For a brief moment, Alza wondered if she had said something wrong. The swordsman she was speaking to seemed absolutely mortified, his whole body was shaking.

"Are you alright?" She asked, waving a hand in front of the swordsman.

"I- I’m alright, I think." The swordsman muttered.

Alza extended a hand toward Shion, her eyes locked on his. "Can you stand?"

Shion nodded. "Yes, I can."

Alza gently assisted Shion in getting to his feet. His muscles seemed tense, but eventually, he regained his balance. As she looked at him, Alza couldn't help but wonder how the swordsman managed to keep himself alive all this time. He wore little more than light leather armor and a sheathed sword.

Alza paced around Shion, appraising him. "I’m honestly impressed that you managed to make it to my tomb thus far."

The swordsman staggered back slightly. "W-why do you say that?"

"It’s just that, I don’t see the slightest hint of magic in your body, I could be wrong though, perhaps my years of being sealed away have dulled my senses."

"That is because I am not a mage."

"No, I understand you wield the sword, but the ones that I knew could all use magic in some capacity."

"I can use some magic."

Alza raised an eyebrow. "Can you show me?"

"Of course!" The swordsman raised his sword to the air and began to chant. "Ignite: Phoenix Blade!"

Upon finishing the incantation, a searing burst of energy coursed through the blade, setting it ablaze. The flames danced with an erratic grace, casting a fiery glow that contrasted with the surrounding darkness.

"I see, so you do not have any latent magical talent in you, but you can still use items imbued with the essence of the arcane." Alza commented as she tilted her head to examine the fiery sword.

"Yes, such items have become commonplace for adventurers."

"Hmm, adventurers? You mean ones working under an adventurer's guild of some sort, yes?"

"That is correct." The swordsman replied.

Alza stepped back, brushing some dust that clung onto her robes. "Does your adventurer’s guild still use ranks?"

"Yes, the common system is to assign a letter grade for each rank."

"I see that some things never change," Alza said with a light chuckle. "And what is your rank, swordsman?"

"I…am an A-rank adventurer."

The moment those words left the swordsman’s lips. Alza’s eyes widened in shock. She wasn’t sure if she heard correctly.

"You are…an A-rank adventurer?"

The swordsman furrowed his brows. Slightly confused. "That I am, yes."

"I see, and how high up is the A-rank in your guild?"

"It’s the second highest rank, just below the S-rank adventurers."

Alza placed a hand on her temples. "By the dead gods," she muttered.

It was difficult for her to believe that someone without any latent magical talents at all could achieve such a high rank. There was only one possible explanation that was plausible to her as to how such a weak individual could possibly rise up the ranks so fast.

"What is your name again?" Alza asked the swordsman.

"My name is Shion."

"Right, Shion, do you…have a relative working in the adventurer’s guild or perhaps, did you have a close friend already there?"

Shion shook his head. "No, I actually signed up to be an adventurer myself."

"And you are absolutely sure about that?"

"Y-yes, it was a dream I had since I was a child, but my parents didn’t approve, so I joined without them knowing at first."

Alza squinted hard. "I’m sorry, but I just find it difficult to believe that you’re actually an A-rank adventurer."

"We-well, for some perspective, killing Galleus over there was categorized as an S-rank mission."

"That idiot was an S-rank threat?"

"Y-yes, I’m serious."

Alza breathed out an exasperated sigh. "My goodness, it seems much has changed since I was sealed."

"Right…about that." Shion muttered with a nervous laugh. "Part of the mission I was assigned to was to prevent your resurrection."

"And I would have appreciated it if you succeeded."

"Yes, and- wait, what?"

"I said, I would have appreciated it if you actually succeeded in preventing my awakening."

Shion scratched his head. "But…why?"

"What do you mean why? How do you think I got sealed in the first place?"

"From what I know, you were defeated by the Sun Knight Melchio and eventually sealed by him as well."

