《Bones》


 Chapter 1: Struggling Skeleton

    Crack! A pale white arm ruptured from the maggot-infested earth. Scattered around were pieces of gravestone weathered to the point of illegibility.


    Thoughts that lied buried in the abyss flashed through the mind once again. Simultaneously, a peal of thunderroared seconds after the flash. A sign that the lightning splitting the sky asunder was moments away. A flurry of rain drummed against the fleshless arm.


    It rose from the dead, clambering out from its grave. Flickering to life, two crimson orbs peered out of its sockets. As it loosened its jaw, black steam poured out from within. It tested its limbs, cracking many rusty joints in the process.


    "Yes! Hahahaha! My long wait is over. Now, with this, time to conquer the world!" An enthusiastic voice wheezed out.


    The skeleton fixed its death-defying glare on its phalanges. As if trying to ascertain what kind of monster itself is. It stood crooked, its centre of gravity low, seeming like a fawn taking its first few steps. Its skull rose, his orbs resting on the figure before him. Height-wise, the skeleton was around that of a short adult.


    "You, you are my greatest masterpiece, my magnum opus. Come with me and conquer the apex of this world!" He declared, lips grinning away maniacally. Drenched, he was robed jet black, frisks of white hair poking out from the hood. One sleeve hung loosely on one side, empty.


    Lightning thundered once again.


    His hooded face, illuminated. Like melted wax, it seemed as if the left side of his face would drip down at any second. Wrinkles formed valleys across his scarred face, his left eye, glazed white.


    Crash!


    A beast landed right after another clap of thunder. Turning around sluggishly, the necromancer''s jaw dropped wide open. Terror painting his deformed features.


    Towering and armoured with scales, the newly arrived beast had a slender, electric blue body. Fanning out its leathery wings, it gave a valiant roar. Swinging around its massive tail like a mace-tipped whip.


    "NO! I just used up all my powers! Of all the times!" Whirling his head towards the skeleton, he commanded, his chin trembling. "My servant, kill this wyvern!"


    The skeleton tilted its head. To it, the air felt heavy. As though submerged underwater, the perceived images, soundand smell was all blurry. Moving sluggishly, it struggled to gain control over its senses.


    "Ah..." Reaching an understanding, the light in his eyes flickered off. "Right, the initiatory undead disorientation... Hahaha... Such a basic thing... How could I, a master necromancer forget that." He laughed weakly, falling to his knees.


    The very image of a defeated man. One who gave up hope.


    -I''m going to die. Right here, without achieving anything. In the end, my parents were right... I could never amount to anything. Is this my retribution? Is it so wrong? To gain power at all costs?


    Cracking open massive jaw, the wyvern, fitted the necromancer right between.


    "NO!" The image of his sister exploded in his shrivelled brain. Using his right hand, his only hand, he fumbled deep beneath his coat.


    "All I want to do is to right the wrongs of this world! To do that, I needed power! Absolute power, no matter the sacrifice."


    Screaming, he chucked a vial down the throat of the wyvern.


    Stumbling backwards, it fell unto its back. Gagging, an acid green flame began enveloping it.


    "SKRRIII!" A pitiful shriek. None of its original, regal roars was left in it. Steam rose, whenever its scaly skin was peeling off, flesh disintegrating.


    Rolling around, it frantically tried to put out its flames.


    "No use, no use." The necromancer sneered. "How do you like the taste of that Goblin Fire? A mythical ranked ingredient that I''ve spent five hundred years finding. I wanted to use it to call back my sister''s soul, but things don''t always go as you planned. Too bad, I can''t make you pay for making me use it up. Just lie there, burning to death!"


    He burst into a long coughing fit after his grand monologue. Spitting out blood, his breathing grew rough.


    "Heh, I won''t die. Not yet!" His eyes burned with a quiet steel flame.


    Crack! The grey clouds spat down a lightning bolt, striking the necromancer where he kneeled.


    His robe intact, however, his skin was not. A singed flesh smell penetrated the chilly air.


    "The wyvern''s dying spite... To be so unlucky to be struck down by something that has only a 1/1764 chance of happening..."


    The last sentence he ever muttered. His body collapsed. Arm outstretched as if trying to grab something that was forever out of reach.


    "M-m-master?" Teeth chattering, the throaty voice gushed out. The skeleton cracked another joint as it tilted its head.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Glowing violet, an orb drifted out of the necromancer''s body.


    At the edges of its vision, a message popped up.


    [Innate Skill: Spirit Vision]


    From above, a spirit materialised. Taking the appearance of a youthful girl, it spread open its arms.


    "S-sister?" The necromancer''s spirit morphed into the shape of a young boy. In response, the girl smirked at the boy''s idiotic gaping face.


    Immediately, the air dropped a few degrees. The surprise converted into pure, dark malice.


    His eyes became two white spots as his body turned completely black. Malice drenched whips sprouted from his body.


    "WHY! I called you so many times! Why didn''t you come and meet me?!" The whips attached themselves to her limbs and pulled her into a spread eagle position.


    Without any form of resistance, she smiled. The kind of smile when an older sibling put up with the idiotic antics of a younger one. The kind where she was clearly irritated, but put up with it nonetheless because they are related. Her eyes were shut and the edges of her lips twitched as she made her retort.


    "Because you''re an idiot."


    "Hahhh?" The boy sputtered, clearly not satisfied with her explanation.


    "You were planning some sort of childish ambition like world domination or destruction weren''t you?" She sighed. "Aren''t you too old for that kind of child-play?"


    "Using me as an excuse to vent off all your hatred and anger. Creating a masterpiece-like tale of revenge and self-destruction. Until nothing is left but unrestful souls. Whoever wants their dear little brother getting hurt, fighting others?" She puffed her cheeks.


    "So, despite all I want is to be with you, I hid from you. I thought if I were to do so, you''ll give up your idiotic obsession."


    "But, sis, aren''t you mad? Mad at all of them?!" He roared after a stunned pause, rearing his head closer to hers.


    "Don''t be dumb!" She shot back, taking this chance to headbutt him in the head. "Of course, I''m mad! But all those who had wronged us are long dead."


    "NO! I''ll kill every last human on this planet. Their descendants shall pay. Every human being, including myself, is the same anyway. Cruel, self-interested and unforgiving. What''s the harm in killing them all off?" He scoffed, rubbing his sore head.


    Sighing, she shook her head. "Idiotic little brother... No matter how much time passes, you will never grow, do you? Listen up. What you''re doing, how is it any different to what they have done? You are just abusing your ill-gotten power, aren''t you? Instead of using your power to help, you bully the weak, torment them, seek for their destruction. How are you any different from the people I hate?"


    "No one helped you! Why should I help those who just stood by and watch you die! All humans deserved death. I hate them so much! I hate them, hate them, hate them, hate them to the point that I rest. Why should I help those who did not offer you help! All of them should just die!" He panted, clutching his face in agony.


    "Not all humans are bad!"


    "How can you say that? You who had no one to offer you help? You who died with no one by your side to mourn for you? You who died, all alone in some foreign land, in some nameless slum? You who was tortured by all those around you? You who deserved none of the pain you went through? You who should hate humans much, much more than I do!" He screamed.


    "Not all humans are bad." She repeated, this time, softer. Her lips widening into an angelic smile. A gentle, guileless smile surpassing any of those humans are capable of.


    "You shouldn''t lie!" The boy roared. "Blame our parents! Blame those thugs! Blame the humans! Blame the world! Blame me..." He sobbed the last sentence out.


    "You are angry for me, huh? What a foolish brother. Geez, you really never do change." Tears rolled off her luminescent cheek. Blinking, she took a deep breath as she continued. "But, I really don''t need your concern! I have the pride of being the older one after all."


    "But this just proves my point. I really am not lying when I said that not all humans are bad. From the bottom of my heart, I truly believe that."


    "Lies..." The boy muttered, his voice growing hoarse. Pulling her closer, he rested his head on her shoulder.


    "Furthermore, blaming yourself for my death. Are you an idiot or what? Oh, wait, I''m sorry, you are an idiot. But still..." She paused, inhaling a deep breath. "Get it through your knucklehead that it. Was. Not. Your. Fault!" She shouted right into his ear.


    "But, it''s true that I did not make it in time..."


    "Pardon me, but after seven hundred years, my hearing has gone a teeny bit rusty. Did you say something?" She smiled again.


    "N-no, nothing."-Terrifying! How can this girl smile so terrifyingly? I got chills down my spine...However, for obvious reasons, he did not voice out his thoughts.


    "Good." She nodded, satisfactorily. "Let''s go then," Freeing herself from his grasp, she held out her hand.


    Stubborn, the boy averted his gaze.


    Smacking the back of his head, the girl grumbled. "What are you doing with that miserable constipated kind of look. I waited for seven hundred years for this. Are you going to keep your sister waiting? Or what are you saying there''s something more important than your sister? A girlfriend maybe?" She tilted her head, a cat smile playing on her lips hidden behind her cupped hand.


    "What? No, of course not!" The boy flustered, his pale cheeks seemed to redden.-But... Since when is my Adeline this rough? Her language is although sharp as hell, it''s still refined, still had the air of a noble lady.Buther actions proved otherwise... Why is she so violent now? Is it her true nature? She had sadistic tendencies all along? Now that she''s dead, her inner desires are unleashed? Stabbing people with her words and beating them up gives her pleasure now? No, your brother won''t accept this, he won''t!


    "Let''s go, my brother." Unaware of her brother''s inner conundrum, she smiled.


    Dumbfounded, he was at a loss for words. Ever so slightly, he nodded. All of the sudden, the shadow retracted, all going back to the boy.-Ah, who cares, the gap between the sadistic her and gentle her is cute. This is not too bad, in its own way... My Adeline is still cute.


    "Let''s go then." She repeated, holding out her hand. "This time together. To hell or wherever, I''ll go with you."


    "... ... Yeah."


    The moment he accepted it, he disintegrated into white specks of light, from the bottom up. After he disappeared, the sister had dematerialised right up to her neck as well.


    ''Wait! What about me? What am I supposed to do now?" Getting the hang of using its non-existent vocal cords, the skeleton asked.


    "You''re free. Free to find and do whatever you want. Live a happy life." She smiled, disappearing.


    "Don''t give me that!" The skeleton fumed. "Just because you smile and look cute, do you think everything is going to be fine? Playing out happy family drama then just abandoning me?"


    "Find something to do huh? What can a monster like me even do anyway?"


    Glancing into the swirling ominous clouds that poured water non-stop, he felt like crying as well.


    Day 1, weather thunderstorm, abandoned and masterless. Without purpose nor recollection, no future nor past.


    In a desolate wasteland, with not one other soul to depend on. With only the rocks, dried, cracked earth and the chilly wind to keep for company.


    What a great start. He thought bubbling full of sarcasm and irony.

 Chapter 2: Pacifistic Orc King

    "I dare you to say that again..." The armoured man murmured, grabbing an overweight manby the cuff.


    "Hahh?! You speak too softly. I can''t hear a thing you say," The man''s unpleasant smile widened as he took a deliberate pause. Brushing the armoured man grip off.


    "You monster."


    The armoured man heard something snapped in him. His mind went blank as rage roared over his ears. Yet. Yet he moved not a step. He easily had the strength to snap a tree trunk in half, yet he froze. Taking on the brunt of his insults, the armoured man froze. A turmoil of despair bubbled in him.


    "Hahahaha," The unpleasant man guffawed. his paunch shaking. "You coward. Abandoned child of a knight family. What do you think you are doing? Wearing that kettle pot of an armour? Playing knight? Dream on! Someone like you could never be a real knight! Yo-"


    A cracking sound cut him off in the middle of his sentence.


    The armoured man raised his head. Right in time to see an arm planted right into the unpleasant man''s face.


    "Yo."


    Craning his neck around, the armoured man turned his head around to see his companion. Dressed like a clerical nun albeit, without the headpiece, she acted anything like one. Flamed by her rebellious mauve hair, no one will ever mistake her for a nun even if she dressed like one.


    "Leer, what the hell were you doing? Letting his mouth run off like that?" Lowering her shades, she questioned.


    "Amanda..."


    She sighed. "Whatever, just come. Ferro has a job for us to do."


    "You lowly peasant! Do you know who you just hit?!" The unpleasant man, clutched his broken nose, trying to stop the blood from dripping to his fancy shirt. Getting up from his bottom, trying to piece back his shattered dignity.


    "As if I care." She waved her arm.


    "I''ll remember you! I''ll definitely make you pay!" The unpleasant man squealed, running away.


    Striding around town, they attracted stares all around, which was not surprising considering their appearance. Every step Leer took, the full body rusted knight armour clung and clanged.


    The one who initiated the conversation is Leer, the armoured man.


    "...I''m sorry..."


    "Hmm? What are you apologizing for? You did nothing wrong? At least not that I know of." She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Unless ''twasyou who stole my prized liquor?"


    "N- no, of course not."


    "Yeah, didn''t think so. Must be Ferro, that bastard. I''ll find a way to make him confess somehow." She grumbled.


    "But, I caused you trouble, that man is sure to come back for revenge."


    "Heh, let him come then. That spineless coward, can''t do a thing."


    "He could still hire people to attack you..."


    "Don''t worry, don''t worry." She pulled her sleeves back to show her bicep. "I''m strong after all. Plus if I ever get into trouble, I know you''ll come rescue me."


    At this, Leer fell silent.


    "By the way, your armour''s pretty rusted ain''t it? Don''t you think you should get a new one?"


    "It''s fine... This one will do. Ah, I will try my best not to be a hindrance with this armour on."


    "Nah, that''s not what I''m getting at. I know you''re always trying hard."


    All around, whispers and murmurs flew around. Onlookers stood from a distance, spreading rumours.


    "Isn''t those two pairs from the three-man party, ?"


    "You mean the legendary one, the adamantinerank one?"


    "Yes, yes that one. The black sheep of the adventurer''s guild."


    "Weren''t they the infamous one for..."


    Thud! The book snapped to a close.


    "Hmm, it''s about time." It grunted. Mysterious hoots of an owl echoed in a distance. The frigid air howled while crescent moon peeked through the window.


    The skeleton slung a rucksack over its draped shoulders. Shutting the door behind him, leaving his birthplace. Looking back not once as he went down the slippery slope. Leaving behind the cottage that sat on a cliffside. With a makeshift graveyard next to it that acted as its cradle.


    A few days after his rebirth, he spent his time holed up reading the treasure trove of knowledge stored in the Necromancer''s cottage. As expected of a master necromancer, his decaying shelves were buried with books that were filled with the vast amount of knowledge for tampering of the dead. After thieving the cape that its dead master wore and wearing gloves to conceal his hands, the skeleton prepared for departure. Waiting for the sun to set before leaving. Learning the hard way that it burns blue in the sunlight.


    Going down on a new path, a new life, in the dead of the night.


    It was around when the crescent moon reached its zenith, that the skeleton saw a change in scenery. From the dried brown earth jutted occasionally with spires of rock, desolate land kind of terrain to a forest. A spiny forest. Instead of the forest with lush green vegetation, this forest was filled painted orange, the same colour as the earth. Sparse and few, the orange-barked trees had thick trunks but its branches were nothing but mere naked stubs with tiny leaves dotting them. Looking similar to an upside-down tree with the branches as roots and has been occasionally called as the ''bottle tree''.


    Some reached a staggering thirty metres or so of height. However, most vegetation exists as shrubs, bushes and ferns that barely reached the skeleton''s kneecaps.


    "I''m saved." The skeleton sighed. "Luckily this map is right. This forest barely provides any shelter. But it''s definitely better than being completely out in the open under the sun.Ihave the hood, but still, better be safe than sorry... No way am I going to burn to death without achieving anything."


    The skeleton took steps forward, entering the new biome. Traversing for a short period of time, a sound broke the monotonous travel.


    "Leave us alone!"Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    In the edge of its vision, another message popped up. Similar to last time, but this time it had different words.


    [Innate Passive Skill: Monstrous Uniligualist]


    The skeleton wondered briefly what it meant. As it was interrupted by thrashing sounds meted out by three humans unto a peculiar creature. The creature was roughly humanoid, large and bulky, easily double the size of a human. With pale, lifeless grey skin, it had two tusks protruding from its lower lip. Long black hair sprouted down his head. In the area of clothing, it had a piece of armour tied around its waist. The strange creature held something between its massive arms. It crouched, protecting whatever it was holding. A strange unsettling feeling crept upon the skeleton.


