AN: Title of this chapter is a reference to
Beyond These Walls by Miracle of Sound. Like doing this sort of thing so expect it to happen semi-often
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Maya took in a shuddering breath as she felt the orders finally snap off her, finally giving her the freedom to leave this place. She'd been stuck in this one room for so long, and now she could move beyond it. She could even go beyond the walls of this manse, something she'd never been able to do under her creator's orders, long standing as they were.
Finally free, she was nearly paralyzed by indecision. Being so constrained and confined for so long... if she hadn't been preparing for this moment, she was sure she'd have just... sat in this room for a few weeks more.
That being said, she only had so much planned for what was to come.
'
First thing's first,' she thought to herself, '
the elixir.' She walked over to the place she'd stored it, where it was in the condenser, and took a look. The elixir had cycled only thrice in the nine days it had been in the artefact. It had changed color and now had a mild glow to it, a perfect indicator that she had succeeded in actually making something usable. The glow was faint, though, which meant it wasn't very strong.
She sighed. She'd either have to stay until it got strong enough, which could take months, take it now, which would result in her getting something, but not having much power behind it, or leave it behind and just go without. And she wasn't going to stay.
She could come back.
That in mind, she decided to leave it. For now. It would be a long time before she came back.
With a steadying breath she didn't actually need, Maya left the room that had been her prison for over a year. The corridors were clean, and she could see why. Skeletons, of the mindless variety, walked the halls and cleaned them with various cleaning supplies, just as they always had. And she could see the tethers holding them to that. Frayed, but still in place, and likely would be for some time.
Briefly, she wondered if she could use her newfound source of necromantic magic to control them, but she shook her head. Her creator likely had something in place to prevent another necromancer from just taking over. He was cautious like that. It was also likely why his orders were only frayed rather than completely snapped.
She didn't want to trigger such defenses herself.
Gather supplies, on the other hand, was something she could do very easily.
A brief pause to blink as a thought struck her... 'is Quartermaster Haava still here?'
She smiled at the thought and went looking. Haava was one of the few she could legitimately say was a friend here, a thrall that had been elevated and augmented on several occasions before they'd been converted into something greater. It would be good to see them again. Though, they may be surprised about her new, self-assigned identity.
Maya walked the halls easily, having done so for centuries, even if she'd been trapped for the last year. She remembered every last bit of this place, every nook and cranny she'd found a way to get through.
Descending to the ground level took a bit of time. She could have simply climbed down out one of the windows in her ooze-like form, but, she was savoring the moment before she had to leave and face the reality of her situation. She was resolved to what was to come, but there was a deep uncertainty and fear of it as well. Maya had never truly been outside the Manse, let alone the walls around it, and she wasn't sure what she'd find beyond those walls. Fear of the unknown, as she'd read, was the most primal of fears... and it would seem, even the undead felt it.
That wasn't to say she wasn't looking forward to it, just that her nerves were playing merry hell with her motivation at the moment.
Finally, she reached the ground level. 'Three rooms over,' she thought as she moved, going through a corridor and passing two doors before coming across the one she wanted. 'Would Haava still be here?' he'd never been under the same restrictions as she had, he may have left already.
Well, she still needed some supplies. And this was the room to get them.
She opened the door.
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Beyond the door was a simple room with an opening in the wall, a waist-high counter, and a lockbox. Behind it was an armchair that Maya knew was in one of the lower studies, and in that chair was the familiar form of Haava. A mostly skeletal form with carefully tailored muscle stretched over them, their skull mostly uncovered and covered in runes inlayed with bronze and stones, and a pair of large obsidian orbs in their eye sockets. Their hand covered their eyes.
The room itself was dusty and uncared for, unlike the halls outside. She'd never seen Haava slack off before...
"Haava?" Maya called out, giving herself a red tinge across her face so he'd recognize her as a bloodboil shade the moment he saw her.
The undead groaned and looked over, then froze, "who are you?" his voice was more gravelly than she remembered, almost a growl, "one of the 'master's' new creations?"
Maya breathed in and smiled, "I know it's been a while Haava," she started, getting a start out of the thrall, "but I'd think you'd recognize me."
A tilt of the head, and a confused pause, then, "Little Red?" he asked, finally focusing on the red across her face.
Maya nodded, "though I go by Maya, now."
Haava didn't react at first, then stood up and, slowly, walked over, "I thought... I thought he'd destroyed you," he said, softly, "where have you been all this time?"
"The tower lab," she said, "he did something and... he failed. He sent an order for me to get there and... I'd been trapped by that order all this time. He's gone, Haava. He died," she never used his name when talking to the other undead. She hadn't used his name for a long time.
"All this time..." he started to shake, and Maya knew he was laughing. But... she placed a hand on him.
She could feel it, his necromantic energy, and it felt... not weak, but, disheveled, "are you alright, Haava?"
He looked up at her again, no longer shaking, "all of us felt the power roll off him, and you went missing, we thought... we thought he'd done something cruel. Most of us... most of us left. I'm the only one that stayed. Still can't enter that part of the manse or I'd have come looking for you, but," his hands clenched, then relaxed as he shook his head, "it was a vain hope, I thought."
