text: No, you're not going to leave. For good or ill, this place is still your home and you aren't going to leave it due to having doubts or especially boredom. You also still feel grateful to Mr. Demar which you even acknowledge might be foolish on your part of getting attached like you did with Miss Olga.
  
  Though that attachment was a little different. You were younger and you certainly didn't have any other feelings.
  
  "What the fuck is going on with you girl? That man is more than twice your age. Shit. Things were so much easier when I wasn't suddenly thinking with parts other than my brain." You say to yourself.
  
  It's unfortunate that you seem to be tethered to the same sort of urges as everyone else. Normally you'd take matters like this into your own hands, but you're starting to wonder if you need to just get it over with to satisfy the curiosity part.
  
  So what are you going to do? Go into Mr. Demar's office naked telling him to just take you there on his desk? While you're tempted to do exactly that, that would be pretty awkward if he wasn't interested. And you're pretty sure he's not given that you've never detected any hint of attraction to you. (Makes you wonder if he is fucking Felsa like Trelik claimed though) In any case, you really don't want to deal with potential complications like a "relationship" or all the gossip.
  
  Honestly hooking up with any fellow Dark Order members would just cause the same potential complications, maybe the key is to just pick up some boring random stranger to get it over with, that's what most people in this college do anyway.
  
  To hell with it, you're going to go get laid, however since you don't want to be a complete degenerate, you avoid asking the demonologists where the best hang outs and parties are and decide to just visit one of the more popular spots on campus where the college folk gather.
  
  You wait until night and head to a place called the Alkymist. Someone's idea of a cute play on words for a place that mostly serves wizards you suppose.
  
  Surprisingly the Alkymist isn't very lively tonight. The hobgoblin tending the bar asks what you want to which you order something that isn't going to dull your senses since you're trying to get laid, not raped.
  
  You aren't exactly sure how to proceed since you were expecting more people to be here, but from past experience you figure eventually some guy will come up to you attempting to impress you in some way.
  
  So you wait at a table by yourself.
  
  And wait.
  
  And wait.
  
  And any other damn time some creep is attempting to make unwanted advances. Maybe you would have been better off going into Mr. Demar's office naked.
  
  Just as you're about to give up on this endeavor, you sense a strong deathly presence enter the bar. At first you think it's someone from the Dark Order, but the person who enters isn't familiar.
  
  It's a man in who looks to be in his late twenties or early thirties. Pale. Fairly handsome looking.
  
  You can't say you've had any contact with one before, but from the stories you've heard from Dark Order members, this man seems to be a vampire. The Dark Order is supposed to have an alliance of sorts with them.
  
  Why one is here you have no idea, maybe they're spying on you or something. In any case, you'll soon learn why because he sees you and immediately approaches.
  
  "Hello, my name is Alec. I haven't seen you here before." He says.
  "Because I've never been in here before." You answer.
  "Ah, that would explain it. So what brings you here tonight? I figured most would be at the Manticore House party tonight. People on campus couldn't stop talking about getting ready for it."
  "Oh. I wasn't aware of it. I don't keep up much on the latest campus stuff."
  "So, you here with someone?"
  "No."
  "Ah so, you looking to meet someone? I mean that's one of the main reasons people come here. Well that and to get drunk, though the drinks here aren't as good as they used to be."
  "Well I'm sure you wouldn't find them to be your taste that's for sure."
  
  Alec is silent a moment at your comment. He also sits across from you without asking to.
  
  "And...why do you say that?" Alec asks.
  
  You nearly stare at Alec in disbelief for playing dumb, but you continue to refrain from staring directly into his eyes.
  
  "Please. I know what you are." You say.
  "Hm. Yes, I suppose you'd be able to tell right away. But then, YOUR kind have an affinity towards those of my state of being don't they?"
  
  Alec smiles while you don't answer.
  
  "You see, I know what you are too. I could sense an appealing deathly aura about you." Alec whispers.
  "Of course you do. So instead of all this pointless attempt at trying to charm me, why don't you get to the point? Why has a representative of the vampire clans come here? If you want to speak to Mr. Demar, he's probably still at the conjuration building right now."
  "The clans? You mean that old aristocratic asshole club? Pfft, I'm not part of them. Or at least I haven't been since the one who created me got himself killed. Free to do what I want nowadays and I sure as hell don't want to be part of some stodgy system. Mind you I do have to not step on their toes in whatever little schemes they got cooked up, but that's easy enough to do since I don't have much in the way of grand ambition. Probably why they don't give a shit that I'm not around actually."
  