    In the end, his conclusion was: Leave it. Nothing good will come from getting involved.


    However, the closer it got, the more the unsettling feeling grew.


    "Is it so fun to bully the weak? You coward!"


    Hearing the same voice speak once again, the skeleton finally realised what has been bothering it.


    -I canunderstand it? The monster''s speech? But I can''t understand the speech of those humans...


    Sounding like a foreign language to the skeleton, the group of three exchanged words.


    "Arggh, this is such a pain. Why the heck won''t this Orc evendieyet? Our quest was just to capture that white Zmei that has recently been sighted around here. Whether we stab him, kick him, shoot him, curse him, nothing works. This orc just won''t die. Argghh, such a pain." Ferro grumbled, drawing back his spiked boots before smashing it right into the creature''s gut.


    "Enough of this! You guys stay back." Ferro slipped his gloved hand into his leather jacket. Loading the bullets he took out, he cocked the hammer of his pistol.


    Moving away, Amanda yawned. "Sure, sure, just make sure to finish it." She shrugged.


    "Time to finish this once and for all." Ferro fixed his one good eye unto the creature. Giving it a hard glare. A silver mask covered the left side of his face. "Well, adios."


    "... Wait, there''s someone walking past." One in a knight''s armour, Leer called out. His face, obscured by anarmet, with the visor down. A sheathed sword was buckled around his waist.


    "Ughh, I was just getting to the good part." Ferro groaned.


    "Hmm, he''s wearing a hood. How suspicious. Which do you think he is?" The female dressed in a black, nun tunic. However, her mauve hair was in plain sight, rolling down her collar. Holding a book with one hand, Amanda crossed her arms.


    "Heheh, does it matter?" Ferro tipped his cowboy hat.


    "Damn right you are..." Amanda grinned venomously.


    "Human or monster, only the strong survive!" In a deft motion, he changed his target. Aiming at the cloaked figure instead, he instantly opened fire.


    Wha-The skeleton''strain of thoughts immediately wiped cleaned by the gunshot. The moment, the bullet came into contact with the skull, a pillar of flame shot out. A blazing inferno razed, burning right up into the heavens.


    With a loud thud, it collapsed backwards. The cloak fluttered.


    The armoured man being the nearest froze.


    What''s this insanely bad feeling creeping up on me? Having a sharp instinct, Leer, with his cracked voice, shouted.


    "Run!"


    "Leer?" Amanda questioned.


    "Ahhh." A deep voice escaped the cloaked corpse. "That was so fast that I was surprised." Black steam poured out of his fleshless lips.


    Immediately a shiver went down their spines.


    The cloaked corpse roused back up slowly, taking its own sweet time as if it had all the time in the world.


    "Impossible! That was my best shot! I prepared that to kill the orc but fired on you instead. To be alive after that is..." His words trailed off. Cocking his head back, he held on his cowboy hat and burst out laughing.


    "Wahahaha! Perfect! Fight me you monster! Amanda, Leer, get out of here! I''ll beat him!"


    "Heh, no way in hell am I leaving, right Leer?"


    A clink from his armour could be heard as he nodded.


    "Huhh?! I''m telling you that you guys are inthe buzzingway!"


    Annoyed, Amanda snapped, kicking him in the leg.


    "What the hell was that for? You violent bi-"


    Another punch.


    "We are in the way? Yeah, obviously we are in the way. If you''re looking for your own death, then we''ll obviously be in your way!" She puffed.


    "Hah!" He spat. "Don''t pull me down then."


    "Shut up, you impotent prick!"


    "Kuhh, I don''t even care anymore. You still can run if you want, you know?"


    "I thought you didn''t care anymore."


    "Fine then, whatever happens, don''t you dare blame me!" Whipping out a second gun, he loaded fired another round of bullets towards the cloaked figure.


    The first shot burst into a pillar of ice. The next few shots alternate between ice and fire.


    "How''s the taste of my shots? Those are specially infused bullets. Nice, aren''t they?" Ferro smirked.


    "Useless." The Orc muttered. "It was only for a single moment, but I felt it, an unbelievable power enough to even make my skin crawl... An ability?"


    "Auuu-. Wait, I don''t feel anything?" The skeleton asked. In the corner of his vision, another message popped up.


    [Innate Passive Skill: Heat and Chill Negation]


    "Wait, wait, wait. I''m not even looking for a fight. Can you guys even understand me? Ahh, how bothersome..."


    "He''s still standing..." Amanda exclaimed, flipping her book. "Thorns of Condemnation, Bind!"


    Thorns shining dark purple materialised, wrapping around the cloaked figure.


    Not looking for a fight? With that kind of murderous aura?The Orc thought.Wait, it''s concealing the aura with its cloak, so maybe it''s true after all?


    "Pay with your life. Condemn!" Amanda screamed.


    The thorns tightened, piercing thorns into the cloaked body. Suddenly exploding at the slightest move that the skeleton did.


    "Heh, these thorns will explode everytime you move. As long as you''re alive, they will condemn you to death."


    "Rargghh!" A guttural shout came from Leer. Unsheathing his blade, he raised it high above his head, bringing it down on the cloaked figure.


    "Blade of Judgement!" The cleaver glowed amber, accelerating as thesecondstick by. Carrying a lethal force unto the surface it comes with contact to.


    "Auu,auu,auu! Eh? There''s actually no pain at all? Ah, is it because I''m an undead, so I don''t feel pain?"


    [Innate Passive Skill: Adamantine bones] The message popped up.


    When the dust cleared, they all could see in plain sight. Leer''s cleaver stopped by the bone. Before shattering into a million pieces. On the other hand, the bone had not a scratched on it.


    "NO way!" Both Leer and the skeleton exclaimed.


    "Wait, why the heck are you surprised as well?" The Orc retorted.


    "I guess it''s my turn now? Let''s see, the book said that I..." The skeleton muttered to itself.


    In the necromancer''s diary, he found a list of its inborn skills and move sets it could use.


    "I think it was called ''Bone Rush''? The skeleton pointed its arm in one direction.


    A stream of bones materialised behind it, flying through the air. Flooding towards the aimed direction.


    One by one, a flurry of bones, pierced the ground inches off Ferro''s toes.


    "Ahh? You dodged. That''s no good, isn''t it? You should stay still so that I can hit you."


    That guy''s going to kill everyone. I got to do something...Its heart pounded right in the orc''s ears. Blood rushing up to its head as it frantically searched a solution.


    -Impossible.The word flashed through Leer''s mind.That beast is way beyond our level now. I have to look for an opening. Yeah, no way I can allow Ferro and Amanda to die here.


    "GRAAOOOR!" A roar ripped through the tense atmosphere. Slapping his shaking knees, the Orc dashed straight towards the cloaked figure.


    -This is it! My chance. The armoured man, Leer shouted. "Knight''s Drive!" Accelerating forward, he dashed towards Amanda and Ferro in a straight line.


    Clutching them each with an arm, he crushed three crystals he held in his hand.


    "Base Return!" The three of them disappeared.


    On the other hand, the skeleton unleashed another wave of Bone Rush towards the charging Orc.


    "Oooaaahhh!" However, the Orc endured. Despite the bruises and cuts it obtained, it charges blindly straight ahead. Every time a wound was incurred, a light would flash and the wound will be healed.


    In the end, its strength triumph over the skeleton. Using its full weight, the Orc bore down upon the skeleton.


    "Wait, I''m not looking for a fight either." The Orc rambled immediately afterwards.


    "Is that so. Why are you on top of me then?"


    "I just didn''t want you killing those humans."


    "Huh? Weren''t they beating you up earlier? Don''t you want to get revenge?"


    "No!" The Orc made a cross with his arms. "I believe that every single life is precious and that we should treasure them." It declared, with its chest thrust out.


    "Ah? I see?" The skeleton replied, not understanding a single bit.


    "AHHH! I completely forgot about the poor snake." He dashed back to where he was a minute ago.


    -I see. So this was what he was protecting at the start.The skeleton concluded.But, isn''t this counterproductive? He''s going to kill it at this rate.It thought, seeing the Orc smacking the head of the albino snake back and forth roughly.


    Miraculously, the snake coughed and sputtered.


    "I thought I was going to die back then! Whoever chokes someone that hard on the pretence of protecting them?"


    "Ah, the snake talks." Both the skeleton and the Orc stated as-a-matter-of-factly.


    "Of course, I talk! What? Haven''t seen a talking snake before? My name is Hebi. I''m a proud member of the Zmei race!"


    "Oh right," The Orc smashed his fist into his palm. "I just forgot to introduce myself. Where are my manners? My name is Cro. I''m the current Orc King."

 Chapter 3: Live, Dream, Regret

    "So, what''s your name?"


    "A name? I don''t really have one."


    Immediately the Orc, Cro, brightened up. Clapping, he declared. "Then, in that case, I will name you. Hmm, I wonder what would be a good name. Rob? Or maybe Wil?"


    "Oi, oi, don''t decide that by yourself."


    "In any case, we can''t be standing here all day long, let''s go to my home. Don''t worry, you''ll get a warm welcome. You too, talking snake."


    "I have a name! Call me Hebi."


    The Orc guffawed out loud.


    "Why would you welcome a stranger? Who knows maybe I''ve killed your kind before?"


    Rubbing his chin, the Orc King gave his reply. "I know, you''re the type who doesn''t really cares about life. But, I don''t believe you''re the type who freely takes life for no reason."


    "That''s so vague."


    "Wahahaha! Life''s all about guts and gut feelings!" He laughed heartily. "Trust goes both ways you know? Plus I believe in kindness."


    "Even if I were to betray you?"


    "Well, if you betray us, it won''t be too late to deal with it later on, will it?" His eyes glinted with a hint of murderous intent.


    "So, you''re the type to deal with whatever happens, happens? It might be too late then you know?"


    "Nah, I''ll do whatever it takes to make sure it doesn''t reach that way."


    "Then wouldn''t be better not to welcome me? You''re confident you can deal with me?"


    "If you never try, you could never make allies you know? And I''m not confident. I just trust my friends." He grinned toothily.


    "Heh, you''ll get betrayed one day."


    "Hahaha, then that''s fine. I rather die for living the way I want to then die not living the way I want to. "


    "Ohhh! The king has returned! The king has returned!" Metals clanging resounded through the air.


    In a forest clearing, an encampment stood. Surrounded by stone walls, a gate made from logs towered. Behind the walls, the Orcs proclaimed their joy at their king''s safe return.


    "Oh, right I forgot to mention this, but it''s better if you wrap yourself completely. Your cloak apparently has a sealing ability. Just now, when a little of the cloak opened, I could feel your murderous aura. You probably have a curse or skill that scares others into submission."


    -A skill?The skeleton wondered.Ah, it must be that one... The one written at the diary''s last page...


    Realising how cowardly that sounded, the Orc King sputtered. "O-of course, it''s not as if I''m afraid or anything, but my friends can get a tad bit frightened, so it''s better that you cover yourself."


    "Heyyy, I''m back." Cro waved, passing through the gates. Inside, there were several cavernous entrances leading deep underground. But other than that, the land was mostly used for fields.Alternativelypatterned crops neatly lined the earth, creating rows of vast arrays of vibrant colours, with green being the main one.


    A lonescarecrow stood in the middle of a wheat field. Large and bulky, its body was bell-shaped, with rectangular steel slabs as arms. The two eyes and mouth were represented as three holes on a black sphere that was fused to the body. Making it seem like a bowling ball head topped with a straw hat.


    -Not a single hut in sight. I wonder where they sleep.The skeleton wondered as another notification popped up.


    [Innate Passive Skill: Spirit Vision]


    -Isn''t that the skill from back when I first got born?


    "I''m back, my ass!" Out of nowhere, a dropkick landed on the OrcKing. Grabbing the Orc King with one hand, the newcomer proceeded to perform a chokehold.


    "Where the hell have you been?"


    "I give, I give, give up." Cro wheezed.


    Unsatisfied, the new Orc flicked Cro''s forehead. "I''ll let you off with that for now. You really need to consider your position. An Orc King can''t just wander aimlessly unprotected." She growled. She was a slimmer and more slender version of Cro, having the same grey-blue skin as him.


    "It''s fine since I''m sturdy after all," Cro muttered.


    "HUh?"


    "Yes, yes, I''m sorry. I will humbly reflect on my ways." Cro cowered. Afterwards, though, he sneaked a whisper to both Hebi and the skeleton.


    "It''s best to not get married. Take it from me." He whispered with a wink.


    "Hmm, oh, I apologize for my husband''s inexcusable behaviour." Noticing Hebi and the cloaked figure for the first time, she addressed them. "My name is Hev. Nice to meet you."


    * * * * *


    Night fell. Drums pounded, drinks sloshing, bonfire crackling up to the black sky.


    "Wahahaha! What are you doing here, sitting in a corner alone? Here eat something!" Cro tossed a roasted drumstick over.


    Unmoving, the skeleton replied. "I can''t eat."


    "Huh? What do you mean? If you don''t eat, you''ll never grow you know?"


    "I''m an undead, you idiot."


    "Oh." A picture of comprehension was etched on his face.


    An awkward apology wedged itself between the period of silence.


    "Puhahhh!" A white triangular head popped up from behind.


    "Ah, talking snake, I never knew you were there."


    "It''s Hebi, Hebi, get that throughyourrthickkskulll." Hebi slurred, hiccuping right afterwards. "Hahh, this is the life! Good alcohol, good life!"


    "Hahaha, totally right, you totally understand, my pal! Such a pity that you cannot drink it." Cro shook his head with a genuine sad look painted on his face. "Anyways tell us a bit about yourself."


    "I? Well, I was born just yesterday..." By the time, it finished its tale, both Cro and Hebi were bawling their eyes out.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "I see, I see," Cro said between sniffs. "It must be tough."


    "Yeah, yeah, having no one by your side. No past or future..." Hebi wept. "No home to go to..."


    "Well, don''t worry!" Cro thumped his chest. "This can be your hometown! Your birthplace isn''t that far off from here. So might as well right? You are always welcome here!"


    "Thanks?" The skeleton replied uncertainly.


    "Well, what about you Hebi? Why were you wandering all by yourself?"


    "In my case," Hebi sniffed. "Tisnot such a dramatic, tear-jerking tale. I was just fed up being cooped up in one place. I desire to see the world. To travel to unknown places and get rich! Those two are my dreams."


    "Dreams huh?" Cro muttered a bit wistfully. "Well, my dream when I was young was to be a treasure hunter. I''ll go down to the deepest depths, tallest summit, all in the hope of finding a priceless relic."


    "Treasure hunter, eh?" Hebi chuckled. "What happened then?"


    "Well, I grew up. I took on the mantle of a king. The responsibility foisted upon me the moment I was born."


    "I see." Hebi struggled to keep his tone calm as his face became downcast.


    "Oh, but not before snagging one treasure though! I managed to get at least one adventure. Gahahaha!"


    "Do you regret not being a treasure hunter now?" Hebi asked.


    "None!"


    "Is what I would like to say. But sometimes I wonder, how would I end up if I became a treasure hunter. In life, in order to gain something, one must sacrifice something else. Furthermore, because life''s a big jerk, it''ll force us to choose within a limited time. These days though, I''ve come to peace with my decision. I''m satisfied with my life. My dream right now would probably be something along the lines of for everyone to live their life without a single regret blemishing their pride."


    "Do you then think its selfish to abandon everything and pursue your own dream?" Hebi questioned, a bit frantically.


    "Nah, I believe everyone has a choice. The trick is to choose the decision that would bring us the least amount of regret. However, what decision we pick, we must be ready to pay the price for it. We have to take responsibility for what we choose." The flame flickered, casting a shadow on the Orc''s face, making it unreadable.


    "Papa!" A little grey Orc came running hugging Cro''s giant leg.


    "Oh? You''re still awake, my sweet child? Let me introduce you, this is my beloved daughter, Rui." Clutching her by the arms, he raised her up. Giggling, Rui waved her arms energetically.


    "Rui! I told you it''s past your bedtime already." Another Orc came running, puffing and out of breath.


