Sou Yuet was gone, in the morning.

The necromancer woke with Sunny curled up against her back, despite the already warm day. She sat up, shifting the sleeping puppy to one side, and swung her legs out of the bed.

The coin pouch, and Sou Yuet's set of needles, was laid on a small table nearby, and the necromancer felt herself breathe a sigh of relief.

Not good.

Sunny sleepily snuffled against her leg and yawned.

“Are ye me guard, Sunny? In case I run away now?”

The puppy pulled herself upright drowsily. She was tall enough to rest her chin on the necromancer's shoulder.

“Ah Yuet- Hah... That stupid monk. What kind of criminal escort are they? Leaving a... a murderer by themselves like this. I just told them last night that I...” She gripped her own hands tightly. Sunny snuffled solemnly.

“I always wanted a pet.” The necromancer scratched behind Sunny's tiny ears. “I used to see the mages with their failinis, their battle-hounds, and the witch-folk with their cat sí, and thought it... must be real nice to have someone beside ye. Someone who'dstay unconditionally. Would ye stay unconditionally, Sunny?” She hugged the si dzi, who sat patiently. “Would... Is it... Can I even hope?” Her eyes drifted over to the items on the table, and she pulled back, patting Sunny's head.

“Good girl. I hope the monk's back soon. I'm getting hungry.”

The monk returned half an hour later, looking a little worse for wear, to find the necromancer and the si dzi wrestling. “Have you eaten?”

“Not yet, thought I'd wait for ye.”

“I left money here, though.” Sou Yuet's eyes drifted over to the table. “Was it not enough?”

“Are you alright?” the necromancer pushed Sunny aside and leaned over the monk. “What've ye been doing?”

“... the anqa is gone.”

“Ah.”

Sou Yuet dropped the cloth they were carrying onto the table and let it fall open. It contained a number of herbs that the necromancer was sure she had not seen before, as well as a small, but very ornate bronze box.

“Where'd ye get these?”

“The markets.”

“With what money?”

“I just bartered some things.”

“I see. Well, I guess ye had no need for that weird thing I gave ye-”

“I didn't trade that!” Sou Yuet snapped. Everyone in the room froze.

“Right... Sorry, I just assumed...

“I traded some of the herbs I had left,” the monk said, more calmly. “There wasn't really enough left to be effective for what we need, but they were unusual to the merchants. I worked a little, gave some advice on some illnesses.”

“Okay... so what do these ones do?”

“As best I can understand, this is for staunching blood. It'll reduce how much you lose, so you'll recover faster.”

“Me? What about you?”

“Just a turn of phrase.”

“... And the box?” The necromancer picked it up and shook it. A few small items rattled around inside.

“Just some special medicines. For emergencies.”

“How long have ye been awake for?”

“Since... Why?”

“Cause ye look like shite. Ye've barely rested after all that exercise the other day.”

“It's fine. I've gone longer without sleep.”

“Was that after ye'd fought a giant sentient chicken that made ye question yer moral values?”

“It's fine.”

“No, it ain't.”

“Pretend it is.”

“Ah Yuet-”

“Stop!”

The monk's eyes flickered green fire. The necromancer felt energy drain from her legs and she fell suddenly to her knees. She looked up to find Sou Yuet glaring down at her, eyes glittering with more than just spiritual power.

As their eyes locked, energy flooded back into the necromancer and Sou Yuet stumbled backwards, expression horrified. “Ah... What did I... I'm sorry...”

They turned for the door but Sunny leapt from the bed and into the doorway, giving the necromancer time to stand and fold the monk into a bear hug.

“Hey, Ah Yuet. Are ye scared of me now?”

“What... Why?”

“Did ye forget what I told ye last night?”

“No, but why-”

“So why are ye running away?”

“Because I nearly hurt you.”

“Gods, ye're a bigger eejit than I am.”

“You're not-”

“Yeah, I am. That's fine and all, we'll just be eejits together. I'm not gonna judge ye if ye wanna run around trying to stop something like this from happening again. It makes sense. How do ye think I've felt, talking to the dead all the time? Sometimes they're so desperate for someone to hear them... Ye can't prepare for everything, ye can't control it... Ye've surely seen people die before?”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“... I've had patients die. Even though I tried my best. But this is different. I actively killed- murdered this creature that could have been saved-”

“She didn't want to be saved, Ah Yuet. Who are ye to deny her that?”

“But she could have healed... one day...”

“Maybe she could have. Maybe she wouldn't. We don't know.” She turned the monk to face her, and hugged them close again. “I don't think what ye did was wrong, trying to save her. But at some point... Are ye gonna destroy yerself to save the world?”

“If I have to.”

“What?”

Sou Yuet didn't respond.

“I think yer old man would be sad if ye did that. I bet Sunny would be, too.”

“Sunny has you,” Sou Yuet said softly, as the si dzi, hearing her name, came sniffing around their legs. She was rewarded with a pat on the head.

“I'd be sad too, alright? Who's gonna keep an eye on me and make sure I'm not a menace to society if ye're not around? I'm a criminal, remember? Aren't ye supposed to be watching me?”

She felt Sou Yuet go tense in her arms and closed her eyes. Yeah, remember who we are to each other, dumb monk. I'm a criminal, ye're me guard.

And yet, Sou Yuet didn't let go. “Let's get something to eat.”

“Eh?”

“I can feel your stomach grumbling.”

“Ah, right.”

*

“It's... kind of funny, isn't it?”

“What?”

“I've lived for over a hundred years, and yet here I am -”

“Do ye see me laughing, ye fool? Shut it and keep picking.”