Alza smacked her forehead in frustration. "You know what, I think we should get some fresh air. Maybe meet up with whatever allies you had, I doubt you came here alone."

"Yes, I came here with four others."

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

"And where are they?"

"Either unconscious or…dead."

"Take me to them, I’ll see what I can do."

***

Sprawled across the cavern floor before Alza was an unconscious wildborn woman. It had been quite some time since Alza last saw a wildborn. They were a people who were not too different to humans, except for how they manifested bestial traits on certain parts of their body.

The passed out wildborn was wearing a cloak, its color mirroring the white of her hair. Furry, canine-like ears peeked out from beneath the hood of her cloak, and a matching furry tail lay still beneath her. As Alza kneeled down to check the wildborn woman's pulse, she could feel nothing.

Alza turned her head to glance at Shion. "Seems like she’s dead."

The swordsman clenched his fists. "Damn it all! If only I was-"

"Calm down," Alza interrupted. "How long has it been since she died?"

"A few hours ago at most, why do you ask?"

A smug grin plastered itself on Alza’s visage. "This is going to be easy then."

With practiced ease. Alza placed her left hand on the wildborn girl’s arm. A luminous, golden light emanated from her palm, enveloping the girl’s body entirely.

"And that should do it." Alza said as she stood back up.

"What did you do to her?"

"Why don’t you look for yourself?"

Shion gently knelt down by the wildborn girl’s side. His eyes widened when he saw that the girl was breathing. "N-Nia, can you hear me?"

The wildborn girl did not respond at first, But then, as if awakening from a deep sleep, her canine-like ears perked up, and she finally opened her eyes. "Shion?"

"Thank goodness you're alive!" Shion exclaimed as he wrapped Nia in a tight hug.

Nia reciprocated the gesture hesitantly, seemingly confused. "Where are we?"

"We’re still in that cave, remember? We were trying to stop Galleus from reviving the First Necromancer."

"Oh right, so did you manage to stop him? Last thing I remember is healing you before I blacked out."

"About that." Shion pointed towards Alza, who was standing behind him. "She’s right there."

"Who is that?"

"The First Necromancer."

Nia let out a light chuckle. "Ok, I see how it is. But who is she really?"

Shion looked Nia straight in the eye. "Nia I’m not joking, that is the First Necromancer."

Alza gave Nia a polite wave. "Hello there, I’m Alza, pleasure to meet you."

"Hello there Alza." Nia replied with a nod. She turned her attention to Shion once again.

"See, her name is Alza, she’s not the First Necromancer."

"I’m telling you Nia, she is the First Necromancer."

"Alright, so are you two playing some kind of joke on me or?"

Alza took a step forward. "Shion is not lying to you. Perhaps a small demonstration is in order. I usually try to conceal my power most of the time."

Nia laughed. "Oh come on, you two, there’s no need to-"

Suddenly the atmosphere within the cavern seemed to change instantaneously. Shion and Nia were both forced on their hands as they coughed violently. She allowed them to feel just a small hint of her power. But even that was too much. After only a second, she eased off her pressure, concealing her arcane prowess once more.

"Wh-what are you?" Nia stuttered, looking up towards Alza.

"You can just call me Alza, though many have called me the First Necromancer."

"I told you I wasn’t joking, Nia."

"Is she going to kill us?"

"She won’t kill us, I think."

"Whatever it is you plan to do, we will stop you!" Nia exclaimed.

"If you must know, I have no interest in world domination. And I must also inform you that it was I who revived you." Alza stated.

"But…why would you do that?" Nia asked, her eyes meeting Alza’s.

"Because I wanted to, that is all."

"That’s it? Really?"

"That is correct."

Shion started to assist Nia, lifting her from the ground. He slung the wildborn girl's arm over his shoulders. "Nia, I know you have a lot of questions, but things are fine, I think."

"Shion, did you forget our mission?"

"No I did not, things have changed, and if you think we can so much as lay a finger on the First Necromancer, be my guest."