    "And this is Fer, her attendant." Cro continued.


    "Hmph," Like a spoilt princess, she puffed her cheeks.


    "Now, now, it''s time for us to go." Bending down, Fer tried to pick her up.


    "No way!" Ducking, she easily avoided capture. Fer, carried by the momentum, fell forward, his bottom facing the sky. Sticking her tongue out, Rui laughed. "Fer you''resoooweak. Hahaha."


    "Hmm, Rui? What did I say about causing Fer trouble?" Cro reprimanded, pulling her ear.


    "Auuu!" Yelping in pain, she grabbed her ear, apologizing profusely. Secretly sticking out her tongue when she bowed in apology. When Hebi noticed this, he laughed dryly.


    "What a cheeky brat huh. Hahaha..."


    "Yeah, a cheeky brat indeed." The skeleton agreed.


    "Who do you apologize to, Rui?"


    "Yes, yes, I''m sorry Fer for causing you so much trouble. Anyway, papa, can you tell me a bedtime story?" Eyes sparkling, she stared at him expectantly.


    Sighing, the Orc King had an expression opposite that belied his sigh. "Wellll, it can''t be helped. It can''t be helped." He repeated, a hint of joy escaped his tone.


    Whack! Coming from behind, a demon, no his wife appeared. Smacking him in the head. Eyes glinting, she glared. "This here is the reason why she''s so spoilt."


    "Come on, it''s just a story?"


    "Hah?"


    "No, yes, I''m very sorry mam." He automatically knelt.


    A tired sigh escaped her lips. "Well, if it''s just one story..."


    Smiling underneath his bow, he shot a wink to Rui. Which made her expression brightened up like the sun.


    "What do you think, commentator Hebi? This is the true reason why she''s so cheeky right?"


    "Yes, yes, commentator cloaked one, I believe so. The father is the biggest problem child here, isn''t he?" The skeleton and Hebi whispered to each other.


    "But, just one story, got it?" Her eyes glinting once more, she continued all of the sudden. Sending shivers down both Rui and Cro''s spine.


    "Yes, mam." Simultaneously, both answered.


    Chugging his cup down, he burped, signalling the start of his story. As he placed Rui on his lap.


    "A long time ago, there lived an idiot prince who hated his responsibilities. Someone who wished to be free as the wind under the sun. Being able to go anywhere and do anything, that was his heartfelt wish. However, one friend shone through his dull days, like a ray of light cutting through the infinite darkness. His friend was also chained down. Chained down by disease and weak constitution. He could only dream of achieving their dream as well.


    Both of them started sharing their fantasy. Believing that one day their moment will come. However, the village had a dumb tradition. All because of a monster that lived next door.


    Every year, they would send a couple of Orc child to appease its appetite. All too afraid to fight the monster called fear in their hearts to defeat the threat looming over them. Instead of choosing to wallow over the fake peace."


    "What a couple of weaklings." Rui snorted. "If it were me, I would destroy them all."


    "Heh, that''s totally what you would do, Rui. But the world is not so simple. You''ll understand one day. In any case, his friend got chosen for the sacrificial ritual. The idiot prince did not learn until it was too late though. However, when he did find out, he got really pissed."


    "I know, I know, he went to defeat the monster right?"


    "Well, in the end, that''s true but not after facing a lot of hardships. Really, a lot." Cro''s face grew wistful in the flickering flames. "The idiot prince ran away from home. Wandering, running away from everything. Even his friend''s and own dream. He could not bring himself to selfishly fulfil their dream alone. Not when his friend had no chance to."


    "What happens then? What happened to cause him to finally take revenge."


    "Ahhh, well, in short, I guess, a woman." Cro scratched his cheek.


    "A woman?" Rui asked, totally confused.


    In the background, Hev snorted, trying to camouflage it as a cough.


    However, Cro heard it well enough. Seemingly to blush under the flame of the campfire.


    Coughing, he continued. "Uhm, well yes, a woman. He met a woman who slapped him and blown his doubts all away. It was a long process. But he finally started. Started to finish his unfinished business from the past. First, he achieved their dream and attained a legendary weapon. Using the legendary weapon, he beat down the monster. From then on, he took the mantle of a king and abolished the foolish years-old tradition. He vowed to his dead friend to never let such a case from ever repeating itself. He also vowed to throw away their dream. This is because he still felt it was unfair for him to have fun alone."


    "So basically, we must defeat any monster early on, right?" Rui proudly concluded.


    "No, this story means that regrets are unavoidable. But just because you will regret does not mean you should run away from making a decision. Face it and choose a decision you will least regret. In the end, the idiot''s prince greatest two regrets were being unable to save his friend and the fact that he took so long to finish it."


    Cro took a long pause as he sipped his drink again.


    "Well," Hev got up, clapping her hands. "It''s time to sleep, come Rui. Don''t sleep too late either, idiot prince." She smirked, leaving a frozen Cro behind.


    Carrying Rui in his arms, Hev took her leave, followed closely behind by Fer, her attendant. Waving goodbye, Cro continued, bragging.


    "You see, when my daughter was born, she was just this small, you know?" He gauged the size with his finger. "It felt miraculous to me. The birth of another life. The start of another life. You see, if I pick the life of a treasure hunter, I would never discover this joy. The joy and pains of being married, having a child, raising a child. These days, I can drink and think back and happily sigh, saying life''s not that bad. I think that when we are able to do that, then our choice was by no means a mistake." Cro rubbed his nose bashfully.


    Thumping his tail unto the ground in quick successions, the drunk Hebi cheered. "Not bad, not bad! Well said! Here cheers to your life!" Lifting a mug with his tail, Hebi clacked the mug against Cro''s.


    "What about you?" In his drunken stupor, Hebi addressed the skeleton.


    "Well, me? Well, I guess my dream is to find a dream!" The skeleton shouted, getting carried away by the festive mood. Despite not having drunk a single liquor.


    At this, both bawled their eyes out, thumping against the skeleton''s back.


    "Don''t worry, you''ll definitely find something!"


    "Yeah, yeah, for sure!"


    "As long as you''re living, you''ll find something. For better or worse!"


    "Like I said, I''m an undead. So technically, I''m not living." The skeleton replied.


    So, the festive continued till dawn. Which ended with all of them snoozing away. Sleeping under the star-filled night snores rumbling away.


    All except for the skeleton. One who did not sleep.


    "Oofff," The skeleton cracked some joints as it tried to get up. Wandering around aimlessly, its thoughts run freely within his mind.


    "Find a dream huh? I wonder where should I go searching for such a thing." The skeleton muttered, watching the sunrise.


    "As if you could find something like that." A voice crept up right next to the skeleton''s non-existent ear.


    Whirling around in surprise, the skeleton saw its shadow expand. Blanketing the earth in darkness, it stretched further. In the shadow''s head, a white gap widened. Widening into a Chesire smile shape.


    "W-who are you?" Shaken, the skeleton seemed to bite into itsabsent tongue.


    "Well, have fun ''playing friends'' for as long as you can." It sneered, disappearing. Leaving only the skeleton''s shadow behind.


    Dong! Dong! Dong!


    An ear-splitting toll of a bell resounded through the air. Across the fields, the scarecrow moved.

 Extra Chapter 1.5: The Necromancers Diary & Adelines Feelings

    Thud! The heavy leather-bound book was placed on the table. The skeleton traced its phalanges on the golden embossed letters on the cover page. Dryly reading the title. A flickering oil lamp casting dancing shadows stood next to the book.


    [The Grand Necromaster''s Diary]


    Below it, several stickers has littered the cover. Some said: "DON''T OPEN", "OPEN AND YOU DIE!" and more. Some were even symbols of skulls and bones. But they all portrayed a clear enough of a message.


    The skeleton blatantly ignored the basically screaming messages. Satisfying itself in a form of petty revenge by opening it.


    Day XX Month XX Year XXXX,


    This is the spot! Finally, I found the location to resurrect my super slave to conquer the world. Wahahhaha!


    -Uwahh, she was right... Her brother is damn childish... For a moment, it felt glad that it did not have to serve such a master. Shaking its head out of such reverie, it continued reading.


    It''s been a long time coming, this is. I guess I should start from the very start. Yeah, since I''m feeling particularly sentimental, let''s start from the very beginning.


    Hello, my name is Vanir Dietrich. I was a typical boy from a declining noble family. Once. Now, I''m a master necromancer. Wahahaha! You''re curious, aren''t you? Curious about how I ended up that way. Well, don''t worry cause, I''ll tell you. Be thankful that you''re going to read a tale.


    I am the youngest of a declining noble family of seven children, of whom three died during infancy. Leaving us with four children left, in case you cannot do the maths. My family barely has what it takes to keep itself afloat. Then the last stake driven to our coffin was dealt when our father died. The responsibility to carry on the family legacy then fell to the two oldest surviving siblings, Dietrich. They went to a prestigious school to prepare themselves to become the head of the family. That''s all well and good. But the problem was our mother. Since the death of my father, she had not been stable.


    Before our father had died...


    "Orahhhhhh! Get away from my sister, you imbeciles! What do you think you''re doing!" At the foot of the hill, Adeline saw her brother tumbling down the hill. Stumbling over a tree root, he rolled down in style, landing right in front of their feet with his bottom sticking out.


    "Gehh! It''s the mute''s little brother!" One boy with blond hair exclaimed


    "Tchh, well, I''ve had enough anyway. Let''s leave, before we get bitten by the mad dog! Hahaha!" Laughing, the group of four boys headed off.


    "Go away and never come back!" Vanir growled, getting on his feet.


    "Auu," He grunted, falling again.


    Adeline sighed. "Ahh, look at your knees. They''re scraped. Geez, stay still for a while." Chanting a healing spell, a light enveloped around his knees.


    "Woah, that was amazing. You really should go to school. You have such an amazing talent."


    "You know it''s not possible for me to go." Her face turned dark.


    "The money? Well, we can probably get our aunt to sponsor you."


    "Well, the money''s one thing, but that''s not what I''m talking about." She collapsed unto the grassy ground. "There''s no way I can go to school." She turned around, lying down on her side.


    "Hahh, such a waste." Vanir shook his head, lying down under the shade as well.


    "... ... Do you really think so? That it''s a waste?"


    "Of course! But in the end, no matter what you choose, I won''t hate you for it, so it''s fine."


    "... Sorry." She uttered after a moment of silence.


    "Hmm? For what?"


    "If only I can talk in front of others, then you wouldn''t be targeted as so."


    "Nah, those guys are ruthless. Even if they don''t target you, they would target me nonetheless."


    "... I''m so useless..." She closed her eyes.


    "It doesn''t matter whatever anyone says, you''re fine the way you are." Vanir smiled, wiping her tears gently. "Of course, if you really want to change, I''ll support you all the way. But just take it slow, you don''t have to rush."


    Grunting her assent, she nodded, holding his hand. Her chest tightened. "Please promise me."


    "Promise what?"


    "Never leave me!" With upturned eyes, she stared him across her blurring vision. "As long as you''re by my side, I''ll be fine. So don''t ever leave me."


    "Puhahaha!" Vanir cracked up.


    "Why are you laughing?" She puffed her cheeks, aware olf of the heat rising up her crimson face.


    "You looked so serious that I wondered what you would say, but that''s it? Even if you never ask, I''ll stay with you. After all you''re completely helpless without me aren''t you?"


    "Geez, I am not!"


    "Hahaha, yes, you are. All you can do is heal. You really are useless in everything else."


    Eight years later...


    Crack! The stinging sound reverberated the empty living room. Stunned, Adeline held her hand to her face. The raw, red throbbing skin felt hot on contact. Rooted to the spot, pain exploded all of the sudden as the brain registered the strike.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    "This is all your fault! You! If only you didn''t exist. You''re just a pathetic child of a mistress! If only you go to school. Then, you wouldn''t get kidnapped! He died, rescuing you."


    "Mother, that is far enough," Vanir growled, balling his fists, temper flaring.


    "I don''t understand him at all! Why would he go so far for this, this, mongrelll!"


    "Enough!" Vanir roared out, smashing his fist to the table. "Even if you are distraught, there are some things you shouldn''t say!"


    Cupping his hands on Adeline''s ears, he pulled her away. "Come on, let''s go"


    * * * * *


    Hugging her knees, she asked, her voice shook. "I-is it really my fault?"


    "Wha-! Of course not, don''t be dumb."


    "But, it''s true that if I did not exist, father would have lived. If I went to school, I wouldn''t be kidnapped. I don''t understand as well, why would father give his life for someone like me?"


    "Don''t say that! Someone like you? What do you mean someone like you? All I see is a poor, sad daughter that had just lost her father. So what if you''re the daughter of his mistress? You''re still his daughter nonetheless. He is still your father and he loved you as his daughter. Do you mean to say you don''t understand that he loved you? After he done so much for you, you don''t know that he loved you very much?"


    "N-no, of course not! Father is a very, very kind person. I loved him very much as well." She stuttered.


    "Besides, it''s useless to talk about what has been done. Time only moves forward." He grabbed her shoulders, staring her down.


    Bubbling, the dam barring the tears burst forth. Clinging to him, she wailed her voice hoarse.


    "You are such a crybaby, aren''t you? But it''s fine, every time, you''re sad, just cry. I''ll be here." He sighed, crying as well while patting her head.


    "Uuu," Between sobs she uttered. "What right do you have to say that. Even though, I''m the older one. I''m sorry for being such a pathetic older sister..."


    "You''re not pathetic at all." He exclaimed. "And even if you are, I''ll stay with you all the way. That''s what families are for right?"


    Crying even further, her heart felt so full that it was hard to breathe. Deep down she prayed. -God, if you really do exists, please don''t take my brother away from me. Please, I want to stay with him forever...


    * * * * *


    Bang! "What did you do, mother! Why can''t I find Adeline anywhere?" Slamming the door, he strutted in.


    "Oh, you mean that lowly mongrel? Well, I''ve sold her off. Isn''t it good, now we have enough money to pay off your brother''s tuition fees."


    Crack! Pulling his hand far back, he whipped it forward with all his strength.


    "Ahhh!" Falling off her chair, she screamed. "Vanir!! How could you treat your mother this way?!"


    Instantaneously, an ominous storm darkened his visage. "You are no longer my mother." Gnashing his teeth, his tone was as cold as ice. Looking down from above, his piercing glare was enough to kill. His mother sat rooted to the spot, shivering.


    Storming out, he left, never to come back ever again. Using all sorts and means, Vanir searched far and wide. By hook or crook, he swore upon his dead father and himself that he would find her. Find her then make a new home for her to go home to. A place where she could belong, a place where no one would ever discriminate her ever again. With barely any lead, he persevered on.


    All he found out was that the group that kidnapped her was called Human Salvation Army. They are a group that seeks those who have talent in healing. All for the sake of immortality, they perform brutal and inhumane experiments.


    -Wait for me. I''ll be there, I promise. So just sit tight and wait! Vanir chanted it over and over in his head.


    In the end, what lied at the end of his journey was not salvation, nor was it hope. It was nothing but despair. Black, inky, void darkness of despair. Across the ocean, he found her in a slum.


    Her rotting corpse. Ravens perching upon it.


    Battered and bruised, bloody and broken. Dead. Flies buzzing around, maggots crawling out of her orifices. Dead. Cockroaches and ants feasting on her body. She was dead.


    Unburied and abandoned. No one by her side during her last moments. No one to mourn for her, nor anyone to hold a proper funeral for her.


    The volcanic rage he felt surmounted all those he had felt before in his life. Kneeling down, in her front of her, he screamed. Fluttering, the ravens flew away. He screamed and screamed. Hot liquid streamed down his face. Pounding his fist against the cracked earth, blood dripped out.


    "... So useless..." His hoarse voice cracked out. "You''re so useless without me... How can I leave your side? How could I have left you all alone? The really useless one is your brother. I could not even fulfil a single promise! Arghhh!"


    Clenching his fist tight, he bit his lower lip till it bled.


    "This world is wrong... How can it let something like this happen to such an innocent child? She did absolutely no wrong. Sure, she was very shy in front of others, but she was a really, really kind girl..." Tears dripped into the hard, cracked earth. "I''ll destroy it all... Everything this world. Whatever the cost, I will right this broken world." He wiped his tears and snot with his sleeve.


