Where Roses go to Die (intro draft)

Ok so here is the first bit of the written part of the book. Let me know what you all think.

               There is no virginal princess of a tender age below 18. There is no kingdom needing saving, or political factions to choose a side of.  There is a mage who despite her few sexual encounters that were for shit, they still count. Despite her best efforts in her younger years to be “normal” like her former best friend Klara, Mashiah is in fact a bit late to the party in the world of romance, mostly by her own fault.

Mashiah has focused mostly on learning her craft as a mage to prove something. She always assumed it was to prove her worth and strength to her peers and family. To one up her now rival and former best friend, or even to herself. When in fact it had taken her until her 24th birthday to realize, she wanted to be a necromancer.

Having a natural aptitude for the morbid and creepier things in life, Mashiah has finally realized her calling. A bit late in life, some may argue, but better late than never. She had fought tooth and nail against the idea of becoming a mage for some blue blood, getting married to a man who treated more like his property than his partner, pushing out some kids and praying for the day it all comes to an end. There was no adventure in that.

Her eyes lingered on the dark forest just outside the kingdom’s limits. A place full of dangers but also profits for those brave enough to travel alone or among a small group.

The thing about the dark forest is, it’s where the poor bury their dead. The upper middle class and higher are the only ones allowed to have monuments in their honor after death, also known as tombstones. The inner kingdom square has a beautiful cemetery with elaborate mausoleums, crypts and tombstones, dedicated to the departed. There is also limited space here and the ruling powers that be do not want to “waste space” with the corpses of the poor. So, any time someone of lower class passes away, their loved ones travel in a group, the more the better, into the dark forest, to add the body to the growing mossy, mass grave plot deep within the dark forest. 

Some attempt at a monument with large stones they gather, or even carve wooden headstone, but all get swallowed by the marsh. It is sort of useless. After a while, you pick a spot that seems too vacant and add your loved one to the mix.

How is their profit to be made from this? Good question. The marsh in the dark forest grows an abundance of corps moss. This very useful, medicinal plant is used to treat all sorts of ailments and wounds. It is also the perfect conditions to grow the violet Death Rose. A beautiful rose that starts off a mossy green before blooming into a lovely violet color. The roses are highly sought after by the rich, fully in bloom of course. So, if you want to make good money you get together one or two brave friends, sneak into the forest at night when the roses bloom and see how many you can gather before you are eaten by the things in the forest.

All sorts of creatures live out here. From the small fire mouse, and mossy water-toad to the large and slow swamp cow, the fierce tree cats to beings of creepier origin like ghouls and vampires.

Despite all the dangers in the dark forest, Mashiah knows that there are also practitioners of the dark arts out there. Necromancers and dark witches of all sorts. Perfect teachers if she could find one and convince them to take her on as a student. She knows that at her age, about to be 25, that many will turn her down on that alone. Most magical users take on an apprentice like them to be young and malleable. Sure, the younger brain can soak up more, but Mashiah already knows the basics of magic. Hell, she’s actually an advanced mage. She was top in her class for most years, sometimes second or third depending on the class. She wasn’t very good at projection or divination.

Perhaps though, maybe someone will take pity on her. The clock was ticking on her hopes and dreams. She wasn’t set on finding a man to settle down with, besides no one was courting her any way.

Her whiskey-colored eyes drifted toward Klara, big boobed, bubbly blond with a gaggle of young men around her. There was a tinge of jealousy there. Despite Mashiah telling herself that she was comfortable being single, she still wanted a bit of that attention. Just wanting to feel desired was nice. Her experiences consisted of a drunk one nightery, and a boyfriend that she had thought was decent. He was a good actor. He had a bet with his friends that he could sleep with the creepy girl in class and he charmed his way into her bed a few times. When it was revealed to have been a dare, Mashiah was devastated, lashing out with her magic and snapping one of his fingers off. This did land her in trouble of course, not him. Men will be men and all.  Looking back on how he made her feel desired and wanted during that time, despite being a lie, it felt good. That good feeling is always followed by guilt, anger, and disgust though.

Fighting back tears, Mashiah turned back toward the forest in the distance. Her mind was made up. She would head out tonight. She would find a necromancer to take her on as   a student.