“Give up now, vile necromancer! Adventurer, let me take it from here.” Randor commanded the city guards to ensnare the necromancer.

Milas immediately moved out of the way. The city guards hurried up and shackled Milder’s hands and ankles. They use anti-magecraft shackles so that Milders won’t escape with magecraft. Corbin and Clama observed the arrest of the necromancer. The survivors were too exhausted to mob around the one who almost destroyed Capital City. Their fear and anger turned into relief at the defeat of the necromancer.

“How are you doing, Master Milders? Or should I say, Caretaker Jaime?” An old representative from the Magi’s Collective approached Milders. He stood tall despite his decrepit age. Coming from the city’s ruins, they were waiting to escort Milders.

“That peasant name is already dead! Respect my authority!“ Milders was angrily shaking but the city guards prevented him from tackling the old magi.

“What? He’s your caretaker?” Milas was surprised at the abrupt revelation.

“As you can see, young lady, Caretaker Jaime was once the magi's personal caretaker. He was very eager to become a magi but his arrogance and greed blinded him. One night, he stole one of our manuscripts about necromancy. Upon finding him, we exiled him to the north. We hoped that he repented, but he disappeared many years after. We have no news about him until now.”

“You nitwits, you haven’t seen the full potential of necromancy! We can use it in the campaign against the orcs of Jagganatha. We could also have expanded Arche across the continent. Imagine the possibilities. Open your puny minds, you cloistered buffoons!”

“Not all knowledge is meant to be weaponized. The role of Magi’s Collective is to gather and share information for the betterment of everybody. Necromancy is one of the forbidden knowledge created by Malgiabolis. He made it for desecrating the dead. Your goal of conquering other nations is malicious as well.“ A female mage arrived from the crowd and confronted Milders.

“Then what’s the point of collecting knowledge then? You are arming yourselves with potentially lethal power! You’re no different from me!”

“We understand your sentiments, but your reasoning is too twisted with malice. The art of necromancy has corrupted your judgment.” Another magi retorted while remaining calm and composed.

“You never acknowledged my potential at all!”

“We’re afraid we have no choice but to wipe away your memories and knowledge. You have endangered everybody. Guards, we will follow his sentencing at the court.” The three magi leave Milders in dismay.

While everyone was distracted, Milders used the last bit of his strength to get his revenge. He broke his toe, used his blood to draw a magical inscription, and conjured undead arms. The fleshy arms sprouted from his back and pushed away the city guards. He took aim at Milas who was in his vicinity. He won’t accept the fact a bunch of rag-tag adventurers would defeat him.

“My legacy won’t be forgotten! I’ll start with you, child!”

“Milas, watch out!” Corbin shouted at her and ran when she turns away from Milders.

Randor immediately stepped forward and stabbed Milders with his saber. He made aimed at the necromancer’s heart.

“You insolent fool! You won’t escape my trap” Milders began coughing with purple blood. Randor stepped back from Milders who spewed unholy fluids. His blood melted part of the city floor. A faint unholy energy rose at Milders’s body. The city guards trembled and let go of the shackles. Milders was about to explode using a forbidden curse.

“Stand back young master, he’s turning into a virulent bomb!” Solus called the young prince to retreat. Listening to Solus, Randor hopped backward before Milders was about to explode.

Milders began to melt and bloat. His skin peeled off, revealing purple flesh and gray bones. His hair also fell down, showing his pulsating brain. Pustules from his pores bursted with green acid. His stomach, lungs, arms, and legs engorge with foul fluids.

“A virulent bomb? Milders intend to curse everybody!” Making a hasty decision, Calma projected a divine wall. Instead of a massive, horizontal wall, he formed a dome to control the explosion. He then inverted the divine wall to contain the explosive curse.

“You may have won today but I shall return!” Milders exploded into a contagious cloud. His flesh scattered inside the divine wall. The contagious cloud never disappeard so the remaining clergymen assisted Calma. Without Calma’s quick reaction, the necromancer could have spread his curse and poisoned everybody.

“Thanks for your hasty response, Calma. We will contain the explosion and purify it.” A younger clergyman approached Calma, and he called the others for the cleanup.

“That looks disgusting!” Milas looked horrified at the aborted explosion. Corbin made sure Milas was alright.

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“Alright everyone, the necromancer has been vanquished. We suggest you take your leave now.” Randor ordered everyone to leave before they could see the necromancer’s remains.

Several suns passed since the assault at the Capital City. The city was rebuilding after its fall. Everybody devoted their time to fixing everything. Volunteers from nearby towns helped in reconstructing the city settlements. The nobilities agreed to donate their wealth to repair the city center. The clergymen wasted no time to purify the tainted streets. Some adventurers lend their time to assist the builders. Corbin and Milas joined the building crew. Nia consoled those who grieve for the deaths of those who fought against the necromancer. Even the simplest form of help was appreciated in the city.

The city became lively after as if nothing terrifying happened. Children merrily ran in the streets. The business in the city returns to its bustling moment. Citizens and merchants interacted again. Joyous music played at every tavern.