  Well this is interesting to keep your attention, assuming he's telling the truth of course.
  
  "So you're telling me, you're just some vagabond vamp with no ties to anything other than your thirst." You say.
  "Well I like to think I'm MORE than just what I eat. I have other interests. For example, I come to this place often whenever I'm in Nuro because it brings back fond memories of when I was younger. Used to hang out here with my friends playing darts, getting drunk, telling jokes, and occasionally going home with a lovely lady. You know the usual things one does in one's misspent youth." Alec says.
  "Hm. Wouldn't know much about that seeing as I'm still young and I try not to misspend any of it."
  "Yep, you're definitely a necromancer."
  "What's that supposed to mean?"
  "Gloomy, dour, and generally no fun. Well with a few exceptions, but then those type tend to be arrogant dickheads who are no fun in other ways."
  "Well if I'm no fun, don't let me keep you. I'm sure you got better things to do. Why don't you try the Manticore House party you mentioned? It's probably lively with a bunch of dumb unsuspecting co-eds who you can lure into a dark alley or something."
  "Why repeat myself?"
  
  You have to admit, there's a part of you that found that amusing.
  
  "Okay I saw you smile at that comment." Alec adds.
  "So is this how you get your prey? Try to wear them down with attempts at humor?" you ask.
  "No, I generally just use the gaze for that. This is how I try to get a lady I'm genuinely interested in."
  "You don't even know me."
  "I know you're pretty, I know you're obviously intelligent. Hell, we even know one secret about each other already."
  "At this rate, it'll be the only one."
  "Oh come on! I know you're not here to just enjoy the ambiance of this place. You obviously aren't the type to do anything without a major purpose. You were here to meet someone."
  
  You can see Alec's not going to leave you alone about this, so you indulge him a little longer.
  "Okay, fine. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about with socializing and shit. And yeah, that also included potentially meeting someone."
  "Alright and how the hell did you think you were going to accomplish that by sitting in a dark corner away from everyone?"
  "What difference does it make? Nobody was here anyway."
  "Okay, but what if this place had been crowded? I'm betting you would have done the same thing, am I right?"
  "Perhaps, but given past experiences without even trying, I'm sure someone would have come up to me."
  "Oh I'm sure they would have. And what would you have done? Probably given them a hard time and put up a wall like you're doing with me right now."
  "If they couldn't deal with my personality then they obviously aren't worth my time. And as for you, you're a fucking vampire. Of course I'm going to be EXTRA careful around you."
  "I don't believe that."
  "Don't believe what?"
  "I don't believe you're worried about me being a vampire. If you were, you wouldn't still be talking to me since I imagine you don't spend this long shutting someone down."
  "And I'm probably not going to spend too much longer on you either."
  
  Alec sits back a moment. He's obviously trying to figure out a different tactic. And you of course are still curious enough to see if he's going to finally impress you.
  
  "Alright, I can see I'm antagonizing you." Alec says.
  "You leaving for easier prey?" you ask.
  "No, I ate before I came here. I'm going to tell you a little more about myself. Obviously I don't have time to go into decades of the past, but maybe this will put you at ease."
  "Not really. You could just make it all up."
  "Well then at least you'll hear a good story."
  "Fair enough. I'll listen."
  "Thanks for giving me a chance...um...this would be easier with your name."
  "It's Catalina. Hey wait, did you know the Great Lich Lord?"
  "What? No. I'm not THAT old. And that's an appropriate name to match your beauty."
  
  Alec goes a little bit into his life before he was a vampire. Mentions he wasn't actually a student at the magic college, but rather was a city worker that happened to have a few buddies that had some magic skills so he was usually along for the festivities.
  
  He goes into a bit about how before he was turned he didn't really think too much about anything that lay outside the walls of Nuro since he had pretty much all he needed here.
  
  You notice he doesn't quite go into detail about the vampire that made him (or even why) and only really mentions brief details. And even in those details you get the impression the "relationship" wasn't the most positive one other than all the new things he saw and places he travelled to.
  
  Honestly though, you're only half paying attention to most of it. Mainly because you don't really care about any of it, because your foremost purpose was to just get laid in the first place. And just your luck, this vampire so far is your only suitor tonight.
  