    "Time, after all, only moves forward." He gave a bitter smile, picking up her rotting corpse. "Sorry, wait for me just a little longer. Your little brother''s incompetent you see. It''ll take a little longer."


    -I''ll definitely bring you back to life. He swore once again in his head.


    Thud! The book snapped to a close.


    "Hmm, it''s about time." It grunted. Mysterious hoots of an owl echoed in a distance. The frigid air howled while crescent moon peeked through the window. After learning the hard way that it burns blue in the daylight, it waited until nightfall. Wearing padded gloves and a full body cloak that its master was wearing, it managed to cover itself completely. It prepared for departure, its absent heart heavy from the previous tale. Uncertain how to feel about it.


    The next few pages were about him studying hard to become a necromancer. How he remembered there was a book about raising the dead in his father''s library. From that starting point, he went and experimented on monsters. As if possessed by a devil, he worked tirelessly to point of exhaustion, hell-bent on taking over the world to fix it and resurrect his sister.


    Scouring through the hellish sands, the freezing plains, oxygenless summits and many more. All to increase his art. His skill. His previously-unknown talent in raising the dead. In the end, he found a way to raise the ultimate servant.


    After perfecting his craft, he found the best place to resurrect a minion befitting the gods. A minion with enough power to conquer the world. The Arashi valley. A place where thunderstorms perpetually occur. A place famous for the Thundere Wyverns.


    The next few pages were about the list of ingredients that were needed to bring itself to life. Taking a few pages, it was very long.


    After that, the skeleton read other books as well. One particularly took his interest. One with the dumb title of "How to Become A Master Necromancer", a compilation of books from over 3000 books that Vanir have collected. It was large, around the size of a backpack. The cover even had a lock, with which the key could be found on the last page of the diary.


    The second thing that could be found on the last page of the diary an emblem with the shape of a wolf.


    Finally, the last thing is a list of its skills.


    ====================


    Skills:


    [Innate Passive Skill: Spirit Vision]


    [Innate Passive Skill: Heat & Chill Negation]


    [Innate Passive Skill: Hunger & Thirst Negation]


    [Innate Passive Skill: Adamantine Bones]


    [Innate Passive Skill: Holy Attribute Weakness]


    [Innate Passive Skill: Sunlight Vulnerability]


    [Innate Passive Skill: Lesser Curse Resist]


    [Innate Passive Skill: Restless Spirits]


    [Innate Passive Skill: Death Aura]


    [Innate Active Skill: Bone Rush]


    [Innate Passive Skill: Bone Smash]


    ====================


    -Well, at least now, I don''t have to read every single book here. This compilation book should be good enough. Other than that I''ll take these two other books.


    Turning his skull around to survey the room, it placed the two books into a rucksack.


    "What else should I bring? I already got the Encyclopedia of Herbs and Greenery, the Encyclopedia of Beasts, the diary and the guidebook on the path of Necromancy with the stupid name. With those four enormous books, my rucksack is already full... I guess, that''s it then."


    With that, the skeleton closed the door behind him, going downhill. Going down on a new path, a new life, in the dead of the night.

 Chapter 4: Scarecrow of Sacrifice

    Unrestrained, the scarecrow charged. Floating inches off the ground, it tolled whenever it went. Scattering the hordes of panicked Orcs. Nearby, scraping his knees, an Orc child stumbled. Taking this chance, the scarecrow neared, swinging its metal slab of an arm downwards.


    The Orc child cowered, rooted to the spot. Tears leaking, it ducked down, holding his hand above his head. Shutting his eyes at his final moments. Or so he thought.


    "Orahhhh!" At the moment of impact, an ear-splitting screech resounded through the open air.


    "Don''t touch my subjects!" A guttural voice growled, his hulking figure appearing right beside the scarecrow. Roughly humanoid, he had pale, lifeless grey skin. Two tusks protruding from his lower lip, black tattoos marking his face. An Orc. Well, to be more specific, the Orc King. With all its might, the Orc King bashed his giant war hammer into the scarecrow''s body.


    "Orc King! Thank you." Tear stained, the Orc child squeezed out his heartfelt gratitude.


    "Get away, child Aro. Don''t worry. It''s the duty of a king to protect his subjects after all."


    Instantly, the child brightened up, nodding swiftly, he ran away.


    "That bell-shaped scarecrow is actually a bell?" From the distance, the skeleton questioned.


    The other Orc warriors got on their feet. Brandishing their weapon of choice, they dived into the fray.


    "Warrior Fre, head of squad 1, entering the battle!"


    "Warrior Gro, member 2 of squad 1, entering the battle!"


    "Warrior Rey, member 2 of squad 1, entering the battle!"


    "Warrior Tri, member 2 of squad 1, entering the battle!"


    "Warrior Pur, member 2 of squad 1, entering the battle!"


    "Warrior Ful, member 2 of squad 1, entering the battle!"


    "Very well, show me what you are made of." Cro roared.


    The seven Orcs, dashed in and out, taking turns smashing their weapons into the scarecrow in quick successions. Pulling out at just the right moment to escape from the scarecrow''s reach. Executing perfectly timed, coordinated complex attack patterns.


    "Woah, they''re strong..." The skeleton muttered.


    "Hmph, hmph! Of course! Who do you think they are?" Thrusting her small chest out, with her nose high in the air, an Orc child exclaimed.


    "Eh...You arehis daughterright? The Orc king''s daughter... What''s your name again?"


    "It''s Rui!" She hissed. "How can you even forget the name of a beauty like me?" She posed.


    "A cheeky brat." The skeleton mumbled.


    "A cheeky brat right?" Popping out of nowhere, Hebi nodded in agreement.


    "Yeah, totally a cheeky brat." The skeleton affirmed.


    "Enough! How many times are you going to repeat that? Tch!"


    "What''s actually going on? I woke up just toallllthis chaos?" Hebi asked.


    "I don''t get it either. The bell-shaped scarecrow just started rampaging. I didn''t even know that it was actually a bell until it started tolling noisily every time it shakes.


    "Yeah, they act as an alarm." With a prideful look on her face, Rui began explaining.


    "You know how next to this place is the Arashi Valley, right? That place has lots of wyverns. They are our pesky, pest of neighbours. Occasionally, coming here to ravage our field and attack us. They normally target a lone Orc. We placed that scarecrow so that the wyvern would attack it first. Then when it picks it up with its mighty talons, the bell would toll. Alerting us to any danger. So, that scarecrow acts as an alarm bell."


    "Rui! There you are!" Another Orc ran, panting with each step he took. "You," He exhaled. "You know you can''t be here, come let''s go underground."


    Sighing, Rui snorted. "No way! I''m not going down there. I''m going to watch. Papa''s strong after all, unlike you. He will never lose! Unlike you."


    "Ughh." Fer, her attendant grunted. Wordlessly, the skeleton patted him on the back. Trying to encourage him.Howeverit seemed to bring the opposite effect.


    "What? I know you think I''m pathetic as well." He sniffed. "Pathetic, weak, useless..."


    "Come now, no one said that." The skeleton felt compelled to comfort the bullied attendant.


    "I said that," Rui exclaimed with a triumphant look.


    "You''re not helping! And why do you look so proud of it?" Hebi retorted, also sympathizing with the poor attendant.


    "But being a bell does not explain how it''s able to move right?" The skeleton cleared his throat, changing the subject.


    "Yeah, I never saw it come to life before. Did it get cursed or something?" Fer knitted his eyebrows together. "Hmm..."


    -Curse...The skeleton wondered.Where have I heard that recently? Ahhh! Didn''t Cro mention something about how I got some skill to scare others? That''s probably [Innate Passive Skill: Death Aura]. The scarecrownever moved before. Isn''t it reasonable to think before I come here? Curse, he mentioned how the scarecrow can be cursed... Am I the cause?


    [Innate Passive Skill: Restless Spirits] The message popped up at the corner of the skeleton''s vision.


    -This is the one? What does it do?! Huh?It''ssuddenly in my head? The ability to stir up wandering, restless spirits with a deep attachment or vengeance to the material world.


    In the distance, Cro swung down his hammer over his head.


    CLANGGG!!! The metal clashed reverberated on impact. However, the scarecrow had not a single scratch, much less a dent.


    -It is my fault after all. Come to think of it, didn''t the skill Spirit Vision activate when I first saw the scarecrow...? I should have paid more attention.The skeleton gnashed its teeth.


    "Arghh, my ears hurt!" Cro shouted over the din.


    -Huh? Am I feeling guilty? What kind of person am I before I died? I chose to ignore Cro when he was getting beat up yesterday... Am I a kind person or a cruel one? Do I want to be kind or cruel? Am I really feeling guilt? Is this my own emotion?


    Dong! Dong! Dong! Repeatedly, the tolls increased in volume, jarring the skeleton back into reality. The scarecrow stood still, its clapper rocking back and forth, completely out of control.


    "Ahhhh!" The Orcs one by one fell to their knees. Collapsing, they writhed like a snake on the ground. Tears streamed down their faces as they yelled their agony out.


    "What''s wrong?" The skeleton shouted over the din. Sure, the bells were giving him a headache. But other than that, he felt nothing too extreme. Bewildered, Hebi was in a similar position.


    Clutching his arm, Fer choked out. "It''s... my limbs... They felt as if they''re being torn out of their sockets. ARGhhh!"


    Peering closer, the skeleton realised what it was immediately. Coupled with the scent, the skeleton became absolutely certain. There was no way it would get this wrong. After all, the moment it was born, it was surrounded by this kind of scent. This thing used to be littered all over the cottage''s shelves. Used to fill the graveyard inches deep.


    It was rotting flesh.


    "But how?" It questioned. "The Orcs are very much still alive..."


    "The bell. It must be the bell. It releases a curse of some kind when it tolls." Hebi concluded. "You must be safe probably because you''re a type of undead. While my kind has the ability to resists curse and the like."Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "Then what I have to do becomes simple." The skeleton answered.-I don''t know what kind of person am I in the past. I don''t even know if this feeling is mine. But I want to help. Yeah, I want to help the Orcs. For now, that is good enough. For now, that is what I will do!


    The skeleton stepped forward. It took small, uncertain steps before breaking out into long strides. Soon enough, the skeleton dashed, the soles of its bony feet scratching and kicking off against the gravelly earth.


    "Hey, what are you planning to do?" The skeleton heard Hebi shouting behind it.


    "What am I going to do? Heh, isn''t it obvious? Getting them to owe me a favour obviously!" If the skeleton had lips and facial muscle, he surely would have smiled at this moment.


    A devilish smile that surfaced when one''s life is on the line.


    Except in its case, it was already long dead. So it would be more like staking one''s existence on the line.


    Nevertheless, the skeleton dashed forward.


    "Bone Rush!" The skeleton unleashed a flurry of bones upwards. Not pausing for a moment, the skeleton used the cover of the bones to duck into close range. Visible only for a fraction of a second before disappearing into a blind spot. Right in front of the base of the scarecrow.


    "Bone smash!" Cerulean light gathered around its metacarpals, materialising to two long bone clubs on each hand.


    The skeleton wedged the two bones into the mouth of the bell. Exerting its imaginary muscles, the skeleton pulled back. Succeeding to topple the scarecrow with ease. Since the first attack caused the scarecrow to lose balance. In addition, by approaching so suddenly, the scarecrow panicked and try to rush back, which sealed the deal.


    With a hollow thud, the scarecrow toppled against the cold, hard earth.


    Another message popped at the corner of the skeleton''s vision.


    [Created Active Skill: Bone topple]


    "Bone Rush! Size input 5 meters!"-I don''t get how I know I can control the size.It mustbe some sort of instinct? However, I do know that the scarecrow is roughly four meters in diameter. Which means five should be enough.


    The skeleton waved its right arm diagonally downward to the left. Its left arm tracing the opposite path. Simultaneously,impossible-to-be-human''sbones due to the size materialised, crisscrossing to form multiple X-es. Wedging the scarecrow against the ground and the bones


    [Created Active Skill: Rib Cage] The message popped up.


    -Now, only one last thing to do.


    "Bone Rush!" Bones upon bones began filling the sideways-up scarecrow. Filling it up to the brim in mere moments. Jamming up the vibrating clapper, which ceased the curse-inducing noise.


    "Th-thanks," Cro managed to croak out, blood spilling from the edges of his joints as the skin and flesh started to disintegrate.


    "Why are you doing this?" Compelled, the skeleton asked.


    "Hmm? Are you asking the scarecrow? No way it can talk~" Cro replied, with a grimaced smile on his face.


    "... I wish for destruction." A guttural, disembodied voice floated. T


    "NO way! It can talk?!" Cro shouted.


    "This definitely happened before..." Hebi commented as he caught up.


    "Why do you wish so?"


    "Day in, day out, the Orcs lived their lives nonchalantly. Forgetting the past and living a joyful life they don''t deserve. They themselves the only ones happy. But what about those who were sacrificed? Those who deserved a chance to be happy as well. You just forget about them? Act as if they don''t exist? Disgusting. All your smiling faces disgust me! All of you should just die. I''ll use my death to curse this world for letting me die. For not allowing me to achieve my meagre dream of hunting for lost relics. Yes, I represent all those who were unjustly sacrificed to that beast so that the rest could live."


    "You, you couldn''t be...? Rai? That''s you right?"


    "You know my name?"


    "Yeah, I''mCro, your friend, do you not remember?"


    "I don''t remember." The voice continued, cold as ice. The two holes acting as the eyes scowled, turning into slanted crescent moons. "But if you truly are my friend then even worse. How could you have abandoned your friend to that beast? Do you know how it feels to be torn off from limb to limb? The excruciating pain that makes you wish you were dead but you can''t die. Our only salvation was to be eaten from the head first. In which our death would be instantaneous. Do you know how that feels? This scarecrow is similar to us. That is probably why we feel an affinity to it. Then yesterday, we felt a shock to our consciousness. It was as if being awoken from a very long dream. But no matter, I will achieve our long-standing grudge."


    -Ahh, my fault. Definitely my [Restless Spirits] ability''s fault...The skeleton smacked his metacarpals against its skull.


    A dark cloud passed through Cro''s features. He balled his fist tight. "Sorry, I know how much I apologize, it would never be enough, but still I''m sorry. If only I was stronger back then. You might have forgotten me. But I, for a single moment of my life have never forgotten you."


    "Nothing but pathetic, flimsy platitudes!" The scarecrow retorted. The bubbling fury exploded in his tone.


    Gritting his teeth, Cro caressed his hammer. "You know, this hammer is the one we always dreamt of getting our hands on. The legendary one and only. After you died, I got it. It was tough, hellishly so. Nonetheless, I did it, I achieved our dream together."


    "Hmph, don''t give me your empty lip service. I hate hypocrisy the most in this world. You did it for no one but yourself. Only for your own self-interest. To lessen your own guilt! But the dead won''t be appeased by your act. They will never find peace after dying in such a way!"


    "Yeah, that may be so. Maybe it''s all for my own self. Maybe the dead will never find true peace. The reason why I killed the beast tormenting us afterwards may be due to my guilty conscience. However, I know for sure that was not the whole reason. I know I also killed the beast to secure our future. Therefore, no matter what happens, I won''t let anything destroy the future built upon the concrete of corpses. That is, after all, the duty of the king and also the duty of one who survived."


    "Yap, yap, yap, yap all you want. But I''ll destroy everything!" The scarecrow pushed its arms against the ground. Straining all its might into getting up. Into destroying the cage made of ribs.


    Crack! Crack, crack! Pressure lines formed, instantly snaking its way around like a wildfire. White splinters cracking off. Not long after, the bones snapped. One by one, the cracked pieces fell unto the earth. Breaking the prison, the scarecrow got free.


    Pounding itself using its arms, it roared. A sorrowful, livid roar tipped with vengeance. "You all shall know the pain of losing your limbs! You shall lie down there, powerless and helpless. As your flesh rot and skin flake off, blood will drain out slowly. Your fats shall melt and your mind ravaged by the agony. Lastly, after doing so well enduring the pain, your neck will melt!"


    "None of you interfere..." Cro uttered in a controlled manner. His eyes burning with unshakeable conviction.


