“Gods Murdok! At least put up that giant sword in front of you instead of taking the attack head on.” Bones criticized the golem laying in front of him. A half a day had passed since the events at the inn and only now Bones felt it would be safe to stop by the road to see how much damage he suffered. Apart from deprecating Murdok, he was speechless.

Skully was, more or less, unscathed. He had a few charred bones and missed a few pieces of gear but nothing that couldn’t be fixed or replaced. Murdok on the other hand…

Bones had his hands on his head, wrecking his brains so to speak. The intense heat behind the fire attack scorched Murdok’s body and melted the plate armor he wore against his bones. Bones spent an hour intently watching the metal glued to golem’s ribs and sternum and couldn’t come up with the solution on how to repair the damage done. It’s not like he didn’t try, but the usual fix using bone manipulation didn’t work.

“Stand up.“ Bones said and Murdok stood up, holding a giant greatsword he then waved around before thrusting the point of the sword deep into the ground.

Well, at least he still looks menacing enough…

Bones exhaled then telepathically ordered Murdok to start practicing. He watched him repeat the same five steps he previously learned, without the metallic frame obstructing his movements and slowing him down.

This might actually turn out to my advantage. The metal exoskeleton covering the bones could potentially increase the durability of the body and by doing so, provide an immense increase in defense. I can just imagine a fully metallic golem body. Absolute defense. Like some kind of Termin-

“Alright that’s enough. We dilly-dallied enough for today. We need to get you boys new equipment and we still have ways to go until Draycott.” Bones stopped daydreaming and decided it was time to move on.

He continued his journey and let the past experiences occupy his mind. He couldn’t help but think to himself if he could’ve done something different against the two bandit leaders that easily bested him. Against Valerian Hellraiser, perhaps. The truth was, he hadn’t really tried hard enough to win. At first sign of real danger and after witnessing his overwhelming power, Bones decided to call it quits. Was it because of his failure with Jazmyne or because of the ease with which he dealt with Brody, he underestimated his foe and Murdok paid the price.

Bones mulled over the sore subject for hours, nitpicking on every little thing he could think of until he became convinced it wasn’t his fault. Not entirely. He blamed it on a difference in levels again, a difference in tiers! And he admitted he might’ve taken more than he could handle by taking on contracts way over his level.

After traveling until late at night, Bones grew weary of the ceaseless walk and opted to camp for the night. A lingering habit from his human days perhaps. Come early morning, he resumed his journey. The border of the Triwen Kingdom was just a day’s walk ahead at his relentless pace, with the town of Draycott two days distant.

His otherwise tranquil, boring journey took an unsettling turn at the end of the day as an eerie feeling crept over him, convincing Bones that he was being shadowed. Shivers ran down his undead spine, and he dismissed it at first, thinking his senses were merely toying with him. Liam, the lieutenant he last encountered in Hillecrest flashed in his mind but logic dismissed the possibility. Liam didn’t seem that capable.

The shudders persisted at irregular intervals, testing Bones’ patience. After an hour of this unsettling pursuit, Bones had had enough.

“Enough is enough! Show yourself!“ he demanded, his voice cutting through the silent night.

After a few moments of eerie silence, he became aware of haunting giggles echoing around him, their source eluding him. Swiftly conjuring two golem cores, Bones, in a theatrical display, spread his arms wide and hurled the cores away while shouting, “I know you’re here! Show yourself!”

Despite turning and scrutinizing his surroundings, Bones detected no one. The shudders intensified, leading him to the realization that whoever was toying with him did so with purpose. He pondered the mystery of the provocateur's identity. Why would someone of such skill provoke him openly?

I recognize this chill, Bones though, sensing the predatory intent in the unseen observer’s eyes. But who could it be? I haven’t made an enemy of someone this level!

The giggling ceased, and Bones felt the tension peak as a figure materialized beside him without a hint. A whispered remark broke the silence, “A little jumpy, aren’t you?”

For a fleeting moment, Bones was paralyzed, unable to form a thought. Even now, he couldn’t sense the person next to him. The figure stepped forward, chuckling, then turned to face Bones. Leaning in, she teased, “Are you alright, Bones? You look dead frozen!”

“T-Tivaara?” Bones stammered, gripping his chest. “M-my heart…”

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“Stop overreacting. I was just teasing you a bit, and you don’t have a heart!” She rolled her eyes, grinning.

Bones slumped to the ground, disoriented. “What was that? The cold, it made me shudder?”

“Ah that?” Tivaara replied, laughing. “That, my dear Bones, is the last thing my targets feel when death looms over them!”

Bones remained seated on the ground, stupefied. Her unexpected appearance had shaken him so profoundly that even his golems stood idle, oblivious to his plight. She extended a hand and helped him to his feet, glancing at his golems before returning her gaze to him. "New addition to the party, I see."

“Hm?” Bones took a moment to process her words. “Ah yes, Murdok. I suppose he is a new addition to the family. Anyway, Tivaara, what brings you here?”

Her grin turned flat, and she looked him straight in his hollow eyes. “What do you think?”

For the second time, Bones froze, then nervously chuckled. “You couldn’t be here for me, could you?”

