Next day I volunteered to scout ahead alongside Luara. Mostly because I wanted to increase my scouting skills, but also so I could hunt. My supplies were going thin, just like the supplies of other adventurers, even after we divided food of our party's fallen members. Shirzan didn't like that idea, but had to agree, since his status among the adventurers was very low, after he run away during the fight, and then boasted about his strength.

- I'm glad that you came with me, - said Luara, after we left the party.

- Well, I wanted the opportunity to catch me some food, - answered I honestly.

- I can relate to that, - smiled catgirl: - I also wouldn't say no to well-prepared fresh food.

I took a closer look at her. Luara looked a little over twenty years old. She had gentle facial features, two cat ears on her head and voluptuous body. Her scouting skills were top notch, and she was skilled fighter, with her short sword. During the battle with bandits, she took down two goblins, and managed to wound a troll several times. She would be an asset to any adventurers party. After all one of the reasons why I took this quest, was so I could find me a party. Safety in numbers and all.

- Mind if I ask you, why haven't you joined any adventurers party?

- I joined two parties in the past, but it didn't worked out. Both times parties leaders were more interested in my body, more than my skills. One time party leader even tried to sell me to a noble, after a failed quest.

That sounded even worse than I imagined.

- And what about you, why are you a solo adventurer?

- I just joined adventurers guild, and was looking for a party. Receptionist recommended me this quest, as an opportunity to find potential party members.

- I see, maybe we could form a party together, once we return.

- That would be nice.

I smiled inwardly, seems that Avone's natural beguiling charms worked even with catgirls. For a while we didn't see anything interesting or threatening. Even catgirl couldn't find any animal tracks, and my hunting plan was failing miserably.

- That is strange. There should be many animals in the forest, but I see no evidence of animal life around here. Not even birds.

I silently agreed with her. This was a bad omen, and I started to worry, that this was wrong place to be in.

- This looks strange, - Luara approached a stump and looked at it.

- Looks like it was cut down, - agreed I: - But long time ago.

- There are more, - Luara pointed ahead and I noticed many more stumps ahead of us.

- Lets go little further, and then report what we found.

Luara nodded in agreement and we doubled our caution. We saw even more remnants of cut down trees, and soon we discovered an abandoned settlement. There were remnants of a wooden fence and behind it more than a dozen houses. Some of the houses looked like they were only partially built. The rest had damaged walls and collapsed roofs. We observed settlement from afar, but detected no movement inside.

- Lets go back and report it.

I nodded in agreement, and we went back to the party. Shirzan listened for our report and scratched his chin.

- I heard rumors that ten or so years ago lord Uter, tried to build a village in these parts, but failed. All villagers died from a plague or were eaten by the monsters, or something like that. Let's take a look at that village.

- If they died from a plague, wouldn't it be dangerous to go there? - asked one of the adventurers with fear in his voice.

- No disease would be dangerous after all these years, - confidently said Shirzan. My earth based knowledge, told me differently, but maybe this world hade different rules in that regard. I didn't want to go back, but could not make a compelling argument, why we shouldn't go there. Without any other choice we shoved the rest of the adventurers the way to the settlement.

We cautiously approached abandoned houses, but saw no movements anywhere. We entered settlement through the broken gates and searched some of the houses. We found broken furniture and some rusted instruments, like axes and scythes. But nothing that could explain what happened here.

- Who dares to enter mine domain?

The creature appeared in front of us. He wore a black mantle and his head was nothing more than a human skull. Creature had a bag hanging from his left shoulder and long staff, ornamented with huge blue gemstone, in his right hand. The staff gave me a chill, but I couldn't explain why. From the holes in creature's mantle we saw naked bones. It was a lich. One of the most powerful and feared creatures among the undead. They were powerful magicians and could raise an army of undead soldiers. Strongest among them could bring back to life even a skeleton dragon.

No wonder there were no animals nearby. Animals could sense the death, that surrounded the lich, and would flee as far as they could.

My arrows would be completely useless against undead, and at best they would distract him. It was possible to kill the lich with a sword or magic, but if took more strength than killing a human, and undead were immune to many spells, that affected the living.

- Kill that thing! - screamed Shirzan in fear, and lich laughed at him. Undead raised his staff and released a cloud of black smoke.

Death cloud - main attack of the liches, was deadly to any living creature who came in contact with it. I grabbed Luara's hand and run to the side. Death cloud was around a meter in diameter and moved slower than an arrow. At this distance it was possible to avoid it, if we acted fast enough. Other adventurers also scattered, but not everyone acted fast enough. Lizardman and a member of Evan's party were too slow, and Death cloud touched their bodies. They immediately fell on the ground twitching in agony.

I grabbed an arrow and took a shot. My arrow hit the bone and fell on the ground. Lich only laughed at my useless attack. We needed to attack him in a close range, but in order to do that we needed to avoid his Death cloud and then fight him. Liches were physically stronger than low level adventurers, and some of them were skilled fighters. This was even worse than battle with the troll. And again we were caught by surprise.