They had found an early fruiting apple tree on the edge of the desert. Although the apples were spotty and misshapen, they were crunchy and mostly sweet, although a few still carried a tinge of sourness.

“What is this?” the necromancer grumbled, eyeing the apple dubiously.

“Look this way.”

“Huh?” The necromancer turned, and instantly a slice of apple was popped into his mouth.

“GWEH! GUH! WHAT... That's actually really tasty.”

“I guess you don't have these in Íriu.”

“Well we do, but they're really sour. I've never had a sweet apple.”

“Eat lots. You've been missing out.”

“No need to tell me... What's that sound?”

Rather than a sound, there was a deep vibration, thrumming through the earth below them. Behind them, the desert sands danced and shimmered. The necromancer stood upright, the tattoos on his skin writhing; Sou Yuet dropped down, their hands sensing the roots of the plants around them. Sunny whimpered anxiously.

“A large hoofed beast, coming this way...” They flinched. “There's fire...”

“Is it running from the fire?”

“No... it seems to be... on fire itself? It's almost here.”

They both braced themselves, ready to leap out of the way, and then the creature came over the crest of a hill and into view.

A huge ox stared down at them. As large as the anqa, its body shone like brass, and a mane of red fire encircled its neck. Rising out of the massive head were six giant horns, two curved downwards by the creature's cheeks, the other four rising upwards, the points glinting in the sun. Sunny, trembling, stood between the ox and her companions, her growl thin and fearful.

“What's the bet it's friendly?” the necromancer whispered, not taking his eyes off the creature. There was no affection in its dark, beady eyes.

“Low. Very low.”

The fierce mouth opened, and a deep bellow, filled with low frequencies, set their ribcages rattling. The necromancer grabbed Sunny and hauled her over his shoulder despite her protests and her size.

“We're getting out of-”

“Humans...”

“Oh shite. It speaks human languages.”

Sou Yuet bowed politely. “ Yuān Yì Fēng greets the great one. May I ask for your name?”

The ox's large wet nose snuffled disdainfully. His drooping ears flicked. “Humans... Yes, you are the ones. You will listen to me.”

“We're already listening though,” the necromancer pointed out. Sunny barked in agreement.

The ox bellowed suddenly, almost knocking them all flat.

“There will be SILENCE. I know what you have done to Lady Anqa. You will be punished.”

“We had no choice!” the necromancer shouted back, ignoring the ox's instructions. “She was-”

“I will accept your punishment, Great One,” Sou Yuet said quietly.

“Argh... no no no NO! Ye stupid monk!”

“Please do not punish my friends. I was the one to... to kill Lady Anqa.”

“Forget it!” The necromancer and Sunny pushed Sou Yuet behind them and glared at the ox.

The ox said nothing, did nothing. He continued to stare down at them all. The necromancer felt a bead of sweat run uncomfortably down his back.

“Humans... I am The Hadhayosh. I rule the lands here. The deserts, the plains... You have caused murder in my domain.”

“Yeah, and we-”

“Tell me who you are, again. Tell me who you truly are.”

Sou Yuet stood, put one hand on the necromancer's shoulder, and the other on Sunny's bristling head. “Lord H- Hadhayosh. I am Yuen Sou Yuet, courtesy name Yuān Yì Fēng. direct disciple of the Azure Wood Dragon of the East, Lady Maang Dzeung, and Head Disciple of the Yuen Mei School of Healing.”

The Hadhayosh snorted. A foul breath washed over the trio, and Sunny collapsed, choking. The two humans held their breath and tried not to pass out.

“Now, you.”

“Tsk... I'm a necromancer. I have no name. Least, no name I want to use. I'm a murderer and something of a bastard. Is that truthful enough for ye?”

For a moment, it almost seemed as though a spark of amusement ignited in The Hadhayosh's bottomless eyes. But it was gone almost immediately, so fast it could have been imagined.

“You are children. You carry lofty ideals – Yes, even you, child of death, despite how your roll your eyes. All actions have consequences. You took the life of Lady Anqa, and so you will be punished.”

“And what about the bastard who started this whole thing? That fox that killed her kids? Where's his punishment?”

“That creature's fate is catching up to him. His time will come, but it is not my place to bring justice to him.” The Hadhayosh shook his great head and the fire around him rippled. “Others will do so. I make judgement in my own domain.”

“Bullshite. Pun absolutely intended.”

“Travel southeast of here. To the country where the plants are thick and green, the air is hot as the desert, but wet.”

“Why should we?”

“Monk child.”

Sou Yuet raised their head.

“I know this is what you seek. I see the ghost of Lady Anqa hanging around your neck, weighing you down. Go south and east. You will understand when you arrive.”

The monk cupped their hands, and bowed. “Thank you, Lord.”

“Child of death.”

“What?” The necromancer growled.

“The bhavachakra turns. Your past will catch up one day. Are you prepared?”

“What the feck does that mean?”

The Hadhayosh flicked his ears dismissively. “Farewell. I will see you again when your punishment is complete.” He turned and disappeared back over the hill.

“Feck you too!” the necromancer shouted at the empty space. “Ye aren't seriously going to go, are ye?”

Sou Yuet patted Sunny comfortingly.

“Hey, monk...” the necromancer said helplessly. “T'wasn't yer fault. How many times do I have to tell ye?”

“I'll go. Lord Hadhayosh was right.”

“... Do ye think ye'll stop beating yerself up if ye go and take this punishment of his?”

“I hope so.”

“I bloody hope so too, because if ye're still acting like this when ye're done, I'll kick yer arse, ye got it? I'll get Sunny to ignore ye for a week.”

“Noted. You don't have to come.”

“Shut it. Get yer leaf out.”