Lina was at the center, her voice commanding attention as she addressed the group. “Alright, we’ve got a lead,” she announced, her eyes sweeping over them. “There’s a cave system beneath the city, and we need to investigate it. Zavet, Runner, you’re going with Gauge, Hoat, and Teric. Find out what’s inside and report back. This is our first major lead.”

Zavet and Runner exchanged a glance, the adrenaline of the night still pumping through them. Without hesitation, they nodded, ready for whatever awaited them in the depths of the cave.

Zavet, Runner, and the rest of the crew descended into the cave, their boots crunching on loose gravel as the darkness swallowed them whole. The air grew colder the deeper they went, and the walls seemed to close in, the once wide tunnel shrinking into narrow, winding passages. The only light came from the flickering torches they carried, casting eerie shadows that danced along the rough, jagged walls.

The silence was thick, broken only by the occasional drip of water echoing from unseen crevices. It wasn’t long before the first signs of life…or rather, undeath—emerged. They encountered shambling figures, their skin sagging from their bones and their eyes glowing with the faint green light of necromantic energy. The stench of decay filled the air as Zavet drew his sword, Runner readying his poisons.

“We need to be careful,” Zavet muttered under his breath, eyeing the undead creatures as they staggered toward them.

Hoat was the first to strike, his spear glowing faintly with the same greenish-gold light he had used in the tournament. It pierced the chest of an advancing corpse, the magic within the spear glowed a greenish gold. the magic while it was enough to kill these low ranking undead. it Was not made to kill undead. The rest of the crew followed suit, cutting through the small horde of undead with practiced precision. Teric’s ice magic cut through bone with deadly accuracy, and Runner, always quick and agile, darted between the creatures, he used a short sword rather than his two hander. The cave limited him by its narrow corridors and obstacles. Zavet used his dagger to gain his shadow armor and used rumpwhip as his main weapon. Meanwhile gauge healed anyone that got hurt.

The cave system, however, seemed endless. It was a winding labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that twisted and turned, leading them deeper into the earth. Each step took them further from the entrance, and the oppressive atmosphere of the cave weighed heavily on them all.

Zavet couldn't shake the feeling that something ancient lurked deeper within, a presence that gnawed at the edge of his mind. As they continued, they came across strange cave drawings etched into the stone walls, crude depictions of rituals, figures in cloaks raising their hands toward the sky, surrounded by swirling symbols that Zavet recognized as necromantic runes.

“This place reeks of death magic,” Runner muttered, wiping sweat from his brow as he examined one of the drawings. His usually playful demeanor had shifted to one of cautious seriousness. "Whatever happened here, it’s been going on for a long time."

Zavet nodded in agreement. The necromantic energy was palpable, permeating the very air they breathed. It was old, far older than anything they had encountered before. The walls seemed to hum with it, and even the undead they faced felt different—stronger, more resilient, as though the cave itself was feeding them.

Hours passed as they navigated the labyrinth, their bodies growing weary from the constant fighting and the claustrophobic tunnels that seemed to stretch on without end. At one point, they came across a vast chamber, its ceiling towering above them, lined with stalactites that dripped water onto the stone floor below. In the center of the chamber was an ancient altar, covered in dust and grime, but the faint glow of necromantic runes still pulsed faintly around its edges.

“This isn’t just a cave,” Zavet said, his voice echoing in the empty space. “It’s a tomb. A necromancer’s lair.”

The realization sent a chill down their spines, but there was no time to dwell on it. They needed to find a way out before the cave claimed them too. As they moved deeper, they encountered more resistance, undead creatures of all shapes and sizes, some humanoid, others monstrous in form. Their battles became more intense, the creatures more coordinated, as though something was guiding them.

By the time they found their way back to the surface, the first rays of dawn were breaking through the horizon. The crew was exhausted, their bodies bruised and battered, but they had made it out alive. The fresh morning air was a welcome relief as they stepped out of the cave, but the feeling of unease lingered.

Back at the Andiesen household, Lina and the others had begun to worry. They had feared the worst, that Zavet, Runner, and the others had been captured or worse. When the group finally returned, covered in dirt and grime, Lina’s face was a mixture of relief and concern.

“What happened there?” she asked, her eyes scanning each of them for signs of injury.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Zavet wiped the sweat from his brow, shaking his head. “The cave is full of undead, more than we’ve ever seen before. We barely scratched the surface. It’s an ancient necromancer’s tomb. The air was thick with death magic. Whatever’s down there... it’s powerful.”

“The place reeked of necromancy,” Runner added, his voice tinged with disgust. “We found old drawings, rituals, and signs of something big. There’s more down there, I can feel it.”