  He is quite alluring and it isn't due to any sort of "vampire charm" he's attempting. It's the fact that he's also giving off a powerful deathly aura, even more so than Mr. Demar. You can only imagine that's due to him actually being dead. You've always seen the beauty in death and a vampire would certainly be a good embodiment of it.
  
  Part of you just wants to throw caution to the wind and go off with Alec right now, of course you're still entirely there since you are still very aware of the danger of this. It would help if you could determine if he's being sincere about anything.
  
  "So how about you?" Alec asks.
  "How about me what?" you answer temporarily being brought out of your own thoughts
  "About yourself? I've been droning on about myself and not letting you get in a word edgewise. We're supposed to be getting to know each other better right?"
  
  > just get to it
  Fuck it. You're just going to do it. There's no safe way to fuck a vampire and tonight that's exactly what you've decided to do.
  
  "Look Alec, you said you're just passing through and you're not looking for dinner, you're looking to get laid right?" you ask.
  "Well...yes, but..." Alec says before you interrupt.
  "Good, so am I. So let's drop all the getting to know you stuff and just get to it. You got a place we can go to? Can't really go back to mine, I live with a bunch of other people and you showing up might cause issues."
  "Yes, I have place."
  "Good, let's get out of here then."
  
  You stand up first and start walking out the door; Alec soon catches up saying to wait up.
  
  Alec soon takes the lead and it doesn't take long before the pair of you are heading to the city graveyard. You can't say you're too surprised.
  
  "Graveyard? Seems a bit on the nose doesn't it?" you say.
  "Heh, don't worry, we won't be out in the open. There's a crypt this way I use when I'm in town, this way."
  
  You follow Alec to the crypt and after a walk down some stairs and through a few catacombs; you eventually reach a well "kept" area with a fancy coffin. You look around and see despite the bricked interior of the room; nature is still finding a way inside as several large tree roots are breaking through the old weakened brick.
  
  "You might want to be careful with where your coffin's location is Alec, a tree could come crashing down on it." You say.
  "Yeah, this place has seen better days, but I certainly call it home when I'm here. Really need to do something about the grave wings flying about the catacombs though. I don't remember there being so many before. Ugh, there's even a few in here."
  "You don't like them? I've always thought they were pretty."
  "Hm, maybe that's because they don't bite you."
  "I didn't see them bite you when we were walking down here."
  "They usually don't, but...well given a vampire's state of existence and what grave wings typically feast on and let's just say the occasional curious or hungry one isn't adverse to nipping one of my kind occasionally."
  "Heh, I guess I can see why that would make you a little apprehensive with a large number of them around. So...should I just take my clothes off and get in the coffin then?"
  "Sheesh, you work fast for someone who's never done this before."
  
  You stay silent in your response, but Alec answers for you.
  
  "I know you're a virgin Catalina. I can smell your purity."
  "Excuse me? Just because I'm a necromancer doesn't mean I'm forego bath..."
  "No, no, no, it's your blood. The blood never lies." Alec interrupts.
  "How would those two things even...nevermind, guessing it's one of your vamp powers. So that another reason you were drawn to me? Like 'em fresh huh?"
  "And you like the dead."
  
  You notice Alec's staring at you intently during your conversation and you catch yourself looking directly at him and look away.
  
  "Y'know intimacy is going to be very difficult if you're going to insist on not looking at me. You going to keep your eyes closed the entire time? That's no way to experience your first time." Alec remarks.
  "Well how about you just lift up my dress and bend me over your coffin then? That way I'll be able to keep my eyes open the entire time. I would have thought someone of your years would be a little more imaginative in various sexual positions." you answer.
  "Oh trust me, I could get very imaginative with such things...but since you're insistent on being so blunt, I suppose I might as well do the same."
  
  Alec stands up a bit straighter and you feel a decidedly different demeanor. A more predatory one.
  
  "So. You were looking for prey after all." You say backing away.
  "No, actually I wasn't. As I said, I already ate before I entered the Alkymist. However, I am in need of companionship." Alec says.
  "I thought that's what we were going to do."
  "Mm, yes but I would like a more permanent arrangement. You see, I'm starting to get to a point in my existence where I would like to share it with someone. Who better than a necromancer?"
  "I'm flattered, but I just don't feel I'm ready to make such a commitment. I can see this was a bad idea. I'll just be going..." you say, but before you can step past him, he moves to block the doorway.
  
  The true colors are showing.
  
