The Monster's Apprentice: Chapter 58 - In the Mist of the Midnight Blossom | Part 1

“A hunter’s duty is to save lives, but one must accept that some will fall regardless of their efforts. It is a bitter truth, but without this acceptance, no hunter can remain sane.”

— Abraham Grimveil, “Facing the Darkness: A Hunter’s Manual,” page 223

Come.

Find.

Me.

They aren’t words that Emily hears, but instead feels.

A call from her heart.

Guiding light.

The candle trembles.

The laughter starts again.

Chirping birds.

Shrieking insects.

“Try again.”

The man’s face drips like wax, features sagging, rearranging, his eyes slide off his face entirely.

Emily’s hands are still empty.

The cold is like pinpricks against her bare skin. She trudges through the snow anyway. Her legs carry her, even though she wants to stop.

She reaches for the spell, but it darts just out of reach, vanishing into the candle’s flame.

The ink on her page begins to weep, bleeding down the paper like tears.

The grassy meadow is gone. It is an endless field of white.

The road ahead passes through a large, ornate gateway, framed with stone pillars, and swirling metallic filigree that forms elegant patterns resembling blooming flowers and twisting roots. It’s elvish. She recognizes the patterns and symbols. She doesn’t know what it means.

The sand melds around her bare feet, getting stuck between her toes.

Closer.

“Hopeless.”

Flames lick at her ankles. Screams. The sky is opening.

Closer.

The bridge is smooth. Limestone. Crests are etched into the stone. Fancy railings. It is Elvish too.

She walks over it. Her head screams. She walks under it.

“A waste of my time.”

The red gashes split the sky. Fire and screams. The snow is red. It is raining embers.

The arch is impossibly tall and black like obsidian. Two massive doors, but no wall. They stand slightly ajar. The gap between them reveals only darkness.

She pushes, and suddenly, she is inside.

The stairs never end. She walks.

Strike!

Pivot!

BANG!

Parry!

BANG!

Slice!

They are everywhere. She can’t see them.

The fossil rests high above her. It smells old. Dusty. It reaches for her. She takes its hand, six bony fingers interlocking with hers.

Pain snaps her leg.

She falls. She is back at her desk. The candle still flickers. The ink is still on the page. The voice drones on, the laughter swarms like locusts. But her body remembers.

There is blood everywhere.

Her blood.

Emily stirred and let out a pained groan.

The ache in her body was the first thing that registered. It felt like someone had taken a hammer to her insides and left her to stew in the aftermath. She shifted slightly, and even that small movement lit up her chest with a sharp, stabbing pain.

“You’re awake.”

Emily turned her head slightly. Mina sat on the bed, her arms crossed. She was still dressed in her equipment, but judging by the sunlight shining through her bedroom window, Emily presumed it was late morning or the afternoon.

“Hey,” Mina said a little softer. “How’re you feeling?”

Emily tried to answer, but her mouth was dry, like it had been stuffed with cotton. She cleared her throat. “Like… I got hit by a mountain… And then the mountain caught fire.”

Mina smirked. “Yeah.”

Emily braced herself and started to sit up, but instantly regretted it. A sharp, searing pain exploded through her chest, and she hissed, collapsing back into the pillows. “Okay, nope. Nope. Bad idea.”

“Don’t move like that. You’ve got a fractured rib. Right side, near the bottom. Not broken, just cracked.”

Emily winced, breathing carefully. “...That explains a lot.”

“You’ll be alright in a couple of days,” Mina continued. “You’ve got magic running through you. Not as fast-acting as mine, but enough to mend it if you rest.” She gave her a pointed look. “When your body’s done repairing, you’re gonna feel wiped. Completely drained. Don’t expect to be doing much.”

Emily nodded faintly. Her eyes drifted to the sunlight bleeding through the window. “Does that mean I get a break from training?”

“But not studying.”

Emily sighed. She wanted to laugh, but knew that even a chuckle would hurt too much. She pressed a hand to her side, gently prodding the area. “What about the Sandman?”

“Dead. You helped kill it. We all did, but that final blow? That was you.” She leaned back a little. “You did good, Emily.”