    "Rai! I will put you to rest. You have suffered far enough! Come and get your well-deserved rest." Cro roared out loud, taunting the Rai with his fingers. The other hand, pulling the war hammer all the way back as he crouched, taking a fighting stance.


    "Maybe, this will jolt your memories a bit," Cro smirked. As if he made a funny joke that only he could understand.


    "RAGHHH!"The scarecrow flew, throwing his pulled-back fist forward at the very last second.


    Cro took a deep breath, his chest swelling rapidly. Focusing his gaze forward, he peeled his eyeballs open, refusing to blink even once. The moment contact was about to be made, he exhaled, sidestepping. Using the momentum, he spun, connecting his evasion to his attack. Smashing the war hammer in an arc similar to his spin.


    "Mjolnir! Thunder Strike!" Bang! From the clear skies, a lone lightning bolt dropped, striking the scarecrow where it stood.


    The same instant, memories rushed through the scarecrow''s consciousness.


    "Once we grow up. Let''s travel, see the ocean, climb the mountains, explore deep caverns. Let''s just go everywhere and anywhere! The two of us are invincible! Even the Hammer of Mjolnir is easy prey for us!" A cheeky brat spread his hands wide, laughing gleefully.


    -Who? Who is that laughing? Why can''t I remember his face? A fog clouded over the face of the cheeky boy. As the scarecrow thought so, the scene faded away, replaced by another.


    "It''s almost that time again."


    "Yes, we need to send someone yet again."


    "Who is the best candidate?"


    "What about that child, Rai? He''s always been sickly. Unable to do as much as the others."


    "Good, good, send him then."


    "But wait, he is good friends with the Orc prince, Cro."


    "Who cares, the prince is nothing but a brat who spends his time dreaming."


    "...What is your verdict, Orc king?"


    "Do it. Send Rai."


    -Ah, this again. This memory when I overheard the elder''s council. I can''t disappear yet. Not until I wipe those fools off this planet.


    Through raw willpower, the Scarecrow shook his consciousness back to reality. Regaining control of the scarecrow, Rai headbutted its metallic head against Cro''s.


    "Ughh!" Staggering backwards, Cro jumped back. This time, pushed on the defensive. It took everything that he had to stay conscious, much less protect himself. As a result, he got battered black and blue.


    "The moment I was born with the mark of the Orc King, I had responsibilities foisted upon me. I really hated that back then. All I wanted was to do whatever I wanted. That''s why... That''s why!" Cro swung his hammer again. But this time, the scarecrow jumped backwards.


    "That''s why the moments I spent with you were so precious, so liberating. I had fun talking about our dreams. Whenever I was with you, I felt free. You talked to me as not some royal blood but as an equal. As a friend. To me, you are really precious!" Cro roared as he pounded again and again against the earth as he missed his target.Repeatlythunder ascended from the heavens, striking the earth. Steam erupted from Cro as he fell unto one knee.


    "After you were sacrificed, I left the Orc tribe. From birth, I was given the Blessing of the Regenerate. Making use of that, I became a one-time treasure hunter. I managed to get my hands on the item of our dream. Do you smell it? The smell of singed flesh?" Sizzling, the steam subsided, bleaching the air with a hazy white, carrying the faint smell of singed flesh.


    "Apparently to borrow the strength of the mythical hammer, a torturous current of 100 000 volts will flow through your body. Every time I wield this hammer, this unbearable amount of pain courses through me. However, I endured it. Thinking that this is incomparable to the pain you feel as you were unjustly sacrificed. As a result, other wounds also heal much more slowly. Wielding this hammer, I managed to put down the beast who had tormented us so, eternally. Then I became king. The first thing I did was to abolish the stupid sacrificial tradition."


    "I know you have suffered. But please don''t take your descendants down with you. Please watch over us as we swear to never repeat the same mistake ever again!" Cro ducked as an unbalanced punch sailed over his head.


    It seemed like Cro managed to unnerve Rai. Shake his very conviction. It was no surprise considering that his belief that no one cares for the sacrificed was overturned so much. There was someone who cared about them deeply.


    "Rest in peace!" Due to missing the scarecrow rushed too far in, losing its balance.


    Allowing Cro to land a solid strike right to the neck of the scarecrow.


    "Mjolnir! Roar with all your might!" A flash of light exploded as a lightning arced through the air. Striking right at the location of the impact of the hammer.


    "Once we grow up. Let''s travel, see the ocean, climb the mountains, explore deep caverns. Let''s just go everywhere and anywhere! The two of us are invincible! Even the Hammer of Mjolnir is easy prey for us! The invincible team of Cro and Rai!" A cheeky brat spread his hands wide, laughing gleefully.


    -Ah, the fog cleared... I see it was you all along, Cro.The scarecrow thought, smiling.


    "Thank you, my friend..." A whisper floated in the winds. "And goodbye."


    "Yeah, goodbye,"Croreplied. Tar-black clouds gathering. Rumbling, a torrential downpour cleansed the earth. As if the heavens themselves were crying.

 Chapter 5: The Witch of The Oasis

    "-nes, -ones, Bones, Bones! Are you listening?" A nasal voice pierced through the skeleton''s thoughts.


    "Yes, no, I mean no, sorry, wasn''t listening. What did you say again?"


    "I''m saying I want a cushion to be placed in here. It''s uncomfortable sitting on top of bones. Sure being inside here blocks me from direct sunlight. In addition, around the undead, the air tends to be cooler. Therefore keeping the blistering heat at bay. Awesome. But I want cushions. We are definitely getting cushions the next time we have a chance to..." The albino black mamba''s complain list went on forever.


    The skeleton''s mind wandered again. Wandering to the events of the previous day. The day he got named.


    Thunder rolled among the swirling. ominous black cloud. Droplets of rain poured down in buckets. Sogging the earth equally with no prejudice or exemption. Purifying the earth, dousing any fires of rage, vengeance and hatred.


    In the middle of the field, a figure stood. Drenched from tip to toe. Yet he refused to budge. His heart engulfed in the whirlpool of emotions. Facing the sky, he dropped his hammer. Water dripped down his tusked face.


    Splitting the sky asunder, a lightning bolt forked, racing amongst the droplets.


    The next moment, the skeleton stiffened. Every bone locked in position, frozen.


    Between the lightning and the pitter patter of the rain, the skeleton heard something mixed in. Something that made its non-existent blood ran cold. An image of his master struck by lightning flashed through its mind.


    Its leaden joints refused to move. Feeling as if it was drowned in a chest-height bog. Its arm would not swing, its leg would not take a step forward. Time seemed to sit still. Everything was a blur as if it was submerged deep underwater.


    -Are you going to lose everything yet again? A voice drenched with malicious intent whispered. The skeleton feeling its throat tightened by a clawed, jet-black hand. -Whether it be your master or whoever else. You are nothing but a disappointment, a cursed, mentally deranged child. Useless and bringing disaster wherever you go.


    The skeleton gritted its teeth. -I want to save him. I don''t want him to die. Isn''t that enough for now? Isn''t that enough of a reason to act? I don''t know about misfortune or being a disappointment. Maybe I am in my previous life. But it doesn''t matter, not right now. So, let me move! Move, you stupid leg! Screaming inside his mind, the skeleton thumped his fist against his femur.


    The choking sensation around his chest and neck disappeared. Leaving behind a stinging pain to remember by. Nonetheless, the skeleton rejoiced. It can move again. It will move again. It will make it in time. This time, it will do what it could not for its master.


    Taking off into a running stride, the skeleton pushed Cro off. Just in the nick of time. As the leathery beats grew louder and louder. A dark shadow appeared grabbing the skeleton with its razor-sharp talon. Pulling back its head, it gave off a mighty roar.


    "Bones Rush!" A swirl of bones materialised, cutting through the humid air, piercing into the hide of the wyvern.


    "SKREEE!" The wyvern let out a shriek of pain. However, it refused to let go, digging its talon even deeper into the skeleton''s bones.


    "Oi, oi, oi, you can''t even eat me, you know? I''m just all bones and rags, no flesh at all. So unhand me, monster. Bone Rush!" The skeleton attempted another barrage. However, this time aiming at both of the wyvern''s wings.


    Roaring yet again, the wyvern flapped once. Instantly tucking its wings, flipped around as it nosedived. Most of the barrage of bones missed their mark.


    "Heh, looks like this won''t be easy." The skeleton muttered as the wind whistled past its ears. The wyvern itself showing no signs of slowing down at all.


    Bang! The wyvern smashed the skeleton against the earth. Sending ripples of mud flying in all directions.


    In the distance, he could hear Cro shouting. "Hey! Are you alright?"


    -Honestly, why the hell do you sound so worried for a stranger? Why do you not kill even when they attack first? I don''t get you at all. Ideals can save no one. Clinging to unattainable ideals, acting so upright as if they have a steel rod stuck up their bottom. I hate guys like those the most. I hate? Is that my feelings? Is that the kind of person I am?


    "Rib Cage!" The skeleton shouted. Rising from the ground, bones sprouted, intertwining with each other, forming a prison.


    "Bone Rush," This time, he aimed towards the eyes. Dodging most of the bones by weaving and ducking its head, it seemed as if it would get away unscarred. At least it seemed. Among the last few spurts, two splinters made its way to each eyeball. It pierced and drew blood. Spraying it against the soggy, dark sky.


    Shrieking in pain, it thrashed about. Beating its wings, each limb rampaged as if they got a mind of its own. Using this chance, the skeleton squirmed its way out of the cage. But not before one of the hits landed squarely in its right shoulder. Cracking, the shoulder joint caved in.


    Unsurprisingly, the skeleton felt no pain. The skeleton got on its feet after leaving the cage. Enraged and in agony, the wyvern ripped out multiple whirlwinds with every beat of its wings. Slashing absolutely anything that comes near. Rendering the cage useless almost instantaneously.


    "Hey, you alright?" Cro shouted once more as he inched his way closer. One arm gripping tightly on to the hammer. Seeing the hammer, the skeleton thought of an idea. "Bone Rush, bone structure edit, quantity one." The skeleton pictured in its head the shape of the bone that it wanted.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Materialising exactly as he wanted, he drove it in the rampaging wyvern''s neck. At least it tried to. After multiple misses, the bone finally found its way to the target. The bone shaped like a stake. Not a moment too soon as well, as the skeleton got blown immediately by a whirlwind.


    "Now! Cro! Drive that stake in!"


    "No... Way..." Cro shouted as he took a deep breath, pulling the hammer back as he dashed forward. Swinging the hammer in a sideways arc, he drove it in the Wyvern''s ribcage. Simultaneously exhaling while shouting. "IN... HELL!" A powerful electric current flowing in both their bodies."I abhor needless slaughter. I''ll heal it and release it afterwards."


    "Hahaha," The skeleton laughed weakly. "Thought you would say that... "


    However, Cro did not turn around. He froze. His lungs did not work the way he wanted to. Starting to hyperventilate, Cro trembled. His heart felt as if it were squeezed every last drop of blood out of it.


    "Cro? What''s wrong?" In the pit of his figurative stomach churned. The skeleton felt something was off. Panic started festering deep within his soul. -What, what happened? Did he get injured or something? His regenerative powers stopped? Did the electricity finally overloaded his regenerative powers? Eh? Is he going to die? After I tried to save him? Calm down, calm down and access the situation.


    In the edges of his vision, he realised that not only Crow but every Orc in the vicinity froze as well. Plunging the skeleton back into panic. -Eh? Is this my fault? Its mind rushed through all the possible scenarios.


    However, the answer did not come from within, but from Cro. It took a while before Cro could stop the chattering of his teeth to properly hold a conversation. Biting his lower lip until he drew blood, he finally stopped his shiver.


    "Hey, did your cloak fall off by any chance?"


    Instantly, like a bolt from the blue. The skeleton was struck by an epiphany. It realised.


    "A-ah, yes, sorry. I''ll pull it back on." Even to itself, its voice sounded distant and flat.


    Picking up on this, Cro roared. "Argh, I''m so pathetic." He bashed his head against the ground.


    "Ehhh?" The skeleton gasped.


    "As if I would be controlled by fear of death!" Cro struggled. Getting up, he turned around, facing the skeleton.


    Immediately, he was ravaged by a desire to puke. A desire to dig a hole and hide. A fervour to kill himself to escape the fear.


    -Kill myself? What the hell am I thinking? As if I would let myself go with such a lame ending. He would totally laugh in my face if he ever finds out. Anyways, Rui and Hev are still here. I can''t afford to go yet.


    Smacking both sides of his face with a loud, clear clap. It was as if the dark haze around his eyes have lifted. At the corner of his eyes, he could see the message. [Active Innate Ability: King''s Roar]


    The clap resounded far and wide. Erasing their traces of fear, allowing them to move again. It was as if multiple statues burst into life.


    "Wahahaha," Cro laughed with fake bravado. However, there have been cases when the counterfeit becomes real. "You''re really an undead huh? But I never knew a skeleton. Hmm, that''s it! Bones! That shall be your name! It doesn''t follow the three-letter naming system that Orcs have. But eh, who cares you''re not an Orc anyways. What do you think? Fitting right?"


    "Bones huh? Nice and simple, yeah I don''t mind it."


    So that was how the skeleton got named.


    "But even so, don''t you think he was worrying far too much?" Hebi''s voice brought him back to reality.


    "Hahaha, you think so?" Hebi was referring to this morning, on the day of departure.


    "Uwahh, do you remember to bring the food? Drinks? The weapons? Herbs?" Cro stammered on.


    "My god, are you our mom or what?" Hebi scoffed.


    "Don''t worry about it, it''s all packed." Bones confirmed. Hebi spontaneously decided to travel with Bones. Saying that travelling with a company is better than being all alone.


    Waving goodbye, they head northeast. While the Thundere Ravines was west of the Orc camp. According to the world map that the Orcs had, their home was close to the southernmost edge of the world. Therefore to discover more civilisation of some kind, they decided to travel northeast. However, they would need to cross a desert.


    As they faded into the distance, Cro shouted. "Bones! Come along anytime you hear me? You''re always welcome here! Of course, Hebi is as well!"


    "I''m just an add-on?" Hebi snapped back.


    "Anyway, don''t forget about the cushion," Hebi demanded again just as Bones finished his reminiscence. Hitching a free ride within Bone''s ribcage, Hebi was sheltered from the heat, sand and dust.


    On the other hand, Bones trudged on the blistering desert, step by step. Leaving a trail of boot soles impression on the sand. A lizard scampered under a rock, hiding away from the heat. Yet Bones trudged on. Showing no signs of exhaustion or heatstroke, it moved like clockwork, pretty much the same pace as it first started. Travelling through the endless rolling undulation of the sea filled with sand that stretched on to infinity. Gales of burning wind kicked up clouds of dust occasionally. As the sun relentlessly glared upon the desert, vultures circled from above, casting shadows. Swooping down on those who showed a hint of weakness on this bleak, unforgiving land of suffering.


    "By the way, how come my aura has no effect on you?"


    "Hmm, didn''t I tell you? I''m immune to curses and the like."


    "Ahh, right. Hmm? I see something." Bones pointed into the distance with its phalanges.


    "Again?" Hebi asked, tone dead, not even stirring. "It''s probably just another mirage."


    "Well, if you say so..." Bones trudged on, however changing direction.


    "Wha-!" Splash! Sputtering, Hebi swam upwards. "What''s the big idea?" Bones grabbed Hebi out of its ribcage and threw it into a pool of water.


    "What do you mean? I''m just checking whether it is a mirage?"


    "There are other better ways to check it isn''t there? You''re mad that I''m just freeloading while you do all the work right?"


    Bones replied with a totally ambiguous. "No, I''m not."


    "Hahahaha, you two are very good friends." As gentle as the plains'' breeze, a lady''s voice floated.


    "Who''s there?" Bones immediately went on guard. Lowering its centre of gravity as well as unsheathing the pair of knives that Cro had given him before they left.


    "My, my, put those dangerous things away. I''m not here to fight." Even though she said dangerous, her tone carried not a sense of alarm. Instead, continuing to project a relaxed, placid sort of atmosphere. From the lush of the vivid green vegetation, a middle-aged, mature looking woman appeared. She had pearly white skin, a dazzling smile brighter than the sun and timeless, unmatched beauty. Her sensual curves were accentuated by the aquamarine, one-piece dress made of soft, satiny fabric that she wore, matching her hair and eye colour. Her bewitching collar bones were exposed between the straps and her long, slim legs poked beneath the short skirt.


