As we ventured deeper into the castle we found some undead wandering the halls, but no organised resistance. There were some alchemy labs and cells, most likely for test subjects. Some of the undead we encountered hat deformations, or runes cut into their bodies and bones.
“I think we won’t wind a high inquisitor here, at least not a living one.” I said as we kept exploring.
“They were a tool. Now that Beira has fled she likely took everything useful with her.” Lilith reasoned.
“It stinks. Why are there so many undead here?” Lucy wondered.
“I think they conducted some sort of ritual. Hopefully we find the source and can identify its purpose.” I said.
“My lady, I think I found the source.” Lily said. She had just opened a door and was peeking through it.
“Guests…” A raspy voice said.
We joined Lily as she opened the door wide. It led to a large room, a massive circle filled most of the floor. At the back was something that looked like a gate but it was inactive. In the centre of the circle were two skeletons, their eyes were filled with small green flames.
“So, you can talk?” I asked them.
“Yes…” One of them hissed.
“What happened here?” I asked. I was wary but they had not attacked yet. All of us entered the room and spread out, ready for combat.
“The pointy eared witch…”
“We were fools. We fell for her whispers.”
“So sweet were the promises.”
“Now we are doomed. Eternally.”
It was hard to distinguish the skeletons. They looked rather similar and they were taking turns talking.
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“I think those are, were, the high inquisitors.” Sir Francis said.
“Such a smart puppy.” One of them said, with a smile.
“Not smart enough to avoid a leash.” The other one hissed.
While they talked I studied the circle. “This is meant to power something, the gateway most likely.” I concluded.
“Yesss. Powered by death.”
“They killed everything here, even the forest to power that thing.” I realised. “I suspect it leads to the fairy realm.”
Lucy tilted her head. “So, you are the guards? You are supposed to stop us if we want to use the gate?”
“Hahahaha…”
“Use the gate? Silly fox, you would need to bring a lot of sacrifices for that. Everything left is dead. No, we are here to kill intruders.”
Both skeletons smiled. With a loud clang a portcullis dropped behind us, sealing the exit.
“I am not sure if I want to chew on those bones…” Lucy said.
“Are you afraid?” The skeleton asked, glee in its voice.
“I am concerned about the taste. I need more mouthwash if we keep fighting undead. You would not have any tasty gate guardians, perhaps? Can you summon something?” Lucy asked.
“Huh?” The skeleton seemed confused.
“They don’t have blood! Why doesn’t anything here have blood! Arg.” Shani complained.
I sighed. “Before we destroy you, would you answer more questions? Like, where is Beira right now?”
“Destroy us? Do you know what you face?”
“Not a lich. You seem too weak for that and I doubt Beira could control liches. You were likely powerful mages into the 9th circle before she branded you with runes. Since those runes use part of your power to enslave you, you likely dropped to the 8th, or 7th circle even. Turning you into undead mages? I am not sure what that did. Worst case you are back to the 9th circle. Actually, since the runes are modifying your soul they might still be there. Then again, turning someone into an undead modifies the soul as well….” I looked at my allies. “Do you think we should capture and study them?”
“IMPUDENT MORTAL” One of the skeletons shouted.
“What made you think you were facing mortals?” Lilith said and unleashed her aura.
I did the same and Lucy joined us as well. Power flooded the area. The skeleton’s eyes widened. Clearly they had not been aware of our identities. Then again, Beira likely had them locked away for a while.
“Fear not, abominations! We can bring you salvation!” Sir Francis shouted.
While I was preparing a lightning bolt, everyone was casting something. Fire and lightning, empowered, by our auras, rained on the two skeletons. They did not manage to cast any defences in time.
The centre of the room exploded, shards of bones were flung around and parts of the floor cracked. The skeletons were destroyed, as was a part of the circle.
“Ooops…” I said, feeling slightly embarrassed.
“I did not think they would be this weak…” Lilith mumbled.
“That’s what they get for not having blood!” Shani said.
“But you would have killed them for their blood, if they had blood.” Lucy pointed out.
“But it would have been a meaningful death!” Shani responded.
I ignored the crazy elemental and studied the remaining runes. “We won’t be able to use this portal but I think we can get an idea about the destination. The fairy realm is big, this might help us narrow down the location of Beira’s base.” I mused. The destruction of the circle and the skeletons was a setback but at least we found something.