He looked her in the eye, "you proved that wrong, Little Red," he said, then pulled her into a hug. Maya, surprised, took a moment to return the gesture. He was shaking again, "I'm so glad you're alright," she knew that if he had the capacity, he'd be crying right now, "are... are you alright?" he asked, pulling away to look at her, "you've... been gone for so long."
"I am," Maya replied, "I wasn't, not at first. I was angry, and... I let it out," she said. Haava looked at her, concerned, it was hard to tell as he didn't have facial expressions, but, she could feel it in his necromantic reserves, "I'm... better now. I feel more like a
person now than I did when he was around," she'd always felt more like a possession or pet while he'd been alive, though seeing his journal... she wasn't so sure anymore.
"And... he's dead? You're sure?" Haava asked, actually seeming more concerned than before. Maya nods.
"If he wasn't, I wouldn't have been able to chop into his corpse," she replied, getting a wince from the thrall, "that's... what I meant when I said I let my anger out."
He nodded, "I can see that," he blew out a breath, close to a sigh, but without the inhale, "that... puts me in a bit of a bind."
Maya blinked at that, "What do you mean?"
"I... I've never been without a master before," Haava replies sheepishly, "at least, not since these," he points to the inlaid bronze and stones in his head, "were added to me. It's..." he stops, clearly having a hard time articulating, then indicates the room around them, "this is a result of going without direction for... so long."
Then he shook his head, "It's..."
"Terrifying," Maya replied. Haava looks up at her in surprise, "I know. I went through it all, too. It's the... sudden feeling that you lack a purpose and need to get going on your own. I found my own."
"..." Haava remained silent, waiting for Maya to continue.
"My purpose was done the moment he died, there is no need for a purpose, just... my own desires and goals. Chasing what I want to, my purpose is to find what I want, and to pursue it now," she explained, starting slow but showing her own feeling of wonder with that decision, that revelation, "I got that shortly before leaving, and, to me, it feels so
right."
Haava stared a moment, then started to chuckle and laugh, "Ah, I needed that, Little Red," he said, "I think this is the first I've seen you actually
live, like you're one of the living. You even look the part. I don't think that'll work for me, though," he looked down at himself, "I don't think I can do without a purpose like that."
"Haava," Maya started, then stopped. She honestly didn't know what to say to him. Then, she remembered something, "would... would you like to come with me?"
Haava looked at Maya, "I-" Maya held up a hand to stall him.
"I've... studied necromancy, amongst other things, since he died. And I have a source of necromantic energy I can use for it," she started, "I can... act as your..." she hesitated before continuing, "your master until you find something to work towards yourself. It would mean a lot to me, having someone I can call a friend coming with me."
Haava took a moment to think, then, "Heh," he chuckled again, "well, what did you have in mind, Master?" he said jokingly.
Maya smiled, even if the thought of being her friend's "master" made her uncomfortable.
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Haava could feel the connection that Little Red forged into him, the steady stream of influence that had been missing for the past year, he hadn't even noticed it was gone until now.
He felt whole again, like something that had been missing was finally back in place. But Maya's expression as she forged the bond... she hated this. She always hated the control a necromancer had over their creations. For the mindless, it wasn't so bad, but for those that were intelligent? Those like him? Like her? She hated it.
He couldn't blame her, either, given her experiences. His old master was not a kind man, and his obsession with bloodboil made him inordinately harsh on her, but when he talked about her, in private, it was like a father talking about their child. He didn't realize that Little Red hated him, and she didn't realize their master loved her.
It was maddening, since he'd been ordered not to talk about it long ago. He couldn't tell her about how much he actually cared when she vented about her hatred and he never wanted to know what she said about him, saying that if she wanted to say something to him, she would do it herself... they both understood each other so little.
And he knew that his former Master must have seen her anger before he passed on, because a piece of his soul had remained behind as a spirit, one that was lingering around Little Red even now. Its what his eyes were for. To see spirits. She didn't know that, and he wouldn't tell her about it.
Still, he had much to do. He guided Little Red back to the supply rooms, helping her grab a pack and some pieces of equipment for traveling, as well as getting one of the more mindless undead to ready the cart for travel. They'd have to seal off the Manse once they left. The mindless undead would eventually get to the point where they'd start to roam outside their orders. That would be dangerous if they got loose.
Eventually, Maya moved to another part of the room, and the spirit born of their former Master remained, "this is what you tried to tell me, isn't it," the spirit asked.
Haava nodded slightly, not wanting to talk in case Little Red would hear him.
"I should have listened," the spirit was only an echo of the original, a facsimile, but they had enough personality and memory from the original. The spirit, little more than a wisp of ethereal light, shifted, as if setting their shoulders, and turned its attention to Haava, "I will travel with you," it said, "and offer what aid I can. Channel me if you ever need my strength," it shifted again, "limited as it may be."
Haava nodded again. Slowly. He hoped this would work out, otherwise... well, the regrets of both were likely to gnaw at them for a long time yet. And the seal Haava possessed was still strong, alchemically enforced. Written into the very tracery that covered his skull.