“I don’t… feel like I did good,” she said quietly.

Mina didn’t respond at first. She simply watched her. “You lit up the entire cavern, drew it out into the open, and held it off long enough to burn it to ash. You protected Violet. You survived. You don’t have to feel like a hero right now. But you earned that victory.”

Emily shook her head slowly. “I… I burned down the watchtower.” Her voice was cracked with guilt. “I didn’t even think about it. I just—I panicked. I needed light, and then it was just… gone. And I thought—Henrik’s gonna kill me. Or—or yell. Or—”

“He’s not mad,” Mina cut in. “I talked to him.”

Emily looked at her, uncertain.

Mina shrugged slightly. “He said it was worth it. A watchtower can be rebuilt. No one died. He’s just glad that you and Violet made it out.”

“But… Karaline died.”

Mina glanced away. “Yeah. We need to talk about that.” The room fell quiet again, except for the birds chirping faintly outside.

“…She was torn in half,” Emily said. “I saw her organs. I thought she was… gone.”

Mina didn’t answer.

“What… was that? What Violet did?”

Mina tensed, inhaling deeply. “I’ll help you downstairs, gather everyone in the living room.”

“Aren’t people still here?”

“They all returned home. Serenity Gardens is safe again, thanks to you.”

Emily sat on the couch.

She groaned in discomfort as she gingerly touched her side. That wasn’t the only thing hurting. Bruises bloomed across her arms and legs. A shard of glass had embedded itself into her left shoulder blade. Mina had tended to the wounds, but Emily could still feel the pain. It was like a slow, tingling pulse under her skin.

Violet joined her on the couch, sitting properly with her hands folded over her lap. Mina stood by her fireplace with Karaline, one elbow resting against the mantle, while Henrik sat beside the coffee table, on which his helmet rested. He was quiet, his head resting in his palm.

“Five years,” Henrik said finally.

Karaline chuckled dryly. “Aye, doesn’t feel like it’s been that long, does it?”

Henrik looked up. “Five years, and not a word? Nothing?”

Karaline shrugged, unbothered. “Well, for one, I’ve not seen ya in ages. Weren’t exactly gonna shout it across a bloody marketplace when we bumped into each other. Not exactly a fun story to tell?” She gestured vaguely to her stitched-up torso. “Not the kind o’ thing ya open a conversation with.”

“You died,” Henrik said flatly. “And you kept that hidden.”

Karaline raised an eyebrow. “Aye. And then I got better.”

Henrik turned his gaze toward Violet, who shrank ever so slightly under his attention. “And necromancy?”

Emily could feel Violet tense beside her.

“I was worried when I heard she’d taken an interest in soulwork, Karaline, but I never imagined…” He shook his head. “She shouldn’t be meddling with forbidden magic.”

“She’s technically an adult, Henrik, she can do as she pleases.” Karaline rolled her eyes. “She’s also the reason I’m still breathin’, or did ye miss that part?”

“And if she hadn’t intervened,” Mina added from the fireplace, “we’d have lost Kasia’s soul, too. Whatever your opinion is on the craft, her actions saved lives.”

Henrik didn’t answer at first. “I am grateful,” he said finally, “but this path she’s on, it’s dangerous. Unforgiving. You know what happens to people caught using it. What happens when someone else finds out? What happens to her then?”

“No one has figured it out,” Mina said.

“She walks around with a damn skull on her face!”

“Maybe someone has suspected it, but they have no evidence,” Mina argued. “She spends enough time with The Tailor that a mask like that isn’t all too out of the ordinary.”

Emily looked at Violet, who sat perfectly still. Beneath the edge of her mask, a soft blush colored her pale skin.

“What would even drive someone so young to condemn themselves to such dark arts?”

Karaline sighed. “For all the brains you’ve got, Henrik, you can still be thick as a post.” She cast Mina a stare, then rolled her shoulders as she straightened. “Look, after Mina and Jonathan had Luna, Violet got… well, a wee bit jealous, if I’m honest. Started askin’ about family.” She paused, chuckling to herself. “And let’s be honest, no one was putin’ a fuckin’ ring on my finger anytime soon. So she started lookin’ for alternatives.”

