Uicle and Khan chat. Pt. 1
As they entered the room, Khan turned about to face the teacher with both hands on his cane. “You never asked about them before Uicle, why is it important now?”
“Because I assumed you were smart enough to not mess around with God Runes!” Uicle snapped in reply. “But I assumed you were smart enough to not be tempted by something from Kudd as well, and I was wrong on that count too! Why Khan? Why the fuck are you messing around with not only the gods but the demon god of the Inferno! You know that will only end badly, for you and for the students you claim to protect.”
Khan flinched, his figure reacted to the harsh words and then tightened his grip over his cane while Uicle finished snapping. “This was a long time ago, Uicle. I was young, stupid, and I didn’t care what happened to me as long as my goal was met.”
The headmaster continued, through his feet started to shuffle past Uicle’s still form. Unlike the armor bound soul, he couldn’t stand for very long, as he pulled out the chair then seated himself. His hand reached down to rub his knee’s pain away. “I didn’t know they were God Runes until I came to the College and by that time, the damage was already done. I thought foolishly I could help my twin who was suffering from the mage disease and it was told in a legend there was a powerful demon in the Inferno that could possibly cure him. Little did I know, the story was referring to Kudd until I actually managed to locate and meet him.”
He leaned back. “I’ve done things I’m not proud of Uicle, I already stated that. Even if I try to defy Kudd, what’s to stop him from still going after those I love and sworn to protect? Unless I isolate myself completely from everyone which is partly I have been trying to do these last few months. It doesn’t seem to be working.”
Uicle ignored the beginning of the speech. He understood well enough the situation, and how it had come about. What he focused on was Khan’s continued insistence upon being foolish.“What’s to stop him from going after those you love and protect even if you don’t defy him? He’ll just make you do it or kill them anyways! That’s how it works! They make you kill your loved ones so you have no more weaknesses. You know how I rationalized joining Aarem? My family was counting on me. I couldn’t die, because they needed me to become a powerful mage to help them out of their own caste.” Uicle’s voice was filled with self loathing again.
“Three years later, I went to Yarosmere, killed my parents, and burned my siblings alive. None of them were left alive. I killed the people I wanted to protect. That is what Kudd is going to do to you Khan. You will join him willingly to protect at first, and then he will make you destroy all that you were going to protect. You can’t join him. It will only end up causing even more harm than defying him will.” He paced in front of the Esyire’s desk. “War is coming. I am doing my best to gather mercenary companies, Assassins’ guilds, and Thieves’ guilds to fight for the College. Kudd will go for the ones you swore to protect whether you join him or not. You can’t even be considering this Khan.”
“Then what should I do? If I’m damned either way, I might as well make another option or end it now. I’m pretty sure after the event last summer, Upsah would be more than happy to take my life. Something that solves both problems, doesn’t it?” Khan stated his most bitter tone yet, his patience trying to hold firm. “Would that solve it Uicle?”
Khan’s eyes flashed in his building anger as he glared at Uicle, the armor still slapping him verbally in the muzzle over lacking options. He knew he was stuck. No way out and the fact the teacher kept pointing it out only irritated him. “Either help or be prepared to kill me when I fail, something I’m sure Lucilia has already prepared for.”
Using his anger he pushed himself upright then walked around the desk using to support his weight while he edged to the office door. His hand seized the door handle then jerked it wide with a final statement. “Get out.”
Uicle laughed, a slightly hollow and harsh sound. He blatantly ignored the order to leave. “What is it with people and thinking the solution is killing themselves? No you idiot, I don’t think you should kill yourself. I want you to fight. I want you to realize that pain and death are coming no matter what you do and I want you to try and minimize it as best you can by fighting against Kudd. You’re better than that. I’m not going to let you doom yourself, kill yourself, or anyone kill you. You’re my friend Khan and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let you make my mistakes. Fight him Khan. Fight him as viciously as you’ve ever fought.”
He stood there, staring at the headmaster, worry showing through the frustration and anger. “Promise me, you’re not going to make a deal with him. Promise me you won’t consider that vial any longer.”