He hoped he'd never need his old Master's strength, but when was
anyone ever that lucky.
Little Red returned with a pair of waxed cloaks and Haava guided her along. He also got her some clothing since she'd gone without this entire time, apparently.
I nice red ensemble that he knew would suit her, even in her new, apparently preferred, form. She seemed to like them. Haava picked out some himself, he'd need something a bit more substantial to hide his undead state, at least until Little Red could help him fill out his form. He was a quartermaster, not intended to fight, he wasn't exactly suited for travel or blending into a populace all that well. Some cream-colored clothing, thick linen wraps to bulk out his limbs a little, a gambeson in the house colors of green, and a mask that would cover his whole head when paired with the hooded cloak or a helm. It wasn't perfect, but it would suffice.
They'd be heading out soon.
He wondered if the horses were still alive after all this time.
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The horses were long dead, as Maya soon found out.
They'd been fed just fine, and the stalls were exceptionally clean, but one had been killed by wolves while out in the paddock while another had, apparently, had complications during a birthing, also out in the paddock. The stablemaster, one of the few living in her creator's employ, was nowhere to be found. Likely having left after payments stopped. The fact that the safe was cracked open didn't help with that notion.
All that was left was the money in the lockbox, which wasn't much, just a few dozen silvers and a few more in coppers. Enough for a human to live comfortably for a few months, or a year if they were frugal. It would go a lot farther for a pair of undead, though.
They wouldn't be taking the carts anywhere with the state the horses were in, even with it being prepared ahead of time.
She looked back at Haava as she came back from the Lab and study, having picked up a great many of the more helpful books, as well as a few that looked like they'd be helpful based on a brief skim from those she hadn't read.
Haava would never pass as human. He was too tall and thin for that, even after using the cloth wraps to bulk himself out. They'd have to be careful where they went, or, at least, Haava would. She didn't really have as much of an issue given she was a shapeshifter.
Still, she was happy he decided to come along. Having a friend to accompany her, it meant a lot. Though it was soured by the means for it.
"Do you think you could raise one of the horses?" Haava asked as she looked at the remains, torn to shreds as they were.
"I don't think so," she replied after a moment, "I'm new to the whole necromancy thing, you're the first undead I've bound thus far," she continued to explain, not that it was the real reason. She just... didn't want to bring the dead back. She hated her creator for so long, she couldn't shake the feeling she'd end up doing the same if she got into it. Necromancy to create undead... it just wasn't in the cards for her. She didn't want to do it.
Besides, necromancy had so many other uses outside of animation. She wouldn't be lacking from her decision.
Another reason beyond that was that an undead mount would label them just as necromancers themselves, which... may not be a good thing, going off the books Maya had read. She was fairly sure they were set up in a region more tolerant of necromancy than others, but she didn't want to take the chances.
"That's unfortunate," Haava mused, clearly trying to think of something they could do to pull the carts in place of the horses. Then he paused, and nodded, "I think I've got something. Follow me."
Haava led Maya to another building, one Maya had never been in, and promptly opened the door, leading into another stable. Inside, however... Maya had to pause, there were so many. Undead mounts of all sorts, holding perfectly still. Even a giant centipede of bone was in here!
Haava walked in, guiding Maya along, until they came across two mounts that looked remarkably life-like. A pair of mules, "these are taxidermy mules that were animated. The core is their skeleton, the bulk is from a type of necromantically charged fungi, and the pelt is the actual hide of the originals. They should be easy to control."
'Huh,' that wasn't what she was expecting, "will the fungi act as a good substitute for muscle?" she asked, somewhat confused. Without proper musculature, the main driving force would be necromantic energy, making them more energy intensive to keep animated.
A brief pause, then, "I don't know, they've been used before, though. I do think there is a reason they're in here while he used horses instead, though."
A good point, "they'll have to do though," Haava finished.
"They will..." with an inhale and brief sigh, Maya took a moment and grasped a thread of the necromantic power flowing from her core, and fed it into the two undead mules, one after the other. Slowly, the forged a bond. It was a process, but eventually she felt the bond grow strong and pull taught. She fed it a bit more to give some slack, then she gave a nudge to the two mounts.
With a brief creaking noise that rapidly faded, the mules began to leave the stables at her direction, growing more and more fluid in their motions as they moved.
It didn't take long after that to get them harnessed and the cart ready to move, filled with bags of books, various goods they could potentially sell, and, in the very back, the artefact housing her elixir. She wasn't sure if moving it was a great idea, but it beat leaving it here for their return, which may never happen.
And so, they guided the cart to the front gates, and had them opened. They road out, and the two guardian undead closed the gates behind them as they left. Maya watched until the doors were fully closed, then turned to face forward. That chapter of her life was closed, it was time to start the next one.
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AN: I want to say something before I get too far into this story... this is about showing the characters and the world of Jahren, the name of the Material Plane that Ravenwood is set in more than it is about having an actual plot. Here, the characters are the plot. While there will be points where a plot outside the characters will exist, they'll be more akin to side quests than they are main plots. This story is character and world driven, not plot driven.
That out of the way, I hope you guys enjoy the chapter. Cheers!
