《Toni The Tomblord》
Ash and Echoes
¡°A graveyard? That doesn¡¯t sound ominous,¡± Tyler said sarcastically after I¡¯d filled him in on my run-in with the head of the undergraduate pre-med club, Jeremy Little. Tyler and I were sitting outside the cafeteria, underneath a large tree with several large rocks around it that were perfect seats. It was our normal lunch spot at Loma Linda University. The two of us were about to become sophomores. We¡¯d grown up together in a smaller city in California called Yucaipa. He wanted to be a pharmacist, working in a lab. I wanted to help people and fulfill my late parent¡¯s wishes to become a doctor.
¡°Are you going to go?¡± he asked.
¡°What choice do I have?¡± I shrugged.
¡°You could report it to the Dean?¡± Tyler suggested, his tone mirrored how unrealistic that option really was.
¡°Yeah, and let the entire pre-med club know I tattled to the administration because I was scared to go to a cemetery? Jeremy¡¯s dad is the Dean for Admissions! No, I have to get into their group.¡±
It would be a huge boost in getting accepted to the Med Program.
But Tyler knew all of this. It was a testament to what a great friend he was. I had probably said my plan to get into medical school several thousand times around him. When I¡¯d lost my parents, Tyler was there for me. His whole family, actually; they¡¯d practically taken me in. I¡¯m still amazed at how lucky I am. What kind of family would take in a recently orphaned thirteen-year-old Cuban immigrant?
All of that led me to here.
I couldn''t shake the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of my stomach. The thought of going to a graveyard during the dead of night...
Suck it up, Toni, I said, trying to pep myself up.
You¡¯re going to be dissecting bodies during Anatomy.
But there was just something about death, demons, and the supernatural that freaked me out. That and aliens. The people kind, not the cool ones like the Xenomorphs.
I took a deep breath, focusing on my goals and my parents¡¯ dream of giving me a better life.
Tyler must have sensed my inner turmoil because he placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine. It¡¯s just a bunch of pampered pricks trying to unnerve you and test your mettle,¡± he offered.
¡°Thanks, man,¡± I nodded. ¡°For¡ªeverything.¡±
Tyler averted his eyes, and his face scrunched together. It was the look he made whenever I tried to express gratitude, as if he was uncomfortable with being thanked.
I inhaled, clapping my hands together.
¡°So, how goes chemistry? Did you make an immortality potion yet?¡±
It was his secret dream. And as crazy as it seemed, I had faith that he could do it. My own nonsensical, impractical wish upon a star dream was to become a famous food critic who went around the world tasting exotic cuisine. It almost sounded more ridiculous than an elixir of eternal life.
Tyler chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m still a ways from that. I¡¯ll probably need the PhD before any real progress is made.¡±
He punched me lightly in the arm. ¡°At least us lab nerds don¡¯t make each other go to weird places in the middle of the night.¡±
I grinned at Tyler''s comment, grateful for his attempt to lighten the mood. ¡°Yeah, well, I''ll take a creepy graveyard over endless hours beakering in a lab any day,¡± I joked, trying to push away the lingering unease that Jeremy''s meeting location had stirred within me. Death became all too real when I¡¯d lost my parents, and the idea of spending time in a literal field of the dead gave me the heebie-jeebies.
¡°You might have a point there,¡± Tyler said, getting up and stretching. ¡°I¡¯ve got some beakering to do.¡±
I waved, ¡°Later, dude.¡±
As Tyler walked off towards the science building, I sat there momentarily, watching him go. Despite the unease for tonight¡¯s festivities, I was craving some pho¡¯. We¡¯d just finished final exams, so I had the afternoon free to treat myself to a solo lunch at a nearby Vietnamese restaurant.
The smell of rich broth and fresh herbs greeted me as I entered the cozy eatery. Taking a seat at a small wooden table by the window, I ordered a steaming bowl of pho¡¯ with a Thai iced tea and watched the world go by outside.
The warm broth arrived, and I closed my eyes, letting the fragrant steam wash over me. It was moments like these, simple and serene, that made me feel closer to my parents. They had always encouraged me to try new things, especially food.
As I savored the comforting taste of the soup after adding the perfect amount of lime, hoisin and siracha sauce, my mind kept drifting back to the looming challenge of the night ahead. I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that there was more to this meeting than just a simple initiation prank.
I mean¡ who meets at a graveyard? What is this, Middle School?
Before applying to the undergrad program, I read all the forums and dug up everything I could to better my chances of being accepted to the Med School. Tyler and I had made a pact to enroll together, doctor and pharmacologist. I¡¯d also apply to other schools; my dream was too important not to have any contingency plans. But this is where I wanted to be. So, I¡¯d tried out for the volleyball team and set my sights on becoming a member of the prestigious pre-med club, whose members were routinely selected over hundreds of applicants around the country, even the globe.