“Why is it, you assume I’ve not been trying not to?” Khan said through gritted teeth, still irritated at the armored bastard still providing little solution. Fighting was easy but the winning part was the most difficult, his heart valuing the students, especially those he had become attached to, above his own life. Some day, he would have to make a choice. That, Khan was absolutely sure of and he hoped the student that didn’t care for him would end that choice before it killed them because he was unsure if he could at all. “I’ve tried to get rid of it. Over and over, but it keeps coming back even when I ignore it. I stopped taking Ovak’s medicine and I can move fine. I took it and immediately I can barely stand.”
The headmaster inhaled as his grip tightened on the door. “Just leave Uicle… you’ve done enough damage.”
“Because you’re considering even working with the bastard. You’re letting him win.” He paused a moment, letting it sink in what Khan had just said. “Have you ever considered it’s what he wants? That Kudd is doing something too you to make taking the medicine less appealing? Ovak wouldn’t give you medicine that weakened you without good reason.” Uicle noted the Esyire’s trembling, and took a few steps closer. His voice was quiet. “You’re about to-” The Eysire went before Uicle could finish his sentence, and the Necromancy teacher shot out his free hand to catch his friend. Taking his weight, Uicle began to guide Khan back to his seat. “Stubborn bastard. You knew this was going to happen.”
Khan had tried to stop it. His body failing and his leg folded underneath him, the cane snapped to the side while his figure went down. He had expected the floor to smack into his face rather rapidly until Uicle managed to stop his falling figure. Khan wrapped his arm about the teacher’s armored neck, his breathing heavy and body trembling. Unable to do much more than lean for support, he let Uicle guide his shuffling figure back to his seat then lowered him down. His bones popped a bit through Khan found himself not caring as he tried to catch his breath, unable to.
At Uicle’s words, he gave a bitter smirk.“Not completely, Uicle. Through in my defense, you do suck at diplomatic skills and should know better than to piss off a sick Esyire.”
His hand reached out to rub his knee again feeling the pain rising after his little stunt. “Why didn’t you just leave when I asked you to?”
Uicle chuckled. “There’s a reason I’m not a diplomat Khan, and you just found out why.” He moved to where Khan’s tea was, opening the drawer. He only made a brief sound of disgust as he saw the vial, and pulled out the Esyire’s supplies. “I’ll never understand how you drink this stuff. Even in life it was nasty.” He grumbled as he began to make the tea. It was a slow process with one hand, but Uicle did it anyways. Using Necromancy for such a trivial thing would have been a waste and something that would draw away from the College’s defenses.
The Necromancy teacher looked up in surprise at Khan’s question. “Because I’m your friend and a bastard. And as a bastardly friend I don’t plan on leaving you in the state you’re in with that thing nearby. I’m going to help you get through this Khan. Ovak too. So you’ll just have to deal with my ‘charming’ personality, because I’m not letting you damn yourself.”
“I personally think you’re a few years too late, friend. Kudd will get what he wants one way or another. The only question is…”Khan stated with a hushed voice, “is how much blood am I willing to allow before I’ve had enough?”
He leaned in his chair and relaxed, his eyes stared into the wall for several moments. His hand still absentmindedly rubbed his knee then mention the water usually kept hot. Khan pointed to the cups next and helped, through the armor knew where everything was, Uicle by directing him. When the cup was filled with steaming water and the tea scrapped in, dissolving into a dark liquid, the Esyire gratefully took it. Before he drank it, he paused to ask a question. “What happens when I fail, Uicle? Who will end it?”
“That’s for you to decide. You’ll know when you’ve had enough. Trust me.” Uicle’s voice took on a slightly reminiscent tone before he managed to shake himself back into the present. “I believe you mean if you fail, Khan. And that’s a very big if because you don’t have my permission to fail you bastard. I still have another couple hundred of years of badgering and harassing you. IF you do fail, I’ll end it. One way or another. “ Uicle’s nonexistant eyes regarded Khan for a moment, and how weak he had become. “Well, drink up. I didn’t make the nasty stuff so you could become depressed while it cooled.”
