Alza paced around the lakefront for a few moments. Ilm merely observed her, his eyes darting around wherever she walked.

"I can't seem to find the source of the blight that has affected Selgrad, which is odd because I was the one who created the Plague Song in the first place." Alza said.

Ilm grumbled. "And this Plague Song is what exactly?"

"It is a spell that creates and spreads a magically induced plague that is spread by, well, a melody or song. Generally, there should be some kind of catalyst for the Plague Song, either an object or a person responsible for its creation."

"I see, and if you are able to find this item or person, will the effects of the Plague Song disappear?"

Alza nodded. "Sort of. All I need is the catalyst of the Plague Song, and I would be able to reverse the effects of the spell…to an extent."

"What an accursed spell, as expected from a demon prince I suppose." Ilm scoffed.

"So, can you help me find the catalyst or not?"

"It should be a simple matter. Give me a moment."

Ilm curled back and retreated deep into the lake. The dragon's eyes lit up as he began channeling magical energy. Soon, a large globe of water emerged from the lake and hovered above the dragon's form. The watery sphere glowed and pulsed with rainbow hued energy. Until finally, it stopped, revealing the image of a corpse lain just outside of an alleyway.

"This corpse is the source of the Plague Song." Ilm said.

Alza muttered a curse under her breath. "That corpse looks just like any other one of the many corpses in Selgrad, Finding it is going to be impossible."

"Don't be so hasty. You mentioned yourself that the Plague Song is spread by a melody, just find the corpse that sings then." Ilm said.

"It's not quite that simple, the catalyst doesn't need to keep unleashing the Plague Song once it has already done so once. The corpse that you're showing me here isn't even doing anything."

Ilm swam up closer to Alza. "Aren't you the one who created the Plague Song? I find it odd that this is all so difficult for you."

"Normally, I would be able to find the catalyst myself. But I'm facing another demon prince this time, and they seem to have managed to conceal the presence of the catalyst from my senses."

"Hmm, that does make things slightly more complicated." Ilm grumbled.

"Is there anything else you could do?" Alza asked.

Ilm sighed, breathing out a cloud of air. "I've given you enough help, demon. Go to the monks if you need more assistance, we are done here."

Alza clenched her fists at first, but offered a respectful bow instead. "Thank you, Ilm."

"Your respect is appreciated, demon. Now get out of my temple."

***

As Alza reentered the monastery, she was led to a room where both Talon and Shion sat waiting. Straw mats covered the floor, their golden hue contrasting with the stark white walls. At the center was a low, round table surrounded by several cushions. Sunlight filtered through the rice paper sliding doors, casting a gentle glow that illuminated the room. Talon and Shion sat cross-legged on the straw mats, their eyes widening as they saw Alza enter the room.

"Good to see you're alive, Alza." Shion said.

Talon scratched his head. "I'm surprised you survived against the Grandmaster of all people."

Alza smirked and sat on the floor near Shion and Talon. "He was a formidable opponent, but I managed to break the curse on him just in time."

Talon nodded. "That's good to hear. The Grandmaster told us you met with Ilm…how did it go?"

Alza glanced sideways for a moment. "The meeting went…alright."

"Did Ilm tell you anything useful?" Shion asked.

"Sort of." Alza shrugged. "He showed me that the catalyst for the Plague Song was a corpse, all I need to do is find it and I can reverse the spell and its effects."

"Then what are we waiting for? We should head back to Selgrad as soon as we can." Talon said.

"Not quite, the issue is Ilm wasn't exactly clear on which corpse it was. He only showed me that it was a corpse."

Shion raised an eyebrow. "So what are we supposed to do now?"

Alza paused for a moment before answering. "I…think it would be best if I head to Selgrad by myself this time."

Talon shot an accusatory look towards Alza. "And why exactly do you wish to go alone?"

"I have a certain spell I wish to try, but it is rather dangerous. I wouldn't want either you or Shion to be affected as well." Alza said.

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

"But what if something happens to you?" Shion asked.

Alza dismissed Shion's concern with a wave of her hand. "I'll be fine, don't worry."

Talon sighed. "Yeah, no. That was what the Grandmaster told me before he was afflicted by the curse, and look where that got him."

"Exactly, that place is dangerous." Shion added on.

"I mean this in the most respectful way possible, but you two would be a liability. Both of you became infected not long after entering Selgrad, something I have no doubt will happen again if either of you touch that accursed place."

"That's….fair." Shion mumbled.

Talon crossed his arms and breathed out a sigh. "I concur, I suppose we have no choice but to leave things to you for now."

Alza let out a soft smile. "I'll be fine, trust me."

***

The next day, Alza bidded farewell to Shion and Talon and left for Selgrad. She now stood in front of the gates of the plagued city, bracing herself for what she needed to do.

The moment she stepped past the gates of Selgrad, several plagued zombies tried to attack her. Of course, without a mere thought, Alza was able to dismiss such lesser creatures with ease, causing them to fall to the ground.

Once the coast was clear, Alza closed her eyes and focused her energy. When she opened her eyes, she felt a strong power surge through her core, it was time to execute her plan.

With each step Alza took, a nearby corpse would stand up and follow right behind her. Not only that, the lifeless corpses of the zombies which she dismissed earlier slowly rose up and followed behind her as well.

