Since even working non-stop, there was no way they’d finish before people started leaving their Ignis had the other put protection around the cursed area while he melted and scorched the ground to give the impression of an intense battle.

He then proceeded to deal with the most intense and dangerous curse; there was a lot he wanted to say but now was not the time. Hours later, he finally gave the words they had all been waiting for. “You can go home and sleep… but not you Azrael, you’re coming with me.”

He guided the child to the cathedral and told the person on night duty. “We’ve just dealt with an evil spirit, but it has left a nasty curse behind, we’ll need the street blocked. I left some burn marks to define the area and give us an excuse.”

“Which street?” Aske the night guard.

“Cauliflower street, one block south, you can’t miss the damages.”

“One moment please.” He left the room, leaving to a colleague to take over.

“Was it the one behind all the screaming and laughing?” Asked the new guard to pass time.

“Yes, it was. It shouldn’t bother us anymore…” He looked at the child beside him for a long time before adding sarcastically. “I hope.”

The one who came for them was the cardinal Vanati again, he didn’t need to do everything himself but there was no stopping him as he was kind of a control freak and didn’t trust anyone to perform as well as himself. “I heard what happened.”

“Can we go sit somewhere to talk? We’ve had a long night.” Asked Ignis in a weary tone.

“Sorry, I should have thought of that.” He guided them to a private room then asked. “What was so important you needed talk to me in private?” Asked the ecclesiast as soon they were alone.

“It’s a long story, but first we really need to bar access to that street, there a bunch of nasty curses there.” Answered the necromancer, barely holding up his anger.

“I’ve already sent a runner to speak to the lord, he’s an understanding one and in the know.”

“Eh?! Is he one of ours?” The kings and lords had some knowledge of what the church did behind the same, but this alone didn’t warrant calling them in the know.

“Not exactly, but he’s seen a lot and understand even more.”

“I feel this is the kind of information I’d have benefited from knowing.” Grumbled Ignis, thinking at how much easier his life would have been knowing that.

“And I kept it secret because I felt our people would let their guard down if they knew.” Explained the ecclesiast.

“That’s… definitely true.” Admitted the mage, knowing he’d definitely would have taken advantage of this.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

“I’m taking this maverick as my apprentice.” This time the anger was clearly expressed.

“Maverick?”

“Out of question, now that I have this familiar, I’m going back south!” Rejected the child. His reason for capturing the ghost king had been to cleanse his home country from evil spirit and he wasn’t’ going to give up on it.

“Shut up, moron!” Raged Ignis. Then in a very tired voice. “He’s the one who caused the curses, not some damn evil spirit. And the contract he formed with the ghost… the language is so vague it could mean anything!” He turned to Azrael, speaking slowly, anger seeping from every word. “Think about it, kid. You didn’t win, it let you win! It could have knocked you down whenever it wanted by throwing its axe, and don’t forget about its speed!”

“But I….” Started the child with tears in his eyes.

“You nothing! Its promise means nothing. If it wanted, it could say you’ve grown weak this very instant because you’re tired! As for being older, you’d definitely be older by half a day!”

“I resent that, brat.” Spoke an authoritative voice. “I, the king of kings, never renege on a promise.”

“Where the hell did it pop out from?” Getting even more angry at the child. “Didn’t I tell you to keep it in its container? How can you be stupid enough to let that thing inside your body?” Then to answer to ghost. “What I’m complaining about is the wording of your promise, I draw contract all the time and it’s complete bullshit!”

“Such little object cannot contain this one’s great essence!” Explained the ghost speaking of the dolls meant to hold the familiar. Unlike other spirits, it still had his full personality and no small amount of power. “Let me reiterate my promise then, you untrusting brat: I Thracian pledge myself to serve and protect Azrael until death takes him.”

No matter what, Ignis couldn’t bring himself to trust in the ghost, there was no way for someone as arrogant as this king to serve under someone else, and it was tremendously suspicious that he lost on purpose.

“You understand nothing brat!” Boom the ancient king. “This little one has willpower and ambition to rival my own, I want to see where it leads.”

“How the hell would I know that?” Raged the death mage. “I can tell you where it’ll lead him though: to an early grave! Same for everybody who had the bad luck from being around him!”

“Could I ask something?” Asked the cardinal calmly.

“Sorry, your holiness, I…” He was the one who had him awaken and now he was ignoring him to speak to a ghost.

“Are you the Thracian? The one from antiquity? The emperor who united the world?”

“I am Thracian, first emperor and king of kings. I know nothing of this antiquity you speak of. Try to make sense, old man”

“I beg your pardon your majesty, it is what we call the world before the discovery of magic.”

“What a polite little fellow. You should take some lessons from him, brat!”

“And you should go to hell. In fact, allow me to kick your sorry ass down there, right this moment.” Snapped the necromancer.

“Stop! Everybody shut-up.” Screamed Azrael. “I’m sorry I acted without thinking yesterday, but I cannot stay here, with him I could destroy all the evil spirits in my country, in the world!”

“Feed that thing to make it stronger? What a wonderful idea! Why not spread your curses everywhere and put the world on fire? That would certainly achieve the same result, just a whole lot faster?” It wasn’t just anger speaking; this was how Ignis really saw the ancient king.

“Then why don’t you accompany him south? That way you can teach him and keep an eye on sir Thracian at the same time?” Vanati had a fond spot for the king of king as he was the first to bring peace to the continent, even if it was only for a decade.

“Yes! That’s exactly what I’ll do. Understood Thracian? The minute you do anything suspicious, it’s a one-way trip to hell for you.”

“Since everyone is on the same page, why don’t we all go back to bed.” Volunteered the cardinal.

“…but we’re not going anywhere until he’s done cleaning the mess he made.”

A sense of ‘Ah! Right, I forgot about that.’ Could be read on both the child and the cardinal’s face.