My thoughts were interrupted by the loud chime of my phone. It was a text from Tyler:
"Hey, just remembered something. Make sure you take this with you tonight. Just in case the dead start rising."
Attached to the message was a picture of a small canister of pepper spray.
¡°Good looking out,¡± I texted back, laughing.
After finishing my pho and paying the bill, I returned to campus feeling a bit more fortified. Tyler and I shared a room in the residence hall. With nothing to do now that exams were over, I decided to do some studying for the MCAT exam. It wouldn¡¯t be another two years until I had to take it, but I wanted to get ahead of the game.
Who knows, maybe the pre-med club would ask questions tonight to see just how prepared I was for the rigors of medical school.
As I flipped through my MCAT study guide, my mind kept wandering back to the strange meeting location Jeremy had chosen. What kind of test would this be? Was it really just a harmless initiation or something more sinister?
Stop! Tyler is right. This is why they picked a graveyard, to put me on edge and mess with my head.
Despite my swirling thoughts, I managed to get some good studying in. Before I knew it, the remainder of daylight had passed, and it was time to start getting ready for the meeting.
I dressed nicely, opting for a crisp white button-down shirt and dark jeans.
As I checked my reflection in the mirror, I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. "You''ve got this," I muttered, trying to muster some confidence. Tyler had come and gone, back to his late-night lab experiments after grabbing a snack. He and a few others were working on an extensive research project, hoping to get a grant that would help lock him into a PhD program.
The sun had long set when I made my way to the graveyard. The moon hung high, casting an eerie glow over the tombstones.
A tall, wrought-iron gate marked the entrance. Its intricate designs cast creepy shadows in the moonlight. The dirt path beyond was lined with weathered tombstones, some crumbling and overgrown with vines.
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I hesitated at the gate, my heart pounding in my chest. The air felt unusually cold, sending a chill down my spine. Hinges screeched as I tentatively pushed open the gate, the sound echoing through the still night. I took a step forward, my footsteps crunching on the gravel path. The moonlight illuminated the way, casting long shadows that seemed to dance with a life of their own.
Jeremy¡¯s directions replayed in my mind.
¡°It¡¯s a giant tomb at the end. You can¡¯t miss it.¡±
My sense of unease grew the further I walked.
As I trudged through the darkness, a flickering light ahead caught my eye. With cautious steps, I approached and saw dozens of candles arranged around the base of what was no doubt the tomb.
The flickering flames cast eerie shadows, making the tomb seem more foreboding than ever. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I inched closer, the soft glow of the candles illuminating the ornate engravings on the ancient stone structure. An inexplicable energy was in the air, a sense of anticipation mixed with an underlying dread that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
It¡¯s all in your head, Toni. All in your head.
As I reached the tomb¡¯s base, I saw Jeremy standing there, his silhouette looming in the dim light. His eyes gleamed with an intensity that made my skin prickle, and a sly smile played on his lips. Beside him stood what I assumed were other members of the pre-med club, their expressions inscrutable in the shadows.
"Welcome," Jeremy''s voice cut through the silence like a knife, sending a chill down my spine. "We''re glad you could join us tonight."
¡°Uh¡ thanks for having me?¡±
I said it like a question, feeling completely out of place in this macabre setting.
"We have a new initiation ceremony for potential club members," Jeremy explained, gesturing towards the tomb behind him. "Just a harmless test to see if you''ve got the stomach for the field. Doctors often have to deal with death, and you¡¯ll be learning off corpses in anatomy class¡ªnot everyone can handle it."
I nodded, trying to suppress the rising unease in my gut as I glanced at the eerie tomb behind Jeremy. The flickering candles cast elongated shadows that seemed to dance around us, adding to the surreal atmosphere of the graveyard at night. Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I squared my shoulders and met Jeremy''s gaze with what I hoped was a look of determination.
¡°What do I need to do?¡± I said, hoping my voice sounded steadier than the thrumming in my chest.
Jeremy¡¯s smile widened, and he motioned for me to step closer to the tomb.
As I approached, the engravings on the ancient stone became sharper, depicting scenes of life and death intertwined in intricate patterns. Three steps led up to an opening, where a heavy stone door stood slightly ajar.
A strange sigil stood above the entrance. It was similar to the Caduceus Staff, a common medical symbol that depicted a staff with two snakes swirling around it. Except in this case, the staff was a sickle, and the snakes were skeletons.
That¡¯s creepy as hell.
