What's A Darkling?

"What in Morgiddian's name is that, Wind?"
The taint had started reaching her mouth and her legs. It didn't look disgusting but simply unnerving. Her arms and hands were covered in the scales and the glamour had prevented Liryc and Enrika from seeing her in such a state. It didn't impede Necros' vision in the least.
"Necros, I'm half-demon."
"Yes, well, you were half-demon the last time I saw you and you were most definitely not like this that time."
"Circumstances are complicated, but in essence, this is the result of Libys and I merging." Raewyn pulled her long sleeve back, revealing the scales covering it in entirety. Necros whistled.
"How far has it spread?"
"It's covered my entire torso, as you can see, reaching up to my lips and my thighs."
"Does it hurt?"
"No. The scales are hard, yet flexible though, somewhat like chainmail." She didn't mention anything about the Personas.
"I see." He yawned. "I'll go and sleep first." They were staying over at Liryc's home for the time being, settling the situation. As he left Raewyn with her cup of tea and entered his room and locked the door, he took out a globe that had the same colour of his method of teleportation, pure darkness, complete void. He set it on the floor and spoke softly.
"Lord?"
"Speak." A voice, indefinably androgynous and without inflection drifted from it as the globe seemed to mist up with even darker night, black upon black.
"Raewyn's growth is due to her skin which is a demon. She was bonded to it many years ago. I have not established why the growth has only appeared recently."
"Continue your investigations, Necros Svantor Andranze."
"One more thing, Lord."
"Speak."
"The Persona Melancholy is with Liryc most of the time. And I suspect that Raewyn can see Melancholy. She glares quite regularly at the Persona."
"I see. You think that Melancholy is making Liryc her avatar, so to speak?"
"Yes, Lord."
"Is there anything else, darkling Andranze?"
"No, Lord. That is all."
The black mist within the globe died away and the globe returned to its original smooth, same colour all around. He kept the globe and went to sleep.

"We'll be back later a couple of hours before Falselight. Now, Rika, I can call you Rika, can I? Rika, take my hand." Necros folded them both away and into his own house, straight into his study-room. The room had several scrolls laid out on the wide table and he quickly rolled them up, clearing a space and conjuring a board in its place.
"Now, I think to discover just how much you know, I'll give you a simple test. Nothing too difficult, something of the 'if this gear turns this way, which way does that gear turn' variety."
"What's a gear?"
He turned around and looked oddly at her.
"I can see that there's going to be some problems. Are you illiterate?"
"What's that mean?"
He frowned. "Oh dear. Well then. I guess I'll have to teach you everything. Any knowledge of numbers?"
"Only enough to count."
Necros sighed slightly. "Let's start with the letters then."

"So, we require several assistants. How many of you are willing to help us out?" Chaos asked the children of the Personas.
"Who requires help?" Arrt asked.
"Death and Decay. So if you want to score some points with your future mother-in-law, you could help her, though I'm sure that she would object to your presence."
"I don't mind helping Decay." Mariko blew a bubble of gum.
"Okay. I'll brief you later on what helping Decay entails. Anyone willing to help Death?"
"We don't mind helping." Irus and Iris said simultaneously.
"Inseparable eh? Alright then. I'll settle your school matters for now. That doesn't mean that you can neglect your studies. Death needs help collecting the souls of the dead in Kylmir. She'll organise them to their respective deities so your job is to aid her in collecting them. She'll tell you what to do." Chaos took out his small scale of nothingness and slit a thin line in the air, widening it to a portal.
"Go now. Well, Mariko, Decay requires help enabling the decomposition in Kylmir too. They're much too sick to burn their own dead, thus there's too much for him to cope. He'll tell you what to do."
Chaos closed the first portal and opened another. Del and Arrt left as Chaos and Mariko departed. Iria was still asleep.

"She has potential." Necros murmured to Raewyn, nodding towards Enrika.
"Potential? Of what kind?"
"Ah, you get my meaning. She could develop into one of those with no presence."
"No presence?"
"No magical signature as it were. One of them."
"That is somewhat disturbing. How would she even develop to lose her presence?"
"If it pleases you, I'll keep that knowledge to myself. I think I shall ask her if she would want to be one soon. The development should start from such an age."
"You hope to train her to be someone you can make use of, don't you?"
"Only a fool wouldn't. Her talents, latent though they may be, would be useful. Her... tastes would not be hard to satisfy either."
Everyone has a magical presence. It was like a magical fingerprint, unique to every person. Spellcasters could sense this signature and almost all magics that targeted a person relied on the spellcaster aiming for the presence, it being the most accurate. There were a few rare individuals who did not possess such magical identities. They could not use magic at all and also mostly could not be targeted by magics, at least not without great difficulty. However, their presence, or lack of it, tended to cause spellcasters fear, thus being one of several mage banes. Every spellcaster gave thanks that there were so few of these so-called 'invisibles'.
"Hmph. You better make sure that you've got her permission."
"Or what? Since when did you have the right to threaten me, Wind?"
"Never. My apologies. I just worry for Rika."
"You need not worry. I will take care of her."