  "Come now. While I know you avoided giving too much away about yourself. Even I can tell how drawn you are to death. Why be a necromancer dabbling with death when you could literally be the embodiment of it? Just think of the new places you could go and things you could do. That WE could do. You'd achieve what necromancers often only dream of. Immortality. And you'd remain as beautiful as you are now."
  
  While you're realizing what a terrible idea this was, you're also just mentally shaking your head at the fact that you not only pick a vampire, but you pick one that wants you to spend the rest of eternity with him.
  
  This might even be romantic if it was under different circumstances.
  
  "Honeyed words, and let's say you're telling the truth. Wouldn't you have power over me as my creator?"
  "I would never abuse such power."
  "You're abusing it right now."
  "How?"
  "By not letting me leave! You're attempting to intimidate me into going along with your plan without a fuss. Look, if you really do desire me the way you say you do, then let me leave and at least let me think about your proposal."
  
  Alec's eyes begin to turn a darker red and while he still keeps his distance, he's obviously attempting to hold back his anger.
  
  "And have you disappear completely because you let fear limit you? You're telling me you didn't come here expecting something like this to happen? Did you really believe we were going to just have sex and part ways? You're either very stupid...which I don't believe, OR more likely THIS is something you really want but are too scared to make that final step. Trust me Catalina, there is nothing to fear."
  "Alright Alec, just stay back." You say noticing he's starting to walk towards you.
  "Catalina, I'm faster than you are. I could easily reach you before you could even get off a spell. You know this. It won't hurt I'll be gentle as possible I promise."
  "Alec, last chance to back off..."
  "I don't want to hurt you, but you're making me do this."
  "Same."
  
  And just as Alec locks his gaze on you and is about to lunge for your throat, he stops when he sees a thick piece of dead wood coming through his chest. You'd been manipulating the roots coming through the crypt's bricks as soon as he started blocking the doorway. He makes a few hissing sounds then his whole body goes limp causing the weight of it to break the rest of the root as he falls to the stone floor.
  
  You step aside and take a look at Alec as he remains impaled through the back and unmoving. You're curious to as why he's paralyzed and not outright dead though since you see his eyes still moving.
  
  "Hm, I guess I only nicked your heart huh? Damn, I meant to kill you instantly. Ah well."
  
  You step away looking at his body.
  
  "Well I can't leave you like this. I already did one stupid thing tonight and I'm not about to do a second one leaving a pissed off vampire alive. Especially one a bit obsessed with me."
  
  You figure the quick way would be to just manipulate the piece of wood already in his chest though that seems a bit too quick now. Dragging him to the surface so he can explode in the sun might be fitting, but it also could cause attention.
  
  You briefly look around room for a moment and then smile when you realize Alec and yourself aren't the only ones in here.
  
  Normally you don't attempt to control living animals with your nature magic skills, but you don't think the gravewings will mind.
  
  You first call the ones in the room to land on Alec. They immediately start biting his ear. Soon your chant calls forth many more of them from the catacombs. In fact there's enough of them that they resemble a glowing green ball of light. The swarm descends on Alec's body for a big feast.
  
  "Y'know Alec, it really didn't have to end this way. I wouldn't have disappeared on you, I really would have thought about your proposal because I can even admit; there was a large appeal to it. I can't say for certain if I would have said yes, but because you couldn't have just been a little more patient, neither of us will ever know. What I do know though, is I won't be trusting your kind in the future and you won't be having a future."
  
  What follows next is you watching Alec slowly being eaten alive as he remains in his fixed prone position. He can't scream, but his eyes are darting back and forth the entire time he watches the hungry insects eat his flesh. Well at least until they start eating his eyes.
  
  Of course it would take a few days for the gravewings to eat a body as big as Alec's (the poor things can't possibly eat it all in one sitting) so eventually you do end Alec's torment and manipulate another root to go through his chest, this one going directly through his heart, at which point he exploded into a heap of gore, though given that part of him was eaten anyway there's not as much as there would have been.
  
  With little else here for you, you leave the crypt only to find that dawn is breaking.
  
  "Another day, and still as chaste as the day I was born. Which ever that one was." You say to yourself and head back to the college.
  
  When you get back you bump into Sebastian in the hallway.
  
