5 Chapter 5: Far greater evils

That night, the return to the cottage was met with an icy reception. Tomas was sitting at the table with his arms crossed and a murderous glare in his eyes. Charlotte was tapping the table quietly and staring ahead thoughtfully. When Veretta and Erik arrived, it was only Veretta's grandmother that greeted them with a smile.

"Come in quickly," she said going about with her usual deft step, "dinner's almost ready,"

Veretta returned the smile gratefully and soon they all sat down to eat. The meal passed well enough, aside from Tomas' irritated and indignant stare at Errik who went on eating with his meal with his usual indifference. Veretta glanced at Charlotte with a sigh. Charlotte gave a sympathetic smile.

When the meal was done and Veretta's grandmother had retired for the night, the calm was broken.

"Errik," Tomas said bitterly, "I want to talk to you,"

"So talk," Errik replied apathetically.

"I've never met a mage who carried a sword. What school did you say you came from?" Tomas demanded.

"I told you he's from the south," Veretta interceeded.

"I want to hear it from his mouth," Tomas said in a low voice.

"Since you seem interested, shall I tell you why I carry a sword?" Errik said with a smile that didn't reach the eyes. "Because there is a place and there is a time when magic will not be enough. And even if it is, you must be prepared to pay the price,"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Tomas scoffed.

"Do you know what the price for magic is?" Errik asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Tomas dismissed.

"Whenever you use magic, you should be asking yourself this question," Errik said with dark intense eyes, "This power. It has a price. Don't you know what it is?"

"Magic is a gift from the gods," Tomas declared, "It has no price."

"Everything has a price," Errik returned a dark smile, "the greater the power, the greater the price and the greater the lure of darkness,"

"Darkness?" Veretta glanced up with trepidation

"Yes, terrible darkness." Errik answered with distant eyes, "You may fear the wickedness of men, but there are far greater evils,"

"Like what?" Tomas gave a sceptical laugh, "demons? Like in children's stories?"

"No, like creatures that wear the faces of men but who kill for enjoyment and wickedness that would make your eyes water. There are beasts that prey on magic and a world underneath this one, filled with pain and devoid of life. This is the price of the magic, "Errik answered gravely.

"There's no such thing as demons," Tomas smirked, "They were made up to scare kids into eating their vegetables. And what world underneath this one? You must have got hit with a bad dose of magic. You've lost it."

"Let's hope you're right," Errik answered with a cold smile.

He rose from the table and departed from the room. For a while Tomas was quiet. Charlotte turned to Veretta.

"What did he mean?" she asked.

"I'm not sure," Veretta answered honestly.

"Maybe he was just talking shit," Tomas rejoined.

"Why do you dislike him so much?" Veretta questioned, "He never did anything to you,"

"He broke my damn nose!" Tomas exclaimed.

"It looks fine to me," Charlotte scoffed.

"It's not just that!" Tomas added vigorously, "I get a bad feeling from him,"

"And is that feeling jealousy?" Charlotte tilted her head to the side with a smile.

"No," Tomas said in a subdued voice, "You know my family come from the deserts to the south? Well, he reminds me of a desert snake. He has a look of death in his eyes,"

The table went quiet. Even Charlottes' scepticism was temporarily arrested by the seriousness of Tomas' expression. Veretta stared down with a frown. Could it be that those stories were true? Did Errik really sell his heart to a demon? And if so...

Veretta quickly rose from the table. She didn't want to think about it anymore. It was too late for regret anyway. Charlotte and Tomas looked up at her in surprise, but she didn't meet their gaze.

"Sorry, I'm feeling quite tired," Veretta said in a quiet voice, " I'm going to go to bed early,"

They both nodded as she hastily departed to her room. She shut the door behind her and tried to calm her racing heart. It was one thing to break the greatest taboo a mage could break - to bend death to their will. Necromancy was not only forbidden, but anyone caught practice would be ostracised from the magic world. Veretta had made her peace with the fact that eventually this sin would be found out and she would be punished accordingly.

What she didn't expect was the weight of bringing another soul into this existence. All the terrible deeds written about the black wizard only assured of her of his skill. She wanted to end Silthus' reign of terror no matter what it took. However, what if in bringing Errik back, she unleashed an evil far greater than the one they were facing now?

That night Veretta couldn't sleep a wink. She kept tossing and turning wildly. Beset by nightmares and recollections, she awoke in the morning feeling she hadn't slept a wink. She pulled herself out of bed. She walked slowly to the mirror upon her dresser.