¡°It¡¯s simple,¡± Jeremy continued. ¡°All you need to do is spend an hour inside.¡±
When those words left Jeremy''s lips, a cold shiver raced down my spine. Spend an hour inside a tomb in the dead of night? It sounded more like a horror movie plot than an initiation ceremony for a pre-med club.
¡°This all seems a bit weird,¡± I blurted, unable to help myself. Alarm bells were ringing in my head that this wasn¡¯t normal.
Is the Loma Linda medical community some cult?
¡°Do you fear death?¡± A feminine voice called out among the members.
Her question hung heavy in the night air, and all eyes turned to the speaker. She stepped forward, her features illuminated by the flickering candlelight. She had an air of confidence about her, her gaze piercing as she regarded me. The others parted slightly, allowing her to walk towards me.
She was beautiful, but something about her made me feel uneasy.
¡°Y-yes,¡± I stammered. Snickers broke out amongst the group.
The woman didn¡¯t laugh. Instead, she cocked her head inquisitively, eyeing me with a mix of curiosity and something else I couldn''t quite place. I thought I saw dark smoke swirling behind her eyes but shrugged it off as a trick of the shadows.
¡°Why?¡± she asked.
The question was so out of place, yet I felt compelled to answer.
¡°Because¡ªbecause I¡¯m afraid that death is the end. And if that¡¯s true¡ then it means my parents are gone and that everything we do is essentially pointless. We live in a blink, die, and nothing else.¡±
The woman studied me for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, with a slight nod, she turned and walked back to the group.
Jeremy stepped forward once more, scratching the back of his head. He leaned in and whispered only loud enough for me to hear, ¡°That¡¯s Venna; she¡¯s new to the club. This whole thing was her idea. Just go in there and hang out for an hour, then you¡¯re in. We¡¯ve all done it.¡±
Without waiting for my response, Jeremy opened the heavy stone door of the tomb, the sound of grinding stone echoing in the stillness of the graveyard. A musty smell wafted out, mingling with the crisp night air. My mind reeled at how ridiculous this entire situation was. Then, with a sigh and a prayer to my parents, I steeled myself, stepping up the stairs and into the tomb.
Surprisingly, the inside of the mausoleum was smaller and less sinister than I had expected. Candles were arranged around the perimeter, highlighting frayed and decaying tapestries that hung on the walls. The images on them were hard to make out due to their heavy state of decay. Dust motes danced in the flickering candlelight, casting swirling shadows on the stone floor.
In the center of the room was a rectangular stone sarcophagus.
What the hell am I even doing here?!
¡°Your time starts now,¡± Jeremy¡¯s voice called from outside. The sound of grinding stones came from the entrance. I froze, the heavy stone door sealing shut with a resounding finality that echoed through the tomb.
For a moment, all I could hear was the sound of my ragged breathing as I stared at the sealed entrance. Panic clawed at my chest, threatening to overwhelm me. This wasn''t what I had signed up for.
I considered shouting and demanding to be let out before realizing how ridiculous that would look. They were probably recording the whole thing on their phones.
Just an hour. One hour. They aren¡¯t going to abandon you. Tyler knows where you are. Relax.
After a few calming breaths, I walked over to the sarcophagus, curiosity getting the best of me.
In the center of the cover was the same symbol above the entrance. Two skeletal snakes swirling around a scythe that looked as if it could belong to the Grim Reaper himself.
¡°Owe!¡± I yelped, pulling my finger back after tracing the symbol. Something sharp was sticking out of the tip of the engraved scythe. I grabbed one of the candles off the ground and brought it closer. A small needle protruded from the tip, barely noticeable unless examined closely.
As I examined my finger, I saw a drop of blood welling up from the tiny cut.
My body instinctively flinched back as the symbol on the sarcophagus seemed to pulse with an otherworldly green light.
¡°What the hell is going on?¡± I whispered to myself, heart pounding in my chest. The air inside the tomb grew heavier, almost suffocating, and a sense of foreboding washed over me like a wave.
With a nervous chuckle, I said. ¡°This is just a prank, Antonio.¡±
But the sinister ambiance of the tomb made it hard to ignore the creeping sense of unease worming its way into my mind.
I screamed as the flame atop the candle on my hand exploded as if someone had poured gasoline onto it. I dropped the candle, but it didn¡¯t go out. The other candles followed suit, erupting into tiny flamethrowers.
¡°Oh god, oh god.¡±
The tapestries started catching fire, rapidly filling the space with smoke.
I ran to the door and started pounding on it. ¡°Let me out! There¡¯s a fire, let me out!¡±
Jeremy¡¯s muffled voice came from the other side.
