but that vessel was created by killing many of the creatures that originally stole my own core. I didn't simply capture magic. I could have done that by tapping into any source. I needed to regain a substantial portion of my own magical identity. Collecting magic is one thing, storing it within one's self requires a core which matches your essence."
Neltus' desperation turned to despair as he considered the implications behind Baannat's revelation.
"There's no way to create a new core?"
"With no matching foundation to the spell caster? No. You can add to a core, enhance it, but you can not simply cast out one completely and exchange it for another. Is that what you thought you could do?"
"Yes, but..."
Before Neltus could explain further, Baannat broke into yet another fit of cackling laughter. Neltus tried to ignore the beast but each disgusting snort and twisted giggle tore at his innards and amplified his frustrations.
"Stop laughing at me!"
Surprisingly, Baannat did just that, but he placed a razor sharp claw under Neltus' chin.
"Never attempt to command me again," the ghoul hissed.
Neltus' despair extended beyond his fear. A quick slicing of his throat appeared far better than the future he saw for himself.
"Go ahead, kill me! Do it!"
Baannat almost did just that, but he resisted the urge if only for a moment. He realized Neltus had reached a state of complete surrender. Only the loss of all hope would allow the cowardly human to embrace death. The slink ghoul, however, began to consider the situation in its entirety. A new question formed in Baannat's conniving mind.
"Why did you come here?"
"I told you! I want my core back!"
"No! That is not what I asked. Why would you think I would help you? Even if I could have created a new core, why would I do such a thing? You know of me. I would not simply help you out of some wish to be benevolent. You came here to get something from me. What is it you would have offered in return?"
"Another soul to torment," Neltus revealed without embarrassment. He saw nothing lost in revealing the truth. "You once held Ansas captive, but he escaped you."
"He did not escape," the ghoul hissed. "I released him to fight Reiculf."
"And that's where he is now, cut off from you. Are you saying you don't want him back?"
"You could deliver Ansas?" Baannat questioned harshly. "You? You would enter Reiculf's domain, enter Demonspawn?"
Neltus never intended to retrieve Ansas for the slink ghoul, but he believed he could entrap others who might satisfy the monster's desire to inflict misery.
"No, but there are others I could have delivered to you. The boy, Dimi—the one who enchanted the items that brought me here, the one who's core I tried to take—he would be easy to overcome... once my core was returned."
"So you thought you could throw me scraps? What would I want with a boy?"
Neltus saw no reason to argue.
"What does it matter? You said you can't help me."
"I said I could not create a new core for you. I did not say I couldn't help you."
It sounded as if the slink ghoul was actually offering new hope, and Neltus leapt for it like a kitten jumping for a feather on a string.
"There's another way?"
"I return to my own question, why would I want to offer you any assistance at all? As I said before, I have no need for scraps."
"I'm sure we could work something out. There must be some way I could help you in return."
"That is too vague a bargain for me. What you consider help may mean nothing to me."
"Well, what is it you want?"
Baannat scowled, but he could not dismiss the opportunity before him. The human had managed to reach the top of the precipice and open a portal into the shadowed realm of nonexistence. Such complicated spells cast without a magical core revealed a skill which might prove useful. While the ghoul did not wish to openly admit his desires, he was not above taking advantage of sheer foolishness.
"Before we discuss that, let us determine if it is
Neltus' desperation turned to despair as he considered the implications behind Baannat's revelation.
"There's no way to create a new core?"
"With no matching foundation to the spell caster? No. You can add to a core, enhance it, but you can not simply cast out one completely and exchange it for another. Is that what you thought you could do?"
"Yes, but..."
Before Neltus could explain further, Baannat broke into yet another fit of cackling laughter. Neltus tried to ignore the beast but each disgusting snort and twisted giggle tore at his innards and amplified his frustrations.
"Stop laughing at me!"
Surprisingly, Baannat did just that, but he placed a razor sharp claw under Neltus' chin.
"Never attempt to command me again," the ghoul hissed.
Neltus' despair extended beyond his fear. A quick slicing of his throat appeared far better than the future he saw for himself.
"Go ahead, kill me! Do it!"
Baannat almost did just that, but he resisted the urge if only for a moment. He realized Neltus had reached a state of complete surrender. Only the loss of all hope would allow the cowardly human to embrace death. The slink ghoul, however, began to consider the situation in its entirety. A new question formed in Baannat's conniving mind.
"Why did you come here?"
"I told you! I want my core back!"
"No! That is not what I asked. Why would you think I would help you? Even if I could have created a new core, why would I do such a thing? You know of me. I would not simply help you out of some wish to be benevolent. You came here to get something from me. What is it you would have offered in return?"
"Another soul to torment," Neltus revealed without embarrassment. He saw nothing lost in revealing the truth. "You once held Ansas captive, but he escaped you."
"He did not escape," the ghoul hissed. "I released him to fight Reiculf."
"And that's where he is now, cut off from you. Are you saying you don't want him back?"
"You could deliver Ansas?" Baannat questioned harshly. "You? You would enter Reiculf's domain, enter Demonspawn?"
Neltus never intended to retrieve Ansas for the slink ghoul, but he believed he could entrap others who might satisfy the monster's desire to inflict misery.
"No, but there are others I could have delivered to you. The boy, Dimi—the one who enchanted the items that brought me here, the one who's core I tried to take—he would be easy to overcome... once my core was returned."
"So you thought you could throw me scraps? What would I want with a boy?"
Neltus saw no reason to argue.
"What does it matter? You said you can't help me."
"I said I could not create a new core for you. I did not say I couldn't help you."
It sounded as if the slink ghoul was actually offering new hope, and Neltus leapt for it like a kitten jumping for a feather on a string.
"There's another way?"
"I return to my own question, why would I want to offer you any assistance at all? As I said before, I have no need for scraps."
"I'm sure we could work something out. There must be some way I could help you in return."
"That is too vague a bargain for me. What you consider help may mean nothing to me."
"Well, what is it you want?"
Baannat scowled, but he could not dismiss the opportunity before him. The human had managed to reach the top of the precipice and open a portal into the shadowed realm of nonexistence. Such complicated spells cast without a magical core revealed a skill which might prove useful. While the ghoul did not wish to openly admit his desires, he was not above taking advantage of sheer foolishness.
"Before we discuss that, let us determine if it is
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