  "You're up early." Sebastian says.
  "Eh, didn't really sleep. I was busy with...a new spell." You answer.
  "Oh really? What is it?"
  "Nothing important really. Just a little experiment with nature magic and necromancy."
  "I think you really are the first one to mix such divergent branches of magic."
  "And I still don't think they're that opposite from each other. Everything living eventually dies, that's certainly part of nature. It's all part of the cycle. It's just nobody sees the beauty in death like they do in nature."
  "I suppose not, but beauty is everywhere. Well in any case some new corpses came in. Some idiots apparently died playing the mystery potion game at last night's Manticore House party. A rarity we get bodies so fresh to practice necromancy on."
  "Indeed. Oh, are you familiar with a vampire by the name of Alec? Looks about late twenties to early thirties, black hair, pale, on the handsome side of looks."
  "That could describe most vampires from what I've seen of some of the reps from the vampire clans. Can't remember one called Alec though. You meet one or something?"
  "You could say that, though he claimed he was independent of the clans."
  "Also possible. Well in any case you better tell Mr. Demar as soon as possible just in case."
  "Okay."
  "Oh, probably not now though, I think he's still sleeping in with Irwin."
  "Wait...Irwin? You mean Mr. Demar is..."
  "Yeah. You really didn't know?"
  "No, why would I? I barely remember Irwin is even here most of the time. And Trelik implied Felsa routinely slept with Mr. Demar."
  "And he also implied the same nasty rumor about you and that wasn't true either right? Trelik's an idiot who only pays attention to his own little sad world."
  "True. Very well, I'll tell him later then, I probably should get some sleep anyway."
  
  As you start to leave, Sebastian suddenly speaks up again.
  
  "Um Catalina..."
  "Yes?" you ask.
  "Uh..."
  
  Is this it? Is he actually going to do it? Today after the night you've had? If he is then even as tired as you are, this would be his lucky day because you'd be willing at this point.
  
  However, Sebastian still seems to be failing, so you attempt to meet him half way.
  
  "Is there something you would like to tell me Sebastian? Something that's been on your mind for quite some time? Hmm?" you say even making an uncharacteristic blinking of your eyes. (Though some of that is due to being tired)
  
  Unfortunately this is all too much for poor Sebastian, who just runs away gagging uncontrollably and nearly throwing up in the process.
  
  Anxiety is a bitch and while there's part of you that feels sorry for him a bit since you have issues of your own, you just don't really have time for his too. It's obvious Sebastian is never going to be brave enough even when directly confronted.
  
  And as for Mr. Demar, well it's good thing you never seriously considered going into his office naked.
  
  You head to your quarters and flop down on the bed. You're tired, but you still can't sleep. You're just so disappointed in yourself for nearly getting killed over something really stupid. Sure it all worked out, but it doesn't make things any better in your mind.
  
  You think if you'd at least achieved your goal last night, it would have all been worth it. You don't think you'll try this again. You'll be better off practicing your necromancy on the fresh corpses that just came in.
  
  "Wait a minute. Why the hell didn't I think about that before?" you say to yourself suddenly being inspired before finally going to sleep.
  
  The next night...
  
  You motion your lover to lie down in the coffin, which he does without hesitation. You then remove your own clothing and get in the coffin as well after casting a spell to make him more "functional" for this task.
  
  You then proceed to have an interesting time until you've achieved your goal. At which point you then get out of the coffin and put your clothes back on.
  
  You realize that it was a hassle getting him here without anyone noticing he was a zombie, so you might as well leave him in the coffin. You release him from his animation and cast preservation spell. You then close up the coffin and figure you can use him again if you ever feel the need. Alec apparently spared no expense on getting a nice coffin; at least it's not going to waste.
  
  "Wish I'd done that to begin with." You say and leave the crypt.
  
  > Revolting
  The past memories are starting to become clearer and more vivid. You feel like you're starting to get closer to goal.
  
  Well you knew it was going to come to this one day, though perhaps there was a part of you that believed it was going to always just stay in the "talk" mode.
  
  Still, somehow you knew when he joined the Dark Order, it was the beginning of the end.
  
  Azrael.
  
  You aren't exactly sure what happened, but apparently he and Felsa fucked up Mr. Demar's talk with a rep from the vampire clans severely to the point where the rep was killed and now the plan to take over Nuro has to be now or never. (You're just glad it wasn't you who fucked up that potential alliance and Alec had indeed been telling the truth about being independent)
  
  You admit you still aren't sure how you feel about Azrael. First time you actually met him was outside the Dark Order when he miserably failed to impress you. Honestly, you were more than a bit surprised to see him when he joined the Dark Order given how horrible he is of a magic user.
  