¡°We¡¯re trying to open the door, but it won¡¯t budge!¡±
I heard him call for the others to help.
From inside the tomb, panic surged through me like a tidal wave as I realized I was trapped in a rapidly filling room of smoke and flames. The heat was unbearable, and the acrid smell of burning tapestries stung my nostrils. Coughing and gasping for breath, I frantically searched for another way out, but the sealed entrance taunted me with its immovability.
There was a grinding sound behind me, and I stared disbelieving as the sarcophagus¡¯s lid slid open. More of the green light poured out from inside.
My heart pounded in my chest as I waited for something to emerge, but there was nothing but the glow.
A fit of coughs erupted from my chest as the smoke grew thicker. Flames danced along the walls, licking at my skin with an almost sentient malevolence. My shirt caught fire, and I took it off in a panic, throwing it away.
I¡¯m gonna die! I thought. I¡¯m going to be burned alive for some sick cult ritual!
A figure appeared beside me, making me stumble back into a wave of fire.
I screamed as my back, hands, and arms burned.
The figure reached out a hand, and I flinched, expecting more pain. But instead of burning agony, I felt a coolness spreading from the touch, soothing my blistering skin. Through teary eyes, I looked up and saw Venna.
¡°Do not fear death any longer, Antonio, for you are about to discover it is not the end, but the start of something more.¡±
¡°What?!¡± I cried out in disbelief. None of this made any freaking sense! Despite whatever the woman was doing, pain still radiated throughout my burned body. And the smoke made it hard to see, breathe, or think.
Venna''s steady and commanding voice cut through the chaos around me. "Trust me, Antonio. Embrace your fate and discover the truth that lies beyond. The universe is much larger than you could ever imagine.¡±
She motioned to the sarcophagus and added, ¡°Death will set you free,¡± before vanishing.
Before I could process anything that had just happened, agony, unlike anything I had ever known, ripped through me as whatever Venna had been doing to quell the pain disappeared along with her.
I collapsed on the ground, writhing in pain as the flames consumed the tomb around me. The smoke thickened, clouding my thoughts and making it difficult to breathe. My skin blistered and charred from the intense heat; the crackling of the fire drowned out my screams.
As I lay there, engulfed in the fiery inferno, my mind raced with a jumble of thoughts and emotions. The searing pain threatened to consume me entirely, but amidst the chaos, a strange calmness washed over me. Images of my parents flashed before my eyes, their smiles etched into my memory. The realization that I might join them soon filled me with a bittersweet longing.
In that moment of acceptance, I found a strength I never knew I had.
I knew I could not survive much longer in the clutches of the inferno. My body screamed for mercy as the flames licked my skin, relentless in their pursuit. With my strength fading, I dragged myself across the scorched floor toward the ethereal green light of the sarcophagus. Gritting my teeth and crying out from the blinding pain, I used everything I had left to pull myself up and into it, seeking refuge in the mysterious glow.
The lid closed shut, and all went black.
The Tomb Lords Legacy
Requirements met: Death
The Aspect of Death has been successfully infused.
High Aspect Affinity has triggered Aspect Nexus Interface.
My eyes fluttered open, and I became instantly aware of the numbing ache in my body as if I¡¯d been dragged through the very depths.
¡°Ooaaahhh,¡± I groaned. My lips were dry, and my throat felt lined with shards of glass. Something was on my eyes, and I reached to rub at them, instantly regretting the sudden attempt at movement. The skin of my arm made a sound like sandpaper rubbing together. Pain shot through it like a hot poker.
I lay there until the stabbing ache turned into a dull thrum.
At the same time, I realized what I thought was in my eye was actually text, glowing like ethereal rings. My mind began to process how odd of an event that was, seeing as my eyes were closed.
I blinked, trying to make sense of the words floating before me.
Aspect Nexus? Infusion of Death? Oh god. Did I die?!
It was then I realized I wasn¡¯t breathing. With some effort, I inhaled. The air filled my lungs, but it was a strange sensation, devoid of my chest''s familiar expansion and contraction.
I raised a trembling hand, instinctively reaching out to touch the interface. As I suspected, there was nothing in front of me. The words were inside my head. I noticed a five-pointed star icon on the upper-right corner of my vision.
The star icon pulsed softly, beckoning me to interact with it. With a hesitant thought, I willed myself to touch the symbol. In an instant, a flood of information surged through my mind, overwhelming my senses.
Welcome, Antonio Perez, Bearer of the Tomb Lord¡¯s Death Aspect.