”I’m sorry to say, I don’t have quite the faith you do. Kudd will get what he wants when the Archmage dies. He's crumbling Uicle and he won't be around forever, yet I don't feel ready. We both know Lucilia practically runs the paperwork side of things, Tyrael the forges, you the security. I merely just look like I am." Khan berated himself and his worth while he sipped the tea, letting the slight herbal bitterness waft over his tongue. He made a face and shuddered. He looked at Uicle accusingly and reached into his other side drawer, pulling out a jar. Within it was a honeycomb, the headmaster pulling it out then crackled the dark liquid into the cup. "There, much better."
The Necromancy teacher shrugged unapologetically. “You’re the one who wanted the nasty stuff, not I.”
He took a moment longer to savor the taste before he addressed Uicle. "I'm assuming you have questions? Namely about where I found them, who informed me and more. You might as well ask while you have the chance because the information will likely never come up in this room again."
Uicle shook his head. “I could care less where you found them and who informed you. What I want to know is what you’re planning to do about Kudd and why he is so insistent upon you drinking that vile vial. ” Uicle paused, then chuckled. “Vile vial. Clever don’t you think?”
Khan shook his head. It was pleasant to hear Uicle casually make a comment that poked fun at the situation, but it didn’t make it any less serious. The Esyire leaned back further into the chair while he pondered the question and absorbed the thoughts running through his thick skull. He had tried numerous times to discard it short of having his demons do, a matter he was aiming to avoid because if Kudd sensed his demons within the Inferno than the God would come knocking and likely prevent the demon from returning. It scared Khan to imagine what Kudd could do Rathel or even Zaad and Heus. Even more terrifying was the notion Kudd could use their connection as a direct link in some manner.
His hand trembled at the thought of having Kudd’s voice in his head again that his cup rattled. It clinked and clanked under his grip until he finally placed it down, using his free hands to wipe away the cold sweat from his brow. A few moment passed before he spoke again. [goldenrod]”I’m not sure. I can’t get rid of the blasted thing nor can I keep it. I don’t want to send any of my demons directly into the inferno because if I do, Kudd might sense them and I don’t quite like the notion he could my link with the demon to get into my head. Do you?”[/color]
The Headmaster’s breathing still depicting his nerves, he placed his elbow upon the desk surface and lean into his palm. The hand propping his chin up while his other reached into the drawer. He pulled out the vial and set on the top, his hand closing the drawer. ”He left this note.”
He reflected on the scene with Kudd and himself, the God’s words irritating him under the skin. He tossed a small parchment toward Uicle with a few words written in elegant style, their meaning very clear to the armor: "We should really be friends."
Uicle wordlessly shook his head at Khan’s question, letting Khan continue. He briefly read the note then snorted. “He’s gone insane. Aarem, at least, doesn’t toy with his food. He causes suffering and damnation, and then moves on with his life. You’re not seriously thinking about taking him up on his offer are you? He’s going to lie, manipulate, and try to corrupt you. Its how his type work. Really, the only differences between Aarem and him are that Aarem was on the winning side of the war, and he doesn’t preside over demons.”
“According Kudd, you’re really no different. Though he did call you a liche and seemed rather amused by the fact you, Lucilla and Tyrael might end up having to kill me. Part me was hoping you would’ve. Would save us all this damn misery.” Khan said reaching to retrieve the note from Ucile’s hand, where he flopped it down. ”It seems he’s a bit...obsessed since I found him in the Inferno and still think not killing me is a good idea?”
Uicle sighed in exasperation. “One, I’m not a lich. Have to be a corpse bound by your own magic to be that. Clearly I am not.” Uicle walked over to Khan again, idly spinning his staff between his fingers. “Two,” Uicle’s hand went to slap Khan upside the back of the head again. His voice was harsh and angry with worry. “For the love of the Gods, I’m not going to fucking kill you! Tyrael isn’t and neither is Lucilia! And if you kill yourself I promise you I will resurrect you just so I can beat the shit out of you for even doing something so stupid! Killing you? I’m not gonna kill you, you stupid bastard. I have enough blood on my hands, I don’t need or want yours.” Uice resisted the urge to hit Khan again.
Khan wasn’t fast enough to dodge it, his eyes shut as the hard hand smacked his head again. His hand raised up to rub away the pain for the second time that day. The headmaster’s muzzle frowned and eyes glared at Uicle’s still walking form as he rounded about the desk. Each step casual with his spinning staff in one hand while he continued.