  Still, somehow he's got a real skill for necromancy. Took you a long time to master what you're able to do with it. Even Trelik struggles with achieving some of the things you've seen Azrael do with seeming ease. It's like it comes natural to him.
  
  Maybe he's an idiot savant of some sort.
  
  In any case, Mr. Demar's called you in for a private discussion. You aren't exactly sure what about, but you're sure you'll find out.
  
  You enter Mr. Demar's office who is in the middle of writing something.
  
  "Ah, you're here. Good. Sit, I'll be done in a second."
  
  You sit down and wait for Mr. Demar to finish what he's doing which doesn't take long. He then puts away his quill and parchment and focuses his attention on you.
  
  "Okay, Miss Catalina first I want to say is how impressed I've seen you grow in your abilities. I took a risk on you and I'm glad to see it paid off. I know we haven't spoken much one on one with each other in these last couple years, but that's partly because you haven't really needed the supervision or extra guidance. I knew after the first few months of you joining, you were capable of being left to your own devices."
  "Well I was doing it long before I joined the Order." You say.
  "Indeed. That's why you're going to be playing an important role in the take over of Nuro, which is what I want to go over with you."
  
  Mr. Demar tells you the over all strategy of the plan. Quayle's job is to slow down time for everyone in the city (except the Dark Order), making them easier to take out. The demonologists will be doing the initial attack by opening portals to the infernal realm to unleash demons on the city. This chaos will put most in a state of panic and allow you and the rest of the necromancers to take advantage of the dead that the demons leave in their path. This momentum should be more than enough to bolster your numbers.
  
  "...And that should be enough to take over Nuro with minimal resistance as well as having enough defense for any immediate counter attack." Mr. Demar says, but you detect a tone in his voice that makes it seem like he's not sure of his own plan anymore.
  "We're going to win." You say as if to reassure him.
  
  He looks at you and smiles at what you're attempting to do.
  
  "Heh, that obvious huh? I suppose I do have my concerns. Not so much about taking Nuro, but more about keeping it. I really do wish we had at least another year to prepare. Hammer out that contract with Velzix and give another thorough read through of it for example. Maybe try to find a few more necromancers." Mr. Demar says.
  "I'll admit when I first joined I thought there would be more." You answer.
  "Well that is one of the reasons I took a chance on you. It's why you're going to be in charge of doing crowd control around the city close to the university."
  "Me?"
  "Yes. Why are you surprised? While I've said you're one of the better necromancers here, I feel you're probably the most versatile. And I don't mean just amongst the necromancers, I mean in the entire Order. I want someone who is better able to adapt to a situation as it unfolds. Sebastian isn't as skilled as you. Irwin...well the boy is pretty, but he's probably the weakest member among your ranks. Trelik, I'm going to have with me along with Felsa when we face the dean and whatever other faculty that opposes us."
  "Um, Felsa and Trelik?"
  "Yes, I understand your concerns on that, but Felsa is the best demonologist and I'm going to need her assistance in controlling Velzix for the attack on the dean's tower. She actually works better under my supervision anyway. As for Trelik, the closer I keep him near me, the less likely he's going to let his arrogance get the better of him and do something stupidly overconfident."
  "As you say."
  "Then there's Azrael. The newest to the Order and another I took a chance on, though I really don't know what to make of him still."
  "Same."
  "He is a very skilled necromancer, unnaturally so. I'm sure you can sense it. It's odd since he's at best a mediocre wizard in any other branch. Downright terrible in some branches. In a perfect world, I would have had a little more time to assess him better. I suppose if this all works out, I'll be able to."
  "So is he going to be under my command?"
  "Yes and no. I still consider you to be in charge of the necromancy end of things, but I feel Azrael would be better off working on his own. He's powerful enough that you won't need to supervise him directly. I'm going to send him a little closer to downtown area of the city. He can raise the dead from the graveyard along with whomever the demons kill."
  "Okay then."
  "Just a few extra things. I want to say. The first is more of a favor if possible."
  "What is it?"
  "Well I know it's not much of a secret about Irwin and myself. He's not the best necromancer, but he's not without talent. Still I told him I wasn't going to play favorites, so he has to pull his weight just like everyone else. However, if it is possible, look out for him. I don't mean at the cost of the overall goal, he knows the risks. But I would appreciate it if he came out of this alive."
  