    Hebi and Bones were left breathless by her elegance. Though in Bones'' case, he already was breathless twenty-four seven.


    "Keh, these pushovers... I don''t get why you choose them." From a different direction, a boy approached. He looked to be around 15 years old. Tanned skin and muscular, he had a sandy, bleached hair. With aquamarine blue eyes.


    "Acey, don''t say that. If you don''t get along with them, I''ll be troubled."


    "Acey? Puhahaha." Hebi tried to hold back his laughter, tearing up slightly.


    "Sh-shut up!" Acey grumbled. "Mom, I told you a million times, Ace is already embarrassing enough, don''t make it even worse."


    "Now, now. Hebi, runaway prince of Zmei race and Bones, ambassador of death, welcome to The Oasis. The name''s Bianca Camille Fleur. I am what you call a witch."

 Chapter 6: The God of the Oasis

    You must be bored. How did I arrive at that conclusion? Well, by the fact that you''re reading something like this strongly suggest the fact that you are very bored. But please listen anyway. Listen to my story.


    The previous two stories have been kind of sad, at least I hoped it has touched your heart. Well, it must interest you in some way as you are reading on. Maybe you want to see how bad this story gets or maybe you genuinely enjoy the story. In any case, the first story was about a brother''s death and his unfulfilled revenge for his sister while the second was about destroying a friend''s spirit of vengeance.


    But did you know, if you change your matter of perspective it can be seen as happy as well? For example, the first story can be described as a long lost reunion between a sister and brother. While the second one is about accepting and moving on from a friend''s death. See it doesn''t sound too bad now right?


    This is also such a story. I hope you will look at it positively as I do. I find my life satisfying and regretted not a single choice. If I had to do it all over again, I would and I would change not a thing. Quite a bold claim, no? Let me thank you for reading in advance. It means a lot. Well, now that we got that all out of the way, here we go...


    Do you like fairy tales? I don''t. At least used to not like them. Why, you ask? Well, their half-assed endings really irked me off. Happily ever after? That''s it? It''s just like a better way of saying that they died at the end of their lives. I know everyone dies. But I just don''t like the idea of a story ending that way. Maybe I''m just to attached to the characters and wish to see more, But the more I think about it, I just don''t know how else to change the ending to be more acceptable. I mean it''s either a bad ending or a good one right?


    If it is a good ending how else can you say it but in the end they lived happily ever after? Plus stories need complications or problems for the characters to solve right? Characters suffer throughout the story so that the story is interesting. They deserve a happy and uneventful, peaceful moments at least at the end right? Therefore it can be said that by wishing for more stories, you are wishing for the character''s misfortune. So, if you are truly attached to the character, you should wish for a happily ever after ending to come as soon as possible right?


    To that, I say, a bunch of crap. I want more. I want to see more of the character''s lives. I really do. I know I''m being illogical and contradictory right now. Don''t mind me.


    But maybe it''s just a problem of phrasing. The phrase happily ever after. It''s overdone to the death.


    But I''m just going to apologize in advance.


    As I am going to end this story in the way I used to hate. That is right, I''m going to end it with a they lived happily ever after. Recently, I do not hate it as much. I wonder why.


    I am a god. Albeit a minor one. In the hot sandy plains of Arahas, during a severe sandstorm, a being came into existence. It just did. I''m also sorry for the sloppy beginning. But I have no other way of explaining it. From the countless whirlpool of raging sand, they shifted and morphed into a being with a humanoid shape. But he was not a human. He was a god. He was me. In the beginning, there was just sand. An endless stretch of a sea of sand. But then I came into existence.


    I wandered through the Arahas desert for an indefinite amount of time. Wondering what purpose I would serve in life. When I chanced upon a dying crow. I used my powers to restore it to full health. However, no matter how many times I would restore it, it would go back to its dying state.


    Curious, I taught the bird words. The words that will allow us to communicate. Don''t ask me how I know words. I just do. Afterwards, I ask.


    "Crow, why do you keep on being on the verge of death?"


    "I am a living being. Living beings need water, air and food. In this desert, there is neither water nor food."


    "Then am I, who needs none of those, not a living being? Am I not living?"


    "I do not know." The crow shook its head simply. "But I have no chance to fly out of this ruthless sandstorm. All I can do here is wait for my death. You do not need to waste any more of your divine power on me. It''ll be nothing but a waste."


    "No, I will not allow you to die. You are the first companion I had. Water and food, was it? I''ll make it."


    Then the god created an oasis. In the middle of a desolate desert, I conjured up an oasis. It was centred around a pool of water. Shady trees dotted the surroundings as succulent, fleshy fruits hung from their branches.


    It was literally paradise on earth, specifically in a desert. Thus the crow lived. Soon enough more animals came and took shelter in the oasis. I taught them words and they each became my companions as well.


    However, one day I noticed.


    "Why are some of you in pairs?"


    The ever so knowledgeable crow answered. "Well, it is what you call a couple. When a male or a female fall in love with the opposite gender. They get together for the sake of reproduction and for some species lifelong companionship."


    "Lifelong companionship..." I repeated at that time, wistfully. Only later, I found that my feeling was called jealousy. I wanted one as well. A partner to go through thick and thin with. Someone to share the good and bad times with. Someone to love and cherish. Till death do us part.


    Next, I am going to describe a starting point of another story. One that intersects with mine.


    She was born. In a hut in the middle of a swamp. Not accessible through normal means. The swamp of the witches. The Swamp of Babylon. I will not be saying too much as she should be the one narrating her own story. But she was loved among the witches. Everyone around was kind and caring to her.


    At the age of 12, budding witches leave their home, the swamp. To search for a rare ingredient that they could bring home. As proof that they can survive on their own, proof that they are capable. After returning home then, they would graduate from witches apprentices.


    Bianca was one such apprentice. However, she failed. One day, I found her wandering at the desert. Half-dead, with bruises and cuts all over her body. When I first met her, she was knocking on death''s door. Even breathing she had trouble with.


    Using all my powers, I tried to restore her. It was not easy by any means. But I succeeded. To a certain extent.


    "...Who are you?"


    "I''m named Ash. The crows gave me that name."


    "I see are you the one who saved me?"


    "Yes... But..."


    "You have my thanks." She coughed out.


    "You don''t have to thank me. Because of me, you won''t be able to leave this place..."


    She froze. "What do you mean?"


    As long as she stays in the oasis, she would be safe and alive. Any moment she steps out, she would return to her death-like state. Due to my incapability, she became imprisoned in this paradise that I created.


    I explained the situation to her.


    Her face transitioned between a few emotions. Shock, disbelief, anger and then acceptance.


    "Hahaha, this must be my punishment then." She smiled, tears dripping into her fist.


    "Punishment?" I asked.


    "I... did an unforgivable thing..."


    As the days passed by, I became more and more enamoured by her. I received so much, learnt so much from her. So maybe it was not so surprising that I fell in love with her. Me, a god, with her, a human. That should be enough backstory. Now to the present.


    "Hebi, runaway prince of Zmei race and Bones, ambassador of death. Welcome to The Oasis. The name''s Bianca Camille Fleur. I am what you call a witch."


    "Wh-what did you just say?" Hebi felt his pulse quickened, the blood rushing to his head. "H-how?"


    "Hmm," She cocked her head to one side. "Oh, your identities? I''m a witch after all. But it is true I''m not here to fight."


    "Ambassador of death..." Bones repeated, dazed. "What do you mean by that?"


    "Well, come in first. No point in just standing there. Come in and we''ll talk." She turned around, walking past the trees. "Ace, help me prepare some tea for the guests."Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "Wh-what? B-but we don''t need to do anything for them..." Despite the grumbling, he still obeyed.


    "Oh right, we only need one cup for the guest," She continued, smiling ever so enigmatically.


    "So you knew... How much do you know?" Bones asked warily, observing her gestures and her blank facial expression.


    "Quite a lot. But please don''t be on guard. We just want to ask you for a little favour."


    Ahead, a couple of small, rosy brown thatched huts stood on top of stilts. Bridges adjoined a couple of these huts together. They climbed a ladder to get up on the deck surrounding the hut. Brushing past the strands of leaves that hung over the entrance, they entered one such hut. In the centre, a man sat on the floor, with his legs crossed under the coffee table.


    He had a tanned and well-toned body. Naked from the waist up, his only piece of garment was a linen shendyt. He kept an absolute poker face, his cat-like pupils following us silently. Black kohl lined underneath his eyes, making him look even more intimidating.


    "Ah, this is my husband, Ash, the god of the oasis." She clapped joyfully, introducing nonchalantly. He nodded towards us.


    "Oh, nice to me-, hell no, what do you mean god? Don''t just say that so casually. Explain more." Hebi retorted.


    "Hmm? What else is there to explain? This, my beloved husband is a god." She jumped, clinging to his arm.


    "Mom! You''re in front of guests. Would it kill you to have some restraint?" Ace complained, slamming the teacup down.


    "No way, If you separate me from your father, I''ll die. Both figuratively and literally." She rubbed her cheek against his arm. All the while, Ash kept his face blank and impassive.


    "I''m sorry to interrupt but can you please start to explain what''s going on?"


    "Fine, fine, geez, you''re so impatient," Bianca pouted, her face growing serious. "Long time ago, I was injured. Ash, here, he saved me. Time passed on, we had a child. However, I caused Ash to lose his immortality. Both of us are reaching the end of our lifespan..." Her voice trailed off. Sitting at one side of the table, Ace grimaced, as he heard this line.


    "We want you to be my son''s travelling companions." Ash picked up where Bianca left off, rubbing her hand with his. "We wish for Ace to find himself a new home elsewhere. It''s about time for Ace to leave his nest and create his own."


    "Yes and this is an even more selfish but I want you to bring this letter to the home of the witches, the swamp. The map is included. There is another letter that I want you guys to keep as well. Promise me that you will only give it to Ace once you get near the swamp. Then Ace can make his decision to go or turn back."


    "What are the benefits to us, if we help you?" Hebu asked. His slit-like eyes peered unwaveringly. "And why did you choose us? Surely you didn''t pick any random passerby to escort your son, did you?"


    "Hahaha, you are used to negotiation aren''t you?" Bianca laughed. "Well for your second question. I am a witch. Therefore I use magic to check your background. I saw how Bones saved that Orc. While for Hebi, I saw the bits of his past. You are a kind soul."


    "I am not kind in any way." Hebi spat, coiling up threateningly. "Don''t you think that invasion of privacy is a terrible thing to do?"


    Bowing her head slightly, she apologized. "Yeah, I apologize for that, but I needed to know if you are fit or not."


    "Don''t apologize if you don''t regret it in the slightest." He glared at her. To that, she shrugged her shoulders.


    "Wait, you said, check our background. Did you know what happens to me four days ago?" Bones interrupted.


    "Hehe," She giggled, winking. "Are you testing to see whether I''m bluffing? That is the night you revived. Alas, I cannot see past that. Any other questions? If not, I''m going to answer your first question now."


    "No, I have no more questions. Go ahead." Bones shook his head, satisfied.


    "First, I can teach you an illusion spell to transform yourself to appear as a human. Also, a spell to talk to humans. Did you realize that we can converse with you?"


    Hebi''s slit eyes widened slightly. While the skeleton did not stir. However, despite not showing it, his mind was racing. Cursing himself to miss such an obvious detail.


    -Kugh, I need to be more careful. A missed detail equals death. Shouldn''t I know that better than anyone. Wait... Huh... Why, how did I know this again?


    "I cast a spell that allowed us to converse. This will be quite useful I believe? After all, you used to be a human right? Aren''t you curious about them?"


    -Humans... I can''t deny that I''m curious...


    "While for Hebi, I can offer food and the like. As well as a charm. A charm to protect you from any witches. I can bind it to Ace. As long as Ace is alive, you cannot be harmed by the witches. After all, you are a very valuable existence to us witches."


    "Are you asking me to be his familiar?" Hebi''s voice turned glacial. His forked tongue slithering out and in.


    -Familiar? Bones wondered.


    "Yes. If you''re another''s familiar. Other witches know better than to touch you."


    "No thanks." Hebi snorted, his nostrils flaring. "You''re just trying to increase the number of cards to protect your son."


    "Hahaha, you got me there. But being a familiar indicates an equal relationship. It won''t be too bad. In addition, all that is needed to stop is both of your consent. Since your lives are bound to each other. Witches normally break off a familiar that is not willing."


    "But if he dies, I will die along with him won''t I? There''s no guarantee he will cut me off before he dies, maybe he''ll drag me down to hell." Hebi replied coldly.


    "Haha, snakes will always be snakes huh? Nope, I have no guarantee. But surely you have been attacked before? Zmei race is valuable. Albinos even unbelievably more so."


    "That''s why you''re trying to get me on your son''s side." Hebi snorted. "I can''t believe this. Your parental concerns go that far?"


    "Well, that is part of it, but I''m trying to get my son into something dangerous. I at least need to prepare some sort of insurance. If you become my son''s familiar and head to the swamp, you will definitely get involved in something troublesome... To say the least... However, it can be safer as well. My son is a demigod after all with the witch blood running through him. In addition, if my plan goes all well, you can negotiate with the witches. To free any Zmei captives and ban the catching of the Zmei race against their will. Right Prince Hebi?"


    "Shut up! Don''t call me a prince!" Hebi snapped, his forked tongue flickered up and down.


    "Sorry, I pushed too far." Bianca bowed down. "But I am desperate. You guys are the best candidate so far. So please."


    "I beg of you as well, please." Ash bowed down as well.


    "Wh-what are you doing?" Hebi got flustered. "Gods are not supposed to bow down to mere mortals."


    "They''re not?" Bones asked.


    "Of course not, where have you been, man? Ahh, right sorry, you were just born recently. It is really easy to forget since you don''t act as a child at all."


    "Hahaha," Ash laughed a deep, melodious laugh. "Don''t worry about it, I''m a mortal as well, now. Just a worried father who is about to send his only son off. Nothing more than that."


    "Hahh, we of Zmei race respect the gods. If we don''t, we believe we will get divine retribution after all. If you so far as that, I can''t say no. Still, this is the first time, I see a god bowing down. Gods tend to have a mountain of pride."


    "Is that so... Well, I only have met one other god so I don''t really know." Ash replied, smiling warmly. It was hard to imagine that it was the same stern-faced man that faced them moments ago.


    "Ah, dear, you managed to loosen up. I''m glad. You see, my husband is just very nervous in front of first-time strangers. Don''t mind him." She rubbed her back caringly.


    "A-am not!" He rebutted.


    "You just stuttered." Hiding her smile behind her fingers, she gave him a sidelong glance.


    "Ugh." He grunted, grudgingly admitting his loss.


    "What about you, brat? Are you fine with them deciding this for you?" Hebi directed his question towards Ace. He sat, scowling the whole time.


    His eyebrows knitted together as he answered. "... If it''s their parents'' last wish, what can the child do but obey, eh?"


    "I see, you''re a good child, aren''t you?" Hebi sighed. "Despite glaring like that, you care about parents a lot."


    "Hahh? What made you come to that conclusion?" Ace sputtered.


    "Hahaha, don''t worry about it. Acey''s shy. He''ll warm up to you guys over time."


    "Mom!" Acey gave a sort of strangled, exasperated gasp.


    "Hahaha, I see, Acey''s a really good boy, isn''t he?"


    "Arghh, I want to strangle that snake right here right now." Ace growled.


    "Well, with that out of the way, let''s eat and sleep!" Bianca raised her fist in the air.


    "Sleep? It''s midday?" Hebi interrupted.


    "Witches believe that it is good luck to see their loved ones off during sunset. It''s also better for Bones that way right?"


    "Ah, good point." Bones nodded.


    "Ace, you''ve packed everything right?"


    "Yes, dad, you''ve asked that a million times." Ace rolled his eyes.


    "Hahaha, you don''t sound annoyed though. Normally you would use a more irritated tone of voice. To outsiders, you would probably seem really cold. But I know, you are a really good child..." His voice trailed off.


    "Come!" Knocking Bones at the back of its skull, Hebi dragged him off.


    "Eh, why?" Completely clueless, Bones complained.