She stared at the dark circles under her eyes with a frown. Her eyes came to the mess of black hair falling below her waist with a sigh. She put her face into her palms. Her hands shook slightly.

"I can't lose it now," She whispered to herself, "keep it together a little longer. Once Silthus' dead, it will all be alright,"

By afternoon, Veretta was back out in the forest with Errik. He continued to train her in the sword. His manner of teaching was quite compelling. Though he seemed to have little patience for mistakes, he explained things well and Veretta felt as though she would improve with time. Still, she couldn't stop her thoughts from racing ahead on their own. Looking at Errik now, he was nothing like the legends. Maybe they were lies...Yes, all lies...

"Veretta," Errik said, lowering his sword.

Veretta stared up surprised upon hearing her name on his lips. It sounded nice in his low voice.

"Yes?" she replied.

"You seem distracted," he commented.

"Ah, I'm sorry," Veretta lowered her gaze.

"What is on your mind?" Errik's eyes caught under a ray of light and sparkled the same evanescent gold as the first day Veretta had laid eyes on him. It made the idea of his so-called wickedness seem even further from reality.

"Do you think it's ever okay to do something bad to prevent something worse from happening?" Veretta asked quietly.

She didn't know what she was saying, the words just came on their own unexpectedly. She glanced up apprehensively. What answer did she expect? He didn't even remember his own past. Was it an unfair question?

Errik seemed to mull over the question for a moment. "It depends. Can you ever really know the outcome of an action? You might do something with good intentions but the result is far worse than if you did nothing at all,"

"I see," Veretta said sadly.

"But," Errik said in a low voice, "In the end, we are all making a choice just by choosing to survive. No matter how small, we inevitably change the world in some small way. If that's the case, then I think it must be better to take action. After all, you are the sum of your actions. What kind of person would you be if you never took action? Would you even really be alive?"

Veretta's eyes widened, "What if my life or...someone else's, irreparably changes other people's lives? So that just by existing, I cause others suffering,"

"That's life," Errik gave a shrug, "Perhaps, they don't teach this in the schools of magic anymore, but magic in itself is an extension of your will. When you battle, the victor is the person who's will is greater. There will be no time for hesitation. If you have to choose between your life and theirs, choose your life,"

Veretta gave a small nod. She decided not to ask any more questions. She felt reassured to some degree. Though the small cautious voice within warned about trusting his words. Veretta had always been taught to live her life putting others first, though perhaps, in resurrecting him, she had committed a great act of selfishness, she still believed her actions were for the greater good.

Veretta raised her sword again. Errik was staring at a flock of bird's passing overhead.

"You seem to really like birds, Errik?" she commented with a smile.

"I think...I had a bird once," Errik said decidedly, "but someone killed it."

"How cruel," Veretta remarked.

Errik's eyes came down with a mournful expression, "Yes, I think it must have been very cruel,"

Veretta thought she saw tears in his eyes as he said the word. But within the same instance, his expression hardened and he gestured to her to raise the sword again.

An hour later into the sword practice, Charlotte and Tomas arrived in the clearing.

"Veretta!" Charlotte called with a wave.

She held up the basket of goods Veretta's grandmother had prepared for them. Veretta gave Charlotte an appreciative smile. She even managed to get a small smile from Tomas in turn. His anger had somewhat subsided as he stuffed a sandwich into his mouth.

"Try this one, Veretta," he said, handing her one.

Veretta rubbed her cold fingers together and thanked him. The soft bread filled with preserves brought back memories of childhood. So many sunny days were spent on long walks and little picnics. However, as she finished the last morsel of the sandwich and stared at the field of snow, she felt a twinge of sadness for those days that would never return. Just like the passing seasons, all memories have their own winter. As usual, Veretta buried the pain even deeper than last time.

Charlotte approached Errik timidly holding out a sandwich, "Would you like one?" she asked with a smile.

"Thank you," Errik replied with a smile.

Charlotte blushed slightly and handed it to him. At once, Tomas said in his loud voice:

"Why is your face so red, Charlotte?" he grinned.

"I'm cold," Charlotte snapped.

"Uh-huh," Tomas smiled smugly.

Charlotte quickly stepped back to Veretta and linked her arm in hers. "It is cold, isn't it Veretta?" she pouted.

"Very," Veretta answered quietly.

