Chapter Fourteen: Searching With No Tenacity

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    Haggar was leaning against the door to the library, waiting for Cameron and I who I had asked to join me in this venture. The magi smiled grimly, his braided hair clearly defined with bird feces. I wanted to hurl, but decided maybe this was not the best place to do so.

    "Hello, my good friends. I believe you have called me here to search for something that has no heart. No soul. And yet you have the nerve to look me in the eye. May Kam love you. For I shall cry dearly."

    "Shut up Haggar. Your crap is smelling up my nose," Cameron said, giving him a glare. "Can't you wash every now and again?"

    "No. Because we belong to the earth. And it doesn't care about smell."

    I clicked. "Please. Keep your voice down. It's irritating."

    "Sorry," Haggar whispered. We entered the library, and showed our ID's at the steps to the archives. Once we were heading down those unforgiving steps, Haggar made a face. "He was here last night."

    "Yes."

    "Where is he now?"

    "No clue."

    Cameron raised a brow. "This does not concern you?"

    Should it? "No. He is in our territory. He can't do anything here without repercussion."

    We found the archive keeper. The magi Jen Loud sat behind her desk looking over papers with an eager face. At least, I suppose it was eager. Passion is something that needs fine tuning, I think. She didn't even give us a flinch. "What do you want?"

    "We need to find old Pillar records. Old court records. Where would they be?"

    "Back that way. In the 'Case Brief' section. Have records from about twenty thousand years ago to today. Good luck."

    We nodded, then went past her into the maze of tall shelves and cabinets. Thick, wooden shelves held mountains of records. Things from weather reports to sea patterns. The Kal'en library had an archive so large one could easily get lost for weeks at a time if not careful. We saw a sign pointing in the right direction, and continued on in our hunt.

"This could take a while," said Cameron. "I doubt the file will even be that big. If it's even here. I'd trash it if I was the Pillar."

"There has to be a file or record. Anything," I said back. "It would be important information to document. It has to be here."

"I suspect it will. Though a tiny blimp in all that has to be written within these halls." Haggar gave me a wink. "Look, there is the section we want."

It was very, very long. The bookshelves were as tall as the room. Luckily most things are done in chronological order, with it being youngest to oldest.

Not that that mattered. Fifteen years worth of information was shelves and shelves and shelves. The Pillar and the magi document everything. And everything that is considered this type of record goes here. Files and papers were piled on the floor. Haggar touched one. "Where shall we start?"

"Somewhere that has meaning and hope. A world deprived of suffering, of love and nonsensical wishes," Cameron said.

I coughed. "As though hope means anything."

"Do you not look at the Tree and have a feeling within you?" Haggar started examining a pile. I went over to a spot marked with the correct dates. My head was spinning. Too much disorganization. "Does the Cherry Tree bring no love to you Ursula?"

Cameron grasped my hand, tightening it firmly. He knew me better than anyone. "I was told there was no hope for me when they concluded I could never fight against the demons."

Haggar pulled out a file, and watched as the stack fell over. "Well, that's one way to look at this."

"Don't flatter this mess."

He smiled at me. "And yet you say there's no hope?"

"No. Just not for me."

Neither said anything. I too removed a promising file. It read The Man Who Lived. I opened it, only to see a photo of a man who was blown to bits by demon, and managed to survive. Though easily triggered, death means nothing to me. Nature lets cycles happen.

For we must find our own way.

"Keep looking," I said. Replacing the document, I grabbed another. "It must be here somewhere."

Haggar threw files away, Cameron dumped a mountain of work on the ground. I wanted to clean it up. Wanted to yell, scream, curse. But the focus for finding what I wanted outweighed the other needs. This was a priority. One above all else.

"Hey, I think I found something," Haggar said a near two hours later.

I was crawling on the floor like a savage, when he bent down next to me. "It has no title. This has to be it, right?"

"Well, open it. Solve the mystery."

He nodded. Cameron came down with us too, and Haggar quickly scanned the words. After a minute, he said, "Yes. This is it."

"Then read it," I commanded. "Hurry."

"Alright, alright. Geez, calm down." Haggar cleared his throat, and began to recite what was on the page. "Date: 12-23-10K90. Location: The High Lords Tower in Jas'run. Proceeding the meeting: The Pillar. The Subject Matter: The Last Necromancer."

This was it. The words here would give me a sense of how the man Ditto Night works. This will tell me how he thought. Why he was motivated. My treasure trove.

He went on. "The Emergency Meeting was called forth in the middle of the night. The Pillar were brought together, with sleep in their eyes, to be told that the Last Necromancer was now truly the last. When asked what to do with him, it was determined that a trial would be held. One that would decide his fate forever."

"Though, we already know what the outcome was," Cameron commented. I shushed him. He scowled.

"They took him to the Court of Ages. Where the most ancient rules and decisions had been made. It was decreeded by Pillar Kran that the Necromancer would defend himself alone. The meeting took place immediately the next day after his arrival. The halls were packed. The magi were furious and wild.

When the Seven Pillar silenced the crowd in their great hall, all listened. The Necromancer was small compared to their power. To their might. He stood before them with his black eyes and black hair, waiting for the words to be uttered. He had no tears. A observation noted by all.

'Necromancer, you have been brought before us because you are now the last of your kind. We have been asked what to do with you,' said Pillar Kran.

'We have been asked to remind the world of the crimes committed by your people,' said Pillar Foor.

'We have been asked to hear what you have to say, in your now alone position,' said Pillar Jrane.

'We have been asked to break the silence on your voice, and now let you defend yourself before us,' said Pillar Hunan.

