Necromancer
A Royal Road Fan Fiction
By: Halosty
Chapter 81
Quietus stopped to think before moving on to try talking to the second army. Even if he could, individually, convince the armies to fight against the dragon, it would be harder to make them work together. After all, they had fought and killed each other, then become ghosts. Ghosts don’t just casually appear on a battlefield, instead their strong feelings before death would tie them to the place that they died.
Except… the leader of the first army didn’t seem to have any such feelings. This meant there was the possibility of there being some other reason for their ghostly existence. What it was… Quietus didn’t know. However, if the second army did not harbor any strong feelings, it would confirm the existence of something abnormal. Besides a giant, soul-eating dragon, anyway. The Fields of Misery had been stable for centuries, which indicated the dragon was a recent arrival.
If Quietus couldn’t convince the armies to work together, he would have to convince them to help him fight the dragon… separately, at the same time. At best, they would fight each other and the dragon, at worst, they would ignore the dragon, and Quietus would have no hope of victory. It would definitely be better if he could make them work together.
Quietus discussed his plan with Ruby. After all, she would be risking her life with his, and knowing what was planned would enable her to assist him better. Quite frankly, her skills at diplomacy were better than his, though since they were undead, Quietus was likely the only one who could talk to them. In addition, she needed to concentrate on music to calm them.
The two adventurers moved on, stopping near one of the villages on the other side of the Fields of Misery. There was a very similar scene to the first attempt, though this time Quietus managed to resist going into a daze at the music. It was not that there was a game effect targeted at him, it was just that the music itself really was very enticing. Before, he hadn’t been prepared to experience it, and had let himself get lost in the music. Now, he focused on what he had to do. Which was, basically, talking. Specifically, convincing someone to work with some of their possibly worst enemies against an enemy that was definitely the worst.
Fortunately, the second leader also appeared willing to talk to Quietus. “Speak, young fellow. It has been long since I have had a clear mind.”
“I have come to investigate the recent troubles here. I spoke to some of the other spirits here, and they spoke of fear of the dragon. I presume it also troubles you?”
“Yes… we feel afraid… of… death? All I know is that I can sense danger.”
“I do believe the source of your madness appeared before the dragon. Is that correct?”
“Yes. Though my memories are… hazy… the dragon appeared only recently, but we have been locked in pointless combat for… a very long time.”
Quietus had just wanted to confirm that the knowledge of events was basically the same for both armies. “You say the combat is pointless. Is there no point in warring against your enemies?”
“Warring against our enemies? Certainly. However… these soldiers… I feel no hatred for them. I do not even remember the reason for our battles.”
Quietus couldn’t resist a comment there. “If I’ve learned anything about war, it was probably stupid nobles.”
The ghostly commanded frowned for a moment, then nodded. “It was… likely something of that sort. Certainly, not all of my men were so… patriotic… that they would wish to continue the battle even in death. However, when we are unable to think… our vague memories of them as the enemy make us fight.”
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This would make Quietus’ job somewhat simpler. He was glad. “Then, let me summarize what I have learned… the dragon is causing trouble, currently, but there has always been something causing your souls to be trapped as ghosts, unable to move on. I can investigate what that thing is, but it is likely near the dragon. At least, it is not safe to do a thorough investigation with a dragon around. Would you be willing to fight the dragon? Along with the other army?”
“Fight? Yes. Along with our enemies…”
“You have no memory of the reason for fighting, do you? Even they harbor no animosity toward you. Instead, all of you are trapped in an unpleasant state. Working together with them, you can have peace.”
“Peace? Yes… that would be good.”
“Very well. We will be returning… to try to help organize the battle. However, for now, we must speak with them.”
Ruby looked a bit better this time, less exhausted. It wasn’t that she had to put less work in. However, Quietus had supplied her with some stamina and mana recovery potions. Though she carried some of her own, she would rather save them for when absolutely necessary. However, Quietus was happy to provide as many as necessary for the sake of his quest. Though, he would also have been willing to provide her potions anyway.
Fortunately, there were some decent herbs in the Fields of Misery. Quietus thought he’d even seen some very rare ones deeper in. Obviously, it wasn’t a good idea to go there at this time, so he made do with the more common ones he could get safely. He prepared as many as he could of all types of potions. He considered making some poisons… but felt that it wouldn’t do much against a dragon. Frankly, he wasn’t sure if he could even manage to get the poison to the dragon. Maybe if he had archers, but the dragon wouldn’t likely stay on the ground for him to stab, and his dark spear and similar spells weren’t poisonable, due to their nature as… darkness.
Quietus spent some time preparing for the upcoming battle, including convincing the first army to, also reluctantly, work with the second. Quietus probably could have figured out what countries they were from, and what their units were called, but he didn’t care. In addition to battle tactics, which would be mostly taken care of by the armies themselves, Quietus had to figure out how to make them work at all. Specifically, Ruby had to be using her musical talents just to keep them sane. Quietus was fortunate that he had picked her to help, and that she had agreed. He would have had a very difficult time without her.
Though Ruby could, at least for a short while, perform loudly enough to attract both armies and get them into their right minds, sound sadly moved uniformly in all directions. Thus, it could attract other things, like big, angry dragons. Ruby also noted that it was very unlikely to affect it with any sort of calm, but would mostly just attract its attention. Since the armies needed time to arrive and coordinate, Quietus would have to provide a distraction. Not on his own, of course. He knew how long it would take for the dragon to kill just him.
For the sake of this quest, Quietus was willing to sacrifice many of his undead minions. He just didn’t want to do it pointlessly. Thus, he wouldn’t bring any of the harder to replace minions, such as those he had turned into destroyers. He also went to nearby areas and made as many as he could. They would move in first, and hopefully hold the dragon’s attention long enough for the ghosts to be ready. Sadly, they would only really be able to be food for it, unless it decided to fight on the ground. Quietus really wanted to get some archers… or casters… or, ghosts. Which was most of the point of this adventure.
//End Chapter 81