  You're a little hesitant about being entrusted with someone's safety.
  
  "You sure it wouldn't be safer to have him with you then?"
  "Heh, no it would actually be worse since I'm going up against the best wizards in the world and I can't be distracted with worrying about keeping Irwin alive. I'll leave that to you."
  "Gee I'm...honored."
  "You sound it. But as I said, if things get tricky and it's a matter of saving Irwin or achieving a win in battle, sacrifice him yourself if necessary."
  "Got it. Anything else?"
  
  Mr. Demar leans forward and actually pats your hand.
  
  "Don't die. Make the others die and then make them serve you."
  "I will."
  
  A week later...
  
  "Sebastian watch the right side, there's mage guards coming down the street. Irwin raise these bodies, we're running low and apparently the demon lovers can't control their fucking summons." You exclaim.
  
  You, Sebastian, and Irwin are all in close proximity to each other making sure you keep an eye out on all sides for attacks. So far the battle hasn't been going as planned.
  
  Several things have gone wrong already. Quayle's time spell is having inconsistent effects for one thing. It hasn't slowed down your enemies as planned. The more major issue is the demons are not under demonologist control at all. They thankfully haven't attacked your side, but most of them are just following their own desires rather than any organized attack.
  
  For your part you've been doing your best to take out the Nuro's mage guards, but it's not been easy, especially when they're also backed up by regular rank and file militia.
  
  You look up at the nearby buildings in front of you and see a sizable amount of archers appear. In fact, here's more than enough to rain down on you all. You look to your right again and Sebastian is struggling to take out the mage guards.
  
  And then the archers unleash their arrows. You don't have the time to cast a barrier over the three of you, so you do the next best thing and summon a strong plague wind to at least blow the arrows away from your position, along with taking out the archers.
  
  It works for the most part. Some of the arrows are even blown back at the archers (who are choking to death anyway), one somehow even manages to find its way in the neck of a mage guard, providing some relief for Sebastian.
  
  Unfortunately unlike a magic barrier, it doesn't cover the entire area you needed. Some of the arrows still found their mark. Specifically Irwin who was still busily attempting to raise the nearby dead strayed away from you a bit and he was hit not once, not twice, but by several of them.
  
  You look to the left and see Irwin lying on the ground bleeding to death with probably several vital organs punctured. He's still alive, but he won't be for long.
  
  "Shit." You utter.
  
  As dangerous as it is to try to save Irwin right now, you have to try. You promised Mr. Demar you'd try.
  
  You run over to Irwin whose eyes are watering up and blood is coming from his mouth. He looks so scared right now. Like he realizes that up until now he's not just playing with the dead, he's about to become one with them.
  
  "Oh gods...I'm dying...(gurgle) I don't..." Irwin sputters.
  "You're not dying if I can help it. You'll see Mr. Demar again." You say and begin casting.
  
  Necromancers aren't generally known for healing magic, which has always been amusing to you since it's not that much different than raising the dead. You're just preventing the body from getting to the state when you have to raise it.
  
  Still Irwin's wounds are very severe. He's almost dead, but you begin to focus...
  
  And focus...
  
  "Damn it! Come on!" you mutter before.
  
  It's no use; you can't heal him from wounds this bad. Irwin's eyes roll up into his head and he makes a final gurgling sound before finally dying.
  
  "Fuck!" you exclaim.
  
  You feel a hand on your shoulder causing you to turn around nearly blasting Sebastian in the face.
  
  "Hey! Hold on! Wait! It's just me! We've put down the resistance in this section for now, but I think we better move to a different location, there are undoubtedly more Nuro guards of the magical and regular kind on their way and I'd hate to get surrounded like we almost did this time." Sebastian says.
  "Yeah, I guess. Fuck." You answer, still looking over at Irwin's body.
  "Hey that's not your fault."
  "I know it isn't, but I'm still going to hate having to tell Mr. Demar...wait is that who I think it is?"
  
  You see Azrael with a large horde of undead. At least someone's been doing well in this battle. Figures it would be that lucky fool.
  
  He asks where Irwin is, to which you point at his body. To your minor surprise Azrael raises it from the dead to join his horde. You aren't sure if Mr. Demar would approve or condemn, but you figure you won't have to answer for it either way.
  