Henrik frowned. “So she studied necromancy to bring her parents back.”

“Tried to,” Karaline said. “Thought if she got strong enough, she could fetch their souls and glue ‘em back together.” She shook her head. “If I’d known what she was doin’, I’d’ve stopped ‘er. But she’s smart. By the time I caught on, she already had a bloody library in ‘er head. Wanted me to take ‘er back to Brozegräd to do the ritual, but that’s where I drew the line.”

“And yet you let her keep practicing.”

“Because I saw what it did to ‘er. You remember what she was like as a wee lass, right? She were always the quiet one. Didn’t care about anythin’. Never spoke, hardly interacted with other kids. She didn’t want to learn blacksmithin’. She was just driftin’ through life. But this? She was happy. She discovered a way to help spirits pass on to the afterlife. She cared for them like they were ‘er own children. I didn’t see the harm.”

Emily shifted forward slightly. “But how’d she even learn it? Necromancy’s… banned.”

“I might’ve had a few old things lying around,” Mina said dryly.

Henrik raised an eyebrow. “I shouldn’t be surprised that a vampire has a guide on the dark arts lying around.”

Emily snorted. “You should see the rest of her collection.”

Mina waved her off. “I was learning how to raise a child. Keeping track of my belongings wasn’t at the forefront of my mind.”

“Don’t blame Mina,” Karaline said firmly. “If anyone was supposed to be the responsible adult, it was me.”

Violet clapped to get everyone’s attention. Her notebook was floating above her head with a page already written. ‘I deeply apologize if the news disturbs you. It is never my intention to make people uncomfortable. Even if the decision sounded childish and rash, I understood the risks well after deciding to pursue it. I do not regret what I have done, because I know that it has resulted in the betterment of others. The child’s soul we used, his name was Quinby. His death was a violent and painful one, and he was an angry spirit. But after he helped save the life of a fellow child, his soul was finally able to ascend in peace. It may be frowned upon, but I do not wish to cease this if I can help other spirits. I only ask that my secret be kept for the sake of protecting Karaline. Of course, if it is revealed, then my life will be at risk. I understand there are those out there who would see me burn at the stake for what I do, and though I fear that fate, I fear more what might befall Karaline if I am to perish.’

The room remained silent, even long after everyone had finished reading the page.

Henrik rubbed at his chin. “I don’t like it,” he said. “And I won’t pretend I ever will. But I’ve seen too much to deny that what you’ve done is… meaningful. I recognize there is nothing I can do to sway you from your purpose. You made your bed and now you lie in it. If Mina has shown me anything, it’s that there is still good in the hearts of monsters, and while you may not be one, Violet, your actions may make people see you as one.” He looked at her for a long time. “But I’ll keep your secret.”

Violet gave him a small nod, smiling at him.

“Me too,” Emily said. “Your secret is safe with me.”

Henrik turned his attention back to Karaline. “That said, we’re not done here. You died, Karaline.”

Karaline grinned like a woman ready to tell a long, terrible joke. “Oh, aye. Now that’s a story. It ain’t anythin’ special, really. Was comin’ back from a run. Needed Mythril for a commission. Custom blade, big bastard of a thing. Took me too far north.” She clicked her tongue. “Ran into a group that didn’t care much for takin’ no as an answer. Robbed me blind. Fought back, best I could, but I’m no warrior. Not like Mina, or you, Emily. Or Henrik.” Her hand reached up to touch her shoulder, just above where the prosthetic joined her upper arm. “They took me arm. Took me leg. Left me in the dirt, bleedin’ out like livestock. Probably did worse, too, but I was already halfway to the void. Didn’t feel a damn thing after a while. Just cold. Then nothin’.”

Mina let out a sigh. “She had left Violet with Nathan and I. When she didn’t come back, I went looking. Found her body, and carried her home to bury her.” She glanced toward Violet. “Violet didn’t say anything. Just saw her. Dropped to her knees. Then she brought her back. That was when I learned what she had been up to.”

Henrik tilted his head. “You didn’t realize one of your books was—”

“Did you not hear what I said?” she snapped. “No, I never realized. Karaline didn’t tell me either.”