Current Summary:
Class: Necromancer
Race: Basic Undead
Path: Options Available*
Level 1 [XP: 0/100]
Health: 1/100
Mana: 50/50
Strength:1
Intelligence: 10
Agility:5
¡¤ Decaying Touch (Level 1)Cost: 0 Mana
Cause necrosis with a touch. [Can spend Mana to accelerate decay]
¡¤ Raise Dead (Level 1) ¨C Cost: 15 Mana
Summons an undead minion from a suitable corpse. Maximum number of soul-linked minions based on current level: 3. Soul-linked minions retain their strength and form indefinitely.
Note: Non-soul-linked minions will deteriorate after a short time and may become unstable.
[XP: 0/100][Set Custom Phrase]
¡¤ Consume Corpse (Level 1): Cost: 0 Mana
Consume a corpse, gaining health and mana. [XP: 0/100]
Aspect Mastery:
¡¤ Death Aspect (Affinity 90%)
Special Abilities:
¡¤ Soul Sight: See and communicate with spirits and souls.
¡¤ Corpse Plunder: Instantly loot items from the recently deceased. Items will be automatically sent to Soul Stash.
¡¤ Tomb Lord¡¯s Soul Stash: Store and retrieve items within an ethereal dimension created by the Tomb Lord. Items are only accessible to one with the Tomb Lord¡¯s aspect.
Quests:
¡¤ Active: "Escape the Stronghold" - Make your way out of the stronghold. [Reward: 100 XP]
¡¤ Completed: None
Inventory:
¡¤ Minor Grave Token: A small item infused with necromantic energy. Can be used instead of mana for spells. Each Grave token counts as 10 mana points for the necromantic arts. [Quantity: 3]
Applicable Lore:
¡¤ Aspect Origins: The aspects originated from the primordial beings...*
¡¤ Tomb Lord: A legendary necromancer who...*
I was overwhelmed by the flood of information bombarding me. Bearer of the Death Aspect? Skills like Raise Dead and Soul Sight? A quest to explore the stronghold? It was all so much to take in, especially considering I had just been burning alive moments before.
Did my soul get sucked into a video game?!
I blinked, trying to process the sudden influx of knowledge. As I looked around, I noticed that I was no longer in the room of fire and smoke. Instead, I was in a dimly lit chamber.
A musty scent of dampness and decay filled the air like the room had been sealed for centuries.
I caught sight of my left arm and would have screamed if my throat hadn¡¯t been so dry.
It was almost completely charred, with blackened skin stretching across bones that looked like they would crumble with the slightest touch.
I swallowed hard, trying to quell the rising nausea as I took inventory of the rest of my body. My skin was a mess, with patches of burned flesh merging into swollen, blistered areas.
My clothes were in tatters, hinting at the violence of my ordeal.
So I really am undead¡
Unable to think with the writing etched into my vision. I looked for a way to get rid of it. The text suddenly disappeared with the thought.
What. The. Fudge.
Unsure of what else to do, I took a moment to get my bearings. There was a good chance this was all a hallucination from my dying mind. There was probably no oxygen left in the sarcophagus, and all of this was the last vestiges of thought before my end. That scenario made more sense, and I wasn¡¯t sure if it was preferable to this bizarre reality.
Okay. First things first. Let¡¯s figure out where we actually are, in case I¡¯m not dying.
I tried to get up, but the effort sent searing pain coursing through my body.
Or not.
I gritted my teeth and willed myself to push through the agony, slowly making my way to a sitting position. As I did, my vision began to clear from its pain-filled haze, revealing the room around me.
It was dimly lit by torches on the walls that emitted an eerie blue light.
Several piles of cloth and what looked like medieval armor were scattered across the ground. A bony, skeletal hand peeked through one of the piles of cloth, and I realized they were bodies.
¡°Oh god, what is happening?!¡± I croaked, looking down at my own charred body that looked half a corpse. I let out a strained chuckle, wondering if I had gone mad.
"This can''t be real..." I looked around the room, taking in the creepy ambiance.
¡°It is,¡± a voice called out behind me that sounded eerily familiar.
I jolted, my heart pounding in my chest. I slowly turned around, scanning the darkness. I¡¯d recognized the voice. A glowing silhouette came toward me from the corner of the room. Something within me knew who it was, though I had no idea how.
¡°Venna?¡±
"Yes, Toni," she replied. Though her appearance was completely different from the person I saw at the cemetery, her voice was the same.
Before I could freak out further, she raised a hand and said, "I¡¯m sure you are feeling disoriented. Things are going to be a lot more¡ different than what you¡¯re used to."
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
I stared blankly, trying to make sense of her words and the fact that I was speaking to a ghost. "Different? How?"
Venna floated forward, her glowing form slightly illuminating the room. "You have been infused with the Death Aspect."
¡°The Death Aspect?¡± I repeated incredulously. "What does that even mean? And why do you¡ look like that?"
