Cold drops of sweat beaded from Alza's trembling forehead. Fear had wormed its way into her mind. She had never been one to doubt the accuracy of Elysia’s predictions. The oracle had never been wrong before, and Alza wasn’t keen on taking chances with her fate now.

"Elysia…are you serious? Am I actually going to die?"

"You will, or more precisely, the you as you know it will die." Elysia said.

Alza shifted back against her chair. "So you are suggesting that I will return to being a demon?"

"Exactly. I saw you…standing over the ashes of conquered kingdoms, by your father’s side."

"Honestly, I would have rather you told me I was going to actually die."

"I don’t shape your destiny, Alza. I am merely a messenger."

Alza breathed out a wistful sigh. "I understand, but still, it is frightening to think that my father remains a threat even now."

"He is more tenacious than you give him credit for, Alza. I think it’s a matter of time until he regains his full power." Elysia said.

"And I’m going to assume that my siblings are going to be involved in all of this as well." Alza rolled her eyes.

"Oh, absolutely. You may want to forget your past, Alza. But your past will not forget you."

"But why would my father act now out of all times?"

"It’s simple, because you are here now, Alza. He has been watching you ever since the day you were sealed away."

"I…had my suspicions." Alza muttered. "From the moment I left my tomb, I already felt that something was off. Though oddly enough, when I spoke with Tartaros, he told me that he had no instructions to bring me to my father."

"Tartaros…is the name of your ship, yes?" Elysia asked.

"That is correct."

"Then perhaps your ship still feared your strength, Alza. If Tartaros believed he could subdue you, I’m sure he would have brought you to the Demon Emperor."

"I thought so as well at first, but the only demons I encountered after my resurrection were of the lesser variety."

"It could just be a scouting party of some kind, your tomb was rather well-hidden after all."

"I suppose, not like demons could enter my tomb anyway." Alza shrugged.

"At any rate, unless you’re keen on becoming a demon again, you’ll just have to become stronger without tapping into your true form. Meaning, you will have to learn how to use other forms of magic besides necromancy." Elysia explained.

Alza sighed, her expression troubled. "That would be rather difficult I’m afraid. I’ve always had trouble using other forms of magic aside from necromancy."

"I’m sure we can find a workaround. And remember, if you remain as you are now, my prophecy will almost definitely come to pass."

"You’re right. Though, I must say, I’ve been wanting to ask you something ever since I awoke."

Elysia raised an eyebrow "And that is?"

"I can’t help but feel as if there is less magic in the world, in a literal sense. I was surprised by the fact that the adventurers you sent to my tomb were A-rank, they seemed so…weak."

"You know what, follow me. There is something I need to show you."

***

Elysia guided Alza through a spiraling staircase. The torches that lined the walls cast flickering shadows, as the two continued their descent to the lower levels of the adventurer's guild. Until finally, they arrived in a dimly lit subterranean chamber. Before them stood an imposing pair of massive stone doors. Each of them were etched with intricate symbols and runes, seemingly pulsating with an ancient power.

"What is this place?" Alza asked.

"The truth." Elysia replied.

With caution, Elysia stepped forward, her fingers tracing the cool, ancient stone of the doors. The moment her hands made contact, the various runes etched on the stone doors came to life, glowing with luminous intensity. A thunderous rumble reverberated through the chamber. Slowly, the colossal stone doors yielded to Elysia's touch as they slid open.

Elysia turned back to Alza. "Come, step inside."

As Alza entered the chamber, her breath caught in awe of the vast space that unfolded before her. The room resembled a grand cathedral of stone. Massive stone pillars lined the room at regular intervals, lending an air of solemnity to the space.

At the heart of the chamber laid a colossal, circular pool of water. Its surface was akin to a mirror, reflecting the ethereal glow of bluish wisps that danced upon its surface. The pool's edges were adorned with stones of various shapes and sizes, each engraved with runes and sigils that pulsed with an otherworldly energy.

