text: [Themes: grimdark fantasy, villain protagonist, war, fantasy, grimdark]
  
  Those were some interesting years of your life.
  
  Sneaking about the campus, stealing a magic book here and there, teaching yourself in secret like you had been, but now you at least had some sort of instruction. You managed to figure out a lot more than the inherent talents you seemed to have (Most of which were on the destructive side of things).
  
  You learned more about magic in general; indeed you probably were a better all around wizard even if you still had much to learn.
  
  However, it wasn't the other branches of magic you were concerned about mastering. It was the one you were called to.
  
  While you had some progress, it wasn't much. The best you could do is animate a few deceased things like a dead rat, partial corpses or if you really focused an intact corpse like when you practiced with one of the dead rat men, but in doing so, they nearly got their revenge on you.
  
  There weren't exactly books on necromancy lingering around despite looking for them. You learned a bit of a substitute by studying up on enchantment and trying to control the dead using the same concepts. It worked to a limited degree (at least enough to not get yourself killed) but charming the living and controlling the dead are still very different things.
  
  Still, it was definitely a branch of magic that came in useful on more than one occasion. Especially since you've been encountering some difficulty walking about on campus.
  
  Back when you were living in the orphanage you started scaring the other children even though you never really did anything to them. You're starting to have that affect on grown people.
  
  You aren't really social so you didn't really notice it at first, but recently it's been getting to the point where you're just walking around and people are going out their way to avoid walking near you.
  
  It's becoming more of a problem more so on the campus due to making the college security starting to take more notice of you and they were doing that anyway due to your age. (Though that reason is less of an issue now)
  
  You've been sticking to only walking around on the campus at night now and if you have to go out during the day, you stick to other parts of the city where there's less chance of getting hassled by magic watchmen at least.
  
  On top of all this, you still aren't sure what your major plans are. You have this desire to master necromancy, but even when you do, then what? It's not really like you can practice it out in the open or use it for anything other than the obvious and even if you did, it would be a one way ticket for you to be targeted by the civilized world.
  
  Not like you can really speak to anyone about any of this though.
  
  And yet, you can't be the only person like this. There has to be others like you, maybe they're all hidden though. You imagine anyone that has your sort of power is probably hiding out from major areas of civilization.
  
  The only lead you can think of is to potentially ask a demon on campus who tend to be a little more knowledgeable about these things, the problem is most tend to want something in return.
  
  There aren't many of them and they typically working as janitors other than Big Red and you're really reluctant to ask him, given his advice years ago that nearly got you killed or worse.
  
  You've avoided him since that night, but you always hear his name pop up from time to time on campus as the one to go to if you really need something. Oddly he'd probably be the least demanding in price since he doesn't ask for someone's soul as payment. (Well at least not usually)
  
  Eventually you come to the conclusion you'll ask him and you figure if you don't like the price or answer, you can always do your own thing as usual.
  
  So you wait until nightfall and you go to the spot where Big Red can typically be found selling whatever he's offering.
  
  Before you even reach him, you see him looking up and even sniffing a bit, then he looks over in your direction.
  
  "Whoa...you smell DISGUSTING." Big Red says covering his nose.
  "Excuse me?" you say.
  "You fucking REEK of rotting death! Granted it's pleasant smell when it's a battlefield full of dead bodies, but something about you necromancers always ruin it and never fail to give off a foul aura. Ugh."
  
  You start to sniff at yourself and smell nothing out of the ordinary. While granted you live in an abandoned library and have been practicing raising the dead from time to time, you're fairly regular on your hygiene habits.
  
  "I'll have you know I keep myself regularly clean!" you protest.
  "Girl, you still have much to learn about your powers. You could immerse yourself in all the water in the world and adorn yourself with the fanciest perfume and you'd still smell like a horde of rotting bodies. It's not your body odor; it's your magical aura. Superior magical beings such as myself can sense it better than most. Though I'd wager your deathly aura is starting to become strong enough for even these moron mortals that claim to be masters of magic to start to sense."
  
