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Chapter 009 - ZuZu and the Owlbear

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[STATUS: MILDRED COREIA]

CLASS: DEATH MAGE (RARE)

LEVEL: 3

—XP: 100/2500

—HP: 180

—MP: 180

—STR: 10

—DEX: 10

—CON: 18

—INT: 18

—WIS: 10

—UNAPPLIED POINTS: 2

[ABILITIES, SKILLS, SPELLS]

—DEATH MAGIC: Skelemation, Gravebolt, Death's Favor

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Turning in the second tutorial quest was simple and easy. She'd hit level 3 when she did so, which was really awesome. Millie had felt herself become a bit more hardy overall and her head felt clearer. That was probably from the INT boost from the level-up, but the refreshing boost from the level-up itself probably had something to do with it, too.

That feeling of refreshment and clarity remained with her as she woke up the next morning. She'd left the glowing owlbear skeleton in the front yard, like she'd said. If anyone in the neighborhood complained, she'd heard nothing about it overnight. Her parents still hadn't returned by the time she went to bed, but it was normal for them to be gone days to a week when they had to go out of town for a dungeon.

Millie lay there in bed with her status pane up, staring at the numbers floating in front of her vision. She couldn't believe that she'd hit level 3 in a single day. It was bonkers. Good bonkers, but bonkers.

She stared at the [Unapplied Points: 2] line and thought about where she wanted to put those. She could put them in INT and CON like [Death Mage] did automatically, having her be able to do and withstand more damage.

But she also knew that left her other scores at their baseline, and she knew from talking with her mom and dad that leaving everything at or near baseline was a great way to get herself in trouble later on. Millie wasn't sure if she needed STR if she was going to have minions like the one outside right now, both in terms of carrying loot and getting up-close-and-personal in melee, but she knew that DEX would keep her agile and able to dodge while adding to WIS was a long-term investment that would eventually help her work through difficult times.

Right now, though, she decided that DEX was the most important for her immediate success and survival and dumped the 2 remaining points there, raising her score from 10 to 12. Like magic—maybe because it was magic—she felt sprightlier and that her muscles had a tautness they didn't just a moment before.

Using that newfound springiness, Millie hopped from the bed and quickly got dressed. Downstairs, she ate a quick breakfast of bread and cheese, and then pulled some jerky out of her dad's stash and packed it away inside her new [Spidersilk Cloak].

Her rat followed her everywhere inside the house, staying directly under her feet like a living pet more than a reanimated servant. Given the likelihood of it being destroyed relatively soon, Millie wasn't going to let herself get attached and think of it that way. At least to the rat.

The huge beast in the yard, though…that one would be hard not to get attached to.

Either way, when she set out from home that morning, her second as a classed adventurer, she headed toward the Cavern and the shop, ZuZu's PETals, the guard captain had recommended.

Instead of riding down the streets, Millie walked like she always did, hopefully drawing less attention than she had the night before. And while she did manage that, at least, the Cavern was a long way from where she lived. That meant a lot of people saw her in her shadowy robe leading an oversized skeleton through the streets. In the light of day, people simply avoided her, changing sides of the street and giving her a lot of space to pass through.

No one spoke directly to her, but she got some jeers and snarky remarks about how a [Necromancer] had no place in Cragfall. The entire trip across town, Millie only caused one child to start crying and run away. Progress.

The Cavern was a neat place, though Millie didn't have much reason to the district very often. Between school, various other responsibilities at home, and the distance, the Cavern wasn't on her list of regular haunts. Plus, most of the shops there were overpriced and stuffy, but that was expected in any city near where the leadership met and lived.

As far as she knew, the Cavern was almost as old as the main town itself. The people who had originally settled Cragfall had supposedly thought it was a waste to build their homes simply next to the towering rock wall that overshadowed and protected them. Over centuries, they managed to burrow into the mountainside and create a series of tunnels, caverns, streets, and buildings that were essentially impervious to any kind of raid or attack from outside.

The whole place was enchanted to prevent cave-ins, and there was no record of a dungeon entrance popping up inside.

The entryway to the Cavern was twenty feet tall and maybe double as wide. She and her companions had no problem fitting inside and still leaving enough room for people to stare at them, avoid them, or both.

ZuZu's PETals wasn't hard to find. After a few blocks inside and a turn to the left, Millie found the building that had been worked into the rock wall with the shop's name etched directly into the stone above the door. This entrance, however, was much too small for the large skeleton to fit inside. Millie left it sitting out front, making sure that it wasn't blocking the door for other customers.

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"Welcome to ZuZu's!" came a voice from behind the counter the moment she crossed the threshold. "I am ZuZu." A short, lean man leaned over the countertop with a grin on his face, almost hidden by the thick white beard and mustache he wore. Millie couldn't help but think he looked like the very stereotype of a spellcaster with his beard and embroidered robes. "What is it ZuZu can help you with today?"