    "Hahh," Hebi sighed. "It''s called reading the atmosphere. You''ll learn it one day. I don''t believe my luck, honestly. To have to babysit not one child, but two."


    "Dad..." He hugged his dad. "It''s alright. I''m strong enough now. I''ll be a hero. Ones like the ones that mom always admired. I promise I will be someone you two can be proud of." Eyes glistening, he replied, trying to keep both his gaze and voice steady.


    Sniffing, his floodgates burst. Hugging him, he cried. "You''ve grown haven''t you?"


    "Dad, I''m choking." Ace replied, not unkindly, patting his back as well.


    "Well, just humour him once." Likewise, Bianca had tear stained eyes. "Your dad might not look like it, but he is very emotional."


    "Aren''t you emotional too?" Ace smirked between his tears. "Do you want a hug as well?''


    "Idiot. You have gotten old enough to retort, haven''t you? Well, you are still a hundred years too early you whelp. You''re nothing but a whelp who''s wet behind his ears. What do you know about me? You''re the one who wants to hug me, don''t you? That''s why you suggested it in the first place."


    "Hahh, you call dad not being honest, but you''re the most stubborn one of all of us, aren''t you? Yes, I want a hug, but you want one too don''t you."


    "Idiot son. Don''t ever come back, you hear me?"


    "Hahaha!" Ace burst out laughing. "Normally wouldn''t you wish for your son to come back?"


    "We''re not the very bit normal you know that. But I''m still happy. I never regret a moment that I had with you. Ace Camellia Fleur. Excel in everything you do, just like your name. But even if you fail, it''s fine, just get back up and try again. Try over and over till you succeed." She sniffed. "Make us proud, you idiot son!" She smacked him hard on his back.


    "Make sure to stay well, Ace!" Ash shouted as the three of them faded into the distance.


    Waving back, Ace shouted back his reply. "I definitely will!"


    "Also don''t forget to get yourself a girlfriend!" Bianca smirked shouting.


    As he heard this, Ace blushed. Steam seemed to burst out of his ears as he stomped his foot and shouted.


    "You idioottt mom!" Huffing, he sped up, running away. Letting his tears freely flow in the star-splattered night sky. He made no attempts to wipe them as he blindly charged forward.


    Bones had to run to catch up. Hebi, as usual, rested in his rib cage. This time on a cushion fitted between its bones as Hebi requested for one from Ash and Bianca.


    "Uoooh! If it''s like this! Let''s have the world''s best adventure. One that I can brag to my mom about!" He shouted towards the sky, pumping himself up.


    "Heh, what a troublesome brat," Hebi muttered. But Bones could swear that it saw the edges of his lips curling upwards.


    "They''re gone..."


    "Yeah, they''re gone..." Bianca collapsed into the Ash''s arms. Burying her face in his chest.


    "... Is it fine this way?"


    "Getting cold feet halfway? This isn''t like you, Bianca. Normally, I would be the one worrying." Ash stroked her aquamarine hair gently.


    "Yeah, you''re right. It''s going to be sad though, not being able to see him ever again."


    "Yes, but even without us watching over him, he''ll be fine. believe in our child." Ash lifted her chin upwards. Drawing his face close to her. His lips inches away from hers.


    Having fulfilled his wish to find a partner and for her living a fulfilling live every single day, they lived happily ever after.

 Chapter 7: The Betrayed Children Part 1

    "Bones! How? How could you kill her?!" The girl''s gaped mouth hung wide open, eyes as round as a full moon. She cupped her hands around her mouth.


    Bones used its hands to shield its eyes from the glaring moonlight piercing through the doorway. Barely making out her silhouette.


    "Eve?" Bones questioned.


    Bones looked down. Flickering between bones and flesh, his palms were stained red in the dim darkness. A girl lied beneath his feet. The vessels in her eyes burst, splashing her sclera a deep dark carmine. Blood dripped from every orifice. It was as if her visage was painted to express pure and gruesome agony.


    It was then that Bones came to a sickening realisation. Despite her head facing upwards, her body faced downwards. Bones was assailed by an unstoppable surge of nausea. Its gait wobbling.


    Stunned, Bones froze for a moment. Throwing its skull backwards, it started to laugh. Laughing maniacally, unrestrained, as if not only its jaw was unhinged, but its mind as well.


    -Ahhh...


    "Bones?" Ash peeked from behind. Confusion painted his tanned face. The third day Bones arrived in town, Bones was found to have murdered a girl.


    Day 1 Bones and party arrived in town...


    "Welcome one, welcome all, come and take a look at my fishes! Freshly caught and iced! I guarantee its freshness." A fishmonger stood behind his stall, shouting.


    Stands lined the square. Goods of all sorts and variety sat on top of them. Dying the town square in a vast array of colour, from the striking red of fruits to the deep lavender of flowers.


    The salty sea smell lingers in the air. Blending with the stench of raw meat and pungent spices. Squawks of seagulls penetrated through the spotless azure sky.


    "We''re here. Finally here!" Ash exclaimed, looking around.


    "Yeah, I''ve never seen so many humans before. More like any humans other my master." Bones agreed, keeping the hood well above his skull. The illusion spell was under effect. But it still burns under the sunlight, so it made sure to cover itself with its master''s cloak well.


    It was outfitted with a long-sleeved, grey tunic, similar drab grey long trousers and travelling boots. Its hands covered by padded gloves to hide its fleshless hands in case they come into contact with others. Bones was given these things in the oasis to make his disguising easier. Two obsidian reinforced iron daggers given by Cro were sheathed to its buckle on its waist.


    Then before it entered the town of Kaigan, it activated the spell. It was slightly different from the way it activated a skill.


    Bianca grumbled when they were back at the oasis. "No, not like that. Your pronunciation is off. Imagine your appearance in your head. Hmm, it''s best if you use someone you know as an example.


    For humans, we need to undergo a whole long process of activating our mana circuit. Even then, our mana pool would be appalling low. Unless you''re blessed or one of the chosen ones, with extraordinary talent. Then humans can only raise it for a bit before we reach our max. It can be enhanced using items and the like, but still, humans are at a huge disadvantage.


    Monsters, on the other hand, have larger mana pool and a larger max capacity. They also have no need to activate it, since they are born with it being active. With my skill, I''ve ascertained that you have low mana pool but one of those monsters that have a huge potential. Your current low mana pool would mean lesser active period for the spell. It can be quite draining as well. So I suggest you hide in the inn whenever that happens.


    Another thing you should watch out is that large towns will have magic that can detect monsters entering. Guardians, ancient beings will activate and destroy any monsters in town as well. They''re insanely strong so don''t even try fighting them. But the next town over, the town of Kaigan, does not have that system.


    The last thing to watch out is the spell "Dispel" and skills that have a similar effect. Which I might as well teach you. It does exactly as it means. It can break the spell of illusion. Some of the skills are even passive so it activates all the time. Just avoid anyone with demon eye or some sort of radar. The chant is..."


    "¦×¦Å¦Ô¦Ä¦Á?¦Ò¦È¦Ç¦Ò¦Ç"


    Bones muttered the chant, casting an illusion. For some reason, the appearance that he chose was that of a young male. Black hair and eyes, a slightly effeminate face with a slender build. Bones felt like a nostalgic face, however, it could not recognize who it was.


    "Hello! You guys look like newcomers to this town." A curly, short brown haired girl jumped off the stairs with zest, calling out to them.


    "Hahaha, does it appear that way?" Hebi peeked from under the cloak.


    "Woah, a talking snake?" She exclaimed.


    "Why does everyone reacts that way," Hebi grumbled.


    "He''s my familiar." Ace declared proudly.


    "Familiar, wow, that''s amazing! By the way, my name is Eve Liv. What''re your names?" She asked good-naturedly.


    "So, what do you want?" Hebi asked after they introduced themselves.


    "Hmm, what do you mean?" She kept the smile fixed on her face. "Since you are new to this town, I thought, I as a local shall show you around."


    "In exchange for what?" Hebi''s forked tongue flickered in and out.


    "Hahaha, you are sharp. I honestly thought you guys were just a bunch of country bumpkins. But I guess not."


    "These two are. But snakes by nature are devious," Hebi commented dryly. "No way we are losing in a game of ulterior motives. As they say, there is nothing scarier than a free lunch."


    "Oii," Ace interrupted. "What did you call us?"


    Keeping an eye on each other, in the end, both Hebi and Eve burst out laughing. A pretentious, hollow laugh.


    "Ohohohoh!"


    "Well, to be completely honest, my parents owned an inn and I hoped,"


    "That we would stay there, heh." Hebi finished her sentence.


    "Haha, that''s right," she stuck her tongue out.


    "Hehehe, you would totally make a fine merchant."


    "Hahaha, thanks for your compliment."


    "Scary, these two are scary..." Bones muttered. Pulling Hebi to one side, Bones asked. "Are you sure it''s fine? I''m a monster. If we get too close, it might get troublesome."


    "We have no choice." Hebi hissed back. "We need a roof above our head as well as a boat to go to the next continent. An inn is the perfect place to get both. We can stay there and gather information to get a boat. Since there is no better place to obtain information in a town than from the tavern."Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    * * * * *


    "Here are your orders!" Eve slammed down cups of mead as well as dishes down the wooden table.


    "Eat up! Eat up! I promise it''ll taste good." She chattered on good-naturedly.


    "Well, as long as it''s not Eve''s cooking, it''s good!" A large build man from a nearby table joined in.


    "Hah? What do you mean by that, Lard?" Eve puffed her cheek. Much to the joy of other customers. Laughing at her pouting face, a merry atmosphere enveloped the inn.


    "Later, I won''t buy any more fish from you." She jested.


    "No, no way." He put on an act of despairing.


    "Oi, oi, are you sure you can find a husband like that, eh, Eve? Gahaha!" Another customer laughed.


    "And you, I''ll buy ale from someone else, if you keep this up."


    "Ehh..."


    "I see that lady is well-liked here, isn''t she?" Hebi commented, biting off another chunk of fried poultry.


    "Yeah," Ace agreed whole-heartedly.


    "See, Bones? What did I tell you? Unlike other businesses which only provide one area of service, inns or taverns provide bedding, drinks and food. Sometimes even girls." Hebi leered, drunk.


    "Therefore, they have a smattering of connections, hic. That''s why I always say, the best place to gather information in the new town is either the tavern or the adventurers'' guild. Hic, now praise me, the professional traveller." Hebi boasted, throwing his head high.


    "Yeah, yeah, we basically know everyone in town." Eve appeared out of nowhere, entering the conversation naturally.


    "Eve, more ale here!"


    "Alright, coming." She replied, winking at Bones. "I''ll talk to you more later. Anything you want to know, just ask."


    "Haha, scary girl. It''s like she knows what we want..." Bones laugh. Not being able to eat, Bones excused itself by saying it was not feeling well and left early.


    * * * * *


    "Hahh..." Bones sighed. Its feet dangling over the roof''s edge. Being wrapped fully, it seemed as if it was trying to keep warm from the chilly sea breeze. Although it was completely insensitive to things like heat and cold. Sighing again, it faced the night sky. The round full moon glowed silver in the sea of inky darkness.


    "Pretty, ain''t it?" A voice jarred into its daydream. "Yo!" Eve smiled as Bones turned around. "I thought you weren''t feeling well?" Sticking her tongue out as she teased. "What''s wrong?"


    "Aren''t you busy?"


    "Ah, pa and ma took over, saying that I can rest for a bit. The rush died down a bit, so should be fine. You still haven''t answered my question."


    "I don''t know." was its honest answer.


    "You don''t know?" She probed as she plopped next to him. Swinging her feet idly over the roof''s edge.


    "Mhm, that is what''s wrong. I don''t know what I want. I don''t know what should I do. I don''t know where to go. I don''t know what I should live for."


    "Huh..." She muttered. Her face, downcast for a sliver of a second. Before returning to her usual cheery demeanour. Making Bones wonder if its eyes were playing tricks on it.


    "Well, I don''t really know myself." She leaned back on her hands, facing the sky.


    "When, when I was a child," She started recounting all of the sudden. "My parents would read bedtime stories to me. We were poorer back then. So my parents had to work from dawn to dusk. We couldn''t even eat together. But my parents would always read me a story before sleeping every night. That was the only time we could spend happily together as a family. It felt like pure bliss to me. My daily fatigue would just be washed away with a story. I felt as if I was purified. I could fantasize about being a valiant knight, fighting dragons and rescuing a damsel in distress."


    "Hehahaha, a knight? Not a princess?" Bones cracked up unexpectedly.


    "Hmph, something wrong with that?" She challenged, scrounging her face in slight embarrassment.


    "You can''t expect someone to save you. Only you can save yourself. That''s why it''s better to be the strong knight rather than be someone in trouble." She said, almost bitterly.


    "Well, we''ve gotten a bit off track. But I want to be an author. My parents gave me this dream. What I''m saying is that,"


    "By coming into contact with other people, I would find what I want to do."


    "Yes. Not exactly how I would phrase it. But yeah. So there''s no need to rush. You''ll find something to do." She smacked Bones'' back.


    Grinning, she was bathed in the silvery moonlight. To Bones, she seemed sparkling and vibrant. So full of life. Ensnared by the mischevious grin that played on her lips, Bones felt something stir. An emotion long lost.


    "Ah, but you still got to eat. Not eating is bad, got it?" She stood up, offering her hand. "Don''t worry. If anything bad happens, you can always depend on your older sis here. I always wanted a cute little brother."


    "Hahahaha," Bones cracked up.


    "Wh-what?" Cheeks tinted a slight crimson, she stuttered.


    "No, nothing." Bones took her hand, feeling light-hearted. Inwardly thinking. -You''re the cute one here.


    * * * * *


    The second day Bones and its party staying in the town...


    "So, like I said, chicken tastes better with mayonnaise." Ace spoke.


    "No, no, no, tomato sauce is the way to go," Hebi argued back, wrapped on Ace''s shoulder.


    Slowing her pace down, Eve fell back to match Bones'' pace. Today, Eve offered to give them a tour around the coastal town.


    "Why are you so quiet? Are you still worrying about something again?"


    "N-no." Bones stuttered. -It''s more like I can''t taste a thing. There''s no way I can pick a side in this argument can I?


    "Hmm... Really?" Eve peered closely.


    -Too close, you''re way too close... Huh? She smells kind of nice?


    Illusionary beads of perspiration rolled down its cheeks.


    "Remember, the illusion will reflect your state of mind. Your emotions will be apparent on your face. You won''t be able to pull the same poker skeletal face. This might be troublesome during negotiations and the like. But all you have to do is keep a calm state of mind." Bianca''s word of warning echoed in its skull.


    -I wonder what kind of face I am making right now. Feeling self-conscious, Bones looked away. "I''m fine. Don''t worry about it."


    "Hm..." Eve had an unsatisfied look on her face.


    But before she could grill Bones even further, Ace interrupted.


    "What''s going on in front?"


    "Clear off! Get out of the way. Public security here." A man dressed in a white captain''s hat and white navy uniform commanded. Wiping his brow with a handkerchief, he glared into space, deep in thought.He had fair hair and sky-blue eyes. His face was of well-defined proportions, sure to make the ladies swoon.


    His underlings, dressed in a white carried off a stretcher with a corpse on it.


    "Doesn''t that make the eleventh victim?"


    "All in one night?"


    "Yeah, I heard her eyeballs were gouged. Liver, kidneys and pancreas were stolen. Must be the work of a deranged lunatic who enjoys dissecting. My, how scary the society is turning these days."


    "This always happens doesn''t it?"


    "Once in a while, there will a non-stop murder spree."


    "Yes, yes, then the murderer will always be a traveller who recently come into town."


    "This is why I say we should strictly regulate people who enter the town. We should not let suspicious people enter. As you can see, incidences like this keep repeating themselves.


    All around, rumours spread like wildfire.


    "Who''s that?" Hebi asked.


    "It''s field captain Ekal. He''s part of the Navy Public Security Bureau. Basically, they keep the law and order in this coastal town. Anyways, he''s famous around here for being an elite officer. He holds the record for climbing up the ranks the fastest. Not surprising considering how recently he''s been cracking down cases left and right."


    "He looks very troubled though, for being an elite officer," Ace commented.