  Your brief glance downward signifies that to be the case even if you didn't know why exactly until Big Red explained it. Also explains why that demonic janitor called you a stinking bitch when you walked by one last week. You figured he was just being an asshole. (Well he still was as far as you're concerned)
  
  In any case it's obvious Big Red knows all about your situation so you get to the point.
  
  "Look, I need to know if there are others like me, do you have that information?" you ask.
  "Right to it huh? You know you never did thank me for my free advice years ago when you were a younger ragamuffin. I'm sure sacking out in that old library rent free with nobody really bothering you has been serving your purposes well." Big Red says.
  "You didn't tell me about the ratmen living there."
  "And how would I know what was living in there? I never forced you to go there either, you made that choice. I merely pointed it out. Looks like you must have handled them though and grew stronger from it. But rather than even a thanks, you just come here demanding shit. Well that's not how this works Catalina."
  "Pretty sure I STILL never told you my name either."
  "And I'm pretty sure you did, so what do you want exactly? You want to know if there are others like you? Of course there are. Your kind always exists in some manner. Drawn to death like grave wings. Now if you want to know if there are any on campus? Well, the answer to that is yes as well. In fact, there's a whole cabal of them. They're a lot better at hiding their stench though, hence why they're freely walking about on campus not driving everyone away. Hell, I'm actually surprised one of them hasn't contacted you yet. Of course I'm equally surprised the campus security hasn't sensed you yet given that you're a walking mortuary. Then again they've never been the brightest with sensing magic auras."
  
  Well that was actually easier than you thought. You didn't think Big Red would give you the information so casually or that it would even be so close.
  
  "So where are they exactly" you ask.
  "What, you want me to draw you a map? Track them down yourself, shouldn't be hard even for you. I've already given you free advice TWICE now. You want more information, you're going to have to reciprocate."
  "Alright, so what do you want exactly? And no, I'm not giving you my soul OR my body."
  "Pfft, what do you take me for, one of those losers cleaning toilets? Your soul isn't worth much, and while your virginity might entice some, you are not my type. You couldn't handle what I got anyway."
  "Well what do you want then?"
  "Simple really, I need you to deliver this to someone. I'd do it myself, but I'm honestly too busy with other things."
  
  Big Red pulls out a black cube with ornate gold carvings on it from his coat.
  
  "They already paid for it, so just drop it off and come back."
  "Wait, where would I be taking it?"
  "Oh, Mr. Demar's office. He's head of the conjuration department. I'm sure you're familiar with the building."
  "Can't say I've ever lingered around over there."
  "Hm, I suppose that's not surprising. Anyway, deliver that and you'll get your information."
  
  You're a little leery of all this and immediately Big Red senses this.
  
  "Or don't and get the fuck out of here anyway because once again you're driving away business."
  
  Big Red puts the cube back in his coat pocket and waves you away.
  
  If Big Red thinks you're going to change your mind and take whatever that item is, he's sadly mistaken.
  
  Or maybe you should just leave Nuro entirely and make your own way, especially if things are getting dicey to stick around here. While Nuro may very well be a large center of magic in the world, it isn't the entire world. Surely there is more out there after all.
  
  > leave Nuro
  As much as you'd rather not, you feel leaving Nuro is the smartest choice if only to keep yourself safer from those that would seek to stomp out your magic choice of interest.
  
  You head back to your "home" and pack up your belongings. You aren't sure where you're going to go. You have some knowledge of the areas surrounding Nuro based on what you've read and overheard, but leaving the city is an idea that really gives you a lot of anxiety and concern.
  
  You don't even know why exactly. You've dealt with far more dangerous situations.
  