Lina’s expression hardened. “We need to investigate further. If that cave is tied to necromantic forces, it’s a threat to us all. Rest up, we’ll need to go back soon and explore more of its depths.”

The crew nodded, knowing they had only begun to uncover the mysteries hidden beneath the city. They had survived the first venture, but the cave’s endless labyrinth, its undead guardians, and the ancient magic that thrummed within its walls promised that the real danger still lay ahead.

Zavet hadn’t slept a wink. His mind raced with thoughts of the cave system, the undead, and the strange necromantic energy that still lingered in his senses. He decided he needed a break from the constant fighting and mystery. Using the ring on his finger, he teleported to Tear’s classroom inside the Black Pyramid, a place of solace and learning within Ffairfon.

Inside the darkened halls of the Black Pyramid, the air was thick with the scent of old parchment. Tear, the ancient Lich who took an interest in Zavet’s education, stood waiting as usual. His eyes, wise and piercing, followed him as he sat down.

"You’re early," He commented, his voice like the soft whisper of wind through the crypts. "No sleep, I see."

Zavet nodded, barely able to stifle a yawn. "Too much going on. Thought I’d use the time wisely."

Tear gave a small, approving smile. "Learning to read and write is just as important as learning magic. You’ll thank me one day."

For the next few hours, Zavet buried himself in the basics, reading old texts, practicing the formation of letters, and delving into the history of Ffairfon and its necromantic roots. He struggled at times, his mind always wandering back to the cave, to the undead, to the power he had felt coursing through his veins as he raised Vlad from the dead. But he forced himself to focus. This was important, too. Knowledge was its own form of power.

After his lessons, Zavet used the portal to go back to the Necromancer’s Guild Hall within Ffairfon. The hall was a grand, darkened place, with symbols of necromancy etched into every surface. The smell of incense and aged books greeted him, a comforting aroma after his morning of learning.

Vlad was just finishing up his training with Krunk in the training yard, sweat pouring down his brow as he swung his sword. Nearby, Talich and Mah’nethotep stood with Vexx, watching the training session closely. Vexx, a stoic figure with a sharp gaze, was instructing the others as they sparred, correcting stances, giving tips on form.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into them,” Talich said, watching Vlad and Krunk train with renewed intensity. “But they’ve really stepped it up. I hope they keep it up. We always need to stay sharp. No room for complacency.”

Vexx nodded, his expression unreadable but his eyes filled with a deep understanding. “Yeah, my brother, Vlad. He stopped training once he joined Solond. And when he found that damn sword of his and became their champion, it all went downhill. He became an elitist. Just like edmond.”

Talich leaned in, lowering his voice. “Yeah, they were both in the Black Order before. But once they got into Solond, things changed. They became arrogant and started to bully people they believe are less than them, just like the rest of Solond. That baron puts too much drunken nonsense in their heads. It’s rotting their sense of discipline.”

Vexx’s eyes darkened for a moment, a flicker of something like disappointment crossing his face. “It’s why I stayed out of the baronies. I’m only thirty, but I’ve kept our House guard strong, and now we’re considered a knightly order. If all goes well, we’ll be officially recognized by the kingdom soon. Once that happens, the Necromancer’s Guild will finally have a foothold here.”

Talich’s eyes lit up. “That’s the dream, isn’t it? I’ve been pushing for legalizing necromancy as long as I can remember. We compromised with the kingdom but they were hard set against controlling undead, creating undead and conspiring with undead. But we’re still far from getting our own official guild. They believed it would corrupt the kingdom if they allowed a necromancer to take any noble position.”

“We’ll get there,” Vexx replied firmly. “We just have to play the long game.”

Just then, Zavet approached, waving at the group. “Hey, everyone. I’m heading back to the cave system under the city with Runner.”

Mah’nethotep, standing silently nearby, tilted his head slightly at this.“What cave system?”

Zavet paused, realizing he hadn’t mentioned the discovery to the others yet. “It’s an old cave system beneath the city,” he explained, glancing at the others. “Filled with undead. We were there for eight hours yesterday, and it feels like we barely scratched the surface. There were old cave drawings and necromantic runes; it reeks of death magic. It’s huge. I think it might be connected to something bigger.”

Mah’nethotep’s golden eyes narrowed, his interest clearly piqued. “I see. This cave... if it truly holds the stench of necromancy, I want to know more. Keep me informed of your findings, Zavet. There may be more hidden there than you realize.”

“I’ll let you know what we find,” he promised, before turning and heading out of the guild hall.

Runner was already waiting for him at the entrance, leaning against a pillar with that ever-present mischievous grin on his face. “Ready for round two, boss?” he asked, spinning a dagger between his fingers.

Zavet smirked, pulling his cloak tighter around him. “Let’s see what else is lurking in that cave.”