'We have been asked to carefully consider your case, your lone self. To see what you shall do,' said Pillar Vecion

'We have been asked to see if the people will allow our decision to settle with them,' said Pillar Openot.

'And we have been asked to destroy what is surely the worst darkness on this world,' said Pillar Nancy.

'So, Necromancer,' said Pillar Kran, 'shall we begin?'"

I tapped Haggar's shoulder. "If this was such a big deal, then how come it isn't a taught lesson in any history class? I would have remembered this if it was spoken more."

"That is strange, isn't it?" Haggar also flipped through some of the pages. "There also isn't much here. I suppose any other record on the Necromancer is probably hidden deeper."

The woman that greeted me a few days ago appeared in my mind. She said they didn't have a complete update on him. But does that mean there's nothing else written on Ditto?

"Go on," I said.

"'Necromancer, the world remembers your kind as a brutal, violent species,' said Pillar Foor. 'Your kind have decimated whole cities, wiped out entire populations, committed acts of Darkness that none should remember. What say you to these?'

The Necromancer paused. He stood back tall, though he was a mere child. 'I say that what right have you to claim these acts? You, who let my people wither and die. You, who murdered an entire race for greed and power. You, who took away from the Hidden an entire Layer. All because you refuse to share. We committed acts built into our nature. Children of Death. What say you? Where is it written by your god that Death is apart of your language?'

That set things off. It with those words that everyone knew this would not be easy. Pillar Kran said, 'Is that so child? You dare to judge us, yet the Hidden have determined that we are the good guys. The Light. Your race was deemed violent, and bloodthirsty. Every necromancer was known to kill. To destroy without mercy. Will that be you? Will you also follow in your parents footsteps?'

The Necromancer judged these words. 'Every race is known to kill. Some less than others. Last I checked, there was a cult of Kam who thought the path to peace was found by executing children. To take their pure souls. And yet, you accuse me of murder. I have done no such thing.'

'That does not answer the question,' said Pillar Vecion.

'I am not my parents. And neither are you yours. Traits are birthed, discarded, and reforged to your needs. The future is not a set thing, unlike you wish it to be.'

'Silence. Your bold words are treading dangerous grounds Necromancer,' said Pillar Jrane.

'Am I not at Trial? Is this not a place for bold words?'

'Then what say you to your parents? Is it not true your mother murdered a man in cold blood?' said Pillar Hunan.

'And is it true that you accept gifts of gold to better your dining experiences?' The Necromancer shrugged. 'Did we not just talk about deeds? Oh, no, that was traits. Yes, my mother killed a warlock who was harassing her. For she, like any of us, defended herself against atrocities most deem unfit for social appearance. Unfortunately, the price has been paid past gold.'"

This was spoken by Ditto Night fifteen years ago? I blinked rapidly. And this was the person who now faced us? The differences were startling, yet oddly predictable.

"The Pillar found themselves trying to fight a boy who was not backing down. They upped their statements.

'Then would you seek revenge against the magi?' said Pillar Jrane.

'Revenge? That implies fault.' The Necromancer still looked at the Pillar. 'Would you seek it against me?'

'Us? We would not stoop to your levels,' said Pillar Kran.

'Then my answer is no.'

That got an uproar from the court. Every magi wanted his death. But the Pillar went on.

'Necromancer, what will you do if given freedom?' said Pillar Foor. 'You clearly can not be trusted. So do not lie.'

The Necromancer did not waver. The Pillar did not scare him. He barely moved, barely flinched to the words that made him the enemy. 'I would find a home to live out my life. For clearly you despise what is natural for all. I would do what is best for the world.'

'I see through your words boy,' said Pillar Openot. 'Brothers and Sisters, he is a vile creature. We should kill him now. For he would do the same to us given the chance. He threatens our very existence.'

This is where the Necromancer pushed the boundaries of what we all thought possible. 'I threaten your existence? In what name, Pillar? Have I torn away your parents in a brutal act of violence?'

'Do not speak--'

'Have I destroyed your children? Your loved ones? Have I taken away your temples? And your dignity?'

'I said that is enough--'

'Have I burned your people in the name of Light? In the name of Life? Look around you. Where are the dying children I have slaughtered? Or the justice that you have claimed to have gotten? I eat your words, Pillar, with a foul taste. It drips of deceit and pain. What? Do I hit too close to home?'

'That is enough!' boomed Pillar Kran. Her magic flared with obvious displeasure. 'Necromancer. There is one final question. One final question that I wish to ask, then we will decide what to do with you.'

The Necromancer waited.

'Why do you deserve to live,' said Pillar Kran. 'Why should we keep you alive?'

This was the moment. Even the crowd held their breath. What is it a boy should say to that? None of us knew what would be said, how it would shape the world and history.

After brief pause, he spoke. 'Am I not worth something? I am the Last. Does that not mean anything? I ask you, Pillar of Light, does that not mean anything!'

Now Haggar caught his own breath, wiping at his eyes. "Jaak was right. This was so much more than I ever thought imaginable."

I adjusted my glasses. "I take it the rest is just his punishment for living?"

"Yeah. Some strict stuff, but nothing really worth noting," Haggar said, flipping over the last few pages. "So what did you get from this?"

"A question: was this at his best?" asked Cameron, who was shaking. I looked at my own hands, and saw they were doing the same. The Pillar was the ultimate force. Their will was nothing to scoff at. In fact, upsetting them usually meant death or prison.

"I think that this was his best at thirteen years old," I said.

"Which can only mean one thing," Haggar whispered, low and scared.

I nodded. "Is the Ditto we've seen now at his best? Or are we still waiting for that?"