Storm stood in front in front of the ancient dragon spirit.
"Tell me what happened to you... all those years ago?"
Mimereus took a moment to compose himself before he began.
"I assume you heard about my assault on the Dark Heart?" Asked Mimereus.
Storm nodded his head.
"During the assault, I was wounded and poisoned by the same corruption that infected you. As I laid dying, the Dark Fey found me.
They used the darkest of magic to trap my soul, then brought me to their leader. A vile creature known as 'Omen'."
She ordered that my former body be 'repurposed', they used dark magic and corruption to turn it into a magical construct.
But their creation still lacked the spark of life, so they used my soul to give it to him.
They gave it an basic purpose, Protect the forest and kill any trespassers." Explained Mimereus.
"Why!!? Why would they do this!!?" Exclaimed Storm in horror.
"I scared them. Fey have a natural instinct to protect and nurture the area they govern.
The Dark Fey, as twisted and evil as they may be, still have this instinct.
No one had ever gotten as close as I did at banishing the corruption, and they had been powerless to intervene.
She decided that a guardian was necessary and she considered it fitting that the one who had come so close to derailing her schemes, become it's fiercest protector. "
Mimereus hesitated before continuing.
"She also took a twisted pleasure out of the torment it caused me.
I could see and feel everything that my jailer did.
Every life it took! Every soul it extinguished!
I could feel it all and yet I was powerless to stop or control it.
She enjoyed my despair and occasionally came during the day to gloat and mock me."
Mimereus looked at Storm and smiled in gratitude.
"Now you have freed me, shattered my prison, and ended centuries of suffering.
No words can express my gratitude for what you have done, Storm. "
Storm nodded his head.
"So.... what happens now?" Asks Storm.
"Firstly, I wish to reward you for what you have done today!
Over the many centuries that I have lived, I have accumulated an extensive experience in the use of spellcraft.
I wish to bequeath my entire hoard of knowledge to you!"
Before Storm could protest, a vast number of images flashed through his mind faster than he could follow.
He held his head in his hand as an headache quickly formed. After 15 minutes, the stream of images finally ended.
"It will take you some time to study all that information, and even more time to put it into practice but I suggest you do so at every opportunity you can.
I will be around to offer advice when needed."
"What do you mean 'you will be around'?!!" Asked Storm.
Mimereus hesitated.
"Forgive me, Storm! As I was acting on instinct at the time.
I wasn't ready to cross over yet.
So when you destroyed the vessel that held my soul I-I bound myself to you." Explained Mimereus.
"Are you saying we're stuck together like this!!?" Asked Storm.
Mimereus nodded.
"When you freed me, I felt an connection to you that I didn't know why at the time. When I took up residence here however, I understood why.
The same compulsion drives us both. 'Vengeance'. Our targets may be different, but that feeling is the same."
Storm gritted his teeth.
"If you think I'm just going to sit here and let you use my body to satisfy your vendettas, then you are sorely mistaken!!" He replied.
"No!! I have no intention of taking over your body!! I will simply be an observer!
I will be around if you require my counsel, but the rest of the time, I will be no burden to you. " Explained Mimereus.
His gaze softened and he took on a pleading tone.
"Help me avenge my torment by killing Omen!
She cannot be allowed to ruin another life again! Consider it the last request of a long dead Elder!
If you require compensation for the act, I can provide it!
I took a secret with me to my grave. Knowledge that can be of great help to you in your crusade!
I will give you this knowledge if you perform this task for me!" Mimereus begged.
Storm was silent as he considered his options.
On the one claw, he sympathized with Mimereus.
He was right when he said that vengeance drives them both.
Storm could only imagine how deep his hatred would run if he had been through the same torment as Mimereus.
But on the other claw he didn't really like the idea of the old spirit living in his head, observing his every move, and sharing in his experiences.
Storm sighed.
"I don't really have a choice in the matter, do I?
It's not like you can sever the connection between us now?"
Mimereus shook his head.
"No, I cannot.
It's our mutual desire for vengeance that connects us, and until one of us has been sated, it cannot be broken." Explained Mimereus.
"Then I will do as you ask. But only as long as it doesn't interfere with my own mission and it doesn't put my people at risk!" Replied Storm.
"You have my word!! Thank you for this!!" Replied Mimereus.
"So, where can I find her?" Asked Storm.
"I... don't know. "
"Then how do you expect me to do this for you!!?" Asked Storm.
"I've been imprisoned for centuries! Any information I have will be outdated!
I suggest asking around in the world.
Omen is an infamous individual, someone would have heard about her whereabouts. "
"You realize that this will take a while then?"
"I've waited centuries for this! I can wait a few more decades!
You'll need to grow stronger anyway!
At your current strength, even with my help, you'd stand no chance against Omen." Mimereus explained.
Mimereus looked up as if he was listening to something.
"You'd best return to your body! Your companion is getting worried!"
"Aurora?! Is she...!?"
"She's fine!! Just worried!!
She's been trying to mentally contact you this entire time but I've blocked our conversation from her." Answered Mimereus
"Why?!"
"You don't want people knowing you've got some ancient, long dead dragon living in your head.
It would make them.... 'mistrustful'.
Tell no one about our bargain. I will keep myself hidden from their minds." Suggested Mimereus.
He then broke contact and Storm woke up again.