eatures. Niacin became nowhere to be found. Where’d she go? During this momentary pause, a creature delivers a front kick to her back and causes her to fall. Kael tackled the creature and stomped its face. “Thanks.” Asher stood up and continued battling. Then, suddenly, the creatures disappeared.

Something from the top of a tree fell with a strong green aura surrounding it. From the same spot, Niacin appeared and chased down the falling figure. It managed to use its right hand to catch itself and land on its feet.

“I didn’t expect that someone would notice that I was hiding. Have you fought Necromancers before, cat?” asked the creature.

“I’m not here to entertain questions, I’m here to find out what you want and why you attacked. If not, I’m gonna make you,” Niacin said. The creature stared at her for a while before a smile crept to its face.

“I remember now. You’re that creature that Solthor talked about fighting many years ago. By the way, how does it feel like getting manhandled by her? Did it feel good? Oh, how sweet it would be if I, one of her servants, were to beat you as well. Or should I kill you? So I can turn you into one of my puppets. A green aura would suit you, girl,” the creature provoked Niacin. She clenched her fists but tried to remain calm. While the others stood frozen, not knowing what to do, the name that the Necromancer mentioned startled Asher. Then, the green aura weighed heavily on their chests and they couldn’t explain why. The creature turned to them.

“Little ones, how are you doing? Is she your teacher? Perhaps, your friend? I apologize in advance for what I’m about to do to her but you are welcome to join me once I dispose of her. I’ll gladly be an adoptive parent if the situation calls for-” The Necromancer was cut off by Niacin’s kick to its left cheek. “Hey! I was talking just then, how rude of you to interrupt me!” It widened its eyes causing the land to tremble a bit and summoned creatures from a while ago. There were a total of eleven and the puppetmaster smiled.

“Asher! Kael! Eila! Iela! Hold your own against those zombies, I’ll take care of this witch,” Niacin shouted and they nodded. While surrounded by the zombies, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then, she got to a closed-feet stance. She spread her with the right going up while the left went down. A strong wind formed around her and many leaves, twigs, and pebbles were caught in it. While everything happened, Asher and the others managed to fend off the zombies using the lessons they learned from Niacin. They caught a glimpse of Niacin before she opened her eyes and they glowed so bright that Asher and the others had to cover their eyes. The wind got stronger and eventually, it stopped. In front of them, there was a cheetah.

“A welcome transformation! Finally, we’re getting serious around here. I thought I was merely going to beat you with my little creatures,” the creature said. “Looks like I’ll have to take it seriously as well.” It spread its arms, then its green aura engulfed the area forming a sort of barrier around them. The Necromancer snapped its fingers and summoned an army of undead warriors.

“You four, be careful around them. A Necromancer’s army in their zone is a lot more dangerous. This wouldn’t last that long because it’s very taxing for any witch to uphold this much power. However, that monster doesn’t plan on holding back so just endure until it’s finally time for us to strike,” Niacin commanded. “And Asher, you’re going to deliver that final blow. I believe in you. Now, I’ll go!”

Niacin charged past the undead army and straight to the creature. It intercepted Niacin’s claws with its forearm.

“How rude, you’re not even going to ask my name? Referring to me as a monster is not very nice, you know!”

“What does your name matter if this is the first and last time you’re meeting us.”

It clicked its tongue.

Deliver the final blow, does she mean using my imprisonment powers? Asher thought while she was swinging her staff against the undead zombies. But what is that creature’s relationship to the visitor we had? Is it also seeking the Book of the Nether Gods? Asher had troubling thoughts and the zombies became more methodical than the ones a while ago. But she held her ground because of her weapon. However, Kael, Eila, and Iela were having a hard time holding their own due to the sheer quantity of zombies attempting to reach them.

“These creatures are such a pain to handle!” Kael shouted.

“I know, right?!” Eila responded.

“I’ll scream when I feel like I can’t take it anymore!” Iela shouted as well.

The four of them were separated by the undead zombies. Each one was alone in their fight. As they were all busy fighting, Niacin came flying through the air and the four caught a glimpse of her.