My mind raced with questions as I took in her ethereal appearance.
Venna smiled softly.
¡°I am what you would call a spirit. I was once human like you, but I chose to serve the Tomb Lord, even through death. I¡¯ve waited so long to find someone who could take his aspect. What is your affinity percentage?¡±
I squinted, trying to read the information shimmering inside my head. "Um, 90%."
Her shimmering eyes went wide.
¡°Did you say ninety percent?¡±
"Y-yes," I stammered, unsure of what the percentage meant.
Venna froze.
"You are so close to its full potential¡" she trailed off as if piecing out the implications. ¡°Which means you have access to the Nexus. Did you get any special abilities?¡±
I brought up the menu with a thought; the action was utterly alien yet somehow simultaneously natural.
My mind was a tornado of chaos, so I clung to Venna¡¯s questions like a life raft amidst the storm.
I repeated the listed abilities. ¡°Soul Sight, Corpse Plunder, and The Tomb Lord¡¯s Soul Stash.¡±
Venna grinned widely, her translucent form pulsing.
¡°This is better than I could have hoped.¡±
¡°What is going on?!¡± I demanded, voice wheezing from the strain of raising it.
¡°I know you have many questions, and I will answer what I can. But first, you must heal yourself before we continue; your health is dangerously low. You should have the ability to consume corpses, yes?"
"Y-yeah," I replied, not believing the conversation I was having.
"Good." The ghostly woman motioned toward a nearby pile of bones and frayed clothing. "Focus on this one. Does anything appear?"
I did as she instructed, and to my astonishment, a sickly green and black glow formed around it.
Text appeared behind my eyes.
Consumable corpse.
Consume? Yes/No.
God, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m doing this.
With a mental ¡®yes,¡¯ the light grew brighter, and the remains lit up before dissolving into sickly green light; the light coalesced before zipping toward me.
Immediately, the ache in my charred body lessened, replaced by a cozy warmth. My blackened skin began to mend, flesh re-growing to cover the exposed muscle and bone. I couldn''t believe it. I had consumed a corpse to heal myself. My status flashed behind my eyes, and I saw that my health had risen to 31.
I stared at my renewed flesh with a slack jaw, trying to process the events that had led me to this point. None of which made any sense.
¡°Excellent,¡± Vienna nodded. ¡°That ability will be invaluable in the journey to come.¡±
¡°The journey to come?¡±
Venna raised a hand, ¡°Yes. Consume a few more until your health is fully restored.¡±
I did as she instructed, focusing on another pile.
I¡¯m going insane. This is insane.
Three corpses later, my health was at a hundred.
I looked up at Venna, my mind reeling from the surreal situation. ¡°Please, tell me what¡¯s going on. Am I going crazy? What is this place? Did I actually die?¡± The questions poured out of me relentlessly, each one more frantic than the last.
Venna¡¯s lips pursed together, and she gave me a sympathetic look.
"You''re not losing your mind. Although you might wish you were once you find out the truth. To answer your last question, yes, you did die. It is the only way one can absorb the Aspect of Death. Your blood was deemed compatible. More than compatible. This,¡± she said, motioning around us, ¡°Is what remains of the stronghold of Kaelen Grave, the hero otherwise known as the Tomb Lord¡ªthe greatest necromancer to ever live. And, quite possibly, the most incredible man.¡±
Her voice was somber, reminiscent when she mentioned his name.
My brow furrowed as I tried to wrap my mind around all this.
"Necromancer? You mean, like, raising dead people?"
"Yes, exactly like that. And so much more. Necromancers are about control, about manipulating the very walls of life and death itself. Kaelen Grave was one such wielder. The second person to have ever absorbed the Death Aspect. With eighty-seven percent affinity. The highest ever until now¡¡±
Venna''s voice trailed off as she looked at me, her eyes flickering with hope and sadness.
I shook my head in disbelief.
¡°This-this doesn¡¯t make any sense. It can¡¯t be real. Necromancy. Spells and summoning and controlling the dead? This is just a game, right? Some sort of immersive virtual reality experience? That''s it. It has to be. Maybe I did die, and my consciousness was sucked into some sort of simulation."
Vienna sighed, the action bringing attention to the fact she had no lungs to speak of.
"It is not a game, Toni. As much as I wish it were. No, you have truly crossed into another realm, and you are in a very grave situation. We all are.¡±
"Another realm?¡± I asked in disbelief. "But how? Why? And what do you mean by ''grave situation''?¡±
Before Venna could respond, an inhuman, spine-chilling screech echoed down a dark hallway to our left.
