Ahead of the Storm - Day 36

Cauldron, Three Months Ago

Though magic was permitted within the walls of the Obelisk Tower, Soulerio enjoyed walking through the dark corridors rather than using his memorized transportation spells. Eventually he reached his destination and stood before a set of massive doors. Reaching for the handle he suddenly stopped, spinning around as he thought he heard a familiar voice speak his name. With no one in sight he returned to the door, opened it and slowly stepped in.

Librarian: "Good evening Professor Drayevarg. You're right on time as usual."

Soulerio: "Yes, and a good eve to you as well Ms. Andise. Are the books I required at my usual spot?"

Librarian: "Oh they are indeed."

Soulerio: "Excellent. However I shall require another source this eve and was wondering if we had it within our walls."

Librarian: "You're in luck Professor, as we do indeed have what you are looking for."

Fully concentrated in his reading and oblivious to his surrounding, nearly an hour had passed without any interruptions until someone sitting across from him placed their hand upon his book and lowered it so that their eyes met.

Soulerio: "It's you again... why am I not surprised. How long were you sitting there this time?"

???: "Who else would it be? As for how long, it doesn't really matter because I didn't want to disturb you."

Soulerio: "Perhaps you didn't realize this... but your disturbing me now and I'd like to be alone."

???: "You always want to be alone, so why not open up a little? Besides me you don't mave many people whom you can call a friend."

Soulerio: "I choose to be alone for good reason. I will not be fooled again by people who call themselves 'friend'."

???: "That wasn't your fault. None of the horrible things that happened, and the resulting deaths was directly your fault. You have to let that go. You..."

Soulerio: "NO! It was my fault and I have to redeem myself. If not in the eyes of others... then in my own."

???: "Is that why you spend weeks reaching how to perfect the resurrection spell and have been going around bringing back the souls that were loss?"

Soulerio: "So you're still keeping tabs on me after all this time?"

???: "It's actually common news around these parts. The mighty cleric of Vecna performing the miracle of re-life for free. Who wouldn't have heard of it. Besides... you know that everyone believes in you and knows that you're a good man. In my eyes... you've already proven yourself."

Soulerio: "Enough... I will not repeat myself again. We had a similar conversation last night. Come to think of it, it's been a few days you've come to see me and we've talked about this. Why do you keep coming to me?"

???: "Because I care about your well being, and clearly keeping all this bottled up inside is bothering you. What else do you have to prove? Just talk to me about it."

Soulerio: "I don't want to waste my time talking about past mistakes. Action speak more than words."

???: "I know what you need. Take a break from all your teaching here at the Arcane Tower and do some travelling. Take in new sites and experiences."

Soulerio: "I rather enjoy teaching the Dark Arts. I'm also attempting to teach others not to abuse the power that it gives and the many temptations that come with it."

???: "Does that mean you've stopped creating undead beings?"

Soulerio: "Do you hear those voices still lingering around me? I won't stop experimenting with the undead until all those voices become silent."

???: "Do you not see the problem? You keep going round and round. You're stuck in a rut. You play with the Dark Arts, which will come back to haunt you. You're nothing more than a puppet for these spirits which only you can hear clearly. You're still blaming yourself for the first screw up you partook in and your trying to redeem yourself which as I said you've done. The world isn't in danger, nor are you any hero so just relax and take it easy."

Soulerio: "How dare you insult my intelligence. I know how to handle myself and will not make the same mistakes twice. If I still want to try and correct any mistakes from my past, then that is my own business. If you've come to argue with me... then you can just leave now."

???: "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I just thought perhaps you and I could travel together. See and explore the world that was saved before something else rears its ugly head. You're a good man, you have a lot of heart and spirit but I'm worried that the Dark Arts and clinging to your past will corrupt you.

Soulerio: "How touching. Though I do not need you to tell me what kind of a man I am.

???: "Very well. But you still haven't given an answer to travelling with me. You and me side by side, helping one another helping others, talking, laughing... I think getting to know one another better would do us some good."

Soulerio: "I think we know each other well enough, and travelling with you isn't quite on my agenda. To be truthful I am very busy as my responsibilities have increased within the tower and we've made a make through with a new form of magic. Therefore I must decline your offer."

???: "Are you certain? You seem to be working allot recently. Maybe I can help you."

Soulerio: "No."

???: "Massages relieve stress... perhaps that is all you need. I can massa...

Soulerio: "NO!"

???: "I'm just trying to help."

Soulerio: "It's unneeded. I just want to be left alone to study."

???: "I want to be here for you. I want to be with y..."

Finally unable to contain his anger, Soulerio stands up knocking his chair over raising his voice to ensure the individual he is speaking to will most defiantly hear him.

Soulerio: "Pellegri, will you just shut up and leave me alone! I liked you better when you were that cute little naive girl we found in the Temple. At first I had respect for you and hoped to teach you many things... I even cared for you... but now you're just a pain in my side. It's because of you I couldn't delve into my experiments of the undead in fear of you destroying them! It's because of you Malam and I died and not once did you even come close to facing death! You're nothing but a second rate cleric who thinks your the most important individual in the world and is the only one to stop the problems trying to take care of things all by yourself. I wish you never embraced the religious ways of Palor and had stayed cooped up within the halls of St. Cuthbert cleaning the blood from the floors. For that matter... I wish clerics of Palor never existed at all so that the undead could roam freely without fear of being destroying, so that they can live out the unlife that they so deserve! I wish I had the power to kill all of you Palorians!

Hearing a loud ruckus in the far corner of her library, Ms. Andise rushed towards the area that Soulerio was in, wand in her hand as she feared a battle would ensue. As she rounded the corner and saw Soulerio yelling she began to speak to the professor.

Librarian: " Professor is everything alright?! I heard a loud commotion and thought you were in trouble.

Quickly turning around to face the Librarian, the red faced man continued to speak in a somewhat raised voice.

Soulerio: "Of course everything isn't alright! The peasant behind me won't stop pestering and harassing me! How she even got within the tower is a mystery to me in itself as she does not have permission!"

Looking past the professors shoulder and casting a spell of her own, her eyes began to glow for but a second or two.

Librarian: Excuse me but Professor Drayevarg... there isn't anyone behind you, nor did anyone else enter the library this eve except for you.

Turning around once more, Soulerio began looking around.

Soulerio: "Now where did you disappear to this time...?"