Luara and me hide behind one of the buildings, while lich slowly approached our party.

- I'm so glad you have come. I had this all village for my experiments, but all the villagers have turned to dusk. It's been so long since anyone visited this place, so I was planning to leave. But now I'll have your bodies to continue with my work. Don't worry you won't die. I will bring you back to life and you will serve me for a long time.

"Could you not leave before we came here" coursed I to myself. Lich was walking slowly, but I remembered the speed with which he moved his staff, he was fast, just as fast as troll was, and probably just as strong physically.

- You won't have my body. I will kill you before that.

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Gnoll stepped out of his hiding place and faced the lich.

- I am Gudrich, and I will not fall to some undead. I will defeat you with my own blade.

Lich laughed and pointed his staff at Gudrich. Then familiar earth bubbles started boiling under the lich. I underestimated half hyena half human adventurer, he wasn't suicidal. He was a distraction. Which meant that next attack would come from Godrick. Lets help them out.

I stepped out into the street and released my arrow. I aimed it high and arrow flew above liche's head. Lich followed arrow's trajectory, with his eyes, and smirked at me. Because of that he completely missed Godrick's attack. Adventurer appeared from behind lich and slashed at liche's hand. Because of the Slow spell undead failed to react in time and his skeleton hand, with a staff, fell on the ground. Good. That would take care of his Death cloud spell. Lich growled in displeasure. Undead didn't feel any pain, at most losing the hand was inconvenience to lich. The rest of adventurers didn't miss their chance and sprinted towards the lich. I also left my bow, and unsheathed my dagger.

Undead kicked his staff towards Evan and adventurer reflexively caught it, with his left hand. He looked at his hand and started screaming in pain. Adventurer shook his hand, but staff didn't fell on the ground. Evan dropped on his knees and his sword fell next to him. I stopped next to Evan and saw that his left hand was rotting away. The curse was slowly spreading towards his body. I grabbed his sword and used it to cut off his hand. Evan screamed in pain, but it was the best I could do to save his life.

Meantime Godrick struck several blows at the lich, but failed to finish him off. Lich used a dagger to parry adventurers attacks. Gnoll, warrior adventurer and me joined Godrick, attacking the undead from all four sides. We managed broke several bones on liche's body, when he hissed some kind of a curse. Dark smoke surrounded as, and I suddenly felt much weaker. I could barely hold the two handed sword in my hands and felt a rising panic attack. Dammit, lich cast a curse spell on us. Lich laughed and plunged his dagger into Godrick's heart. Leather vest, that protected adventurers torso didn't stop the dagger and Godrick fell on the ground. From behind us, I heard Myne's scream. This was bad our strongest fighter was killed and we were under the curse. Male adventurer dropped his sword and run away screaming in fear. I wanted to run away as well.

Gnoll Gudrich screamed in anger and tried to cut off liche's head. But under the curses influence he was too slow. Lich avoided the attack and shoved his dagger into beastmen's stomach. Was this it? The end of my adventure? I could barely move the sword and my dagger wouldn't be able to hurt the undead. Lich turned towards me and I saw a smile on his boned face. His dagger flew towards my neck, when somebody blocked it. It was Luara. Just in time, she managed to block liche's attack. I glanced at her, unlike the rest of us, she wasn't surrounded by black aura. Probably spell affected only adventurers who were close to the lich.

Luara launched counter attack and her sword went through liche's heart. Or the place where heart would normally be located. Undead only laughed. Sword went through him, but it did no damage to undead creature. In my subconscious, I heard Myne's voice, but didn't understand her words. Lich swung his hand and Luara flew away and crushed into the wall. I tried to attack, but managed only to scratch liche's bones. Lich again aimed at my neck, but his dagger only scratched me. I was surrounded by shining wall that partially protected me from the attack. Some kind of protection spell, realized I, probably casted by Myne. Spell saved my life, but didn't remove the curse. I dropped the sword and squeezed my dagger's handle. Even if I die, I will fight as long as I can. And we were so close to defeating this monster, before his spell.Lich again smiled at me. We both knew, that Myne's protection spell only partially reduced the damage from his attacks. It was just a matter of time, before he would overwhelm it and finish me. Next moment liche's skull broke into pieces and bone fragments flew all around me. Undead fell on the ground without any traces of movement. Behind him was Shirzan. Our leader was holding his sword, which gloved a little, and stared at the twice dead creature. I fell on my knees, exhausted and relieved. Luara approached me. She was still alive, but her face was all bloodied from the liche's attack. Myne was crying behind us. All of hers original team members were dead, even team leader Godrick.

We barely survived, but I was glad to be alive.

Evan was still alive. He was lying on the ground, bleeding and moaning in pain.