Karaline chuckled. “To be honest, I was afraid Mina would kick me ass if she found out.”

“So, what happened?” Emily asked. “You just… woke up?”

“I fuckin’ wish it were that simple. It hurt’s like a bitch. Thought I was burnin’ alive the whole time. When I came too, Vi was cryin’, I think. Couldn’t hear it, but her whole body was shakin’ like a leaf in the wind. Never seen her move so fast.” Karaline spread her arms. “But, here I am. Yer friendly, neighborhood undead blacksmith. Just not in one piece, mind.” She stripped off her jacket, then detached her prosthetic arm and set it on the table beside her. What remained of her upper arm was a rough stump, the skin pale and tight around an elven rune Emily didn’t recognize. It was complex, like it had been tattooed onto her. The same rune was on the inside of her bronze sleeve.

“Look ‘ere,” Karaline said, pointing toward a discolored patch along her shoulder. “Violet, if ye please.”

Violet lifted her hand and made a small, fluid motion in the air. The patch darkened, as if something was blooming beneath the skin. Bruises gave way to rot and blackened veins and peeling flesh. Another wave of Violet’s hand, and it was gone again.

“She keeps it hidden,” Karaline said, flexing what was left of her arm. “But it’s still there. So’s every new scar. Dead skin don’t heal. Just gets covered.” She pulled up her shirt just enough to show the fresh scar across her abdomen. “This one’ll be a beauty.”

Emily stared. “So if Violet can do that… bring people back… why hasn’t she done it for anyone else?”

Karaline’s grin faded. “Necromancy ain’t so simple, lass.”

Violet’s notebook flipped to a new page, and her pen began writing. ‘‘Provide me a moment, and a few pages, to explain it thoroughly. Necromancy follows the same principles as all magic. It draws upon the same wild, primal energy that flows through the world, yet instead of shaping it into flame or wind or the movement of stone, I bend it toward the boundary between life and death. To raise the dead is an incredibly complex and demanding task. It is not true resurrection, where body and soul are wholly restored as they were in life. When I brought Karaline back, I forged a magical anchor, a tether of sorts that binds her soul to her reanimated flesh. This tether grants the appearance of life, such as her breath, speech, thought, and memory. Yet it is an illusion sustained only by my constant presence. My aura extends around me like an unseen mantle. While Karaline remains within its reach, the tether holds firm. The decay that claimed her in death is halted. Her mind remains clear, and her memories sharp, her will her own. But should she stray beyond that aura, even for a few minutes, the anchor—’ The pen ran out of room. The notebook flipped to a new page, and the pen continued. ‘— weakens. The body begins to wither once more, as all dead flesh must, though much faster than before, into something monstrous. It is a consequence of my meddling. The mind, which is born of the body’s workings and sustained by my power, begins to unravel. Her memories will fade like ink washed away by rain. In time, only mindless hunger remains, a draugr driven by instinct alone. From that state, there is no return for her body. I can maintain this tether for several souls at once, though for one as vivid and strong-willed as Karaline it demands greater effort. To extend it to many more would tax me beyond endurance. Animating lesser corpses, raising an entire graveyard as temporary servants, is another matter entirely. Those are mere puppets. Hollow vessels moved by threads of power, empty of true thought or memory. They obey, but they do not live.’

Karaline gave a tired nod, as if to confirm every line.

“Then… her soul…” Emily said. “When the body finally fails?”

‘The soul itself remains untouched. It is the eternal flame, drawn from the realm beyond death yet never fully bound to the decaying flesh. When the anchor breaks and the body falls to ruin, the soul withdraws wholly into that realm, the veil between worlds, whole and unchanged. There, it keeps every fragment of who she—’ The pen ran out of room. The notebook flipped to a new page, and the pen continued. ‘— truly is. The decay claims only the vessel and the fragile mind it housed. The soul endures, waiting… should someone ever call it forth again.’

“Which, might I add,” Karaline said, “I ain’t lookin’ to come back again if it comes to that. I don’t need to be no doll on ‘er shelf.”

Violet clenched her fist slightly.

