A Bored Lich

The group went further along the winding tunnels, which all sloped downwards. Sweat dripped off of the inheritor just like the fresh salamander blood from his weapons. Even though he only got small breaks in between every fight, even though he wheezed and coughed, he continued onwards.

"You know, I don't get humans," the Lich said. "Take for example, you. Why are you here?" The inheritor didn't respond, but the Lich prodded him with his spearpoint. "Speak." The inheritor kept walking in silence so the Lich applied more pressure. The spear's tip dug further into the inheritor's shirt until it broke through and pierced the surface of the skin. "I don't have any reservations about killing you. Especially since he wants you to realize that-" the Lich doubled over, clutching his head. His eyes went in and out of focus. The entire cave shook, sending cracks down the stone. "Speak human!" the Lich ordered, trying to get to his feet.

The inheritor looked to the brat and the deformed girl, who were being flung about and trying to make sense of the situation. "I already told you it's for my sister!" the inheritor yelled and the shaking subsided. "For the goddess's sake I'm doing this for her, to protect her in case anything comes after her." He ran over and helped Thomas get his rapidly swelling ankle out of a crack in the ground.

"I think it's just twisted," the deformed girl said. "Listen to me. Make a rhythmic pressure with life essence to the area. It won't help since you don't know much but it is better than nothing. I'm pretty sure Doevm had the healing potions."

"I understand," the brat took out his life essence but it flickered out of existence. He cursed and put his head in his hands.

The inheritor turned to the Lich: "What's your problem? Why are you doing this?"

"You're doing this for your sister?" the Lich continued as if he were oblivious to the situation his other half had created. "Why would you do all this for a person? Is that all? You risk your life over just her?"

"She's my family so yes I want to protect her, you piece of shit." The inheritor set him on and Amphiboard and pulled both of his companions along. "Why does that sound so odd?"

"Because you think you can protect her." The Lich responded.

"I can," the inheritor hissed. "And I will." More sections of the cave cracked. Luckily they were in one of the (formerly) smooth pathways so they didn't have to dive out of the way of falling stalactites. "Can you stop that?"

"I can't," the Lich replied. "In front of you." He pointed ahead at the three venomous salamanders, all with blue life essence swirling around their slimy bodies. They all rushed in a panic at the inheritor, who got into a stance. "So tell me, do you think strength alone will protect her?" The Lich continued. The inheritor launched his spear into the first salamander, which deflected it.

"Not now," The inheritor drew his Kopis and rushed forward only for all three salamanders to halt and turn their gaze at the Lich.

The Lich curled up again, feeling the other half escape with a rising fury. He pushed the other half back down as hard as he could, but it wasn't enough. The Lich couldn't stop the other half's bloodlust, a feeling which had warped both of their mind for centuries, from leaking out. Then came the mana, a uncontrollable force slamming into the three salamander in a mess of runes and half-finished magic circles.

All three salamanders shook while backing away. "What the hell?" The inheritor watched in awe as they slapped their own heads into the stone. Their tails severed themselves and writhed on the ground. They opened their mouths. Their guts spilled out, followed by their skin and bone structures.

As the brat's eyes went wide. He toppled over unconscious. The deformed girl fell as well. Luckily, since they were lying on their Amphiboards, they could just be pulled along.

The Lich closed his eyes and went back to the cracked orb: "Go back down and finish the trial!" the Lich yelled at the other half. "Is your resolve that weak? The real Doevm had the courage to split his own soul with his soulmana to put us both back in charge. You are the sole barer of his will to push on, no matter how much suffering he puts you through. Just hang on while I find a solution." The other half looked at the Lich and turned his head to the side. Gleaming in his black eyes was not a hint of intelligence. It was like staring at a feral animal. His jaw hung down, loose with a bit of saliva dripping down his chin. He was still screaming. The pain had became a perpetual state to him, an immutable rule of his psyche. The Lich pushed him back down.

"What now?" the inheritor knelt beside the two unconscious group members and glared at the Lich. "What did you do to them?"

"Nothing intentional I assure you," the Lich said. "A burst of bloodlust came out against my will. Not everyone can handle that kind of thing, especially kids like you guys."

"But I didn't feel anything," the inheritor argued.

"That is because of this," the Lich flicked the inheritor's arm which was covered in a thin white, ghost-like aura like the rest of his body. "This is the only reason you are standing right now. You're getting tired. I'll drag them along. Keep going."

The Lich reached for the Amphiboards but the inheritor stepped in his way: "M-Maybe I should do this."

"Frey," the Lich said what he hoped was the inheritor's name. "You have an hour until my other half breaks loose. Don't waste my time insisting to carry them. It is only disadvantageous to you and me. No matter what I've said or what you think I am, know that I am your ally. Everyone in the world is on your side right now."

Frey rolled his eyes and let the Lich handle their companions. Frey walked a little quicker than usual, but the Lich could still match his pace.

"What happens when the other half breaks loose?" Frey asked after clearing a nest of salamanders. "Who is he?"

"He's something I thought to be long dead," the Lich signed. "It is ancient, centuries old. At one time, both the demon king and the hero allied themselves to take him down. That was…close. There is also a chance that he is the Doevm you know so well."

"I don't know him well at all apparently," Frey muttered.

"Of course you know of him," the Lich said. "You know what he likes, what he hates, his habits, what he is capable of regarding combat, his intellect, his personality, and his family."

Frey stopped. "But what I don't know is-"

The Lich kicked him further along the path: "Keep walking while we talk." Frey muttered something but he kept going. "Let's not talk about the past right now. Just know that, no matter what, the other half is not allowed to get loose before he finishes the trial that he set for himself." the Lich glanced at the path behind them, which had split into two. "Ever." Their two unconscious companions flinched at the sound but didn't regain consciousness quite yet. "But you haven't answered my original question: What makes you think you can protect your sister? Is it because you think you are strong? Do you even know what you are?"

Frey sighed: "Will you just shut up or stop it with the vague talk? What do you want from me? What do you want me to do?"

"Answer me," the Lich insisted.

"Or what?" Frey asked over his shoulder. "Are you going to crack the ceiling around me? Hurt me? You need me to keep walking, don't you? So just shut up and follow me. Where the hell are you trying to lead me anyway?"

"Listen human," the Lich continued as if not hearing Frey. "That thing covering you, it's your inheritance from the hero." Frey didn't respond. "You want to protect Gwen, right?" Something cracked, but the other half hadn't released any mana. "But your very presence puts her in danger." Frey stopped, but the Lich kicked him more down the cave. "Keep moving."

"I'm moving," Frey said through gritted teeth, his grip around his Kopis tightening.

"Now as I was saying," the Lich continued. "You're a target. That thing around you, it's not a blessing. It's a curse. People will track you down for that. Then they'll try to find your sister too."

"Then I'll kill them."

The Lich sighed: "People doesn't mean what you think it means. It means towns, kingdoms, hopeful people, organizations like the War Monks. People you can't beat with blue life essence. Once you are found out, you will never know peace again. Humans will die in order to get you to submit to them. No hero in history has grown up with a family. Do you know why that is? Their towns are burned to the ground. You will be captured, just like the current hero was captured during the year-long war. You will be forced to sign a contract to work for people for the rest of your life. I already told you, didn't I? Heroes aren't those who succeed at every moment. They are special humans who follow through on what they believe in despite suffering more than anyone else. Then there is you. You might have inherited the power of a hero, but you are no longer able to use it at will, isn't that right?" When Frey's shoulders drooped, the Lich knew he had hit the mark. "I wonder why that is."

Frey cast his head down, dread overtaking him. "That's enough Doevm. You've made your point."

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