HELP

The message was fully legible on the dirty floor. Each pebble is arranged in perfect formation. Whoever…whatever did this was extremely meticulous in setting it up. A creeping chill ran down my spine. I couldn’t move, this had to be some sort of trap. Carefully, gazing throughout the space I didn’t notice any other disturbances. Holding out my lantern, I got to my knees and checked the floor.

“What the…” There was nothing

Not even the cave dust had lingering footprints. That was beyond a basic skill. Even mid-level [[Rogue]] with [[Lightfoot]] would leave a slight trail. Was this some [[Assassin]], a hired hand to dig up our [[Necromancer]] commune. Where did we go wrong? Hell we are in the middle of a god-forsaken forest!

SNAP

“SHUT UP” I screamed at the zombie.

The creature had broken the finger bones and was digging into the marrow. Its half-rotten fingers scooping out the gelatinous material and slurping it down. Taking a few breaths, I had to calm down. This was just paranoia, maybe I slept-spelled. This had to be some crazy coincidence or an elaborate prank by Faust. That was it! Besides, if an [[Assassin]] came then they would have dispatched the zombie…or maybe the hitman was toying with me.

Closing my eyes, I focused on the wards. Nothing…There was zero disruption in the magical barrier. That couldn’t be right, if any living then passed over then some of the negative energies would have been drained away. Everything I tested and came up with the same conclusion…nothing. Besides, Faust and I were not big named villains! We mostly stuck to ourselves and used bodies from graveyards. Not a single murder has taken…ok maybe a few murders but that was after being discovered. We would always leave town immediately and restart across the lands. There was zero chance somebody would be tracking us down.

HELP

But there it sat, right in front of the fire. Just four letters that gnawed at my sanity. Between the strange zombie and this…I didn’t know what to think. Grabbing my wand, I took a defensive pose against the wall and yelled.

“WHAT DO YOU WANT!” But there was silence.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN HELP!” Still nothing.

I was going crazy, it must have been those berries. Some poisonous aftereffect finally taking hold. A strange hallucinogen disrupting reality. Scanning the room once more I heard a

Tink

My eyes glanced down and a pebble had moved. Adrenaline filled my body as my brain raced with thoughts. I wanted to run, I needed to run, but something had me entranced. One by one the pebbles floated a few inches above the ground before…

Tink

Each time my body flinched. I was waiting for a shiv in the dark, some spell to wipe me from existence, some mastermind to make a big reveal. Yet only the stones moved. The minutes passed and a new world formed.

DEAD

“Dead? You want me dead!” I went to run but a pebble hit me in the eye as a rebuttal.

Hmm, if this thing wanted me dead I would already be a corpse. Come on Steve, don't rush to conclusions. Maybe Faust discovered a new form of Puppet and was trying to contact me. Whatever it was, it was SLOW. Once I realized I wasn’t in danger, watching each rock move was agonizing.

“You know your skill sucks” I muttered while chewing on some hardtack.

One of the pebbles paused and was launched into my arm. Tapping my foot, I pulled out my notes as it continued spelling out a new word.

Me Dead

“What are you a mage hand or something? Did Faust send you to find me?” Then I waited once more.

Even the zombie seemed to be annoyed. The creature bumping against my ward while staring at the food. With the preservation runes gone, it wouldn’t last much longer anyway. Tosing a leg over, it shuffled away once more.

Ghost

“What? There are no such things as ghosts. Stop playing and reveal yourself!” I was getting tired of this charade.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Already it felt like an hour had passed and we only had a few words. I guess my annoyance was heard as the stones moved slightly faster. It wasn’t much, like going from snail pace to sloth, but at least it was something. For all the fear I had earlier, this was just boring. Why did we have to communicate like this? Couldn’t he have used a message spell or something?

Real Ghost Dead Rogue

Ok it wasn’t backing down from the ghost thing.

“Ok Fine, You are a ghost. What do you want me to do about it? You only appear in stories so not exactly sure the procedure here”

It was true, I still doubt this thing was a ghost. It had to be an elaborate prank by my master. One of his stupid games to waste my time. I had to play along, I already destroyed his preservation bag and didn’t want to get on his bad side.

Help Fx U Nec U no ded

“Look buddy, I know CORPSES not folklore. Find somebody else.”

I started to pack up my bags and went to leave…only for the zombie to block my path. I really didn’t want to fight again and my mana reserves were a bit low. There had to be a faster way of doing this. Wait I got it!

“Ok GHOST if you can move a pebble you can move dust right? Just write on the ground.”

It was at that moment that Ryland realized how dumb he was.

I hate you

Was all that appeared on the dusty floor. Steve just couldn’t stop laughing.

“What are you doing? Aren’t spirits supposed to have ancestral knowledge or something? You didn’t even realize you could write a message! Hell even if you are a ghost, it might be for the best. Clearly you were too stupid to stay alive” Steve didn’t hold back.

Look I’m new to this thing OK

“Fine fine Spirit what is your name?”

Ryland

“Nice to meet you Ryland, I’m Steve. With that out of the way, let me ask a few questions. What is up with the zombie?”

That is my body

“Ok, let’s not lie. We all know that zombies don’t have spirits or ghosts. It has been proven time and time again that on death, the soul is unshackled from the flesh. Sent to whatever realm they go to after” Steve quoted the basics that every [[Cleric]], [[Necromancer]], and [[Doctor]] knew.

It was forbidden to try and tether a spirit. Only high level [[Necromancer]] would even attempt it and that was on a still living body. It was more of a…immortal ascension than directly hijacking death. Many early attempts resulted in vile abominations. The Lost with cancerous growths constantly wailing in pain. Meatsacks of bubbling flesh that crept along the corridors. Nothing had come close to a true revival.

I know but it's true. That zombie is my body and I am me

“Whatever, look Ryland it is late and I need to sleep once more. Keep your body away from mine and maybe I can help you.” It was true, all that blood loss and lack of mana had him exhausted. The sun hadn’t even set and he was about to pass out.

Can’t control but will try

“God you are useless” Steve muttered as he reset his wards. Tossing an arm to the zombie he fell asleep once more.

—Class Lost—

[[[Fledgling Necromancer– Level 7]]

—Class Gained—

[[Friend of the Dead – Level 4]]

—Skills Gained—

[[Passive - I See Dead People]]

[[Active - I Walk Amongst the Damned]]

That sweet sound of a new class rang in my dream. I hadn’t heard of this one before. As the sun rose and pulled me from my slumber. I nearly pissed myself.

“Ahhhhwas” I jolted back as somebody was standing over me.

The man jumped back as well, clearly shocked I saw him.

“I knew it, you were a Assassin or Hitman! Come to finish me off eh. Well…”

[[Dark Blast]]

But the spell went right through them

“Calm down Steve” the man said.

[[Dark Blast]]

[[Dark Blast]]

Dark…

But it wasn’t working.

“You done?” He just stared at my trembling wand.

After a few seconds he spoke.

“I’m Ryland, Nice to meet you. And that…that is my Body”

I just stood there for a moment. A faint glow outlined the man. Looking closer, I could see THROUGH him. This couldn’t be happening, the foundations of the world were crumbling around me. I could only croak out.

“Ghosts are…real?” and passed out

“Well at least it is a start” Ryland said and sat against the wall. Finally somebody could see and communicate and what better to help a ghost than a [[Necromancer]].