Aldrich and Zalvin

Situated in his corner chamber within Trinity, Zalvin's fingers curled over his wine glass, hurling it towards the fire that swarmed into an inferno of embers. He stormed to his feet, grinding his teeth over one another to mask the humiliation he endured by a mere child of all things.

His shoulders stiffened, and his fingers plunged through the lining of his skin, clenched shut. "How. How could one child be so powerful?" he asked himself, recalling not just the duke but also Aurelia Morningstar, whose power had decimated an entire tundra.

Never before had he seen such power from a child. He'd only witnessed such a thing done by old warlocks or masters of the Arcane. It was almost inconceivable.

Zalvin cursed, peering into the flames that slowly receded. "The sword. It must have been the sword. That golden blade must be the reason." He theorized when suddenly a knock echoed through his room.

"Professor?" Said a calming voice from the outside.

"Who is it?" Zalvin barked. It was the height of twilight, and he was not expecting visitors, much less students.

"Aldrich, sir,' Came the response, startling Professor Zalvin, who narrowed his eyes in befuddlement.

It was the dead of night; why was there a need for one of his best students to come calling? Could something have been wrong?

"Come in," Zalvin finally said, seeing no reason to dismiss him. He was already up anyway, and sleep would not come this night.

Aldrich held a long smile as he stepped in, pushing the door shut as he entered. He spoke before Zalvin could release a single syllable. "Forgive the late intrusion Professor, but I believe our interests are aligned."

"I beg your pardon?"

Finding a seat within Professor Zalvins's office, Aldrich beckoned that he finds a seat as well. A notion Zalvin found utterly unacceptable. He knew of Aldrich's arrogance, the pride in which he spoke and stepped; it was engraved in his very bones, but was Zalvin not the same? He was the Lions Pride, after all.

"You've got two counts to make your visit known." Said the professor, unknowingly taking a seat.

"But of course," Aldrich said, cutting to the chase. " Well, I'll start by saying I saw the entire incident between you and professor Blackwater alongside Aurelia's destructive spell." He leaned forward and Zalvin back, his blood acting almost instinctively with Aldrich's actions." And I think there could be some profit on both sides."

Zalvin stared with withering eyes. "You saw!" he barked, rising to his feet. " You SAW! How?"

"A little spell called Clairvoyance. Nothing special. " He explained, not bothering to bring up the intricate manner that such a spell required Astral Force. "Mr. Blackwater is still new to its ethereal will, but I have had chaos cycles to learn."

"What nonsense do you speak, boy! Get the hell out—"

Aldrich gestured, halting the words echoing from Zalvin as a crushing pressure seized his throat, ensuring he spoke whenever Aldrich allowed.

"That's better. It's been so long since I've dealt with people who can't control their emotions. How the hell do Chaos Lords deal with this every time they reincarnate? Gods, this is annoying." He shook his head, sinking into his chair. His eyes surveyed the ornaments around the office, the tapestry depicting lions carrying various types of bloodlines. He slid his eyes back to his instructor. " You disappoint me, professor. Your taste stems not from the noble bearing of an artist but rather your drive to support what runs through your veins. Is it your culture that blinds you to such hideous depictions? Or is it my pride that I look down upon such fragile creatures? What is a lion before the Ilthad, a lion before the Angels, or devils for that matter."

Zalvin had been shaken still. Fear had taken root so deep he dared not speak out, only bowing his head as he took in the humiliation.

"I've got a proposition for you," Aldrich said, his tone carrying a tinge of bloodlust that withered the flames near the fireplace, dwindling it down to the smoldering remains of ash and soot. "The Sword of Aurelia Morningstar, I wish for you to take it." He paused, smiled, and then added. " And I wish you to poison Mr. blackwater while you are at it."

"Or what?" Zalvin pitifully blurted aloud, regretting his foolish words the moment they left his lips.

"Do not test my patience, mortal." Aldrich snapped," Your soul is but one of the infinite I've sent to Oblivian. I will ensure your soul is so shattered beyond repute, ensuring you'll spend the subsequent hundred chaos cycles trying to recover from a bubbling fool, only to be thrown into the depths of Oblivion and forgotten, stuck in a wasteland of darkness for eternity."

Zalvin lost all his courage, daring not to speak out again. He knew such a thing was possible. He'd heard it all from Trinities Professor of Death. He'd even seen some rituals that had taken the lives of millions and dared not stir the waters.

"You will willingly drop a single drop of blood upon this soul contract bending you to my will, or I torment you till you break and give in." Aldrich finished, pulled out a stack of papers, and presented it to his instructor with the kindest smile that appeared like a demon from the Nines to Zalvin. "Hurry now, it's late, and I need sleep."

"Please don't do this, I—"

A scream of the deepest order rang from Zalvin as violet arcs of lightning suddenly congealed over Aldrich's fingers piercing from his flesh into his soul, sending thousands of jolts throughout his flesh and soul. Searing heat sizzled from the smoldering blister forming around his body, followed by a broken cry.

"NOO!!!"

But Aldrich did not stop. Cold to a bone, the violet arcs of Astral Lighting pierced and devoured the professor in a vile whirlwind of thunderstorms. The foul scent of burning flesh spilled over the room, penetrating deep into the tapestry, but no matter how much Zalvin screamed, begged, or cried, Aldrich, did not budge. Not even as the physical structure of Zalvin began to tar and deformed into a heinous beast.

A willing drop fell upon the contract sealing it as a smile graced the icy exterior of Aldrich.