  Azrael starts giving you and Sebastian orders like he's suddenly in charge, though his suggestions of him subduing the rest of the fighting force in the city while you both assist at the college isn't a bad idea given Mr. Demar probably could use assistance and nobody knows what's going on with Quayle's time magic.
  
  Since Azrael seems to have confidence in his abilities to take out Nuro's existing fighting force, you and Sebastian allow him to take control of the remainder of your undead and head towards the college.
  
  The college is in ruins even more so than other parts of the city. While the carnage and destruction is hardly surprising, what's more alarming is the fact that you're seeing buildings phase in and out of existence. You're also seeing plants grow and wither at accelerated rates. The eastern side of the college is displaying worse signs of the abnormality, and you're sensing Quayle is over on that side somewhere.
  
  "Shit, this is worse than I thought." Sebastian says.
  "I don't even know what to make of this. Obviously something's gone very wrong with Quayle's spell." You say.
  "Mr. Demar is probably over in the dean's tower if the explosions are any indication, we probably should help him and he can better help with the Quayle situation." Sebastian says.
  "If we don't do something about Quayle now though, there might not even BE a city left."
  
  Sebastian looks really reluctant to go anywhere near where Quayle might be, granted you are as well, but someone has to try to do something about this.
  
  "Sebastian you go assist Mr. Demar, I'll see what's going on with Quayle." You say.
  "What? I really don't think..." Sebastian says before you interrupt him.
  "Just fucking go alright? I'll be fine."
  
  Sebastian looks very reluctant to leave you and once again he looks like he wants to say more to you. Potentially even do more, but he's unsure.
  
  You roll your eyes and grab his hand with your own while patting the top of it with your other hand. He's a little surprised by your physical reassurance.
  
  "If we both survive this, you REALLY need to work on your self-confidence." You say and take your leave.
  
  As you quickly make your way through the eastern side of the college, you realize how damn dangerous this is due to the time holes popping in and out causing severe changes in the landscape. The only good thing about all this is nobody is around to attack you. Everyone is either dead or stayed out of this area.
  
  Still, a little protection might be in order.
  
  > cast a magic shield
  You cast a strong magic shield around you and hope it gets you through this.
  
  You proceed to head east watching the very landscape change around you. It's actually making you feel slightly dizzy. There is one building that isn't changing though. It's a small gray building sitting apart from the others. You don't even remember seeing it before during your time here, but that hardly matters since you're getting a very strong feeling that's where you're going to find Quayle.
  
  You get closer though there is some disturbance going on with your shield. You maintain it, but it's getting harder to do so as you go along.
  
  Eventually you're within a short walk of entering the gray building, but the disturbances are popping in and out even quicker. You can't readily keep track of where they're located.
  
  Hoping your shield holds, you take a deep breath and run to the entrance. Unfortunately you get caught up in not one, but several of the time disturbances before you even reach the entrance.
  
  Your shield provides little to no protection against such strong chronomagic. You feel your body change and one look at your right hand and you've aged considerably. Or at least part of you has.
  
  You nearly collapse from the weakness and drop your shield as you can't keep it up and it isn't protecting you anyway. You feel another change in your body except this feels like...shrinking?
  
  Your left leg has reverted to the size of a child's, You can't survive this much longer, your only hope is somehow Quayle can help you. Determined to survive, you manage to drag and crawl your way into the building.
  
  And there you see him sitting in one of the auditorium classrooms in a lotus like position on the floor in a trance. A strange white field of energy surrounds him.
  
  Barely managing to prop yourself up against a wall, you hop towards his position and then he speaks.
  
  "You...are not supposed to be here...this is not the time..." Quayle says in an echoed voice.
  "Quayle! You need to fix whatever it is you fucked up and more importantly fix me!" you shout.
  "Can't fix you...you're dead..."
  "What? I'm not dead, but I soon will be if you don't stop this!"
  "No...all was going as planned...miscalculation...wait...ah...there we go..."
  "Wha..."
  "Another way Catalina...you will be reunited...not this way..."
  
  You hear these cryptic words from Quayle and then suddenly everything goes black.
  
  You look around and find yourself back in the present, whatever that means in a place like this.
  
  Well that was strange. You aren't quite sure what to make of all that, but Quayle seemed very sure you didn't belong there. And how did he know that? And he said you were dead. How did he know that too?
  
  You can only chalk this one up to Quayle somehow having insight into not just time, but multiple dimensions or something. You don't know, even in your spiritual state, the complex theories of chrono magic field is making your head hurt.
  
  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.