11. Aria

11

ARIA

T he mist parts like a veil, revealing the Necropolis sprawling before us. Towering mausoleums of obsidian and bone pierce the twilight sky, their spires disappearing into low-hanging clouds that pulse with an otherworldly, cold light.

Rivers of ghostly essence flow between these monumental structures, carrying whispers of ancient secrets.

Our class stands at the threshold, a small group of living beings on the precipice of a realm where death holds sway. The very air feels heavy, charged with the potential of countless untold stories and unfinished business.

Professor Mortis, a gaunt figure who I'm almost certain is at least a little dead, turns to address us. His voice carries easily in the still air, resonating with centuries of knowledge. "Students of the Winter Court, welcome to the Necropolis. You will learn why mastery over death is crucial to our realm's supremacy."

He gestures broadly, his movements graceful despite his appearance. "The barrier between life and death is thinnest here. The Winter Court's strength lies in our understanding and manipulation of this boundary. Death is not an end, but a transition, a source of immense power and knowledge." He leads us to the Ossuary Academy, a structure that dwarfs all others. Its walls are a mesmerizing mosaic of skulls from a thousand different species, all seeming to watch us with empty sockets that somehow still convey judgment. The massive doors, crafted from petrified wood swirling with trapped souls, swing open silently at our approach.

Inside, the academy is a labyrinth of corridors lined with arcane symbols that pulse with a soft, blue light. Our footsteps echo hollowly, each sound swallowed quickly by the oppressive atmosphere. Shadows seem to move of their own accord, whispering secrets just beyond comprehension.

We're led to a vast catacomb for a practical exercise. Row upon row of ancient warriors lie in repose, their skeletal forms still clad in archaic armor. Our task is to reanimate these long-dead soldiers.

As I begin the incantation over my assigned warrior, I feel a cold, invasive sensation, as if death itself is seeping into my being. The skeleton stirs, bones creaking as they move for the first time in centuries. But something goes wrong - I've not just reanimated the body, but awakened the spirit within, an ancient, vengeful entity.

The warrior rises, eye sockets blazing with unearthly light. It charges towards me with surprising speed. In a panic, I reach out with my power, struggling to assert control. For a heart-stopping moment, I think I've failed. Then, abruptly, the spirit submits to my will. The rush of relief is quickly replaced by a surge of dark triumph.

As our intensive day of study concludes, we're invited to a somber feast with prominent necromancers of the Winter Court. The banquet hall is a testament to the aesthetics of death - tables crafted from coffin lids, chairs of fused bones, centerpieces pulsing with necromantic energy.

Throughout the meal, I notice several elder necromancers watching me with interest. My display with the vengeful spirit hasn't gone unnoticed. I meet their gazes steadily, a mix of pride and defiance welling up within me.

As the somber feast concludes, Professor Mortis rises to address us once more. "Students of the Winter Court, I am pleased to inform you that you have been successfully initiated into the secrets of necromancy. Now, Necropolis will be your home for the coming term."

A ripple of excitement and nervousness passes through our group. Kieran catches my eye, a slight smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

Professor Mortis continues, "You will reside in the Dormitorium Mortis, where you'll continue your studies surrounded by the very essence of death magic. Follow me."

We're led through winding streets paved with epitaphs, past mausoleums that serve as lecture halls and libraries. Finally, we arrive at a towering structure that seems to be crafted from shadowstuff and ossified ectoplasm. The Dormitorium Mortis looms before us, windows flickering with ethereal light.

As we enter, the air grows noticeably colder. Ghostly whispers echo through the halls, and I swear I can see shapes moving in the corners of my vision.

"Each of you will have your own room," Professor Mortis explains. "They are... Shall we say, uniquely suited to your studies."

I'm shown to my quarters, a spacious chamber dominated by a four-poster bed draped in diaphanous black curtains. Bookshelves line the walls, filled with tomes that seem to whisper as I pass. A writing desk sits by the window, which overlooks a garden of phosphorescent flowers tended by skeletal gardeners.

"I hope you find it comfortable," Professor Mortis says with a wink that's somehow both reassuring and unsettling. "Don't mind the residents. They're mostly harmless."

As if on cue, a translucent figure drifts through one wall, nods politely at me, and exits through another. I suppress a shiver, unsure if it's from fear or excitement.

Kieran lingers as the others leave. "Interesting accommodations," he remarks, running a finger along a shelf and examining the spectral dust. "How do you find it?"

I take a deep breath, considering. The room is eerie, certainly, but there's also a strange sense of... belonging. "It's perfect," I reply, surprising myself with my sincerity.

Kieran nods, approval glimmering in his eyes. "Good. Remember, Aria, the dead have much to teach us. Listen to the whispers in the night. Learn from the shadows. This is where you'll truly begin to understand the power of the Winter Court."

As he turns to leave, he pauses at the door. "Oh, and do try to get some sleep. The dead can be rather chatty at night."

With that, he's gone, leaving me alone in my new, haunted home. I sit on the edge of the bed, feeling it shift beneath me as if alive. Or perhaps undead is more accurate.

I look down at my hands, remembering the power I wielded today. Then I glance around the room, at the shadows that seem to move of their own accord, at the books that murmur arcane secrets.

This is real. I'm really here, in the heart of Necropolis, about to delve deeper into the mysteries of death magic than I ever thought possible.