Teyva stood in stunned silence as the words worked their way through her brain. The first thing that triggered a recall was his name, Paraklytus, this individual was the headmaster of the school. He was still alive? Or rather, not really alive, now that Teyva considered his appearance. The next implication hit her like a truck, a Labyrinthian other than Teyva Rani that she could speak to! Yet even as that idea crossed her mind, his introduction fully registered and she blinked before looking him up and down with suspicion.

She drew out her journal and froze, realizing she’d never inspected a person right in front of them before. The skeletal being’s shoulders rose and fell as if he was laughing and he nodded in her direction. “Aha! The Journal, yes? Go right ahead, little miss.” Teyva shot an uneasy glance at Azrael before she used her ability.

She dismissed the Journal and shuddered, there was something wrong with this world. The levels of unfairness were unbelievable and the difficulty curve was the work of a maniac. This couldn’t possibly be the actual boss of the dungeon, could it? She supposed if she had twenty people they might be able to put a dent in him, but even then it seemed unlikely. The Raid was for levels five to ten! She felt her right leg tremble and forced herself to calm down, taking a deep breath before fixing him with her gaze. He was neutral right now, might as well get what answers she could.

He’s level twenty. When I give you the signal, you run, you got it? Teyva said to Azrael over the private chat.

Nonsense, I am not leaving you behind again. Azrael countered.

I can come back. You can’t. Don’t argue with me.

“Planning something heroic?” Paraklytus asked, glancing between the two women. “That isn’t necessary, I am an educator, hardly interested in violence.”

Azrael and Teyva exchanged glances and Teyva forced herself to relax. She took a cleansing breath and decided to at least hear the creature out. “How do you know my name?”

“There we go, the proper direction for a conversation, asking questions. But was that the right question? Shouldn’t you be able to rationalize the answer to that yourself?” The lich’s eyes flashed with amusement, the mighty being going silent as it gave her time to consider it’s-or his question.

Teyva frowned, was this some kind of puzzle or test? Perhaps he wasn’t the end boss of the dungeon, only a ridiculously high level quest giver. She’d seen raids before where there had been environmental puzzels part way through. Was this somehow similar? Did it matter? She considered his point, he knew her name and he had pointed out that Teyva looked like someone else when he first woke. She thought back to the mural and etching in the entry room of the school. He had served Teyva Rani before leaving her service to become a teacher. He knew Rani. Did he know where she was buried? 

She froze, “How long have you been watching me?” 

“There! Now that is a good question!” The Lich laughed, “Since you woke in the Tomb, quite an exciting life you have led so far, little… godling? I believe is what that Yol fellow called you.”

“Godling?” Azrael asked.

“A figure of speech I guess, since I have multiple aspects,” Teyva said to Azrael before turning back to Paraklytus, “Or are you suggesting something else?”

“I am not suggesting anything, merely answering your question and ending it with a pleasantry,” The ancient being said, “There are times when you need not read too deeply into a statement’s meaning.”

Teyva frowned, she felt like she was being toyed with, “Enough, I’m sorry but I’m looking for something,” She looked again at Azrael and then back to the Lich, but he was gone. She blinked and spun in place, searching for him only to find him standing behind her, his blazing eyes peering down at her shoulder. Nephral let out a low, despondent growl and hissed at the undead headmaster. Teyva staggered back a step, pressing her back against the desk behind her.

“You must be Nephral,” The lich said, “It is an absolute delight to meet you, my furry friend.”

“I am afraid the feeling is not mutual,” Nephral growled.

“He really speaks! Oh, what joys!” The Lich said, stepping back and swaying dramatically, “To have a feline friend to fraternize with. The Sphinxes died out before I could make their acquaintance in my time, I am afraid. To see one alive and well warms my heart,” The lich paused and raised a hand to his chin, stroking it as if he had a beard. He snapped his fingers and turned to Teyva. “Why not a trade? Your furry friend for the knowledge you are seeking?”

“Hell no,” Teyva growled, not even considering it. She reached up and took Nephral into her arms, pulling him close to her chest. 

“Aha,” The lich murmured, “Disappointing.”

Teyva whipped down her right arm and it changed into her razorchain, she leveled the lich with a defiant look. She knew she didn’t stand a chance but she was not about to let the bony bastard take her sweet boy away from her. She bore her needle-like teeth and snarled, her chest tightening a little. The fear was still there, and the thought of losing herself to Rani still at the back of her mind, but having her mind whole wasn’t worth it if it meant losing someone precious. “I’d rather risk it than lose him. So I think we’ll leave.”

“Afraid that’s not how this works,” The Lich said, standing up a bit straighter, “You still have a long way to go before you leave this place, little godling.”

Azrael drew her sword just as the skeletal headmaster raised his left hand. Teyva felt a familiar tugging sensation at her feet and balked. She looked down in time to see a black circle form beneath her boots, tendrils of darkness rising up to claim her. She looked at the Lich, wide-eyed. “So much for a peaceful conversation! Were you planning this all along?”

“Another good question!” The lich crowed, “Yes.”

Teyva felt a sudden jerk against her arms and watched in horror as Nephral was ripped free from her grasp, the feline turning wildly in the air as it struggled to break free from whatever was holding it. “Mother! Help!”

“Nephral!” Teyva screamed, reaching for her companion while Azrael shouted next to her. She pulled and tugged at her legs, trying to break free. Panic, terror, and despair roiled inside her chest all in one instant. The next, she was swallowed by darkness as her body was pulled through the shadowy portal only to be immediately ejected into a dimly lit hallway. She hit the ground with a thud, pain shooting up her arm as she rolled onto her back and then forced herself to her feet.

“Azrael?” Teyva called but no response came. She spun in place, the empty hallway stretching out as far as the eye could see in either direction. “Nephral?”

Her shoulders went slack and she threw her head back in a terrible scream of rage and frustration. She twirled, throwing her fist against the wall and cracking off a small piece of stone. She watched the rubble tumble to the ground and gripped her now aching hand as she fell to her knees. “It’s not fair,” She spat, “How the hell is any of this fair! What kind of messed up-” she cut herself off and sat down, rubbing her face and trying to work through the roiling emotions. The manic feelings had faded ever since Rani had been sealed away but there were still moments like this, moments where she felt she might lose control. The moment of self-awareness gave way to a soothing breath as she collected her mana around herself.

Just as she began to relax, a single tiny leg scratched against her arm and she jumped, looking down to see Queenie’s eyes peering up at her. Her shoulders slumped and she picked up the tiny creature. “Hi Queenie,” She cooed, “Mommy’s okay, she’s just scared,” she paused, “And angry, really really angry.”

A collective chattering of concern and bloodlust rippled through the back of her mind. She smiled down at the satchel hanging next to her hip, “Yeah, me too, that guy is going to get what’s coming to him one way or the other,” She hissed, planting a little kiss on Queenie’s side. “Thank you for checking on me.”

Teyva pulled herself to her feet and with a thought, the swarm came roiling out of her satchel. They formed a cloud around her person, their wings humming with eager intensity. She waved her hand, “Have a look around, darlings, mommy needs to get her bearings!” 

The chorus of delighted affirmatives bounced about in her mind and the flying coins scattered, clusters of them darting down the hallway in both directions before spreading out somewhere near the end and disappearing from sight. She called up her compass and glanced down at it, frowning at the useless tool. The twisting halls around her made the compass even harder to read. It literally spun in circles. She sighed and looked up to the ceiling, letting her emotions show now that the innocent creatures had departed. Her fury aimed directly at where she imagined Paraklytus was, standing at his desk and mocking her.

“I’ll make you pay,” She bit out, “Just you wait.”