As Alza continued her somber march, the ranks of the undead behind her swelled. It was as if she led a spectral parade through the plagued city. She had one goal: resurrect the fallen and subject them to her control, all in the pursuit of identifying the source of the plague song.

With her bony wings unfurled, Alza took to the skies above Selgrad. One by one, she channeled her dark magic to revive the many corpses that littered the streets at an even more rapid pace.

However, despite her relentless efforts, her goal remained elusive. The alleys of Selgrad were filled with the fallen. Yet, as she cast her eyes downward, she saw a lone figure, a corpse situated apart from the rest, one that seemed like it was the same one that Ilm had shown her.

As she touched down near the corpse, Alza hoped that it was the same one that Ilm had shown her. It wasn't as if Selgrad had a shortage of corpses strewn around alleyways after all.

Channeling her necromancy through her eyes, Alza tried to force the corpse back to life. And yet, nothing seemed to happen at first. But suddenly, the corpse twisted and writhed, floating in the air with a dark energy. A black cloak manifested over the corpse as a large staff manifested in its hands. The flesh on its face seemed to melt away, revealing a hollow skeletal visage.

"Kill…Alza." The undead muttered.

Alza couldn't help but chuckle. She found it amusing how Arachne thought something like this would stop her.

As the undead mage raised its staff, Alza snapped her fingers, causing the undead to fall into lifelessness once again. Alza approached the undead in the hopes of reversing the Plague Song. However, when she knelt down to check the corpse, a radiant red glow emanated from it.

Immediately, Alza got up to her feet and ran away as fast as she could and she nearly managed to turn a corner and hide behind a building, but it was too late. From behind her, a resounding boom echoed as a powerful explosion of arcane energy consumed her.

***

A loud ringing constantly echoed in Alza's ears as she regained consciousness. The world was spinning to Alza as pain wracked her. She struggled to even get up. Eventually, she managed to glance at the rest of her body: She had lost half of her left leg.

A taunting voice rang out from behind her. "Quite the predicament you're in there, Alza."

Alza gritted her teeth in pain. "Damn you-"

The sound of insectile legs tapping against the ground echoed in Alza's ear as Arachne stepped in front of her. The drider then leaned down and picked Alza's head up by the cheek. "You know…if it weren't for Amuria, I would have had my way with you, but alas, I can't always have what I want."

Furious at her humiliation, Alza mustered enough strength to spit in her sister's face. Arachne sighed, and slammed Alza's head to the ground, creating a large dent in the earth.

The word darkened for Alza as she nearly lost consciousness. However, before she was granted her blessed respite, she saw a golden light envelop her, and within seconds: her strength had returned to her.

In an instant, Alza conjured a series of jagged rocks that erupted all around her. She then placed a hand over the stump which was once her left leg, unleashing a golden light that regenerated the leg rapidly. Alza then staggered onto her feet, frustrated to see that Arachne had managed to avoid her earlier attack completely unscathed.

"Is that really how you repay someone who just healed you, sister?" Arachne asked in a mocking tone.

"Stop playing games, you know what you did." Alza scoffed. "Now give me a good reason as to why I shouldn't kill you right now?"

Arachne could barely stifle a laugh. "You are truly delusional if you think you can kill me as you are now."

"Is that all you are here for? To taunt me?" Alza asked.

"That's certainly part of it, and what a fun little quest this has been for me." Arachne chuckled.

"You know, I never liked you, Arachne. Even when I was still serving under Father's whim, you never listened until you were forced to."

"Power is the way things work, Alza. It's really as simple as that, perhaps if you returned to your true self, I'll give you the respect you so yearn for."

Alza raised her right hand up high, with her index finger extended outward. A colossal skeletal hand erupted from the ground, spearing Arachne through with its index finger. However, the drider's body cracked and crumbled into countless tiny spiders, skittering down the skeletal hand.

"Now, now, sister. Let's not get too hasty, shall we?"

Alza turned behind her, cursing under her breath as she saw Arachne was still standing. "What do you even want from me?"

Arachne chuckled lightly. "Believe it or not, I'm here to help you, Alza."

"How in the world could you possibly help me?"

"By giving you this."

With a casual throw, Arachne tossed over a large soul stone to Alza, who frantically caught it in between her own hands. "A small gift from me to you, sister."

Alza stared at the stone blankly before turning her attention to Arachne again. "Why…would you give me this?"

"Because everyone wants to see you back home." Arachne shrugged. "But you should act fast, your little elf friend is under my custody now."

"What did you do to Elysia?" Alza asked, her hands ready to unleash a spell.

Yet, Arachne waved her hands to dismiss Alza's concerns. "I haven't done anything to her…yet. Though Amuria told me that I am free to do what I want to her just over two days from now."

"Two days?"

"Precisely, that's how much time you have to rescue your dear friend." Arachne said with glee, a wide smile tugging at her lips. "Now doesn't that sound fun?"

"I have nothing to say to you." Alza spat.

"Very well, if you want to see your friend, you know where to find her…and me."

Arachne then turned her back towards Alza and offered a light wave. Alza watched in silence as the drider skittered away into a dark alleyway, vanishing without a trace.