Shirzan sheeted his sword and looked around.- Look likes lich was the only creature in here. We were lucky, if he would have undead minions, we wouldn't leave this place alive.

- The day's not over yet, - muttered Luara, but everyone ignored her.

Myne and Luara tended to Evan's wound, and we decided to spend a night in the abandoned settlement. Nobody wanted to stay here, but apart from Shirzan, everyone was too exhausted to move. Warrior adventurer, who run away earlier, returned soon afterwards. He was ashamed from his behavior, but nobody blamed him.

* * *

Next day we decided to return. Even Shirzan agreed with that decision. He wasn't completely satisfied with our scouting mission, but I think, he didn't want to risk his life, with the numbers that we have left. Not counting Shirzan, there were only five of us left, and Evan was in no shape to fight. Myne and Luara used healing potions on him. Potions healed his wounds, but could not regenerate his arm. And the curse left him weak and exhausted.

Myne went through liche's things and collected his grimoire. I had no wish to meddle with black magic, and left it to her. Lich had several expensive looking rings on his fingers, but no one touched them. We all remembered what happened to Evan when he touched the staff, and no one wanted to risk a curse, by touching liche's belongings.

Everyone was depressed, and we barely talked among themselves. We had too few adventurers to send out scouts, and Luara traveled alongside us.

When we were closer to borderland village, we made a camp and Luara and I spend half a day hunting, so we could acquire provisions and give Evan a chance to rest. He was still weak and needed rest. Without rest he could get worse and fell down with a fever. Myne and Trevor, last member of Evan's party took care of him and helped him walk, but there wasn't much, that they could do to help him. After reaching the town, he will need to visit a church or find himself a healer who can remove curses. Without that, Myne thought that his condition won't improve.

We managed to capture few rabbits and several birds. It wasn't much, but some more hunting on our way back would be enough to sustain us. There were also villages on our way, so food wasn't a concern. Our way back went without any new encounters with monsters or bandits. When we reached the town, Shirzan, with annoyed expression, signed quest completion forms. He wasn't satisfied with our performance, and I doubted that he will ever hire us again.

We collected our rewords from the guild and occupied one of the tables, in guild hall. We ordered ale from the receptionist and toasted our fallen brethren.

- What are you planning to do now? - asked Luara Myne. First few nights female magician spent crying, but she recovered a little by the end of the road. From her looks, Myne was in her early twenty's. Cute face and long black her, made her very attractive. Her body was hidden under magicians rob, but she looked slender and experienced as an adventurer. I remembered how she continued to cast her spells, even when her team members died in front of her eyes.

- I think I will spend some time to myself, but I will continue adventuring. I wish to attend magicians academy, but I need to save up more money to do that.

- Luara and I want to create our own party, why don't you join us? - asked I carefully.

Myne thought for a while: - I guess, I don't mind. Why don't we create a temporary party at first and see how it goes.

- I would like to ask you a favor, - Evan bowed his head and looked at me and Luara.

- Oh, what is it?"

If he wants to borrow the money for a healer, it's out of the question", thought I to myself. But his next words surprised me.

- Would you please consider accepting hiring Trevor as your party member?

Trevor, the young adventurer from Evan's party, looked just as surprised as we.

- I talked to Trevor on our way back. He wants to continue to work as an adventurer. I trained Trevor myself, he isn't very strong yet, but Trevor has a warriors heart and a potential to become a great adventurer. My adventuring days all over, - Evan pointed at his severed hand: - But it will be too dangerous for Trevor to continue working by himself. And you will greatly benefit from a front row warrior, among your party members.

I glanced at Trevor, he nervously awaited our decision. Evan was right, we needed a warrior or a ''tank''. Between scout, archer and mage, we would have no chances to kill a troll or lich. I personally wanted to be a powerful adventurer, with magic sword in hands, slaying hundreds of high ranking creatures, and also to use a highest level spells to obliterate most powerful monsters. But reality wasn't that kind. Still, Trevor was young. Barely sixteen or seventeen years old. He may have potential, but it was somewhere in the future. Well it's not like skilled, high ranking warriors grew on the trees. I wasn't planning to create a harem based party, and the fact that Trevor was a boy didn't bother me. Not like someone with high level warrior skill will join our rookie party. I glanced at Luara, the same way she looked at me.

- Well like Myne said, let's make a temporary party and see how it goes.

- Thank you, - Trevor bowed his head and exhaled in relief: - But what about you master? What will you do?

- Don't worry about me kid, - Evan patted Trevor on the shoulder: - I was planning to retire anyway. Opening a school for those who want to learn how to use a sword was my retirement plan, for a long time. Feel free to visit me, there is still a lot that I could teach you.

- Thank you master. I definitely will visit you, - Trevor happily smiled and turned towards us: - I will work hard and wont fail you.

Well I finally had a party. Scout, mage, archer and warrior. Excellent balance if nothing more. We agreed to meet up in two days and decide on our next quest.