¡°Uh, what was that?¡±
Venna''s eyes widened, and she said frantically, "Toni, you must go. Rajek¡¯s minions still guard the stronghold. I had thought he would call them back after all these years.¡±
I shook my head, overwhelmed and at my limit with everything happening.
¡°Look, I can¡¯t take any more of this. Just tell me what¡¯s going on. Who¡¯s Rajek? What¡ª¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry, but there is no time to get into details,¡± Venna interrupted. ¡°This was not how I wanted to welcome you to Veridis. You aren¡¯t ready to face a shrowder. I¡¯ll possess it for as long as I can. Make your way down that corridor. Go left once you hit the intersection, and keep running until you are outside. They can¡¯t go in sunlight.¡±
¡°No!" I shouted, my mental fortitude finally breaking. ¡°Screw this. Screw you. Screw this place, wherever the hell it is. I¡¯m done! I was just freaking burned alive! No,¡± I said again, my body shaking as the trauma of that ordeal came flooding back.
My voice broke with sobs, "I don''t want to be here anymore. I can''t do this. Just...just let me go back! Make this all go away! You can do that, right? Unplug me or whatever."
Venna placed a hand on my arm, her translucent fingers icy cold against my skin.
¡°I cannot. Nor would I. You have been chosen for a purpose, Toni. A purpose much greater than you can possibly fathom. The fate of Veridis and many other worlds, including your own, rests on your shoulders.¡±
"But why?" I whispered, my voice barely audible as the weight of what she had just told me settled upon me.
¡°I-I¡¯m no hero.¡±
She cupped my face, an all-knowing smile tugging at her lips.
¡°Heroes are not born, Toni. They are forged by circumstances beyond their control.¡±
Another screech, this one much closer, filled the air, and the corridor shook with each terror-inducing note. It shook me from my reverie.
Venna''s words struck me as I glanced down at the menu again, my heart pounding in my chest.
If this was all true, my life, my world, and everything else had changed in the blink of an eye.
This can¡¯t be happening.
What about Tyler? What would everyone at home think?
As the screech echoed through the halls once more, I felt a sense of urgency wash over me.
If the talking ghost, draining dead bodies, and the strange menu system in my brain weren¡¯t enough, what I saw next confirmed it all.
The entranceway to our left suddenly disappeared as if replaced by an impenetrable veil of darkness.
And then it moved.
Fear coursed through me, threatening to paralyze me in place.
Venna¡¯s eyes darted toward the shifting mass of black at the corridor entrance¡ªthe veil that was definitely alive, definitely terrifying, and definitely inching closer like it was tasting the air for me.
She looked back at me, that flickering ethereal glow around her beginning to dim. ¡°It¡¯s too late.¡±
¡°What do you mean it¡¯s too late?¡± I rasped, my voice still shredded from smoke and fire and existential dread.
¡°I mean, I can¡¯t hold it back. Even possessing it for a moment will cost me more than I anticipated. That¡ that thing isn¡¯t just any shrowder¡ªit¡¯s a Shadowless. A being devoid of all light. Something that shouldn¡¯t be, let alone be here. Who would have thought Rajek would part with one for so long.¡±
¡°Cool, great, love that for me,¡± I said, mostly to keep from screaming.
Venna''s expression turned grim, calculating. ¡°There¡¯s only one hope left. The Tomb Lord¡¯s actual tomb¡ªit¡¯s not far. Just a few chambers from here, deeper underground. It won¡¯t be able to enter immediately.¡±
¡°Because¡ respect for the dead?¡± I asked, half-sarcastic, half-hoping.
¡°No, because of a barrier,¡± she rolled her eyes.
¡°Of course,¡± I panic chuckled.
She gave me a ghost of a smile. "Inside the tomb is one of Kaelen Grave¡¯s relics¡ªhis cloak," Venna said, her voice soft but edged with urgency. "It was handwoven by the Weavers of Nareth, using fibers spun from the silk glands of Gravemoths¡ªcreatures that only nest in the hollows of ancient burial trees whose branches connect to the land of the dead. The lining was stitched with threads soaked in embalming oils drawn from the Pools of Silence, and its binding seals were forged from the depths of Kaelen himself¡ªhis life essence, his power, imbued into the very fabric of the cloak.
I stared at her like she¡¯d just recited what sounded like a grocery list of nightmares.
¡°So it¡¯s a cloak made from grave bugs, dead tree juice, and a dead guy¡¯s mojo?¡±
¡°Essentially.¡±
I swallowed hard. ¡°And if I can¡¯t?¡±
¡°Then I hope you¡¯re fast at dying twice.¡±
¡°Comforting.¡±
She stepped toward me, glowing fingers brushing my arm. ¡°You must go now. I¡¯ll try to delay the creature just long enough for you to reach the chamber. Trust the cloak. It¡¯s not just fabric¡ªit¡¯s part of him.¡±
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever was to come. "Okay, Venna. I''ll try."
