[u]The Runemaster, the Vitamancer and the Operation…[/u]

The demon had been unsettled by the man’s reaction. At first, Rathel thought he was going to be attacked in a misunderstanding resulting in a friendly fire incident and braced himself. The man was rather horrible sight. His skin looked pale, clammy compared to the last time he saw him and his body seemed to be shaking as if fighting off something within. Deep down, Rathel was faintly glad it was difficult to tell his current expression because he was sure it would only create more stress for Grey then needed. His tension faded when Grey’s voice greeted him. 

Using some effort, the man reached for the letter and vial with his trembling hand then finally tossed them aside. The vial made a loud dinged while both landed not far. For a dreadful moment, Rathel had considered it broken and seemed for wait for the paper to dampen from the vial’s contents. When the latter didn’t darken, the demon gave a little breath of relief. Ether was a valuable thing made exclusively at the College then in small, controlled quantities were shipped out to the other mage schools. However it took time, effort and rare Ravine materials to manufacture even the small amounts used over time. Most the College stock was a reserve each Head healer and Lucilia had been squirreling away for countless many years, even to this day. For Rathel, every vial was important. His mind shifted back to more important matters when Grey’s words broke his thoughts. 

Rathel couldn’t bring himself to leave the man. Not in his condition, his tenderness unable to leave for fear Grey might die and he couldn’t save him if he was gone. Gently Rathel’s farther examined the Runes design, the shiver renewed once more to realize where he had seen it before. Val had been working, in her little spare time, deep within her workshop on a small project which would both aid and enhance the golems Uicle used daily. It was chilling to see Val’s infant plans within a living creature instead of one made from steel and turning runes.

He had been about to do something, anything, to stall the effects when the sound of thousands of bat flooded his hearing. They swept through the hallways and reformed once more into the solid mass, Lucilia, before she entered. She seemed frightened from her scent, regardless if she hid it or not, and that caused the demon’s heart to weight down. The vampire was usually one of the most stiffly controlled staff within Twilight but not now. He didn’t answer when she told him to seek Val, merely rushed out without wasting time. He knew where to find her as his mind reached for Zaad, unable to seek the other one he felt would be ideal to gather as well. 

[i]ZAAD!!!![/i] Rathel screamed into the shadow demon’s mind. 

[i]What?!?! I ain’t done any fucking thing! Not yet![/i] Zaad protested, his voice continued until Rathel abruptly stopped him. [i]I’m just-[/i]

[i]Shut up and listen close, don’t fuck around. Get Lidda and bring her to Lucilia office quickly.[/i] Rathel replied, his mind shut off any comments or whines while he finally spotted the burly dwarf heading to the kitchens.

He nearly collided with her when his large frame halted just inches between her and the Dining Hall entrance. His spines a mess and breathing hard, he ignored Val’s upraised eyebrow. Instead of allowing her any sort of comment or questions, Rathel just commanded. “You and I need to get to Lucilia’s office, now. One of the students need your attention and its an emergency.” 

“Well, quite jabberin’. Git yore arse movin’!” came the woman’s deep voiced reply as her boots shuffled towards the direction Rathel had arrived from, her short legs moved faster than most would’ve thought possible. 

In minutes, Val and Rathel had arrived while the earlier had trotted into the office hastily. She didn’t bother to knock or anything, her concern too great about what Rathel had explained along the way and caused her not to care. Thankfully when Lucilia had shown interest in the art of Runes, Val had made the vampire a basic kit as a gift and only hoped the vampire had the wisdom to keep it in her office now. Or else she would’ve had to send Rathel to retrieve some items and that wasted precious time. 

“Alrite. Ah need the rune kit, where tis it?” She spoke in her gruff accent, her body instantly set up on the exposed bone and rune gifs. Once Lucilia mentioned it or indicated the location, Val was on it like a wolf with a fresh deer. She unrolled the roll revealing the many different tools from craving to painting, even a well of vivid, bright blue ink Val had thought Lucilia would’ve liked. Shortly after Val had begun to set the rune right again, in one hand a craving tool and the other a small quill to fill in the chiseled away bone, when Lidda and Zaad had arrived. The vitamancer teacher seemed confused and rather unsettled by the demon’s method of traveling, yet pushed her shadow sickness away. 

Lidda’s voice was determined when she reached the small group. “Show me what to do and let me at it.”