Speak thy will

The illusionist who hid within these ruins, was stealthier than imagined. The couple of friends expected this guy to climb from someplace below and meet them, but what actually happened was the opposite. 

This man dropped from above, from the same ledge which the team crossed moments ago. This route told a thing or two about his mobility! 

"You look so old… How did you get up there? Oh wait, now you're looking pretty young too." Bardeelus added shamelessly, and played around with a torch. 

He was right to be confused. Apparently this old illusionist could fake a heartbeat, block out his thoughts from the rest of the world too, and could change the currents of where his voice sounded out! 

These ruins were like an environment to him, and he mastered them well! Likewise, this man could easily mess with anyone who sought him out!

Anyway, he eventually spoke about his presumed age. "Old… that matters still? Byllonus, its beauty has no bounds, but judging from your words, I fear its people haven't progressed."

"Billy who?" Bardeelus pulled his head back, in confusion.

There was a lot to ponder over here, along with that absurd name, which bred confusion. They couldn't fathom how weird this old man was. 

His tone was like that of a chainsmokers, and his face saw better days for sure. Yet, his posture begged to differ! The illusionist had a posture as straight as a board, was very well dressed, and was very aware at all times! 

To some degree, his short but whited-out hair made him look like some handsome vampire too, one who was locked into some random castle. 

The weirdness continued, once he insisted on the recent topic. "Byllonus, our country. Are its inhabitants as foolish as I remember?"

That name was odd, and it was dangerous to annoy this man with a random answer. For that matter, Bardeelus did not speak.

Audera was the most equipped instead, to handle this conversation. She was only twenty-four years old, which barely made her older than her friends here, but she was smarter and well-educated in comparison!

"Mind master, you were here for a long time. Byllonus is gone, the country collapsed over two-hundred years ago. Plenty of wars are going on today as well." She explained.

The other's face curled as if it got bashed in, but he remained calm. "That's sad, but it's my worry to carry. Tell me now, why are you here, young mage? Speak thy will."

One would second-guess his age after this point. It wasn't typical to remember history so vividly, and there was no way to make such facts up!

This man could be over three-hundred years old, it was apparent. Audera knew not to be nosy though, as it was risky!

Instead, she kept using that old-fashioned tongue, and answered the question. "My will is but pure. Our friend, the one you put to sleep, is possessed by a demon. Her visions led us here, and us encountering you couldn't be random..."

"But it is random," The old man insisted, "I was just protecting my scrolls and books. The demon raging inside her, is not mine to command. I'm an illusionist, who rids of intruders quickly! I don't lure them in myself."

Furthermore, he added. "You seek the necromancers, or the summoners who have sacrificed their own veins."

The conversation met its end there. They didn't have anything else to talk about, and this illusionist wasn't the most chatty; He even refused to tell his own name!

Instead, he promised not to attack this group of three, and even pointed them towards what he claimed was the right direction. Neutrality was a valuable tool down here! 

The rest of these ruins were destined to be dangerous, though, so he advised them to be as prepared as possible. For that matter, they waited until Erdeta woke up, as they needed her dearly! 

It took a whole hour for her to wake up, and once she did, the illusionist disappeared within the many shadows here ~ Until now, he had behaved as a guard. 

Anyway, the first words which Erdeta said, as soon as she woke up, were. "I know where to go… They're calling me!"

She was really intense about it, more than she ever was. Half of her words were yelled out, and her patience was non-existent! 

This was the first time that she acted possessed. For the past couple of days she had seemed sick, and close to death at worst, but now her condition only escalated!

"Hold her down!" Audera yelled.

Considering the intensity, she didn't want to see her friend fall in some random hole, it would be horrific. Some muscle-work had to be put in to prevent a disaster, and Bardeelus finally lent a hand.

He pressed down on Erdeta's knees, and grunted. "Guess it's payback time, I have to help you. But please don't kick me, you'd kick that juicy meat right out of my stomach!"

"You actually ate?" Audera asked, while she struggled to hold the other down.

Bardeelus did not answer, regardless of how he came to a huge realization at the moment. It was now apparent, that these couple of ladies, hadn't been the ones that tossed food in the well for him before.

Someone else tried to keep him alive, and this realization could spark a debate, but it was untimely. Instead, they put all of their strength to help Erdeta calm down!

She went apeshit for about ten-minutes, and hollered some screams that definitely sounded demonic at the time being! She screamed as if ten-thousand wretched souls were jolting through her heart, it was terrifying! 

If they hadn't pressed her against the floor, then she could've wandered off towards death itself by now. The group's priorities were set out straight, and once she relaxed, they planned the next few steps.

"You probably know these ruins by heart now, but please stay with us." Audera pleaded dearly, "We can't have you end up with a broken neck near some tombs. Please calm down and let us help you."

"Okay, okay…" Erdeta took a couple of heavy breaths, and then added. "But take care of yourselves as well. Half of the people down there are cannibals… and they have a taste for pure mages."

"Pure, huh? What a hell of a time to be a necromancer. They won't touch me, hehe." Bardeelus hoped.

Then he looked at Audera and told her, "You better keep a couple of spells ready though. There's no shame in running away!"