It is no stretch to say Leigh has taught me about a great many things. Blacksmithing for one, yes, but she’s also taught me a great many things about living life. Nothing she intended to teach, I don’t think, but regardless she has led by example. If she wants me to teach her magic, then I will do everything in my power to assist her. It’s the least I can do.

First, however, I need to finally name my only other friend. “Bonewolf '' doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. I waited until after breakfast the morning after Leigh’s birthday and climbed down into the root cellar where ‘Bonewolf’ spent most of his time. He still spooked people sometimes when they spotted him from a distance, and there were apparently unsavory rumors spreading in town that I’d like to avoid.

Once I reached the bottom of the stairs, I whistled softly into the dark, and my ever-faithful minion came trotting over. At times I’ve had to remind myself that he doesn’t have much going on upstairs. His mindless eyes, while bright, do not contain any sentience. The summoned soul facsimile that powers movement is not alive. Bonewolf moves so fluidly though I could almost be convinced he was a living dog.

“Good morning old friend” I smiled, ignoring my own judgment and treating him as a pet anyway. He never responded anyway, not unless I ordered him to. “Starting today, You have a name,” I explained to the empty basement. My minion looked up at me silently, and the ridiculous nature of my situation finally hit me. I let out a faint chuckle and knelt down in front of the skeletal beast.

“I know it must get boring down here by yourself all the time, but it won’t have to be too much longer. Cain.” and as I spoke the name I had chosen aloud, a surge of mana accompanied the words, devoid of any input of my own. I watched in surprise as the shadows of the room seemed to stretch and swirl, curling around my minion as if to cradle him.

Then came the whispers. The words felt distant and cold, not too dissimilar to a system message, but instead of lifeless text floating amidst my vision the emotionless words seemed to echo from the shadows themselves.

“Your dedication to the craft has long since been noticed…” the sonorous tones began. “You granted this child life, and now you grant them more. You grant..self.”

The temperature in the room dropped several degrees and my next exhale erupted into a cloud of steam, briefly fogging my vision. When it dispersed, I saw Cain’s eyes flicker with that familiar purple flame of necromantic power.

“A bargain is offered” The voice explained, this time echoing from within my minion himself. “You who have flouted the laws of this world time and time again. You hold much promise, much potential. Our wills align, accept and we shall grant you aid.”

My mind was reeling. Definitely not the system talking to me, but who or what could flaunt system connection so dramatically to channel it like this? My first thought was initially some dark force, a demon of some kind or a remnant invader from the age of wars. Unlikely, it felt familiar, if somewhat sinister. That existence was at peace with the system, not at odds.

A power of this world then. A god? Not that the revelation helps much. There are over a hundred known and recognized gods, and to the best of my knowledge nearly a dozen that could have some interest in necromancy, shadow magic, or general darkness.

I couldn’t confirm who was offering to me, nor what it was that they offered. At least not without asking, and this doesn’t feel like a time to ask questions. Regardless, I feel strangely comforted and content in the presence, like it calls to me.

“I accept”

The words were drawn from my throat as if speaking into a vacuum, their own weight dripping from my tongue. The response was immediate. “A bargain offered, a bargain struck. We will be watching” and a chill ran down my spine to accompany those final words.

This is the sort of thing I avoided the first time around. Powerful forces, be they emperors, dragons, or gods, always have an ulterior motive. If I hadn’t felt so strangely at ease and in awe, I would have rejected it outright. I coughed a few errant drops of blood from my dry throat, noting the pain from having spoken aloud those words of power. Then all I could do was watch.

I watched as the shadows wrapping Their way around my minion seemed to coalesce into a far more tangible state. Like cloth or muscle perhaps, the darkness clung to those old bones that had long since been bleached stark white by time, wreathing him in power.

The flickering purple flames in Cain’s eyes roared brighter for a moment, nearly leaping from his skull. When they died down, the flame no longer flickered and a steady compressed light shone from inside those sockets like tiny amethyst gems.

He bristled with power and shadow, looking more like a summoned wolf than ever before. Close inspection would still reveal him as undead of course, but now he might not so easily disturb people from afar.

Identity confirmed.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Cain (Greater Bonewolf) has evolved into (Shadewolf).

Cain has leveled up!

ERROR.

Spirit siphon unable to connect properly to system locked host.

Initializing experience buffer for Cain (Shadewolf).

Another system error flashed as the subtle transformation of my friend was completed. I was worried for a moment, as I was earlier on Leigh’s birthday, but it has yet to prove dangerous to myself or anyone else. Perhaps I am an outlier case, and the system is adapting around me? Perhaps more people have errors and the system is imperfect, just never discussed as such?

The error message I saw on Leigh’s birthday had suspiciously said “see you soon”, and now not even a week later, I’m being contacted by who knows what. Something was clearly wrong, but there’s no way for me to get answers to my questions here in the village. Hell, maybe not even in all of Ocresh territory. As much as it burns me, it will have to wait.

I turned my attention back to my friend and was disappointed to find I could not view Cain’s status as I had done for minions in the future-past of my previous life. Blessedly, however, the information still flowed freely into my mind, just without the visual presentation of a system interface box.

Name: Cain

Strength: 20

Species:

Bone Wolf (Greater) - lvl ?

Hp: 40

Vitality: 20

Shadewolf - lvl ?

Mp: 2

Agility: 20

Species: Shadewolf

Intelligence: 1

Charisma: 0

Willpower: 0

General Skills:

Species Skills: Bonewolf

Mind of the Master - lvl 1

Null

Species Skills: Shadewolf

Null

His status raises a few questions. The presence of a question mark denoting his various species levels likely has something to do with the experience buffer the system mentions. However, his skill lists are confusing. I don’t recall low-level minions having skills in the first place, but his species lists say “null” and his general skills display a skill I have never heard of before.

I tried to focus on [Mind of the Master] to find out what the skill does, but I can’t glean any information through the piercing headache that followed.

I guess that just leaves his stats. To call them lopsided would be a bit generous. Honestly, Cain’s stats remind me of my own in a twisted sort of way. He’s slated heavily toward the physical stats, and my own stats are almost entirely mental. The single point Cain has in intelligence is promising though.

Normally low tier undead are completely mindless and incapable of interacting much beyond direct orders. A single point in intelligence, two points of mana, at least hints at something more than the baseline. He might actually be alive in there. I’m going to try not to get my hopes up if it turns out to be nothing, but I’d certainly enjoy him being a bit more independent.

Cain’s new form is also impressive. The sleek curves of his shadowy flesh, the subtle interplay of purple flame and pure darkness. Beautifully constructed in every meaning of the phrase, Cain has become a living work of art. His movements evoke a sense of wonder. The flames in his eyes are distant and cold even as they burn so brightly. I can’t help but spend a few moments just pouring over him, enthralled in the masterwork.

Such a pinnacle of Necromancy is astounding. Any future minions I raise will have heavy expectations to fill, but I hope my connection with Cain will serve as a beacon to guide them and further my craft.

“Nice to meet you Cain.”