Charlotte glanced up. She recognised the familiar look of melancholy in Veretta's eyes. She hugged her a bit tighter but said nothing. After finishing several more sandwiches, Tomas seemed to recover some strength. He turned to Errik with distrustful eyes.

"Where did you learn how to wield a sword, Errik?"

"Are you asking because you're curious?" Errik smiled, "Or because you want to start another fight with me?"

Tomas' face reddened angrily, "I was just trying to be polite, but whatever. You don't need to answer. I'm not even that interested,"

"Then why did you ask?" Charlotte said with annoyance.

Tomas gave a shrug, "It was a fleeting interest,"

"Well, I am still interested in hearing the answer," Charlotte said more timidly, glancing up at Errik.

"I was a soldier in the army," Errik answered.

"A soldier?" Charlotte's eyes fluttered, "I thought so, you have the look of a soldier,"

"What look of a soldier?" Tomas muttered.

Charlotte cast him an irritated glare but went on, "Then you went on to study magic?"

Errik gave a subdued smile, "Something like that,"

At that moment, Charlotte got a resolute look in her eye, "Will teach me the sword as well, Errik?"

"If you want," Errik responded.

"Not you as well," Tomas scoffed.

Veretta smiled upon seeing Charlotte's enthusiasm. Charlotte always followed what she wanted to do and Veretta had always admired that about her. On the other hand, Tomas was standing with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face.

"I've heard that Silthus' army has mages in their ranks," he said bitterly, " We should be practising magic not playing around with swords,"

To Veretta's surprise, Errik turned to him, "You're not wrong,"

Tomas's eyes widened in surprise, "I am? I mean exactly. I am! This is a waste of time,"

"But magic and swordsmanship are not mutually exclusive," Errik smiled.

He held up the sword pointing the blade at Tomas' throat. Tomas flinched, glancing sideward at Veretta and Charlotte nervously. Errik flipped the blade with a smirk. Tomas reluctantly took the hilt. Holding it up with a frown, Tomas looked back up at Errik.

"Extend your magic onto the sword," Errik directed.

"Extend my magic?" Tomas' brow furrowed, "How do I do that?"

Errik let out a sigh, "What do they teach in these schools?"

Tomas' eyes twitched. He shoved the sword back into Errik's hand, "This is stupid,"

Errik took back the sword, shaking his head, "Watch carefully,"

Errik turned his back to the group with his hand outstretched. He raised the blade and brought it down with force enough to cut through the air. However, this time the air vibrated. The strike flew out from the sword and parted the snow in two leaving a line from where Errik was standing deep into the forest. It hit a snow-covered tree. It shook and threw off the snow as startled birds flew out from it. Then the tree creaked and in an instant, split in two.

Tomas stared wide-eyed in surprise, "How did you do that? It didn't even look like magic,"

"It is pure life energy - just mana," Errik replied, "instead of channelling it into magic, it can be used to enforce the blade or your own body,"

Tomas was speechless for once. Veretta stared ahead intensely, "Show us once more, please Errik,"

He complied and she watched keenly. She hastily picked up her blade and began to thrust it forward as Errik had demonstrated. After several attempts, there was a slight tremble. A small line extended down from the direction the sword flew. It lacked the power of Errik's strike but it made a mark upon the snow.

"You have quite a talent for magic,"Errik smiled, "Though I never had any doubt,"

"They never taught us anything like this before," Veretta smiled widely, "All those textbooks, scrolls and formulas never taught anything like this,"

Charlotte joined her eagerly, "Can I try, Veretta?"

Tomas watched as the pair continued to practice what Errik had taught them. Errik glanced over at Tomas and titled his head to the side coolly.

"Do you want to try?" he held out the sword.

Tomas nodded in spite of his reservations and took the sword. The rest of the evening the whole group practised under Errik's supervision. By the early tide of the night across the white forest, everyone had managed to part the snow with their mana alone.

The way home that night was filled with merry delight and laughter. The clear sky above shimmered with stars and a soft green aurora. Even the severe energy between Tomas and Errik was elevated. They walked in a discussion of various techniques and revelations made that day.

They reached the cottage in the midst of this hearty discussion. They all sat down quite naturally and continued the topic eagerly. However, Errik did not join them. He gave a short bow to Veretta's grandmother and went straight into the back room.

Veretta watched him go but didn't say anything. A strange feeling crept up her chest. It felt tight and restless...What was this feeling?