"Is this one of your meditation chambers?" Alza asked as her eyes roamed across the chamber.

"In some ways it is," Elysia replied, her gaze fixed on the central pool. "But that is beside the point. Step closer to the pool."

Alza turned her head at Elysia's urging, only to find herself taken aback. The elf oracle stood gracefully above the pool's crystalline surface, her feet casting mirror-like reflections upon the water.

With some hesitation, Alza approached the pool, her steps echoing throughout the chamber. She crossed her arms as she met Elysia's gaze. "So, what is this 'truth' you wanted me to see?"

"I will answer your question with another. Why do you think the mortals you saw so far have been weaker than what you remember?"

"You know, I was actually curious about that myself, I can’t say I know why."

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Think, Alza, in thousands of years. Magic should have grown stronger and the people who wield it should become more proficient in it. Am I not wrong?"

"Go on."

Elysia's foot tapped lightly upon the pool's surface, causing ripples to radiate outward. From the heart of the pool, a sphere of water coalesced, rising gracefully until it hovered just before the bridge of her nose.

"Picture this as Pandemonia," Elysia said, her finger outstretched toward the sphere of water suspended before her. "As you're aware, it is the realm where all magic originates from, every living being that can use magic can only do so because the essence of magic leaked from Pandemonia and into the mortal world countless millennia ago."

"Yes, I am familiar with that fact, what’s new?" Alza replied.

"Pay attention carefully." Elysia directed, her foot tapping the surface of the water once again. Manifesting yet another sphere of water, smaller this time, hovering just a breath beneath the first.

"Imagine, if you will," Elysia began, her gaze focused on the newly formed sphere, "that this smaller sphere represents our world as we know it." Her finger gestured toward the petite globe, drawing Alza's attention to it. Then, two streams of water emerged from the miniature sphere, each stream connecting with the larger sphere above it.

"This is the natural state of things, where Pandemonia feeds the world by being the source of magic, and the world feeds Pandemonia whenever living beings die."

Alza nodded. "Yes, I understand that when people or animals die, their soul is scattered throughout Pandemonia and fuels it. But what’s the issue?"

"The issue is if something like this happens." Elysia placed a finger in between one of the streams of water which connected the two spheres of water, disrupting the flow. "Where there is a disturbance between the world and Pandemonia, the flow of magic will weaken."

"How is such a thing possible? I don’t think such a disturbance has ever happened, even during the most catastrophic wards that I remember." Alza asked.

"That’s because it never happened during your time." Elysia confirmed. "I suspect that the demons may have been disrupting the flow of power between the physical world and Pandemonia for the last millennia or so."

"But if that is true, how come I can still use magic just fine?"

Elysia turned her head to face Alza’s directly. Even though the elf oracle was blindfolded, Alza could feel the intensity behind her eyes. "Never let it slip your mind, that beneath your present guise, you are still a being born of Pandemonia itself. Magic flows through your veins as effortlessly as breathing is for mortals."

"I do not need to be reminded of what I am." Alza scoffed.

"On the contrary, I disagree. While mortals have grown weaker after every generation as they are born with less magical potential on average than their ancestors, the demons, including you, have either retained their original strength or become stronger over time."

An uncomfortable silence settled over the room, and Alza found herself lost in thought, her gaze fixed on the table before her. Though she bore no responsibility for the world's dwindling magic, an inexplicable guilt still gnawed at her conscience.

"I…apologize if I upset you, perhaps I should have phrased words better."

Alza shook her head and sighed. "It’s fine, and regardless, if the connection between Pandemonia and the world is diminishing, I suppose that does explain things."

"As you are already aware, there aren’t too many entities who could be responsible for this." Elysia said.

Alza sighed. "I’m sure my father will try to take over the world…again."

Elysia nodded. "Most certainly, and without Melchio, you are the only one strong enough to do anything about it."

"That reminds me, where….is my husband?" Alza asked.

"I unfortunately have no idea where he is. He never mentioned anything to me either when he left." Elysia replied.