King Remus and his sons, including Randor, commemorated the successful defense of the city. Several notable figures gathered and celebrated at the kingdom. Adventurers, city guards, and other allies received rewards, whether a piece of land, a title, or monetary gain. It was time for others to move on in their lives.

While the adventurer’s lodge became lively again, the adventurers were still waiting for Rez and Brindles. The unlikely allies haven’t returned from the graveyard since its destruction. Every evening after their work, Corbin, Milas, and Nia anticipated Rez’s arrival.

“I don’t feel at ease at all. The necromancer is gone, everybody is recovering, and the city is lively again. But Rez hasn’t reached out to us ages ago.” Milas was impatiently waiting at the window, glancing at the night sky.

“I’m sure Rez is safe and sound. He won’t like to see you sulking for him.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he brings a porcus. He’s unpredictable.” Corbin distracted himself by making small talk. He was learning to become more expressive by observing others talking.

“Hello adventurers, you have a visitor!” The elven maid knocked in excitement. Corbin reached the door and sees a familiar face. Rez arrived at the adventurer’s room, carrying a bag of smoked porcus.

“Where have you been, you nitwit?! You made us worried sick! You could have at least sent a messenger avian at us!” Milas angrily jabbed Rez’s stomach out of frustration.

“Watch it kid, I just want to make a dramatic surprise! Making a heroic comeback is an important matter to me.” Rez chuckled even getting hit.

“Milas has a point. You could have at least visited us earlier.” Nia explained in a worried manner.

“Well I can’t help it. After escaping from the graveyard, I decided to rest at the city garrison. I want to get some information about what happened here. The city guards are very welcoming, even the senior city guard gifted me this smoked porcus.” Rez placed the glistening meat on a dinner plate. He grabbed some platter and proceeded to distribute the slices.

“Where is Brindles?” Corbin sat down at the dining table after Milas and Nia settled down.

“I don’t know what happened to that old dwarf. But don’t worry, he’s too stubborn to die.”

“Maybe let’s visit the Church of Solne tomorrow. They may know about their Brindles’s whereabouts.” Nia suggested as she waits for her plate to be filled.

“Anyway, do you remember the two muggers?” Rez took some slices of the smoked porcus and serves it to his companions.

“Those bumbling fools? I hope they don’t end up as dinner for the undead” Milas enjoyed her smoked porcus and takes a hearty bite.

“Their names are Brian and Patricio. Abandoned by their respective parents. Been troublemakers since their youth.”

“What has happened to them? Did they survive the undead invasion?” Nia wondered.

“Apparently, all criminals were conscripted by King Remus to join the militia. And those lucky guys managed to outlive their fellow inmates. Most of the conscripted criminals either fled or died. Looks like we’ve underestimated them at all.”

“I hope their second chance in life will change their ways.” Nia felt relieved that even the two muggers are alive and fine.

After their satisfying dinner and deserved rest, the adventurers visited the church the following morning. The clergymen had been busy for the past weeks. They discussed important topics like blessing the fallen, purifying the streets, and planning for future invasions. Younger clergymen carried documents and scrolls across the bookshelves.

Upon their arrival, the adventurers see Calma accompanying the injured dwarf. Brindles was fully bandaged and sitting on a wooden chair with large ferrous wheels. Sticks and splints were supporting his broken arm and legs. Despite his injuries, he was still grinning like a naughty child.

“How did you survive the destruction? I heard you dropped a divine hammer above you.” Milas questioned Brindles’s miraculous escape.

“That infernal over there? His flimsy dynamite was indeed handy. After summoning the divine hammer from the sky, the whole mausoleum collapsed. Of course, I was completely covered with rubble. Those pesky boulders may have broken my bones. But I managed to blow up the cave-in when I found an opportunity. I crawled like an annelida on every crevice and stuck that dynamite inside a cave-in. I was lucky enough that city guards were still patrolling the graveyard’s remains. The explosion from the dynamite called their attention.”

“I really thought you’re a goner, old dwarf.”

“I’ve been saying it several times, Rez. I’ve done that before. Do you want me to do it here again?!”

“Count yourself lucky, Father Brindles. There won’t be another next time if you went too careless.” Calma reprimanded Brindles over his boasting.

‘It’s still a reckless choice to drop that divine hammer onto yourself. You could have perished with the undead.” Nia was concerned for the bandaged dwarf.

“You’re also worried for me, honey? Kind people like you give me a reason to stay alive for another 100 years!” Brindles hollered like a hooligan.

“I appreciate your enthusiasm, Father Brindles, but please behave. We are still in the midst of calamity.” Father George interrupted the jolly dwarf who was still twitching from his injuries.

“Looks like your hands are full, Father. Anything you need?” Milas wanted to help out.

“Thank you for approaching us again, adventurers. We are actually having a new emergency.”

“Well, there’s no rest for us then,” Rez commented from the corner.

“We would like to send you to purge an infestation at Ironthorne Kingdom. We already sent envoys from the adventurer’s lodge and the Church of Solne to solve the issue. Any additional help would suffice.”

“What is it? Corbin curiously asked.

“The elven kingdom is under invasion by their long-time enemies. And they need your help.”