newscaster looked to her side, the camera panned onto a formally dressed gentleman, “-prime minister,” she said, “-it’s to our knowledge that many have gone missing in the storm. In the last hour, flash floods and overall bad weather are eased.”

“Mother nature is a force to be reckoned with. With certainty, the various teams involved are working to bring a calm and peaceful resolution to the unprecedented matter,” lighting knocked power, the screen blackened, “-éclair’s on damage control,” said Igna nonchalantly. The soul transfer was completed without incidents.

Time read 07:00, ‘-morning already,’ he gasped, a sharp pain ran up the legs and smacked against his lower back, “-master,” heels echoed onto the common area, “-the... wait what?”

“Don’t bother, Yui, the manor and servants have been healed. Call a helicopter, we should rush Malley to the hospital.”

“Understood,” she turned, her dress wrapped around her knee and dashed forth, the unconscious fighters rose and immediately grabbed their head, “-pain!” some yelped, a pulsing headache restrained much of their thoughts. Any attempts in remembering what transpired were locked, Igna made sure to affect the memories.

Pink short hair landed, the heart throbbed, “-Julius,” the facial features were younger and sharper – one could say prettier than her true face. The lips were moderately sized, her nose bore the petite sharpness knock to the Iqeavean people, her hair gently covered her ears. Long eyelashes fluttered on the unconscious ‘Malley,’ she stumped into Julius’s arms, “-that’s me, is it not?”

“Malley, dear Malley,” said a voice in the distance, “-much has happened,” helicopter chops approached, Yui pulled about halfway into the room and motioned, “-we have much to discuss,” the couple stared at Igna, “-today onward, Malley Haggard is dead.”

“Pardon?” gulped Julius, “-she’s here, no?”

“Julius, Malley, who will believe in a tale of soul transfer. She should die. Allow her death to mean something, I did mention the events will be as I dictate.”

Long nails clawed at Julius’s chest, “-what about the infant,” she shook.

“We’ll take them to the hospice,” on those words said, paramedics ran into the room, Igna gave a summary and they took her away. The confused crowd of guests, including Courtney, Elvira, and Elon, watched through blurred stares. Igna took centerstage, Julius and Malley rushed outside and flew alongside the unconscious Malley. Raphael and Undrar opted to stand further in the crowd, Vanesa climbed the stairs and latched on Raphael, “-what did I miss?” she yawned.

“Only you can sleep through a massacre,” he snorted, “-look over there.”

“Hear me one and all,” thundered Igna, “-I understand many of you have trouble remembering what’s happened, and I would not blame you. There’re side effects associated with weapons created by the Cobalt Unit. We were attacked, many were injured, a few lost their lives. The enemy was stopped by our combined force, notice bloodstains, we fought them until the last man, be proud of what we achieved.”