XXXIV.

XXXIV.

He was in the middle of patching up a patients mid-section, when there came a polite knock on the door to his consultation room.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

Zelesti, if you wouldnt mind?

The Demon-construct waddled over to the door and opened it, coming directly face-to-face with Pernille. She let out a tiny squeal, which seemed to amuse the Demon.

Am I disturbing, Magister? she asked, after regaining her composure.

Not at all. What is it?

Theres someone here to visit you

Is it Guillaume?

Yes, and he has brought friends

Let them in.

Of course, Magister.

Moments later, a black-eyed Guillaume entered, six of him in total. He was familiar with the visage of the corpse-doll that had travelled with him and Heskel to Rooskeld, but the other five figures, two men and three women, were all new to him.

Jakob waved Zelesti over to him and bade her finish up with the patient. For once, the Envy Demon seemed happy to oblige, perhaps sensing the true nature of Guillaume. Wothram stood stock-still in the background, and two of the five figures were staring intently at him, perhaps sensing an ember of the Eternal Serpent within his Birthed Sentience.

Is there a problem? Jakob asked, as he wiped his gloves with a cloth to remove the blood.

Three days after Guillaumes transgression, Heskel returned to Rooskeld. Jakob greeted him thankfully, when he entered the third-floor laboratorium next-door to the clinic.

The Wight lingered by the doorway for a moment, his naked multi-hued skin exposed completely, which concerned Jakob, as he thought his quest might have not borne fruit. But then Heskel urged someone behind him forward, and a woman entered, wearing his demon-skin poncho, which covered her entire figure and sagged deflated in the shoulders.

It took him a moment to notice her peculiar appearance, but then he nodded, pleased with his Lifeward. He put a hand on his chest and addressed the newcomer.

My name is Jakob, he said in Demonic. I have not met an Elphin before.

The woman bowed deeply and then replied, in a shaky tone, I am Ciana. I am here by the grace of your manservant.

You do not need to bow before me, Ciana. And Heskel is not my servant, he is my protector and companion.

Jakob turned to his Lifeward. Have you succeeded? Have you found a Name we can use?

Once again, the Wight urged the tiny Elphin with a tap of his hand on her back. She moved forward only a step, but then drew an item from within her borrowed poncho. It was a mask made from human skin, utilising a form of Fleshcraft that Jakob himself had not utilised in ages, but which was capable of turning skin into a rigid form through compounding layers forcefully and utilising Necromantic rites such as Ironflesh, in concert with the Amalgam Hymn.

What is this? he asked, hefting the mask in his hand.

Tool. Daemon within.

You summoned and sealed a Daemon within this?

Heskel nodded.

It seems we were of one mind: I too had considered using a mask as the vessel. Now, tell me more. I wish to hear all about it.