She nodded, her eyes filled with determination and, dare I say it, hope. "I¡¯ll possess it. But it will only hold for a few seconds, Toni. You¡¯ll need to run past it. Don¡¯t look back. Keep running. Three rooms ahead, two rooms to the right.¡±
I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest.
The atmosphere was heavy with unease as I cast a final glance at Venna. Her ethereal silhouette shone with an intensity that both captivated and unsettled me, as she readied herself to inhabit the shrowder. This creature exuded an aura that my fragmented thoughts struggled to comprehend, yet every instinct screamed of its inherent "wrongness." My heart wavered between the need to run and my overwhelming fear that kept me rooted in place.
The veil of darkness rippled like a living thing, crawling closer as the temperature dropped. Every part of my body screamed to move, but I couldn¡¯t. Not yet. Not until Venna said the word.
¡°Go!¡± she shouted, and then her form blurred¡ªtorn forward with unnatural speed, streaking toward the corridor¡¯s entrance like a comet made of ghostlight.
The creature¡ªno, the Shadowless¡ªroared. That was the only word I had for the sound¡ªit was like the earth itself weeping in agony. The walls trembled. Bones rattled. The torchlight flickered as if afraid to stay lit.
I bolted.
My bare feet slapped against cold stone as I tore down the passageway. My lungs pumped on instinct, despite knowing I didn¡¯t need to breathe anymore. Maybe it was just muscle memory. Or maybe it was terror.
One chamber. Then another. I flew past broken statues and shattered urns, passed a half-collapsed hallway where skeletal hands reached out from beneath the rubble. I didn¡¯t stop.
Third chamber.
I made the turn. Two doors to the right.
The second door stood ajar¡ªjust barely¡ªand behind it, a strange glow leaked through the crack. Not green like before. Not blue like the torches. Something in between.
I skidded to a halt, yanked the heavy door open, and stumbled inside.
This tomb was different.
It was silent¡ªnot just quiet, but utterly devoid of sound, like the air itself refused to carry a whisper. A chill bit deep, gnawing at my skin like invisible teeth. My eyes were instantly drawn to the center of the room.
There, laid atop a stone bier, was a cloak.
Not folded. Not draped. Just... hovering. Suspended an inch above the surface, swaying gently in an unseen breeze. Deep black, embroidered with runes that shimmered faintly like dying stars, the cloak seemed to absorb the light around it, swallowing it whole.
It pulsed.
Not metaphorically. It actually pulsed¡ªas if it had a heartbeat.
Text bloomed in my vision:
[Legacy Relic Detected]: Shroud of Final Silence ¨C Bound to Bearer of the Death Aspect
I stepped closer. The cloak shifted slightly, as if... noticing me.
[Passive Ability Gained]: Aura of Stillness ¨C All hostile entities within 10 feet suffer reduced reaction speed and precision.
[Passive Ability Gained]: Dreadmarked Presence ¨C Death-aligned entities instinctively recognize your dominance. Lesser undead will defer. Intelligent ones must resist or obey. Living creatures experience unease and dread.
[Active Ability Gained]: Fade Between ¨C Once per day, become incorporeal for 30 seconds as you enter the realm of the dead. Immune to all damage. Can pass through solid matter.
[Passive Effect]: Echo of the Tomb Lord ¨C You bear the memory-thread of Kaelen Grave. Random insights, memories, and whispers may occur. XP gain for necromantic tasks increased.
[Note]: Passive abilities may be toggled ON or OFF at user discretion.
I reached out with a shaking hand and brushed my fingers against the cloak. It was cold. Cold like winter¡¯s breath over a grave.
The moment I touched it, the air shifted.
The silence deepened. The room darkened. And the cloak curled up my arm like a serpent claiming its master.
It fastened itself around my shoulders, stitching itself together with a whisper of wind.
Just then, I heard the Shadowless screech again. Closer now. Too close.
I turned to run¡ªbut something deep within me, something cold and quiet, knew I had another option now.
The cloak pulsed against my back.
A thought rose unbidden¡ªwhispered not in my ears, but somewhere more profound, like a breath inside my bones.
Fade Between.
I didn''t hesitate.
My body turned cold and weightless, the world bending around me as my form dissolved into shadow and smoke. I surged forward, slipping through the stone wall as if it were mist.
The last thing I saw before I passed through was the Shadowless crashing into the chamber, screeching in rage at the prize that had slipped from its grasp.