Kapitel 256: Anguish

After a rather long-winded explanation, complete with many questions and inquiries from his shocked-looking and slightly sceptical listeners, he lets out a sigh and rests his back against the stone wall, wondering if it was good enough.

"So, let me get this straight." Wei starts with a complicated expression, "You are from another world, and we are trapped within your book, along with others who claim to be dead... So we're dead?... And I hadn't even completed my training!?" she exclaims, horrified, though, Michael wasn't sure if it was because she was 'dead' or because she'd never get to use what she'd learned.

Michael shrugs, "I mean, do you guys remember dying? Because the others do, one died of old age, one died after perving on the wrong woman, and one died getting backstabbed by his colleague."

Wei sniffs, "What a marvellous group you've gathered."

He crooks a brow at her, "You know that 'marvellous group' includes you right?"

...

Michael looks away from the glaring Wei and focuses on her master, who was standing next to her with crossed arms and a speculative expression. "My last memories... They were of my confrontation with that creature, the Butcher, Pudge it referred to itself as. I... Avoided its cursed chains and Blinked behind it to take its head, but..." he rubs his temple as if remembering it was a straining task, "Chains exploded forth from its putrid flesh, it caught me off guard and bound me. Allowing the creature to devour me, piece by piece." he says with a harsh look.

...

Wei looks stricken by his admittance, her eyes wide as she thinks back on her own memories, "I was waiting for you to return from the Fields of Carnage. But on the fourth week the sky turned green and dark. A fog rolled into the monastery, and I... Passed out...?"

Anti-Mage scowls with anger, "The Dead God, he must have sent his champion to purge what was left of us after I was slain..." he looks at Wei solemnly, taking a knee and lowering his head, "My disciple... I'm sorry, I failed you where a teacher should not. You paid for my weakness, my negligence..."

Wei stands and grabs him by his shoulders, "Master! You didn't fail me! There was nothing you could have done!"

Anti-Mage shakes his head, a look of absolute guilt and regret on his face, "It was still my duty, my duty to protect you until you were ready!"

Michael watches as the two argue, his thoughts drifting to the Dead God. Rhasta mentioned it once didn't he?... Hmm, he felt that there was more to this story that was not yet known... Maybe he'd find out once Lina was available to speak to.

Nodding to himself, he focuses back on the arguing duo and decides to speak up, "*Ahem!*, regardless of whose fault it was or wasn't, you guy's are dead, and are now residents of this. Place... I've told you of my circumstances already, but what I want to know is what you guys want to do?"

...

"What we want to do?" Wei questions with a raised brow, "We're trapped here from what you said, there is nothing we can do."

Anti-Mage nods, "Perhaps it would be better if you slew us and laid us to rest." he says bitterly.

"I... I'm not sure if that would even work. I've been killed in one of these worlds before and I just get kicked out from the book, tired, but healthy. I doubt the book'll just let you die like that, I mean, it seems to serve a purpose. Right now I'm getting taught by two of the Spirits."

Anti-Mage frowns, "And you seek my tutelage? I refuse." he determinately says almost immedaitely.

Michael lets out a sigh, "I already know some of your abilities, and it isn't like I'd leave you empty-handed... Make your request, and I'll do my best to fulfil it." he presses, not wanting to risk losing a potential source of knowledge.

...

"I will not teach one such as yourself, one who uses magic blatantly and selfishly. I made an oath to obliterate magic from the world, that might be impossible now, but stopping you from stealing Turstarkuri secrets? I could rest with that." he states.

Wei looks to Anti-Mage with a conflicted expression, "Master, maybe things aren't as dire as they seem... He said that the people and abilities the book grants improve over time. How long would it be until he acquires a way to raise the dead?"

*Smack!*

Wei's head whips to the side from her Master's strike, the girl looking mildly shocked that he'd struck her, "M-master?"

"Do not dare say that again. The dead should remain so, and any who would alter the natural order are abominations, unworthy of the air they breathe. We may have perished, my Disciple, but there are limits to what I will allow. My teachings remain, regardless of the state we exist in." he coldly states before marching off, exiting out of the monastery door and Blinking away, leaving Michael and Wei awkwardly standing there.

"You alright?" he asks, unsure if he should ignore what just happened or try and reassure her...

She touches her cheek with her hand and lets out a sigh, "Yes. It was stupid of me to say that. My master has suffered greatly at the actions of the Dead God, suggesting that you resurrect us must have brought back memories..."

Michael nods in understanding but wets his lips as he carefully thinks about his next words... "If I did have a way to bring you to the world of the living... Would you accept? I don't know if it's possible now, but I think I'd be able to do it eventually."

...

"I... I think you should leave." she mutters, sitting back onto the floor in her previous meditative stance, "Give us time, all of this is... Difficult to process."

Michael lets out a sigh, "Are you sure? I know I'm not the best person to say this but, I'm sorry for what happened to you. And this shit situation you've gotten caught up in."

She nods, but doesn't say anything else, closing her eyes and beginning to meditate. With that, Michael leaves, not knowing if Anti-Mage would ever be willing to teach him. Wei seemed friendlier, so maybe he could persuade her to teach him while Anti-Mage was brooding?... We'll see.