  You ultimately decide to travel to the Tulan Kingdom since from what you've heard; it has a somewhat more "relaxed" policy on dark magic. Or at least it openly consorts with demons more readily than other places. Any place like that is more likely to be easier to keep a low profile in while still maintaining the civilized world conveniences. (You're still a city girl and you're not exactly keen on the idea of living off the land)
  
  It's going to be a long journey though and you're certainly not going to walk all the way. The next morning, you seek out one of those carriages to transport you, luckily manage to find one.
  
  The driver is wearing cloth over his face and some sort of goggles. When you approach he looks down at you and tells you the price. It's a little high but then money hasn't really ever been an issue for you since you learned to live on your own.
  
  You pay the driver who takes your coins. He tells he'll be leaving as soon as he gets more passengers. You step into the carriage which is a lot more roomy than it looked from the outside. You take a seat and try to keep yourself calm about the upcoming trip.
  
  It won't be so bad. You got used to not living in the orphanage, you'll get used to not living Nuro. Maybe you need a change of scenery anyway.
  
  Doesn't take long before someone enters the carriage, two in fact. It's a woman and her young daughter. The mother sees you and tells her daughter to sit on the other side of the carriage after which she does likewise.
  
  "I'm going to see my daddy in the Tulan Kingdom!" the little girl exclaims to you.
  "Shhh! What did I tell you about talking to strangers? Just sit there quietly for the trip and don't open your mouth." Her mother scolds and then looks at you before looking through her purse for something. She gives you another dirty look before pulling out a book to read.
  
  A few moments later, another person enters the carriage. This one is a fatter young man probably a few years older than you. Unsurprisingly he sees you and sits right next to you.
  
  "Well hello ladies. You all heading to the Tulan Kingdom as well?" he asks, though he doesn't get an answer from any of you. (The little girl nearly answers until her mother glares at her)
  
  Doesn't stop him from continuing to pester you though.
  
  "Hey, you look familiar. Do you go to the magic college?" he asks you.
  "Uh, no." you answer.
  "Hm, could have swore I'd seen a pretty girl like you around the campus before. I guess you do look a little on the younger side to be attending a college. Anyway, I just finished my first year and heading back home for a family visit even though I'd rather not, but you know how family can be right? Always want you to check in and all."
  
  You ignore his comment and go back to looking out the window, hoping the carriage starts rolling soon.
  
  One more person enters the carriage and there's just enough room for him to squeeze in next to the mother. He's an older man wearing traveller clothing and a sword and brace of pistols are openly displayed on his person. If you had to guess, maybe he's some sort of bounty hunter. He says nothing, but he does give you a long stern looks when you glance over at him. He's even worse than the mother in this regard.
  
  You look at the mother again who is reading her book. The daughter who was more talkative before has now become quiet and when you look at her even she backs herself up more against her seat and looks away.
  
  You realize that maybe this hostility stems from the "dark aura" Big Red said you were giving off. Pity it's NOT working on the fat young man sitting near you because he's still trying to engage you in conversation. He start to mention how he's majoring in illusions when the driver shouts that he's leaving.
  
  As the carriage leaves Nuro, you look out the window taking in the wilderness for the first time. It's much different than the Nuro park. You're actually a little fascinated by it all. Of course looking out the window is a lot more desirable than looking at your travelling companions who are either hostile or overly talkative.
  
  You can't keep staring out the window the whole trip though so you try the next best way of escape by closing your eyes to sleep.
  
  You aren't sure how much time passes, but the next time you open your eyes, it's getting dark. You glance at the three sitting across from you and the older man and the mother both look at you with the same dislike in their eyes. The little girl is asleep.
  
  You turn your head and the fat young man smiles at you.
  
  "Well, you're awake again. I thought you had been ignoring me earlier until I realized you had just fallen asleep. Like I was saying, you have to have a really high intelligence level to master illusions. The willpower to make illusions feel like reality is just...well I'll just show you!"
  
