Several days later, while Madilyn, Sia, Sydney and Lyle are completing yet another task, having survived the first seven, Ted can be seen wandering the halls of the castle, alongside a pair of tall figures. Luck and Bill remain on the sidelines, speaking with the various vampires surrounding the younglings.

“This Black you spoke of,” Valac says, transitioning their conversation, “appears to be a necromancer of some notoriety as even these descendants of mine have heard whispers of their deeds.”

“Dear,” Carmilla says while holding her husband’s arm, “Most of the information we have was obtained from that hapless human they held for weeks. He was our first visitor in months, and without the letter sent ahead they wouldn’t have known hardly anything.”

“Then I’m glad I sent it, and the bowing was a nice touch at the end. Has that always been a thing?”

“Nope!” Valac says with a smile. “Those two that met you when you arrived knew that you have a flair for the dramatic and drilled it into the rest. They did tell me that man’s heart rate increased significantly at that point. And I must thoroughly congratulate the twins for that entire day and even managed to delay your young companions for 16 hours.”

“By the end though, that young childhood friend of yours had significantly improved his reflexes,” Carmilla comments.

“Back to Black,” the Other says. “Are they still alive, for a given definition of the term? What does the world know about them?”

“Not much,” Carmilla replies. “A necromancer that had been gaining power for a hundred years, and now rules an impoverished nation from the shadows. Politicians fighting each other to stay in her graces, to remain in power themselves. He also heard rumors she was assisting the rebels in that country as well, destroying families and making children fight with their lives on the line.”

“All but a buffoon could see that there is likely no lie in these things,” Valac continues. “She ensures the government is a puppet, and that the people have a clear enemy at the same time. She has been reported as killed by crusading paladins at least twice with eye witness to boot. A month later she reappears as if nothing changed, though she has no qualms ensuring any true dissent to her rule is eradicated. There will always be those with enough greed to replace her political puppets.”

“Has it been so long that knowledge of a Lich have passed from memory? Or are these attempts just token efforts by the powers that exist these days?”

“Likely neither,” Carmilla replies. “Eternal Wanderer you may be, but we have ruled over living sentients either far longer or far more recently than you. There may indeed be some corruption among those more wealthy or politically approximate to the Lich. However, for the population at large, too poor to fund an army, too disinterested politically, those that know don’t care enough as it doesn’t stand between them and their goals, and those that care don’t know enough to make a meaningful effort. Those most directly affected have been slowly strangled and are likely more concerned about where their next meal is coming from rather than fighting the powers that be.”

“A gradual loss of food or freedom is seen as misfortune,” Valac continues. “A sudden crisis of resources will more often lead to a reaction than a gradual one. A sudden famine may lead to emigration. A sudden loss of independence to a rebellion. An analogy if you permit it, that I have heard from physicians who are limited in magic or resources, unlike yourself. They are most cautious around children and sometimes the most aggressive, as more often than they care to count, children often look fine and healthy until suddenly they are not, and it becomes a true emergency.”

“Without a sudden crisis, the ignorant do not know what they speak of, the knowledgeable do not have the clout to make a difference, the powerful play games of their own,” the Other says.

“And one more,” Carmilla interjects, “the charismatics that just want to watch the world burn, for personal profit or pleasure. Those that can make the ignorant believe lies. They have always existed though few in number.”

The trio walk in silence until they arrive at a balcony overlooking a well tended night-rose garden. The Other leans forward heavily to rest his arms on the railing, while Valac and Carmilla enjoy the sight and aroma of the garden, like old lovers. Valac is the one to finally break the silence with his lingering questions.

“Ancient One, what are you planning to do about this Black? The Elders say there is also a Winter you were seeking but we have heard nothing from you about them. It has been a long time since the twelve of us have walked the world, nigh on two-thousand generations of the longest lived elders. I have seen the maps, Ancient One. And yet your power grows ever stronger, your face never changing. You told us once that when the time was right we would be awoken and sent home, yet it seems as if you have forgotten us in our tombs.”

The Other, glowering at first then nodding along in understanding at the end, sighs greatly before speaking.

“I mean to remove Black’s ability to regenerate entirely, through whatever means necessary, after, perhaps, destroying a corporation that spans nations. And it is time for you to go home, there is now only one of my ‘temples’ left standing within the Realms, one that has become a museum and a monument in history, the one that I first met you in. The remainder have been destroyed by war, and as such I believe it is time for me to visit the Realms again, after I finish these few things here. And you will need this once you arrive.”

The Other hands Valac a mithril token with a demonoid’s face engraved on one side, and a crest on the other. Both of which are familiar to the recipient.

“Your father has a few words to say to you once you are back,” the Other states, while shock rolls across Valac and Carmilla’s faces. “Place that in the slot on the dais, and prepare those who wish to return with you.”

Valac and Carmilla turn to each other in urgent contemplation. A silent conversation flashes between them before turning back to the Other.

“Give us a year,” Carmilla says.

“We have many things to discuss with our descendants, and it would be appropriate to have ornamental replacements of us should they desire to continue living in this plane as caretakers of this castle.”

“The twins informed us that the man you released had quite loose lips as well, so that will give us time to ensure any punitive force is sufficiently educated on matters of life and living.”

“So be it,” the Other states. “I shall supply the metal or stone if you have someone to work it. The circle should work on you as well, so make sure you use it. If my affairs are in order by the time you are ready, I shall join you, if not I shall send you ahead.”

“Should that be the case, we will use your old titles as harbingers of change, oh Lord of Purgatory, Eternal and Desolate, Torturer of the Fiend’s soul,” Valac says with an unintelligible smirk.

Turning his head fully towards Valac and blinking, the Other replies, “Perhaps a modified title would be more appropriate…”