https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_qi6Zlo70o

Drawn by  cuten.

Clio Ejderha, daughter of Nema Ejderha, was once the chosen heir to her clan and the favorite child of her family. She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, and at a young age, she proved to possess a capable mind far beyond that of her peers. Lady Nema hired world renowned tutors in order to refine her prodigy's intellect. In her teenage years, Clio attended the most prestigious schools and flourished wherever she went. Before even reaching adulthood, she was enrolled into the college of mages in the neighboring country of Nisyros. Clio seemed poised to be the next great matriarch to carry on the Ejderha legacy.

So why is it then today when you speak the name Clio Ejderha, the people of Peran all recoil in horror? She is better known as the necromancer, as if there is only one. Perhaps she is not the only sorceress to practice necromancy, but like everything she does, she sought to be the best. Clio achieved that terrible goal, and the results were a tragedy. Her family exiled her for it. That is why she fled to Earth where she now lives out her days.

Or at least, that is the version of the tale her family would tell you. Clio on the other hand would argue that things are far more complicated. She was already a black sheep in the family before she was formally disowned. Her desire for adventure and her craving of more knowledge eventually led for her to cross paths with one Jeremiah Acacius, and it was her love of this human that had caused Lady Nema to disown her daughter. That is what Clio says, anyway. Originally she just going to eat him, but having never met a warrior from the other world (Earth), she became intrigued by him, and stalled her feast until she became too interested by him to have him as just a meal. Over the years, the two would go on to share many adventures... but also, many fights. Love between the two of them had always been marred with great turmoil. To an outsider looking in, their relationship, for a long time, could have been described as toxic. Short bouts of happy times and wonderful adventures, split up among intermittent periods of relentless vituperation, personal attacks, and separations. Yet, the end is never the end. They always meet again. Somehow, for whatever reasons, the two of them always found themselves back in each other's arms.

Every time they'd separate, the results would be more extreme. Despite Clio most often being the one to distance herself from the relationship, she'd occupy her time and distract her dismay by dwelling ever deeper into her unholy work. One day, she made a breakthrough. For the first time a necromancer had managed to resurrect a sentient being with no defects, deformities, or corruptions of the mind. She used this new power on the very man she loved, swallowing him and digesting him until he was one with her body forever; then she made him whole and new again. What she did not entirely reveal to him were the many failures it took for her to achieve this result reliably. Despite all of their fighting, despite all of their hardship, she still loved Acacius. Tragically for them both, he loved her too much for him to walk away either. Kira was too young to remember it all, but Lani wasn't. Lani still remembers the way they used to squabble. They would never lash out in physical ways. Ace would never strike Clio, and he denies Clio ever hitting him either. Still, the abuse came in other ways; of venomous words and constant little jabs that would gradually build up until they exploded into shouting. Lani remembers bitterly how her mother would vanish for weeks, months, or sometimes years before stumbling back into their lives and trying to act like it never happened. It's hard to say when or even if it ever stopped, but by the time Kira moved out, the two fiery and abused lovers had somehow come to peace with each other, and were content in each other's company, with no more cruel words to say. Against all odds, they were able to let go of their hurt. They were able to love each other again like they did when they were young. Lani never did fully forgive her mother. Some scars are just too deep.

This character is owned by a friend whose history is echoed through this story. Sadly, in our timeline, the ending is not so happy. I'd like to think that maybe one day we'll meet again, and maybe this time we'll actually learn, but we've said it so often before with such little positive progress. Things seem alright for a while and I start to think it that this time might be different... until it's not. There is a point where you have to stop trying, and you have to stop subjecting yourself to the abuse of another. The characters were able to let go. Unfortunately, we did not. It still hurts. I want to go back. There is quite literally not a day that goes by where I do not at least once think about them. I know I shouldn't. I know what will come of it. You rightly think I'm a fool for even considering it. I cannot explain to you why a person keeps going back to those who hurt them. It's more difficult to break away than many of you might realize. The end is never the end. We always meet again.