A View Form Above
Chapter 20 (The Hat is still narrating,) An artifact used by A Disciple of Life Must have an unlife all its own.

Daharra was holding a spell in deep concentration. When she saw them, she didn’t move from her seat on a large, oblong rock. She was a young lady, no older than twenty, quite breathtaking in beauty. She was focused on something: “How Have you entered Death’s domain?” She half said, choosing to remain focused on the spell. Everything sounded different in this space, like sound itself was getting lethargic.

“Daharra, look at what you are doing; you cannot believe that death should rule.” Zekka pleaded.

“Look around you; all life slips away. Death has already won in the hearts of men. I simply wish for them to have what they want most of all.” She was so focused on the spell she was shaking.

“You are right; Daharra Death already resides in the hearts of men,” Zekka said, taking a seat next to her. “It is a part of us; some choose to take control and use it to hurt others, But there are those of us that understand that we cannot control something that is inevitable.”

“I am undead now, I have severed my ties, what good is life now?” She said her focus was waning.

“I can return it to you; I can give you back your life. Let nature go, and unlock yourself from time. It’s not too late.” Zekka could see her busy mind working overtime.

Daharra’s answer shocked Zekka. “If you can give me my life back, I would ask you to take it with my first breath. My life is done. I wish to be with my husband,” her tone became grim. “And my father, mother, brothers, and friends, all of them taken by your armies. If you give me back my life, I will be begging for death.”

Zekka knew what she had to do. She took the hat off her head and said, “I hope you replace the will to live. If you do, I Will make you the first tested of Unlife.” This promise broke Daharra’s attention to the spell. She looked at Zekka just before the hat touched her head. Hope shone through, glinting off the tears building in her eyes.

Sound returned to normal. A crimson Fog Exploded as the hat came into contact with her head. After a Few moments, the fog receded, and May sat atop the stone. A tear was rolling down her cheek. “She trusted us and went into the prison willingly.”

“A prison of her own making.” Zekka said.

“And that justifies it. Taking away all she has left, we could have given her a new life; she could have done something with it.”

“Don’t you see, May, I did give her a new life, an unlife.” As if to prove Zekka’s point, She heard a meek voice come out of the hat on her head, giving her faith in this new thing Zekka called Unlife. A second chance to see what life truly has to offer. Malgastiflorian Came into the cave, followed by Oobook and Frick. With the fog lingering all around them, Frick ran over, embracing May and giving her a kiss that time will not forget. They stayed together, holding each other. Zekka walked over to Malgastiflorian handing him the hat, explained. “There is someone here who needs to see what life has to offer. I think there is no one better than the great Malgastiflorian. A Disciple of the Unknown, Could surely show her some incredible things.”

“I will make it my mission to show the hat the unknown.” As it passed from Zekka to Malgastiflorian it changed into the hat befitting a wizard of his age. It had a bright purple bow that matched his scarf. The Hat could feel his gratitude. As they walked out, May and Frick stayed in the cave. Taking the time to feel each other’s presence after so long apart.