forum While the Night’s Still Young (1-1 with Hiro)

Started June 23, 2022 by @Serpentess health_and_safety language

tune

" then don't go back. Who ever sent you on this quest wanted you to fail." He said softly, sitting on the ground and going back to painting what he saw around him,

Norkhal’rokh sputtered,”But… it… it’s my home. How can I just… abandon everything I know and hold dear? Sure, I… I could avoid the one who sent me, but… I can’t leave my home.”

He had so much at home that he couldn’t bear to lose. His clothes, his business, his horde of friends and other associates. He couldn’t leave them! Could he?

Norkhal’rokh stared at the ground, a bit shaken by the thought of leaving everything behind.

" how many of your 'friends ' actually care. How many would turn their backs the moment you fail?" Kane asked truthfully " do you know how deep your roots run? Things, they can be replaced, but If your family didn't stop you from coming here, did the really care?"

Norkhal’rokh tried to answer several times, but each time he just closed his mouth afterward. He didn’t know. He didn’t know what his friends actually cared about, or if his family would even bother saving the ‘black sheep’ of the group. But, his clothes…

“I… can’t leave it all,”he breathed, desperate to hold on to the idea of going back home.

" then you will never bare the artifact you've come for, you should go home now before my master gets here"

Norkhal’rokh’s eyes widened in horror.

“Then what was the point of coming here? I came to retrieve an artifact, somehow, some way. And, I plan to do that! I won’t waste this journey by going home empty-handed!”he burst.

Kane sighed " you have failed the first test. Go.home." he said a little sourly " your prove to me that you can start new."

“That was a test? How…”Norkhal’rokh sighed, too flustered and frustrated to come up with anything else to say.

He wasn’t going home empty-handed. He wouldn’t lower himself to that level. There had to be some way he could get this artifact.

A faint noise echoed from deep in the cave, as if something was stirring.

Kanes eyes narrowed, his body becoming still for a moment as he quickly took a protective stance around nok, ( me tryna start a relationship)

(I know. I figured I’d bring in the vampire though, just to introduce him, for now)

Norkhal’rokh turned, confused by the sound. He then watched Kane warily, noticing the protective stance. In a way, he was grateful for it. Kane had a better idea of what to do than he did.

“Do I dare ask what that was, or is?”Norkhal’rokh whispered.

Another faint noise, then an echoing creak, like an old door being opened. Scraping sounds followed.

"master.. it is just you" he sighed " this…. Is master"

Norkhal’rokh cleared his throat at Kane’s words, doing his best to hide his sudden nervousness. He waited a few minutes, watching the cave for Kane’s master.

Then, red eyes gleamed in a shadowy area, studying Norkhal’rokh intensely. A loud hum echoed from the source of those eyes, and the creature stepped forward, flashing his fangs in disdain.

“Who is this, Kane? This… useless high-born pup?”Angus growled.

Norkhal’rokh did his best to remain composed, but his hands were already shaking. He had heard of creatures like this, the undead, but never imagined he’d meet one.

" he's here in search of the relic but already failed the first test" he said and walked to Angus

Angus snorted, a hint of amusement coming into his eyes.

“As I said, ‘useless’. But, since you’ve already started testing him, continue. And… if he fails all of the tests, bring him to me, would you?”Angus bade.

He patted Kane on the shoulder, then walked by. As he passed Norkhal’rokh, he inhaled deeply, both to investigate, and to scare the already intimidated youth. Then, he stopped at the entrance, staring up at the dark clouds.

“Just try and fry me!”he hissed at those clouds. Angus then walked out and burst apart into a swarm of bats, vanishing into the night.

Norkhal’rokh stared at the entrance where Angus vanished, a small whimper escaping him. Suddenly the trip home seemed far more inviting than staying in the cave any longer. But, he wasn’t sure if he could properly navigate in the darkness of the clouds. And, he didn’t want to be caught by that… creature Kane called Master. Which meant he was stuck until the clouds passed or morning came. He whimpered again.

" you are welcome to stay. You can take my bed as I only have one. I will take the floor, "

Norkhal’rokh looked at Kane, seeming unusually shy.

“Um… Th… thank you.”

He turned away, staring at the floor. He was still shaking.

Kane sighed sitting beside nok " are you alright?" He asked calmly " if you wish to go home I will take you in the morning. "

Norkhal’rokh looked at Kane, his eyes pleading for comfort despite his attempt to seem calm.

“I just… I’ve never met a… um…”he paused, unable to bring himself to say ‘undead’ or ‘vampire’. So, instead, he shakily pointed in the direction of Angus.

“And, I appreciate the offer… truly. But… I can’t. I can’t go home empty-handed. I’m already the outcast of the family, whether they say it directly or not. I have to bring that artifact back, or I’ll be labeled a coward… among other things. I’m not a coward… or, I try not to be,”he said quietly.

Kane chuckled " you met an undead person before him" he said and placed his hand on noks cheek " I am a necromancer, I guide the dead and see their storys "

Norkhal’rokh’s eyes widened, but Kane’s hand on his cheek seemed to keep him from completely freaking out. His shaking also seemed to lessen slightly.

“But… you… you’re still alive, right? That would just mean you’re a… um… necromancer, not an… un… undead.”

" but, I am cold as if I am.. I go in and out of the underworld and yet I still breathe air. " He said " I have lived a long time but I haven't met anyone like you. " He said

Norkhal’rokh stared a moment, both wary and intrigued by Kane’s description. He then chuckled.

“And I haven’t met anyone like you.”

Kane smiled warmly, " it's a small world" he said and leaned a little closer to nok, enjoying the heat from him

Norkhal’rokh chuckled again, watching Kane closely. His smile, his proximity, his calm presence. Unconsciously, Norkhal’rokh leaned closer.

Kane had noticed noks lean and flushed in his cheeks, " you are warm. And, it's nice to feel the warmth again " he said, trying to spark a conversation