“I have waited so long for this! Finally, we get to witness Niacin’s feline form. An Elite transforming right in front of us,” Kael shouted.

“I thought that Meoons could only transform during the night?” Asher asked.

“That is generally true for us normal Meoons. However, Niacin here is one-fourth of the Elite. The strongest unit of Meoons assembled. Their strength is second only to the Guardian. They are valiant protectors of the Meoon villages and they have been blessed with immense strength that we could only dream of!” Kael explained. Niacin is a special case, huh? No wonder she’s the teacher. As they were talking, the four zombies that surrounded Asher were already closing their distance on her. She mentally gathered valuable information from her studies and cast a barrier that transported them to the imprisonment dimension. Asher was finally cleared from zombies.

“How did you do that?” Kael asked as he fended off the zombies with bare strikes.

“I’ll explain later, you should focus on eliminating them first, I need to catch up with Niacin.”

Niacin and the Necromancer were trading blows with the former having the upper hand. There was a clear difference in the level of hand-to-hand combat.

“Solthor was not kidding when she said that you were a formidable opponent,” the Necromancer said.

“Stop saying that name or I’ll tear a claw through your heart,” Niacin threatened. The Necromancer merely laughed and dodged Niacin’s swift slash. She clicked her tongue. She looked around and saw Asher stealthily navigating through the bushes. She nodded her head at Asher and she nodded back. The Necromancer was fixated on Niacin. It snapped its finger yet again. From a distance, Kael, Iela, and Eila wondered why the 7 remaining zombies had suddenly disappeared. The said 7 zombies appeared beneath Niacin who tried to drag her down but she swiftly intercepted with her claws. The Necromancer then jumped in an attempt to deliver a strike to Niacin but Asher quickly responded.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“This is over!” Asher pointed her staff at the Necromancer and successfully imprisoned them. The zombies disintegrated after the Necromancer had disappeared. Looks like it wasn’t that strong of a witch.

Niacin went up to Asher. “Good job, you did well.”

“Thank you but why do you think a Necromancer attacked us suddenly?” Asher asked.

“I’m not entirely sure but since he mentioned Solthor, it has something to do with her,” Niacin said. Should I bring up that she visited our house? Asher thought. “She’s very dangerous. The last time we encountered each other was at Crimsonglade Caverns. While she definitely had the advantage there due to the surroundings, in any other place, she still would’ve bested me as much as I hate to admit.” Niacin clenched her fists.

“What exactly did Solthor do?” Asher asked.

“It’s a long story and a confidential one. I cannot go around telling creatures about her. We’re the ones responsible for her, not little kids,” Niacin said. How could we protect ourselves if you’re not going to tell us? Asher thought once again.

“Do you have any idea what she’s after?” Asher asked.

“Yes but let’s not talk about her for now. You will learn sooner than later but for now, I have to report this incident to the other Elites and guardians. We may never know when she’ll strike back,” Niacin said before walking away. Kael, Iela, Eila, and Asher looked at each other. They shrugged their shoulders and went to Kael’s place. Asher looked back again to glance at Niacin. What are you guys hiding? She asked in her thoughts.

The next day, Asher stayed at her house. She read books both trying to restock her stash of knowledge and finding information on Solthor. It seemed weird to her that she had not visited again despite being very curious about their family at first. I wonder what it is that she wants? The only book she could be talking about is the Book of the Nether Gods that my father had. And I, myself, cannot open that book. My father told me so after all. She put down the book “The History of Meoons and Witches” after re-reading it for the fifth time. Sheryl entered the house. She had a bag of assorted fruits with her.

“Sweetie, have you eaten already? You’ve been reading ever since you woke up,” Sheryl said. Asher nodded and her mother got a plate to serve her some fruits. “Here, you should eat up whenever you can.” Asher stopped reading for a while to grab a fruit and eat. Sheryl smiled.

“Mother, may I ask you what you know about the Meoon-Witch war?” Sheryl tilted her head out of surprise.

