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William (Aether Ignis) Fidgit

My family has a streak of bad blood flowing through its veins, in this generation her name is Mania. Our parents didn't name her that, she chose it herself when she left us, when the atrocities began.

She was always the smartest one, Mariana, brilliant as the sun. She had the brains, Quinn the brawns, and I was left with the wisdom of a warm smile.

I remember the day it happened in blaring detail, we were out at the swimming hole, my brother, sister, and I, enjoying a supernaturally bright sunny day. Teenagers goofing off in the water to avoid the heat. There was a dare, I cant remember who made it, it must have been Mariana, she was always testing Quinn. There was a cliff over the small lake, we always wanted to jump off it but never did.

Time slowed, allowing me to capture every detail as Quinn fell towards the rocks instead of the water. I had a bird's eye view as he plummeted head first. There was a simple cracking sounds and it was over. Eyes wide Mariana stood on the shore, a horrified expression turning her beautiful features gaunt.

We ran, fast, rushing home to safely, to find our parents. It wasn't our fault, we pleaded, but we knew it didn't matter, blame wound not change the past.

My parents got him home, and left for the night to fetch a cleric.

Not wanting to face her, I sat outside and watched the stars all night.

When I entered our home the next morning there she sat, looking pleased as ever, with Quinn stitched up and sitting across from her. They both turned as I stood in the doorway.

She smiled, a glint of innocence in her eyes, I dare not say the same for him. Quinn's eyes were shallow, a hollow gaze staring back at me. His movements were ridged and abrupt, nothing natural remained about him. This was not Quinn, it was merely a shell, reanimated by foul magics. My brother was dead, and this walking corpse was a mockery of his memory. Mariana and I had words, our argument got heated and IT attacked me. I grabbed my father's mace and did what was necessary. Mariana screamed, first at it then at me. By the time the fight was over her sobs were the only thing I heard. I left. This was not the place for me.

I returned later that day, words were spoken, I remember none of them. That night I left with the cleric and joined the order. I vowed never to let this happen again. Undead are soulless beings, unnatural in every way.

I graduated from my apprenticeship as a cleric of Pelor yesterday and received a letter form my parents. Mariana got worse, she lost control and is apparently plaguing towns now with her dark arts. I must find her and put a stop to this madness once and for all.

Mariana (Mania Hades) Fidgit

I am Mania Hades Fidgit, and this is not my birth name. I inherited it when I watched my middle brother William kill my older brother for the second time.

It started simple, the three of us growing up out in the country, individual talents developing slowly. I was the baby of the family, always looking up to my brothers, they were amazing, Quinn with his strength and Billy with his charm. We did everything together, we were innocent, until they day at the pond.

It was a hot summer day, sun beating on our backs, so we snuck away, as we often did, to go swimming in a nearby lake. It was beautiful, surrounded by trees and a cliff to one side; the water was always cool and refreshing. Billy always wanted to jump off the cliff and into the water, but he was afraid, so he dared Quinn to go first. Quinn could never refuse a dare, so atop the cliff they stood glancing down towards the water below. All it took was a nudge on the smooth wet rock from an all too eager sibling to send Quinn plummeting.

I watched it all from the shore, the surprised look on his face, the sudden realization, and then the horror. He missed the water. There was a crack, and then everything was silent. Billy stared down at me, surprise plastered across his face.

He ran, sprinting home to get our parents, and I followed, silent. He pleaded, telling them it was an accident, but it didn't matter, Quinn was dead. My parents left late that afternoon to fetch a cleric from the neighboring town and Billy sat outside all night. I made use of my time and set to stitching Quinn back up, putting all the pieces back where they belonged. An hour later my real task began, bringing him back. I had only tried it on small animals up to this point but all attempts were successful. When he sat back up there was no flash of lightning, no crack of thunder, no flashy entrance, just a faint pop as my magics discharged, completing the spell.

He couldn't talk; he could barely move and seemed to be learning everything for the first time. Something was wrong, his eyes were hollow like something was missing, but he was my brother so it didn't matter. He was back, everything would be okay.

Billy came in, took one look at Quinn and started yelling. Naturally I yelled back. He called my efforts, my talents, evil, and yet I was just fixing his mistake. Quinn joined the fight and protected me. I watched as Billy killed my older brother for the second time, breaking his skull again, this time with our father's mace. I burned the body after he stormed off.

There were no words to describe what he had done, so I said none. When my parents got back with the cleric disappointment veiled their features. I told them what happened, all of it, starting with Quinn's "slip" and ending with the mace. They were unhappy that I didn't wait for them to get back. The cleric blessed Quinn's ashes and I gathered them into a small box. I left that night with the box, not wanting to see Billy when he returned.

I said my goodbyes and promised them I would return with Quinn alive, I promised I would find a way to bring him back, all of him. The cleric told me it was impossible, that only faith could bring back the dead, he called magic unholy and vile, his ignorance astounded me. If I could resurrect the body I would be able to resurrect the mind, with practice. I left with my brother's ashes that day, seeking the knowledge to resurrect his soul.

My brother was right, the corpse I brought back was soulless, hollow and empty. That's all they are, empty animated shells, nothing remaining of their former life, but amongst one of them will be the key, the clue I need to unwrap the mystery of life. One day I will understand, one day I will figure it out, one day I will bring Quinn back, body and Soul. Until that day I am Mania Hades Fidgit, animator of the dead, researcher of life, seeker of new beginnings.