Chapter 61: Casimodo Vic
In the study, Old York stood on his tiptoes to place a pile of bottles on the table.
“Are you really determined to go, Porter?” Old York asked.
“Rather than hiding in the cave waiting for our food to run out, I’d rather take up my weapons and fight the Icelanders.”
“Besides, even Sir Wade from Nidran has the courage to set out. As a Tanian, how can I stand aside?” Lucas said. “That’s our only hope, isn’t it?”
“York envies your courage,” Old York said. “If only York could be as brave as you and that gentleman.”
“Tell me about that necromancer, York. An adventurer should always be fully prepared before every expedition – maintaining weapons, replenishing potions, gathering intelligence,” Lucas said. “After seventeen years as an adventurer, I can’t make rookie mistakes.”
“Then Old York will recount Casimodo Vic’s story for you again. York already told the honorable gentleman earlier, but now York will tell you too.” Old York sat down. “To be honest, York dislikes remembering Casimodo Vic. He was a terrifying man and skilled at disguise.”
“But since you’ll be facing Casimodo as enemies, York must share his past with you.”
“I’ll commit every word you say to memory.” Lucas placed both hands on the table.
York looked at the potions on the table and fell silent for a moment.
“Let’s start with York’s first meeting with Casimodo. It was winter fifteen years ago, before York had renovated this cave.”
“So you hadn’t begun studying necromantic magic then?” Lucas asked.
“No,” Old York said. “York had no talent for being a mage. Fifteen years ago, York researched other things. Besides adventurers coming to Old York’s shop for potions, sometimes poor patients would beg Old York to heal their ailments.”
“Besides running the alchemy workshop, Old York also worked as a healer – not like church priests using divine magic, but with herbs and other tools. Sometimes using small knives, treating them for minimal fees.”
“York would occasionally secretly cut away diseased flesh from patients. York even amputated rotten legs or arms. York knew such acts would be considered desecration of the body. If reported, York would be burned at the stake. So York always worked privately, wearing robes in hidden rooms, quietly treating patients who’d taken sleeping draughts.”
“Very few knew York did such things, and none knew it was York treating them.”
Lucas asked: “So meeting Casimodo led you into truly forbidden territory?”
Old York sighed: “When York first met Casimodo Vic, York didn’t recognize his danger and horror.”
“That day, York swept snow from the workshop entrance as usual, opened the door, and displayed finished potions and items on the shelves.”
“Casimodo was York’s first customer. York only noticed how rare his pure black hair was in Alvado – black hair, black pupils, a silver-white winter wolf pelt cloak. His hair was neatly combed, clothes clean and tidy, holding a walnut cane, smiling politely like a young nobleman.”
“What did he do in your workshop?”
“Bought some potions and spellcaster materials,” York said. “He behaved no differently from a noble-born mage apprentice and was quite sociable. Just from first meeting, York talked with him at length.”
“York learned he was merely passing through Alvado. Due to heavy snow, he and his mentor would stay until spring, conducting some research around Alvado. York recommended Oak Tavern for lodging. He thanked York, paid generously, even left an extra silver coin tip.”
“Then what? Did he threaten you? Or discover your secret and blackmail you into helping him?”
“Neither.” York looked despondent. “Porter, do you remember Little Bean Sprout?”
“Little Bean Sprout…” Lucas thought for a moment. “You mean that gray tabby cat you kept? I remember you doted on it, made it a special wool-lined cat house. Often heard you asking around if anyone had seen Little Bean Sprout.”
“Little Bean Sprout was a stray York took in.” York lowered his head. “At night, only Little Bean Sprout kept York company. It would jump onto York’s lap. Though sometimes it tore holes in York’s clothes, York kept it seven years.”
“But what does Little Bean Sprout have to do with Casimodo?”
“Remember, Porter? The year you left Alvado, Little Bean Sprout disappeared from York’s workshop.”
“I recall you said it ran off with some female cat, gone wild somewhere.”
“Not true. Little Bean Sprout died. York couldn’t find it for two days. Before, it sometimes played outside for days, but in winter’s cold, it usually came home by nightfall.”
“Casimodo – that seemingly gentle, cultured mage apprentice – heard about this from York. He promised to help York search using his magic. That night, York and Casimodo found Little Bean Sprout’s corpse in a remote alley.”
“York was heartbroken. Little Bean Sprout was frozen stiff, utterly lifeless. It would never jump up to claw York’s clothes again. York tearfully picked it up, but Casimodo waved his staff.”
“Then Little Bean Sprout moved again. It rubbed against York’s legs like when alive, making odd meowing sounds.”
“Casimodo smiled at York – a sweet, genuine-looking smile. Those black eyes seemed magical. York promised what happened today would remain their secret.”
“York took Little Bean Sprout home, caged it in the attic. But by the third day, it began rotting, emitting foul odors.”
“Casimodo returned to York’s attic. Using some method, he restored Little Bean Sprout to like-new condition.”
“After that, he visited York more frequently. With him around, Little Bean Sprout seemed normal again. York began sharing secrets – about York’s healing work. He offered to help York treat patients. Then… one day York brought Casimodo to York’s operating table.”
“He wanted corpses?” Lucas frowned.
“Yes.” Old York hung his head. “But initially he showed no abnormalities. He helped Old York treat five or six people, acting like a kind-hearted philanthropist, seemingly pure and innocent.”
“He shared necromantic knowledge with York. Told York necromancy wasn’t as terrible as the church claimed. Said the magic wasn’t frightening – only its users. In his hands, countless could benefit, their suffering erased.”