Learn To Eat

"She what?" Raewyn nearly shrieked into the phone.
"You heard what I said, she ran out into the night and ate someone. Archon, it sounds ridiculous put that way, but Wind, what do I do, how do I get rid of the body?" Liryc's voice grew higher and higher to the point of hysterics. Though Raewyn could not see her, she knew Liryc well enough to know that she was crying. She could just imagine her red eyes and that same helpless expression every time she had to deal with such matters.
"Liryc, calm down. Calm down. It'll be okay. Have you told anyone else?"
"I only sent a message to Necros and asked him to come back but what do I do, what do I do?"
"Just stay at home, I'll be there fast. Then we'll decide. Don't do anything rash, I'm on my way."
Liryc sat in a crumpled pile on her bed. For a moment, she thought, "I've got to stay strong, I've got to appear strong in front of Rika."
She realised how ridiculous that statement was. Why would a murderess who grew on the streets of a city where the dead live need her to be strong?
At that moment, Enrika came into the room.
"Leee-reek," She called in a singsong tone. "Where's the-"
She paused abruptly as Liryc hugged her tightly. She froze and her muscles tightened, a reflex born of the streets. She relaxed slowly and returned the hug awkwardly as Liryc's tears started to wet the back of her dress. Enrika was suddenly reminded of what had ran through her mind on the previous night, how soft and warm and delightfully enticing Liryc's body was and she hugged tighter. Enrika nipped her neck playfully and she asked again.
"Where do you keep the candles?"
"You mean you're still going to carry on with that?" Liryc sniffed slightly, wiping her tears away.
"Might as well. Meditation helped me when I was back at Necropolis."
"You've got my music now."
"But it's not fail-safe. Last night proved it. It might wear off too early and I think this can be my backup."
A single tear ran down Liryc's face again. "You think my music's useless." She turned, back facing Enrika. "Kitchen. Second cupboard from the right."
"I didn't mean it like that, Liryc. Surely you're not so dumb to see that this is just in case of emergencies, right?"
"So now you're calling me dumb. Get out of my room."
"Liryc, I-"
"Get out. I'm tired."
"I'm sorry." Enrika muttered and stomped out, slamming the door.

"Necros!" Raewyn called out as she saw the familiar unfolding dark shape. It looked like a splotch of black unfolding upwards from a rectangle of inky darkness, forming into a humanoid shape. As it finished forming, the man turned towards her. He was robed in black, a glinting sickle of green and red on his belt. He was not particularly handsome, but his demeanor indicated strength and authority in all matters.
"Oh, hey Wind, it's nice to see you again after so long. Are you here because of Liryc's situation?"
"Yes, but that's all you have to say? Nice to see you?"
"Raewyn, Raewyn, you were the one who left after all. We could not, would not stop you. And why should we? All we could do was to carry on. No point weeping or dredging up past feelings against you."
Raewyn snorted. "Ever the rational one, aren't you."
He shook his head. "After you left, I went to the Aluvan Mountains. I needed to think some things through. Thank the Cadaver Lord that my trail of knowledge led to him."
"You're a priest now?"
"Yes. I am a priest of the Ghoul King, He Who Feasts Upon The Dead, The Cadaver Lord."
"How coincidental. I suppose that's why Liryc called for your help."
"Oh, no, they don't know yet."
"Then this is extremely coincidental."
"Why?"
"You'll see."
They walked together to Liryc's home.

"Enrika is an eater of flesh? This is extremely alarming, yet I believe that my god has brought me here for the reason. She is quite obviously of Morgiddian's own. Let me see the girl, Liryc."
She brought Enrika before him, deferring to his judgement regardless of how she felt. Enrika herself fidgeted nervously, not knowing what was going on.
"Hmm. I can see it." Necros murmured a few syllables of prayer and his eyes seemed to emit a heavy, black fog. The smoke dissipated as it fell towards his mouth and his iris' had a small, fiendish red light glowing through them. Suddenly, the room felt a lot more colder from before.
"The green eyes with a slight core of red, very hard to spot, but certainly of the Charnel God. I can see that insatiable appetite for human flesh. Sweet and raw. The lack of discomfort from the sudden drop in temperature, no wonder you survived in Necropolis." He muttered as he examined her.
The smoke suddenly stopped dripping off his eyes and the red glow ceased to be.
"Yes. Now, what shall we do with her? Miss Enrika, how would you like to study under my wing the ways of Morgiddian, the Eater Of Corpses? And not just the religion, but I could give you a proper education. You will need to find ways to obtain your provender without alerting the public. I can teach you."
"I, uh, I don't even know who you are."
Necros started laughing. "Indeed. Let us now introduce ourselves then, shall we? Then, we shall decide whether you're willing to learn. One thing at a time."

