Come then, child of darkness. It has been long since a soul such as yours appeared.

Janaxia looked around – she was on some grey, featureless surface, surrounded by emptiness. The voice spoke again, smooth and charming, as the emptiness rippled, a scarlet-tinted kaleidoscope of lights flickering into being.

‘Somewhat ominous words, from a mysterious entity.’ She shoot a bolt of force at it, the shape shimmering, bolt ricocheting off into the endless distance, puttering out of existence.

Hmmm, you are intriguing. It has been many years since there has been a being I have been able to converse with. That accursed spear binds my will against all others, but you, you are different. Something I thought long gone from this world. Power, then. Is that what you desire?

Janaxia stepped back, her weapon suddenly in hand, although she didn’t recall carrying it with her. She channelled her power, dark energy crackling along the wood, hitting out at a string of crimson light moving towards her. ‘I am not your puppet, and would kindly request that you make your intentions clear.’ The light flickered and faded, although the central mass seemed unaffected.

Interest, shall we say. There is power within you, waiting to be unleashed. But it is chained and bound, restrained and weak. You bind yourself by the powers of others, when you could be something more, something greater, if you would grasp it.

‘Speak truth, spirit.’ She wished Stathis were here, her greater belligerence always seemed to pay dividends in such situations. ‘I am Janaxia Seyroon Falmeth Uth Tremari. Reveal yourself, or depart from my dreams!’

A bold wish. But I shall comply

The shape shifted and warped, becoming more humanoid – tall and longer-limbed than any person, still formed of flickering light, with branching, fractal horns of black, shifting and growing as she watched. They grew, the tips fragmenting and melting away, wisps of words forming in the broken ash, as they endlessly melted and regrew.

So, you wish power, child of ancient letters, child of the first darkness. I can teach you, should you wish. To harness the power you have been granted, to be more than you are. To take the attempts of the mortals at harnessing the weave of the world, and make them what they should truly be, binding the world like a steed, breaking it to your will, leaving it blooded and compliant.

‘And what do you gain from such an arrangement, spirit?’ She tightened her grip on her weapon, shifting into one of the stances Stathis had drilled her in, ready to swing if the thing turned hostile.

A wise question, child of darkness. What do I gain? A favour perhaps, someone that thinks well of me, someone willing to aid me should I need it. A trade, a favour for a favour. An understanding ear. The simple pleasure of conversation and touch.

It moved, swooping forward in a warping pattern of light, suddenly next to her, a hand on her cheek, a soft coldness seeping into her skin.

Power for power, will for will. It gestured, the grey around them fading away to reveal a stone chamber, circular in shape, tinted red by glowing gemstones. In the centre was a pit, filled with a brightly glowing crimson liquid, stone pillars stabbing through the viscous stuff.

You have attempted to learn a simple summoning spell? It gestured, a disc appearing in the air, a solid black thing, shadows coalesced together into solidity. A simple thing yet surrounded by so much un-needed fuss. Simple exert your will upon the world, like so.

The disc moved around in time with the spirit’s gestures, stopping next to Janaxia. She laid a hand upon it, feeling the stiff, unbending darkness. She tried to remember the incantation from the scroll, tongue stumbling over the words, the disc starting to fade. Why couldn’t she ever use normal magic? Everyone else seemed to find it so easy, even Stathis had learnt some minor cantrips, and Hakara had created her own, and she was the daughter of a publican! And yet she, scion of ancient wizarding blood, struggled with even minor incantations!

Worry not. Do not rely upon such invocations. You know better, you know the true language of things. Speak to the darkness within all things, of which you are mistress. Bind it to your will.

Shapes began to appear, words cut from the very fabric of reality, a black so deep it strained her eyes looking at them overlaid upon the eerie crimson glow of the chamber. She moved her hand, and the disc immediately responded, twisting through the air with alacrity. She smiled, making an expansive gesture and sending the disc scudding along. There was some glimmer of presence there, some will obediently following her commands. Yes, this is how things should be – a simple command, not even said but simply thought, and then it came to be. The crimson glow brightened, power flowing through her, as she felt the world move to her command, a force just out of sight, just outside of her senses slowly, drowsily raise itself.

A fine start. We shall talk more during the nights. Your soul is open to mine, and there is much for you to learn. But you dig too deeply and too quickly, and the power will draw attention.

They moved again, now stood right in front of Janaxia, too close to swing and hit, lightly tapping her on the forehead, brushing her forelock, now blazing brightly. She felt her memories shift and fade, erasing all that had just happened, other than the knowledge of the spell. I would rather avoid you betraying me, or awakening the wider world to my presence, and so will seal your memories. But you shall spend more time here, in my hall of crimson. And, no doubt, in time, we shall meet in the waking world.

And then it was gone. She awoke, a dream fading – something of blood-red stone? Despite having just awoken, she yawned, feeling scarcely rested. She stood, flexing her shoulders – she must have been practicing too long, to fall asleep in these cold, dreary tunnels. But she felt as though she understood better know; it was something like this… She cast a spell, feeling the air shift, as a disc of solid darkness appeared in front of her. She focused further, trying to will it to move, but it remained stubbornly stationary, as she tried to command it with her voice, to no avail. She pushed it, and that made it move, although slowly. Still, it was a success! Although now she really should go rest in an actual bed. Another spell bubbled up within her mind, to call up a sphere of darkness. Without an eyemask, perhaps that aid her slumbers? Although the underground chambers seemed brighter than she recalled, almost as bright as daylight. Perhaps the magic ran on some strange cycle? Nevertheless, it was time to seek her slumber.