“While I always try my best to catch up with your father’s genius, he was still the one the most invested in these types of things. I was just very supportive of him. My area of expertise has always been Witch medicine. However, there was something your father always told me when regarding the books that he read,” Sheryl explained. Asher looked on with curiosity. “There’s something that’s being hidden from everybody. The Meoon-Witch War was a particularly curious case for him. He said that the book painted Meoons and Witches as two children having a disagreement and solving it with a disaster-level phenomenon. Then, there’s also “the original sin.” A creature of taboo that has not been yet found and all publishing attempts on books about it have been intercepted by some sort of force that doesn’t want anyone to know. There have been reports of the supposed authors of those books being found dead after their attempt to publish. It’s believed that either it is the original sin’s doing or something else that does not want the world to know of the original sin.”

“I see. I think that I have to train more to be able to protect you from whatever this force is,” Asher said. “I think that going with Niacin on her quest will be beneficial not only for my prowess but for your safety. I’ll be bringing some of my books and notebooks with me so that I get company. You should stay in the Meoon village while I’m away. Is that alright, mother?”

“I have been lenient with you for some time now because I believe in your capabilities. But it does not change the fact that you’re still 7 years old. I don’t think that even Niacin would allow you in this adventure,” Sheryl grabbed her daughter’s right shoulder. “I’m sorry, sweetie but I can’t let you.”

Asher looked down. How am I supposed to find out what that visitor is up to if I don’t go? But still, it’s not like I want to leave my mother alone, she cannot protect herself after all. It’s just, there’s valuable information out there that I am in desperate need of. She didn’t say anything and went back to reading. Sheryl looked worried but still prepared food for her daughter.

That night, while Sheryl was sleeping, Asher snuck to get the ‘Book of the Nether Gods.’ She recalled a conversation with Arin, her father, that he may not let her have it because of the contents. However, as she was desperate to find answers to the questions that kept appearing in her head, she opened it. If it truly is forbidden knowledge, then I shall have to find a way to seal it. Her fingers were shaking as she turned the first page. The first page was blank. She kept turning the pages and all of them were blank. What? She tried rotating the book, tilting it sideways, and even casting a spell. There was nothing. Looks like it has some sort of curse? But I can’t tell. Let me try one more thing. She held the book and closed her eyes. She tried to undergo the Devil contract state as she pictured the image of this book inside her head. OUCH! Suddenly, a sharp snap, like a thin string slicing through metal seamlessly, occurred inside her brain. When she opened her eyes, letters started to form inside the pages. The table of contents terrified her soul:

* The True Extent of Witch Magic

* Resurrection of the Dead: A Necromancer’s Guide

* Reverse-Resurrection: Countering a Necromancer

* Isolated Gravity Pulling: A Puller’s Guide

* Numbing the Gravity Pull: Countering a Puller

* Time Skip Tutorial: A Miraizard’s Guide

* Creating Multiple Realities: Countering a Miraizard

* Eternal Imprisonment: A Warden’s Guide

* Escaping Imprisonment: Countering a Warden

* Blood Manipulation: The Secret to the Original Sin’s Ability

* A Ploy to Kill the Meoon Guardian

I don’t think I’m supposed to know this. When she tried to move her hand to close the book, it would not move. She felt her eyes and brain forced to read. What is this? She was gaining the information fast and the pages flipped on their own. Disturbing information, blasphemous rituals, and vivid brutality; all of these came to Asher subconsciously. NO! HOW COULD IT? WHAT IS THIS? WHO WROTE THIS BOOK? Asher’s entire body shook and when she finished reading, the book levitated and closed on its own. The snapping sound produced by the book’s covers felt like a thunderstorm. It was the most violent clap that Asher had ever heard. And now…

So, that’s how you resurrect a dead body. Maybe I could do it with fath- NO! SNAP OUT OF IT, CHILD, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO KNO- Or maybe, I could use this information to beat every single one who is in the way of me and moth- ASHER! STOP! Who’s there? Two distinct voices were inside Asher’s head. One was hers and the other one felt familiar. Asher fainted.