Once she had stood, Nia leaned down to pick up her staff. She just stared at it for a few moments, before looking at Alza again. "Thank you for saving my life." She said, dropping to a bow.

"You are welcome." Alza replied.

"Was I…actually dead?"

Alza nodded. "You were, but because your death was relatively recent, I was able to bring you back."

Suddenly, Shion glanced at Alza. "How long can someone be dead before they are revived?"

"At most? One day exactly. If I try to revive someone even a second later, they would not be themselves anymore."

"I-I see." Shion stuttered. The swordsman casted his gaze downwards. He clenched his fists tight as tears welled from his eyes.

"Did your friends-"

"Too long ago, yes." Nia interjected. The wildborn girl placed a comforting hand over Shion’s shoulders. "My apologies, but I think he may need some time."

"By all means, take as long as you need."

Shion walked towards a nearby moss-covered boulder. He then sat on it, his broad shoulders hunched, and his eyes fixed on the ground. Meanwhile, Nia released a slow, resigned sigh before making her way over to Alza.

"I think he…needs some space."

"That’s fine, but what about yourself? I can wait if you also need some personal space."

"I’m fine, I’ve come to terms with death a long time ago, just part of the risks of being an adventurer. Though I wouldn’t mind taking my mind off of my own mortality as well." Nia said with a bittersweet smile.

Alza let out a gentle smile. "That is fine, we can talk here if you’d like, to pass the time until your friend gets better."

"I do have a lot of questions, if you don’t mind answering them." Nia said with a nervous chuckle.

"By all means, ask away, I will try to answer as honestly as I can." Alza sat herself down on the cavern floor, her legs crossed. She then patted the ground in front of her. "Come, sit down."

Nia nodded and sat in front of Alza. The wildborn girl seemed at least slightly more relaxed than before. "If I am honest, you were not what I…expected from the First Necromancer."

Alza chuckled. "What were you expecting?"

"I expected someone more…demonic looking? From all the legends and tales I’ve heard, the First Necromancer was always depicted as a fearsome looking entity."

"Looks can be deceiving, and memories aren’t always so accurate."

"Do you mean to tell me that what I know about the First Necromancer is wrong?"

"Maybe yes, maybe not. But I am here now, so you can see for yourself sooner or later."

Nia still seemed nervous, her shoulders tense and stiff. "I still don’t understand what you want. Why you saved both Shion’s life and mine."

Alza stared blankly at the air briefly. She then took a deep breath. "There was a time when I had greater ambitions, the kind that would have made me a tyrant."

"And what stopped you from going towards that path?"

"Half of it was me accepting that it would be impossible for just one person to fix the world, the other half was my husband."

Nia’s eyes widened. "You had a husband?"

"I did, yes." Alza muttered, breathing out a wistful sigh.

"What was he like?"

"He was kind, gentle, with a heart of gold. He always tried to see the best in people, even me."

Nia nodded. Her expression focused, she seemed highly invested in Alza’s tale. "So…how did you two meet?"

"Believe it or not, we met as adversaries at first." Alza said with a light chuckle. "But eventually, it was he who won everything, including my heart."

"Adversaries? He must have been incredibly powerful to even stand a chance fighting against you."

"I have yet to see anyone come close to his strength. He was already powerful to begin with, but whenever he was near the sun, his power would grow to staggering heights."

Nia jolted back slightly. A nervous smile breaking out of her visage. "Hold on, surely you’re not telling me that the Sun Knight Melchio is your husband?"

A faint blush tinted Alza’s cheeks. "He is, I miss him dearly."

"But…wasn’t he the one who defeated you and sealed you inside a tomb?" Nia asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. "I thought the two of you were enemies."

Alza's lips curled into a mischievous smile. "You know, there was indeed a time when that was true."

Nia's eyes widened with curiosity. "How on earth did you two end up married?"

Alza's gaze darted behind Nia's shoulder, where Shion was gradually rising from his seat on the moss-covered rock. "I'll save that story for later, it seems your friend has finished mourning."