  It would appear that one is unfortunately still too friendly towards you. He immediately starts to cast a small spell creating flowers which then dissipate into a mist of colors. Doesn't impress you, but he's gotten the little girl's attention who apparently woke up from all the noise he was making.
  
  "Ohhh pretty! Do it again!" she exclaims.
  "Yeah, do it again. You seem to enjoy trying to impress girls much younger than yourself." You say in an attempt to shut down this annoying idiot for good.
  
  Your remark gets a look of shock from him, but also from the mother.
  
  "Wha..." he says.
  "Excuse me?! I don't want my daughter to hear you talk such filth!" she says.
  "Why are you giving me grief? This one is the one that's been creeping on me the whole time despite the fact he himself said I'm too young to be in college. If anything I've called him out on being a pervert. You oughta be giving him the stink eye not me!" you exclaim.
  
  At this point the mother starts yelling at you, while the fat young man who has been hitting on you starts to protest his innocence.
  
  "Hey now, I was just being friendly, no need for name calling and accusations. Just calm down darling."
  
  These hollow words followed by patting you on the leg to get his point across was a very poor judgment on his part. While he probably figured copping a feel would be worth a potential slap, he didn't count on you reacting in a much more violent way.
  
  You look at his hand and then your mind goes into a darkness.
  
  "ROT" you utter and suddenly the young man's hand shrivels before everyone. He screams holding his decrepit boney hand.
  The mother and daughter scream as well and hold each other, but the bounty hunter springs into action.
  
  "I knew it! I knew you were a necromancer!" he shouts and pulls one of his pistols.
  
  The carriage though hits a bumpy patch causing the hunter to miss you and shoot the fat man in the face. Blood splatters on you, but you're not fazed at all and cast a bolt black at the hunter, killing the man instantly.
  
  Your attention turns the mother and daughter now. Gone is the disgust and only the fear remains on the mother's face.
  
  "Maybe you were right after all." You say and do the same thing to them that you did to the hunter. The pair die in each other's arms screaming.
  
  The carriage continues its bumpy journey and you're now sharing its interior with four corpses. You push the fat one's body away from you. You're mildly annoyed you didn't get to kill him personally.
  
  You briefly wonder why the carriage hasn't stopped, the driver surely had to hear all the commotion.
  
  You don't wonder for long though since the carriage does stop.
  
  "Alright, we're here. Everyone out." You hear him shout.
  
  You look outside the window and see...well nothing. It's pitch black outside. The most you can make out is the road immediately near the carriage.
  
  "Well Catalina? Aren't you getting out? You're at your destination."
  
  How the hell did the driver know your name? Something is wrong here and if this driver has any tricks up his sleeve, he's going to be joining the rest of the passengers here. You step out of the carriage.
  
  And that's when you see that you are not in the Tulan Kingdom. You're not even on the road. You're in a huge graveyard and somewhat confused. You turn around back to the carriage and see the driver still sitting on top of it. He's fiddling with his face wrap though.
  
  "What's wrong? This was your true destination was it not?" he says and removes his face wrap revealing a grinning skull. The goggles come off next exposing hollow sockets.
  
  The four dead bodies inside the carriage start to exit the carriage and move towards the graveyard, ignoring you completely.
  
  "Young, old, male, female, fat, thin, doesn't really matter does it? That's where they all end up. Beautiful isn't it?" The driver says.
  
  Suddenly the driver appears right before you.
  
  "And that's where you're going to help send all of them. Help them see the beauty." The driver whispers and then everything goes black.
  
  You look around and find yourself back in the present, whatever that means in a place like this.
  
  Interesting, but that didn't happen. These false memories are sometimes very bizarre. You can only guess its all-mental images mixing with bits of reality and imagination. Hell, you've been here for who knows how long now and you still haven't got it all figured out yet.
  
  After a bit of reflection on what just happened, you realize you'll have to try again to reconnect later. When will that be? You never can tell.
  
  But it'll happen again. You'll reunite with your beloved.
  
  It's only a matter of time.