” If you don’t want to look at it as a terrible emotional burden I and all the others your death would affect, Ovak, Lucillia, that sleepless snow elf, that nice monk girl, Tyrael, and all the other students, look at it from an administration standpoint. Who would lead the College? Ovak? He can barely stand, much less reassure people and fill them with hope. Tyrael? Oh yes, we need someone who is going through a midlife crisis right now and has a fifty percent chance to fall back to his old ways and start ruling the college like he rules his demons. Lucillia? After her latest episode, I don’t really trust her to be nice with people’s lives.”
“Satori? Someone would kill her. Joseph or his sister? Hah! They’re teachers, not leaders. Craig? He’s too quiet. He doesn’t like the spotlight. Val? She doesn’t have the delicate touch required, nor is she patient enough. Lidda? She prefers a more personal touch. She’d try to get to know each and every student under her care and you know you can’t do that. Xeric? Maybe but we need someone who can unite the school, not someone who can just run it. Too serious. Dervis? He’s too lax. Too go with the flow. Serge? Too much of a soldier. He knows how to lead a small group, which makes him an excellent teacher, but it would make him a terrible Headmaster. Do I really have to give a reason why Justine isn’t going to be a headmaster? Zelda is perpetually upset and I assure you would refuse entirely. Samual would likewise refuse. So please, tell me Khan, if you decide to kill yourself, who would lead this College and not have it fall apart?”
”I can’t stand and watch you all die!” Khan shouted for a moment, his balled up fist slammed upon the desk and made it rattle. The pain shot through his arm but he ignored it, his anger seeping into his veins for a moment. His figure slouched down and deeper into his chair, pushing him away from the desk while his hand reached to touch his temple. ”I just can’t...not again. What good is a weakened headmaster when it comes to running a school he can’t protect? I...I just can’t.”
“Now why can’t you get that angry when it comes to fighting Kudd?” Uicle spoke quietly, his staff stopping in its rotations. “ Protection comes in many ways Khan. If you let Kudd win, he’ll destroy this College without a second thought. You protect this school by very simply resisting Kudd. Don’t do what he wants. He wants to be friends? Make him your enemy. He wants the College? Deny him that. Besides,” One could almost hear the crooked grin in Uicle’s voice. “You can’t watch us die when we’re already dead. I’m a spirit attached to a staff, Lucillia’s a vampire, and Tyrael is a demon. We’ve all already died once. Twice for me. It’s not as dramatic as you think. A god shows up, judges you, it’s all a rather dull affair.”
Khan shook his head, his hand still throbbing. He rubbed it and trying to rid himself of the hurt while he spoke. “His last words made it seems like that’s what he wants. For me to fight, his words as I quote: ’I'll let you keep trying. I'll let you all keep your Demonomancy, see if you can reach my expectations. Maybe you might even defeat me. Come on, it'll be fun. At least I'm giving you a chance. Because I'm a merciful god.’ So your logic still fails in the end, Uicle...”
The words were bitter on his tongue, loathing in having to repeat it word for word, as he sat there. ”In the end, I’m giving him something he wants. I just get to decide who suffers for it and I hate it. I wondered what what my brother would’ve thought of all of this…”
Uicle snorted. “Give him what he wants then. Fight so much that he’s sickened. Then beat him at his own game. Make him regret challenging you.” The Necromancy teacher paused, thinking as Khan spoke. “What was your brother’s name?”
“Riddic. We were twins, both born with mage blood until he became rather sick and lost his.” Khan inhaled, his fingers gripping the tea cup and stroking the outside in thought. “He ended up committing suicide after he believed I had died. It seemed visions are thing between twins, something we both had since we were young, so when he believed I was no longer apart of this world… he decided he didn’t want to be either.”
Khan slouched down in his chair, letting Uicle put the rest together. If the armor had asked for the history then he would’ve likely would’ve been able to puzzle out issues that seemed to be lurking.
Uicle was quiet for several moments, his staff slowly twirling between his fingers. His lights dimmed slightly, and in the College a suit of armor slumped back into it’s natural, lifeless, state. Ethereal mists and lights gathered and shaped in front of Khan’s desk, until an exact copy of the Esyire was standing next to Uicle. “Why don’t you ask him yourself?”