    "Yeah, what''s up with that? As well as the disturbing conversation that we overheard." Hebi asked.


    "Well, last night, apparently, slaves were killed consecutively. Their corpses dismembered and disfigured. He''s probably stressed." Eve explained.


    "Slaves?" Bones wondered out loud.


    "Yeah, slaves. The people who lost ownership to their own lives." Eve answered. A rare dark storm clouded her usual cheerful disposition.


    Ekal, having spotted Eve, approached.


    "Oh, so this is the one?" He stared at Bones, averting his gaze as Bones met his. He offered his hand to Bones, somewhat jittery. "My name is Ekal Braun. I have known Eve for quite some time now. Any friends of hers is a friend of mine. Welcome to our town. I hope you will enjoy your stay."


    "Um, excuse me, do you know the way to the market?" A random traveller asked Ekal. "I''ve just arrived at this town..."


    "Of course, go straight from here, turning left at the next junction..." Ekal explained, his nervous energy seemed to dissipate.


    Returning from the other conversation, his eyes darted all over the place. His nervousness returning, he asked. "Eve, can I have a chat with you?" For some reason, he could not face Bones in the eyes.


    "Alright, I''m going to go for a while, don''t wander too much you guys!"


    "He seems nervous, I wonder why,hehehe." Hebi laughed somewhat lasciviously.


    "Hmm, you know why?" Bones asked.


    "You fool! If he asked to speak alone to a girl, it can only mean one thing, right? It''s a confession, a confession." Hebi spit.


    "A confession..." Bones repeated, feeling a familiar twinge on its imaginary tongue. Associated with a sharp, sudden pang in his chest.


    "Newspaper! Newspaper! One for a copper coin!" A boy wandered around the street, shouting.


    "Hmm, Bones, get one of those. It''s always useful to know the state of things."


    Bones skimmed through the first page after he bought it.


    The headline was [A new gory serial killer case. Will this town ever be safe?]


    The second page was [Petition for a new regulation inspecting travellers]


    The third page was [Ekal promoted to Field Captain for his greatjobcatching the traveller behind the previous murder spree]


    * * * * *


    Day 3


    "Bones! How? How could you kill her?!" The girl''s gaped mouth hung wide open, eyes as round as a full moon. She cupped her hands around her mouth.


    Eve appeared in the doorway.


    In front of Bones, lied the corpse of a disfigured slave girl. Her head was twisted backwards as crimson painted her sclera.


    Stunned, Bones froze. Throwing its skull backwards, it started to laugh. Laugh maniacally, unrestrained, as if not only its jaw was unhinged, but its mind as well.


    -Ahhh... This feeling is just the worst.


    "Bones?" Ash peeked from behind. Confusion painted his tanned face. Hebi slithered out from Ace''s shoulder.

 Chapter 8: The Betrayed Children Part 2

    "Ahh, hahaha... This is just the worst... In this case, maybe I''ll be much better off if I stay blissfully ignorant."


    "What older sister, what depending on you if I have trouble. Ahh, so this is how it feels to be betrayed..." Bones went on a rant.


    "What a horrible feeling." In the end, Bones summed up. His illusionary face portraying a smile that reeks the scent of despair.


    "I did not kill her." Bones stated tonelessly.


    "O-of course I believe you. But you will need to explain yourself. Don''t run away. Explain yourself properly to the Navy Public Security Bureau." Eve replied, her voice shaking.


    "Is that why you get close to people? Make them trust you so you can just betray them with ease. Once captured by the police, they never saw the light of day again. They as in, my predecessors, those tricked by you. Believe me?" Bones scoffed scathingly. "Of course, you do. But not because you trust me. But because you are the killer." Bones glared.


    "W-what are you talking about? How can I be the killer? You''re the one standing next to a corpse? Hebi, Ace, what do you think?"


    "Bones..." Ace muttered, his face unreadable. Bones braced itself. Ready for whatever comes next.


    "Nope. Not at all. I don''t believe Bones is the killer." Ace crossed his hands behind his head.


    "Eh?" Bones was totally not ready for that.


    "I mean, my mom is a huge pain but I don''t believe she''ll entrust me into the hands of a ruthless murderer."


    "Yeah, yeah, witches are shrewd beyond belief, I got to agree with Ace here." Hebi nodded. "But, Bones, you still need to explain."


    "Y-yeah..." Bones stuttered. An indescribable warmth sprouted from deep within.


    -Being trusted... I know their reason is a bit off but still, hahaha. Being trusted makes one happy. Being betrayed makes one feel pain. Is this what it means to be alive? I''m dead though.


    "We are in a very precarious situation right now though."


    "Heh, don''t worry about it. If anything happens, just rely on me. I''m not the son of a god and witch for nothing."


    "Alright then. I''ll explain. It was during the second day..."


    "I''m lost. Great, just great. The streets all look the same." Bones sighed. Glancing around the deserted, narrow street. The buildings hid the sun behind them, casting a shadow over the alleyway. It gave the place an eerie atmosphere. As if a ghost would appear at any moment.


    "Punishment." Feeling a tug on its cloak, Bones froze. Bones'' mind raced laps over delusions upon delusions. If it had a heart, it would have for sure hammered away at its ribcage.


    Trying to regain its reason, it slowly turned around.


    A little girl pulled its cloak, seemingly to appear out of thin air. Dressed in rags, her hair was a blast of black, greasy and short. However, her ears were pointy and sharp.


    "Little girl, are you lost?" Bones asked.


    "Punishment. Give me punishment." She finally looked up, her hair obscuring her eyes.


    "Wait, wait, wait, hold up! Bones, you better not do it. You''ll be a criminal. Yes, don''t be rash," Hebi interrupted.


    "What do you mean?" Ace and Bones asked simultaneously.


    "Seriously?" Incredulously flicking his tongue, Hebi sighed. "I forgot I was talking to someone born recently and another who has been sheltered his whole life.


    "The correct response here would be to rage and retort, my interest doesn''t swing that way!" Eve nodded.


    "See? At least someone gets it." A weird sense of camaraderie blossomed between Hebi and Eve, leaving the other two out.


    "Anyway, continue with your story." Hebi coughed.


    The little girl shook her head. "Gin says that bad girls get punished. He said that those who kill should be prepared to get killed themselves. You are the reaper who comes to take away my life right?" Bones was entranced by the lifeless pair of eyes that were transfixed on him. Dark, without a speck of light remaining.


    "What," Bones started to question as he realised the bone-chilling implications behind her words. "But that means..."


    "Come and end my life." She repeated.


    Just as Bones was wondering what to do, three people showed up, caught up in their conversation.


    "Like I said, I heard Ekal, that Ekal said something fishy." Amanda raised her voice.


    "So, what? As if I care." Ferro shook her off. It was the usual scenario. Amanda and Ferro arguing, while a huge, armoured knight, Leer walked behind them.


    "Leer, help me here. I can smell money here."


    "... Yes, we should follow Amanda''s plan."


    Ferro exhaled exasperatedly. "You just follow Amanda blindly all the time. Come on, I know you l-"


    Instantly, Ferro became silent. With an unbelievable speed, Leer grabbed Ferro on the shoulder with his mitt.


    "Auu, alright, alright, I got it. I won''t say any further." Ferro yelped, glaring at Amanda. "Seriously, how dense can you be? Just realise it already."


    "What do you mean?" Amanda questioned. "Anyways, come on."


    "Hmm? You guys are blocking the way. Get lost!" Ferro went into his gangster mode. "That cloak? I feel like I''ve seen it before somewhere..."


    "Ah, I was wondering why you look so familiar. It''s the three stooges."


    "Hahh? What do you call us?" A nerve twitched on Ferro''s face, as he ground his teeth.


    However, before Ferro could draw his gun. Yet again, Leer was faster. Drawing his sword and tower shield. He stood between Ferro and Bones.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Move back!"


    "Woah, woah, woah, I don''t mean to fight." Bones panicked.


    "You are the monster we met back then. You disguised yourself as a human?" Leer growled.


    "Ahh, that cloak, I see. I remember now. It''s really you!" Ferro exclaimed.


    "I really have no intention of fighting. What did you mean Ekal was saying something fishy though?"


    "Oh, he was mumbling to himself about running away. Like how he wanted to do nothing about it any longer. The promotion was not worth it so on and so forth. We can definitely squeeze some money out."


    "Hahh." Ferro sighed. "I''ve told you this before. But a cornered rat will bite. It is not wise to pick fights with a desperate man."


    "If you''re afraid, then just say you are." Amanda stuck her tongue out.


    "Wha-, preposterous. I''m not afraid."


    "Hmm, that is weird. What would an elite officer like him have to be afraid of?"Bones wondered out loud.


    Bones felt a tug on its cloak yet again. The little girl stared at him emotionlessly.


    "Fine, fine, I get it already. I''ll give your punishment!" Bones huffed, ruffling her hair. "By the way, do you have a name?"


    The girl shook her head in response.


    "I see, got to think of a name for you then."


    "Is that required for the punishment?"


    "Yes, of course, it is." Bones smiled softly.


    "Oh right, I need one more favour. Do you guys have a boat?" Bones turned to the three.


    "That was what happened during the second day." Bones concluded, facing towards the night sky in sorrow.


    "It was like a jigsaw puzzle. I had pieces but I could not link them together. However, in the end, the last piece fell into my lap. Hahh," Bones sighed. "You, the moment, you betrayed me, everything fell into place."


    "It hurts..." Bones muttered softly, clutching his heart.


    "You are the one behind this string of murders. With Ekal as your accomplice, you got away scot-free everytime. That is, by framing a poor traveller who stayed at your inn. I was wondering how people don''t get suspicious if they all stayed at the same inn. The thing is that they don''t know, do they? You made a deal with the newspaper publishing company. How, specifically, I''m not too sure. But you manipulate the things that appear in the newspaper. I read it and not one line mention that they stayed at the same inn."


    "Another point of suspicion is Ekal''s behaviour. At first, I thought he was just not good around strangers. But when he was dealing with a lost visitor, he was fine. He was only nervous when talking to me or you. It''s his guilt, right? He feels guilty towards the next scapegoat."


    "He wanted to stop after all. The credit you let him have is not enough to get rid of his guilt. Even though his career is on a one-track path to promotion, his conscience is taking a guilt trip down to hell."


    "You''ve done this kind of thing multiple times, haven''t you? Getting close to the traveller. Make them open up to a girl like you. Then convince them to get captured and try to explain their case to the police. But of course, their defence fall into deaf ears thanks to Ekal."


    "Wait, then how are you standing in front of the corpse right now?"


    "I... I can''t seem to remember. The last thing I remembered was reading books that I''ve brought along. Then I blacked out. Magic, it can only be magic. Magic to make one lose consciousness. Isn''t that right, little girl?"


    "Wait, what the little girl you were speaking about is here?" Hebi gasped. "Where?"


    "... I see..." Ace muttered. His sclera glowed yellow as his pupils. "Falcon''s eye!"


    "She''s in your shadow isn''t she?"


    "Woah, witchery crap..." Hebi shivered from head to tail. Remembering his traumatic run-ins with the witches. Shaking himself out of it, Hebi asked.


    "Shadow? What do you mean?"


    From Bones shadow, a little girl rose. Surfacing from the shadow as though as it was a stagnant lake. Sending ripples as she appeared.


    "It really surprised me. I wanted to keep her close to me. But I had an inkling that you were somewhat involved in this. It would be bad if you recognize each other. So I told her to hide. But she hid in my shadow. That was great. I could keep her close and at the same time hidden. You''re the one who put me to sleep didn''t you?"


    She nodded once.


    "Yeah, I had a feeling it was so. Your magic, the moment you entered my shadow, it felt somewhat similar to that time. When I was knocked out. She is yours, isn''t she?" Bones directed this question to Eve.


    "Your executioner that is. Her role is to kill isn''t it?" Bones ruffled her hair, his expression forlorn.


    "While Ekal role is capturing the wrong culprit. Your role is information gathering because after all, the inn is the best place to gather information, right?"


    "Ahh!" Hebi exclaimed, having understood.


    "Wh-what, what''s my motive for doing it?" Eve made one final resistance.


    "Organ trafficking." Bones uttered resolutely. "The gruesomeness of the crime scene is just a camouflage. To make us think that the killer was a lunatic. When in fact you were harvesting organs."


    "My master is a necromancer. In his diary, he wrote about how healing magic is really rare. Separated by tiers. The higher, the better. His sister was tier 3. However, only tier 5 and above can regenerate organs. A tier 3 is already rare enough. Meaning that organs are in high demand. With low tier healing magic and an organ, an organ transplant can be done. I heard the organs that were missing were the pancreas, kidneys and livers. According to my master''s book, those organs are comparatively easy to transplant. It definitely beats finding a rare high-tiered healer, doesn''t it?"


    "I remember you saying how you were poor back then, didn''t you? I guess, at least, not all the words that you spout were lies?" Bones half-smiled, half-grimaced.


    "Mixing half-truths into lies are what made lies believable." She muttered, face downcast.


    "So, it is true... I wanted you to deny it." Bones looked away. "Did someone force you into it?"


    "As if I got a choice!" She spat. "We''re dirt poor! It was either this or a life of stricken poverty. A life where I spend my life selling my body out. As if that counts as a choice. My parents, those who gave me a dream, sold me off. Just so they could put food on their table for one more day. To survive, I just did the same thing they did. To survive it means stepping on others. Devour those who are weaker than you. Do you think I do this willingly?" One eye twitching, her lips twisted to lopsided, twisted sneer.


    "I''m ugly. Twisted. Broken. Yet I want to live! IS that so bad? I still don''t want to die. Even if I have to step over others to do so!" She doubled over, slamming her fist to the earth.


    Bones staggered. Feeling a sharp pang in his chest once again. "Eve..." It began to call out, stretching out to her. Even at this moment, Bones still found her beautiful. Especially at this moment, it was entranced by her desire. Her strong thirst, attachment to life. Her absolute denial towards death. She was beautiful. Bones wanted to call out, to reply to say that she was not ugly.


    Her sneer turned into a smirk. She shouted. "Ekal, now!"


    Bang!


    In a flash, he stood upon Bones. While they were all distracted, Ekal managed to arrive. Closing the distance, he jumped through the window, jump kicking Bones. Brandishing a harpoon, he grumbled.


    "This is why I wanted to quit. I really want to wash my hands off this."


    "I thought it was a good idea at first. Easy promotion. But on second thought, it''s way too scary. I don''t want to fight. It''s way too scary, not to mention tiring."


    -Scary...? Tiring...? Bones felt something bubbling inside of him.


    "Bones, did you fall for that? Iiiiiidiot! Bones you were wrong about one thing. You said that Ekal was nervous because he felt guilty? Wrong! He felt nervous because he was a coward, a huge coward at that. He wanted to back out because he did not want to get caught. Get it? I am the same way. What did you think that story was true? Iiidiot! I wonder how could a fool like you survive in this world? We are a bunch of trash. In the end, it''s the trash that survives. To live, you have to dirty yourself. No one else is going to help you."


    "Guilt?" Ekal questioned. "I feel guilty? As if. Do you feel guilty when you crush ants with your fingers?"


    "Ekalll!" Bones roared. It felt wrong. After meeting the orcs, Hebi, Ash, the witch, the god and humans, Bones realised. Everyone had something that they wanted to do. His master wanted to be with his sister. Cro wanted to live peacefully with his family, watching his daughter grow up. Hebi wanted to travel around the world. Bones had seen. Their happy expressions when they talked about their dreams. To steal the chance for them to do what they want to is wrong.


    Even if they had their own chance robbed away from them. Even more so if they did. They should know the pain. How could they inflict the same pain on others? Kill them? Take away their life. No, but Eve said that she had no choice.


    Bones gritted his teeth.


    Then what about Ekal? Did Ekal have some reason to behave that way? Then, what is it better to die rather than kill or kill so that you can live? Rob from others or be robbed? Is that the way of the world? Then what am I suppose to do? Forgive them? Do I even have the right to condemn them? If not? What? Allow them to run free, let them continue what they were doing? If not, stop them? How?


    Kill them? Bones imaginary blood ran cold. To do the same thing they are doing?


    Bones'' illusionary nose inhaled sharply.


    "Even so, I will stop you! I will save you!"