The Spider's
Lair was surprisingly cozy and glamorous. It even smelled nice and flowery.
Somnion had been expecting something dark and dank.
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"I bring you the
Ice Crown of Nodark." the demon bowed as he offered the treasure to the
Spider. She was known to want blue treasures as compensation for her
services. And of course, it was
courteous to offer her a gift before asking for anything. If you failed to
get on her good side, she would kick you out before you even had the chance
to ask her anything.
Everyone wanted something from her, otherwise nobody would enter her cave
and subject themselves to the dangers within.
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"Ice Crown,
huh..." she ran her fingers through her hair with one hand and motioned the
demon to come closer with another: "Bring it closer." There was
slight intrigue in her eyes.
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Somnion walked
to the Spider and his new dragon familiar, nicknamed Sooty for her dark nose,
followed along.
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The Spider
examined the crown, her keen blue eyes going over every detail, "It is quite the
beauty". One of her hands turned the crown around, another was petting the
fur on her chair nonchalantly and one pointed at the iron chair opposite to
her: "Sit down."
Her eyes never left the crown.
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Somnion did as
he was bid, and Sooty climbed on his lap immediately. She was his shadow
now.
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She twirled the
crown in one of her many hands and finally turned her eyes on the younger demon:
"What is it that you want of me?"
She would at least hear him out, good. This was a promising start and Nion got straight to the point (he had heard she didn't like vague
suggestions): "There's an ancient spell I'm looking for, and I heard you have
a part of it."
"Which spell?" the spider asked, but she didn't seem very interested.
Her eyes were beginning to wander away from the demon already.
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Somnion
described the spell. He knew it had been divided into three, thousands of
years ago to avoid its misuse. It could destroy the natural balance and
cause havoc all over, if it was used recklessly. Khepre had managed to get
his hands on one third of it. Another was hidden away but Somnion had found
it. And rumour was that this Spider had the final piece.
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"You mean to
complete it? That spell can cause ruptures in dimensional space."
"I' know, but my uncle and I will be careful with it. It will mostly be used
for research." he tried to be modest and seem respectful.
"Honestly, I really do not care what you want it for." She examined her
nails.
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"Then, you will
give it to me? I'll pay, of course."
"I don't have it." she was still examining her nails.
Somnion fell silent and felt a stinging sense of dissappointment. He was sure the lead had been good.
"....I do know where it is, but that knowledge will not come cheap."
the Spider continued and finally turned her eyes back to Somnion.
A weight had been lifted off his shoulders, if she knew where it was, he
could finally complete it and complete his research: "I can pay with any treasure you want..."
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"That's a lovely
pet you have there." she interrupted, completely ignoring his offer, and pointed at the familiar on his
lap.
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"Thank you, but
she's not really a---"
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"I want one exactly like it."
she smiled cunningly.
"Wha---?"
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"Except make it
blue."
"I can't just... it's not that simple. I can't just make one according to
your requests"
The Spider leaned back, one hand still on the crown, stroking it. "Do you
want your spell as much as I want a pet dragon?" she asked cheekily, knowing
that she had the upper hand (or many of them to be literal).
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"That is my
price for the knowledge you seek. You can take it or leave it." she
smiled, as Nion was having a hard time finding words for this. "I know you made yours, so you can perfectly well make me another one."
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"I'd need
incredients and time to prepare and... I'll need a part of your body, your blood and--"
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Suddenly, Yami
pushed herself forward with her arms bending like spider's legs, there was
coldness in her eyes and her tone was no longer nonchalant like it had been
just a moment ago: "Boy." she started menacingly: "I wasn't born yesterday.
I know what spells could be done to me with those."
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Even Sooty woke
up and growled at the spider quietly, but Somnion managed to stay calm -although it felt like the temperature had just dropped drastically; "But
without a part of your body, I can't bond the faimiliar to you..."
"I am not giving you any part of me."
This was a problem. Somnion needed her part of the spell.
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"You could bring
the incredients to me, and watch me as I do the spell?" he suggested
carefully, not giving up hope.
The demon crossed her legs: "How about you bring everything here and do the
spell in my lair?"
This was going to be a long negotiation...
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