"That is just like him," Alza muttered with a hint of fondness in her voice.

Her frown deepened as she thought about her long-lost husband. It had been ages since they were together.

"Where do you think he might be?" Alza asked.

Elysia offered a reassuring smile. "Alza, I know how you feel, but I’m sure Melchio is fine. He did say he would come back when the time is right, no?"

"I know…" Alza muttered. "But I can’t help but think that something might have gone wrong."

"Alza, if I ever find out anything about Melchio, don’t worry: You’ll be the first person I tell."

"Thank you, I appreciate that."

"Regardless, now that you’ve seen the truth, I need to ask a favor from you Alza."

"What is it?"

"I want you to join the adventurer’s guild. If you accept, you will be compensated accordingly. The world could use more capable people to fight against the demons "

"Sure, I don’t mind joining." Alza shrugged. "Seems like you’re stretched on capable manpower as is."

Elysia sighed and shook her head. "You have no idea."

***

The doors of the war room swung open as Alza and Elysia entered. Countless maps and parchments were spread across large wooden tables that strained under their weight. At the heart of the room was a circular wooden table. Elysia placed a golden badge on the table. Alza leaned in to examine the item. The intricacy of its design made her pause. It was in the shape of a dragon's head, each scale seemed to gleam with life, and the badge seemed almost to possess a life of its own.

"I’m going to have you join my guild as an S-rank adventurer. You’ll get a monthly payment of 1,000 gold in addition to anything you make on your missions, as well as a few other benefits."

"That is…rather generous."

"It’s the least I can do." Elysia replied with a smile. "But that does mean you’ll have to work under the adventurer’s guild, are you alright with that?"

Alza chuckled. "I accept, not like I have much better to do anyway."

"Excellent, I'll assign you your first mission in a day or so. But for now, take this with you and get some rest." Elysia said, pointing towards the badge at the table.

"But wait, what about my training?"

"I’ll settle that after you rest for the day. Just touch the badge for now."

"What is this exactly?" Alza asked, her eyes glued to the dragon’s head badge.

"This will serve as proof of identification that you work for the adventurer’s guild, you won’t always need it, but it may come in useful."

"I see."

"Go ahead, touch the badge."

With caution, Alza touched the badge. In that instant, the badge began to shine a luminescent light, before dissipating into countless golden shards. Each of them then seeped into Alza’s right hand. And soon, the mark of a dragon was inscribed on Alza’s right hand.

"What just happened?" Alza asked.

"Congratulations, you are now officially an S-rank adventurer, mostly." Elysia said.

"Mostly?"

"There’s a lot of paperwork we need to settle, but we can leave that for another day. For now, you should go and get some rest."

"About that, is there any place nearby where I could stay?"

Elysia handed over an ornate looking card to Alza. "Don’t worry, I’ve already prepared a house for you."

The address card was made from a velvety, midnight-blue material that shimmered slightly when hit by light. At the top, embossed with an elegant script, was the emblem of the guild. Flipping the card over, Alza found a few lines of elegant calligraphy. The text was written in a deep, rich ink that seemed almost iridescent in the right light. It read:

To Alza Silverheart

Resident of 12 Gildenmere Street

Alza raised an eyebrow. "Silverheart?"

"I figured you needed a family name just in case, Silverheart is just something I came up with a few weeks ago."

"But won’t people recognize my first name?"

Elysia shook her head. "Not really. Alza is a common name in some parts of the world nowadays. And most legends only speak of the First Necromancer as just…the First Necromancer." She couldn't help but chuckle softly, reminiscing about the past.

"Fair enough, but where is this place exactly?" Alza asked.

"It’s not too far from here, just ask around for directions and you should find it easily enough." Elysia replied.

"Right… I think maybe I should get going then."

"Oh, before you go!" Elysia passed Alza a purple pouch filled with gold coins. "It’s part of your salary, I’ll deposit the rest at the bank under your name."

"That’s…actually very kind of you." Alza said.

"Anything for an old friend."