Mina cleared her throat. “I’m saying this clearly, Emily, I don’t want you anywhere near this kind of magic.”

Emily gave a small nod. “Yeah, no, I got that the moment I saw rotting flesh. I’m curious, not stupid.”

Karaline smirked.

Then Henrik stood slowly. The chainmail beneath his armor rustled faintly as he rose, and his voice was softer now. “I am sorry,” he said, looking around the room, his eyes meeting everyone’s. “To all of you. For what you’ve endured.” He turned to Mina first. “For the loss of your husband. For the loss of your daughter. I never knew her, but I wish I had.”

Mina inclined her head slightly.

Henrik turned to Karaline. “For your death, and the pain that came with it. You shouldn’t have had to bear it alone.”

Karaline simply nodded as she reattached her arm.

He looked at Violet. “For the hand you were dealt. For being robbed of your family before you even knew them. For being forced to find your purpose in a magic that might kill you.”

Violet’s shoulders tensed.

And finally, he looked at Emily. “And to you, Emily. For your home. For your friends. For the losses that cling to you. And for the burden you carry. I am strong, but I cannot fathom the weight of what’s been placed on your shoulders.”

“I don’t… I don’t think I’m feeling the weight of it yet,” she said, smiling sheepishly. “It still doesn’t feel real.”

“One day, you will. It may not hit you all at once. But there will come a moment when the cost catches up to you, when the burden presses down like stone. And when that day comes, you’ll need strength to keep standing.” He stepped forward, setting a hand over his chest. “And I will be honored to offer you some of mine.”

Emily blinked, tilting her head.

“You’ve done more than anyone could have expected. You protected Serenity Gardens when it was on the brink. You saved its people. My people. And most of all, you freed our savior from her corruption. That is no small feat. You’ve proven yourself worthy. And so I will hold to my end of our agreement. I will teach you the ways of the earth, the ancient rites, and the language of stone, of root, of mountain, and soil. So that one day, when you find yourself standing before the devil, you may not kneel, but rise, and use the strength of the land to defy her.”

Emily wasn’t sure what to say at first. She stared back at him for a moment before saying, “Thank you.”

“Bold words,” Mina said. “But they’re true. She’s earned it.”

Henrik turned toward her. His expression changed to be one more softer, which was strange to see from a man wearing such armor. “Regardless of what you are, Mina,” he said, “I’m glad our paths crossed. You’ve risked more than you had to. Fought for people who still fear you. I understand now why Jonathan was drawn to you. You are many things, Mina. You are caring and compassionate, living proof that not all monsters are teeth and claws.” Henrik stepped forward and extended his hand. It hung there, between them, for a moment. Then Mina pushed off the fireplace, stepped forward, and shook it. “But despite all that,” Henrik added, “vampires have taken a great deal from me. So… if there are days I can’t look at you, if I can’t speak to you without my hands shaking, I ask for your understanding.”

Mina met his gaze. “I understand. I’m sorry for everything you’ve lost.”

Henrik bowed his head slightly. “That means more than you know.”

“Well, would ye look at the two of ye. Bondin’ like a pair o’ blacksmiths over a busted forge.”

Mina raised an eyebrow. “That’s not a real expression.”

“It is now.”

Henrik allowed himself a faint smirk, then looked to the rest of the room. “I’ll need to return to Serenity Gardens soon. The ceremony’s coming, and there’s much to prepare. But you’re all welcome to stay a while longer.”

Mina raised an eyebrow. “You’re sure the townsfolk are going to be alright with me lurking around?”

Henrik exhaled through his nose. “No. I suspect they’ll be uncomfortable. Possibly terrified. But I trust you. And I trust your intentions. They’ll have to learn to live with that, even if only for a few days.” He turned slightly to Emily. “Although I doubt they’ll be thrilled about what happened to the plaza.”

Emily’s face turned bright red. “Oh, yeah, that. Um… sorry about the whole collapsing-the-watchtower thing. It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

“It was effective,” Henrik said, deadpan. “And it will be rebuilt. Perhaps… from stone this time. Something you can’t so easily burn down.”

Emily finally chuckled, then gripped her side sharply. “Yeah… let’s hope.”

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