“Of course I’m here for you! Do you think our meeting is a mere coincidence? Come now, Bones, you know better than that!”

“Then, are you here because of Silva?” Bones asked, his tone solemn, not expecting her of all people to come seeking revenge for the old man.

“Silva? No, don’t misunderstand. I didn’t come to kill you. Why would I? My business with him finished on the day of the festival. Him meeting his end is of no concern to me.”

“So you know about that. Then...” Bones was becoming more perplexed the longer he conversed with her. The undead were supposed to be void of feelings yet today he felt a whole range of emotions, and they just met!

“I’ve been keeping tabs on you since the festival. And I have to say, you haven’t been exactly laying low!”

Bones chuckled, “I haven’t got a clue what you mean by that…”

“If you say so. I like the new look by the way. You have skin now? And is that a cream on your face?” She commented. Bones explained his appearance drastically changed when he evolved into a Revenant. He clarified that the skin was actually a bone layer protecting him and that the concealment ointment helps him blend more easily.

“Well, it looks good on you,” she complimented, then added, “develop some muscles, and I’ll consider asking you out on a date!”

Bones remained quiet, a bit taken aback by Tivaara’s attitude. She seemed a lot more carefree then when he first met her.

“By the way, you know you are being followed. By someone other than me, I mean,” she suddenly said.

“The bandits, I know. They were sent by the bandit leader named Jazmyne a while back because I killed Daryll.”

“Daryll?” Tivaara asked, her eyebrow raised in confusion.

“Yes, but now Elric is the new Daryll.”

“What do you mean? You know what. I don’t want to know. The bandits stopped chasing after you since the fiasco in, what was it again…”

“Hillecrest?” Bones suggested.

“Right. The two still chasing after you are gold rankers employed by the Merchant’s Guild. What did you do? Rob someone you shouldn’t have?” Tivaara smirked, unknowingly hitting the mark.

“The Merchant Guild? Oh…” The dungeon core immediately flashed in his thoughts.

“What did you do?” Tiv asked again.

[...]

“Common, tell me! Pretty pwease?”

Pwease? Bones looked at her strangely, “That wasn’t cute at all.”

“I wasn’t trying to be cute. I bit my tongue - I’m not used to such vulgar language. Now tell me!” She commanded.

Bones quietly repeated, “vulgar language?” and wondered if she meant she wasn’t used to saying please? The more he delayed answering, the closer she got into his face.

“Alright, alright, just…back off a bit! I did steal something of considerable value…” He paused, then took out a small transparent object and showed it to her. Tivaara made a “huh” sound without explaining anything.

“So what is it?” Bones asked.

“No wonder they are after you. What you’re holding is a dungeon core of a small dungeon - an artificial dungeon core to be exact. Given its value, I’m surprised they haven’t sent more men, or even a third tier to retrieve it. You should consider yourself lucky.”

“Ah! So it is a dungeon core. Drat! How am I supposed to avoid not one, but two gold rankers?”

“You don’t. They would’ve caught up with you by tomorrow. Relax, I’ll get rid of them for you.”

“You will? Why would you do that for me?”

“Consider it a gesture of good will for entertaining me!”

“Then, I’m glad to entertain Miss Tivaara.”

“Oh? I’m a miss now?” She continued teasing. “Anyways, while I did say our meeting wasn’t a coincidence, I’m actually heading south for my next job, and meeting you was on my way.”

Bones leaned in, his curiosity piqued. “South? What kind of job?” He was eager for details, but Tivaara swiftly shot down any hopes of her disclosing vital information.

“What about you?” She asked. “Seeing as you’re heading east…do you plan to join the expedition to The Kingdom of Everlasting Dusk? Plan to hunt some vamps?”

Bones gasped, surprised that she knew his final destination. “How did you know? Was it a Thief’s Guild?”

For a brief moment Tivaara scowled. “You think I got my information from the Thief’s Guild? Bones, don’t insult the Assassin's Guild information network! And no, I didn’t acquire the information. It was just a guess considering your abilities and the direction you’re heading,” she replied with a sly grin, revealing her keen understanding of Bones and his movements.

“Of course and yes, you’re correct, I will be heading there eventually. I’ll stop by Draycott first, and get some experience fighting against vampires.”

“Good choice. But let me offer you a piece of advice. Things aren’t as they appear over there and you’d do well to inform yourself first before blindly taking on a contract.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’ve said enough already. You’ll find out what I mean once you get there. Before you leave, however, I have something that might be of interest to you.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“A contract, not too far away from here.”

“I can’t take on any more contracts right now. I just finished three - well three and a half - and failed one and the other half.”

“I think you might find this one insightful.”

Bones exhaled, giving in to his curiosity and asked, ”Why, what’s the contract?”

“It’s a subjugation type contract. The Yelsa corporation had the contract posted on the Guild’s board a few days ago, requesting brave adventurers to help clear out the mines. Their miners have dug a little too deep and awakened The Rock Elementals. The quarry is roughly two hours south from here. I can escort you to the place and we’ll part ways there.”

Tivaara was right; Bones was interested! He had never seen an Elemental before. “Two hours away you say?” He asked, and she nodded. “Lead the way.”