Message log 1775A65L

Date: 5111247748422 121554
//
Day Thirteen.
//
Raxoraxos Prime
//
[Messege begins]

We have lost our half of our squad. All ammounition Gone. We are stranded without supplies.
This is the Thirteenth day. We will not last any longer. It is Coming. Run. Run while you still can.
Never stop.

[Message Ends]
//

-Message log 1775A65L
 Private Josh Cabzaled

The Dark

Dark was the night.
Darker still was the day, for here, the sun no longer shined upon the land.
All was in shadow, empty darkness.A void among the stars, Endless Rift.
It is here that I walk, for I am one with the shadow, I am the dark.

I have waited for millenia, lurking in the shadows,until the day will I return.
From the shadows I will come forth, none shall stand in my way, for I am the Dark.
And I shall have my revenge.

So be prepared, my dear mortals, for the day of the Eternal Black approaches.
Dark Fire shall desend upon you, and all who stand in way will perish in Eternal Shadow.
For I am The Dark, and I shall have my revenge.

Food For Thought

It is nighttime. I lie on the large bed in the same room as Liryc. I'm unused to its dubious comfort and I squirm a little. It's so soft, and I feel like I'm going to fall through any moment. I get up and move to the floor, slowly and silently. No point waking her up. Aah. Hard and solid. So much more comfortable. My mouth twitches a little and I shiver slightly. Oh shit. It's not so cold that I might be shivering. First sign, the first sign. But, I don't want to wake her up. I'd be like some baby who couldn't even take care of herself. I'm not so helpless. I lick my lips. I bite my tongue lightly to keep myself from licking my lips. But I can smell her scent, so tantalising. I cannot, I must not. My teeth start chattering. Second sign. Shit, shit, shit. But I can hold on. I will not give in. I haven't eaten in days. Still... Shouldn't I give myself a treat then?
No! The last rational bit of my mind cries out. I will not! My stomach is rebelling, it hurts so bad, just like the time I stabbed my finger while playing Knife. For such self-control, I deserve something, yes? I stand up shakily, hand gripping my heaving abdomen tightly. Liryc's warm, soft, lithe, sweet-smelling body. I watch her chest rise and fall with the rhythm of slumber, deep sleep. So hypnotic. It'd be so easy to just rip- No! No! Not her!
I stagger back and run towards the window. I musn't! I leap out of the window with a strangled cry. By this point, nothing matters but the hunger.

-

I jolt awake from the half-scream. I look about and catch a glimpse of Rika jumping out of the window. Cold fear runs through me. No! Rika! The hunger must have overwhelmed her, that prideful girl! I run to the window and I can see her snarling as she hits the floor and runs away into the night.
"Rika! Stop! Come back!"
My voice gives her some pause, but she growls and continues running. I can't catch her, not like this. I am horribly aware that my nightgown is less than adequate for running in the cold night. There is nothing I can do. But I have to do something! I change quickly into something suitable and grab my lyre and head out in her general direction. On second thought, I grab a dagger and sheathe it on my leg holster. And another dagger goes into my hand. I hope I can find her before its too late. But I think it's already too late. She might already have killed someone.
I feel sick.

-

"Hey, girl, are you lost?"
The girl looked quite thin and dirty. Her eyes were wide and wild and he wondered for a moment if she was one of the vagrants who had been taking refuge here with the advent of the plague. He felt ashamed for such a thought and he walked over to her. She was flushed and her fevered eyes settled on him. She stared at him with such intensity that he felt as if he was being laid bare on a board. He took another step forward and she leapt. He raised an arm in self-defense and the girl sank her teeth into it. He screamed loudly as she tore the flesh off his arm and she lunged at his throat, her teeth ripping into it, swallowing the bloody morsel as hot crimson fluid splashed all about her already-stained dress and the pavement, sweet, raw flesh in between her lips.
Slowly, as she gnawed at the flesh-stripped bones, devouring all but the gall and bile, she slowly came back to herself.
"Oh... So full.." Then Enrika fully registered the sight around her and she swore. "Now what do I do?" She slowly gathered the bones, licking them clean of any residual meat. As she tried to carry them all up, she heard Liryc.
"Rika! There you ar-" Her voice stopped uncertainly as she saw the pile of bones.
"I ate him, Liryc. I feel so much better now. What do I do with the bones?"
Enrika was acting as if she had just eaten a chicken wing and was asking innocently about where to dispose of it. She didn't look as though she cared about the man's death. She had no conscience. It was all very normal to her.
What have I brought to my city? Liryc wondered. She took out her phone and quickly sent a message to Necros.
Esteemed leader, wherever you are, please get back as soon as you can. There is a situation I need your help with.
Hopefully, he would receive her message and get back soon. However, relying on Necros wasn't the best idea. She sent another message to Raewyn, the message running in the same vein. But for now, Liryc just helped to carry the bones back to her house. She needed to find a permanent solution. She couldn't keep playing for Rika. The girl was too prideful. Who knew when she'd go out and 'feast' again. And her appetite was increasing. Previously, Rika had not been able to finish one whole man. What if next time, she would-
No. Liryc refused to think about it. That would not happen.