"Hi," Millie said, "and yes, I do think I need a little help. I only just got my class a couple of days ago and—"

"Yes, the [Death Mage]! Very fun, that one.

Millie raised an eyebrow. "Fun?"

"You get so many pets and companions, if you do things right. There is nothing better in the whole world than an army of critters behind, beside, and in front of you."

"So…you're not afraid of me?" Millie asked, skeptical. She looked over her shoulder toward the front of the store to see her skeletons, but some shops in the Cavern, ZuZu's PETals included, often didn't have windows. Instead, they opted for a wall to have more space for goods and wares.

ZuZu guffawed. "My dear, no. ZuZu is afraid of very little, and he knows adding some death magic at the right time can be the life of a party!" More laughter, and his grin widened.

Millie didn't say anything.

"Get it? The life of the party? Because you're a death mage?" He guffawed again. "It's great. But no, ZuZu is not afraid. What can he do to help you?"

"Uh, well, the captain of the guard sent me here because he said you might be able to help me keep my mount and other [skelemated] creatures a little more discreet for when I'm in town." She pointed over her shoulder at the door. "One of my, uh, current companions is a bit oversized."

"Oversized, you say?" ZuZu's eyes lit up. "That sounds fuuuun." He drew out the final word and his eyes widened in excitement.

"I got it from an elite public quest."

ZuZu clapped his hands. "Oh! And you only just got your class? How lucky you are!"

"I am!" Millie replied. "But walking through the streets riding a giant skeleton or having it walk behind me is a little much for the everyday people."

"Let ZuZu guess. You made a baby cry."

"I did, yes."

ZuZu laughed again. "Everyone makes a baby cry at some point. ZuZu many times."

"It also won't fit in my house, so last night it had to stay in our yard. Glowing. Just sitting there. I figure the same problem will happen in dungeons or tight places. Do you think you could help me, I dunno, store it or condense it or something?"

ZuZu ran his fingers through his beard and narrowed his eyes. "Sure! Let ZuZu see your friend so he can see what you need." The shopkeeper then quickly bounced over the counter, using one hand to balance himself as he did. Millie just blinked, not expecting a man who appeared so old to be so agile. He zipped past her and opened the shop's door.

"By the gods, my little death mage, that's an elite owlbear!" He approached the sitting creature and circled around. He stopped halfway around and inspected the bone plates that were Millie's seat. Then he finished the circle and reached up hesitantly toward the huge beak. He stopped before touching it and looked back at Millie. "Can ZuZu touch?"

She nodded. "Sure."

"Always a good idea to ask permission before messing with anything under someone else's command," he said as he placed his hand flat against the owlbear's cheek. "You never know what kind of orders they're under. And ZuZu does not want to lose a hand or an arm." He looked back at Millie again and winked. "Not again. Very expensive to get back."

"I bet," Millie said. Unsure of what else she could say in response. She stood there and watched as ZuZu inspected the owlbear skeleton from head to toe to tail. The most interesting part to watch was when he took both of his hands, one on the upper beak and one on the lower, pulled them apart, and stuck his entire head and torso in, as though he were being eaten by the thing. He even twisted around a little until he was lying on his back inside the owlbear's mouth and staring upward into its skull.

Eventually, he slid out of the maw and onto his feet. He stood in front of Millie and snapped his fingers. "ZuZu knows just the thing for you, Millie Coreia!" He once again zipped past her and into his shop.

"How do you know my name?" Millie asked.

"How many [Death Mages] are there in Cragfall?"

"Good point," she conceded.

"How are Arla and Luc doing these days? Are they good?"

"You know my parents? And yeah, they're good. Off saving the day in Drustmere right now."

"Oh yes, that new Drustmere dungeon is nasty business, ZuZu hears." The mage's voice dropped the jovial tone it had since Millie had come in. "And yes, ZuZu has known your parents for many years. They have sent much business ZuZu's way over the years. Always appreciated. Good people, your parents. You are lucky."

"I am," Millie said. "They do their best."

"In everything, surely. Now," ZuZu said, "in regard to your owlbear problem, ZuZu sees why you are concerned—especially if you are already making babies cry." He snickered. "No, but really, ZuZu has just the thing for you."

"Wonderful!" Millie exclaimed. "What is it?"

"That, my little death mage, is a surprise."

"What?"

ZuZu smiled. "You leave your friend with ZuZu, and by tomorrow, you will not have to worry about your friend frightening the city anymore."

Millie wasn't sure what to say. She didn't know this man, but the captain of the guard suggested his shop. Which meant the eccentric mage should be able to be trusted. But she didn't have any money of her own yet, and her parents weren't back from their delve to ask.

"How much will that cost, ZuZu?"

The man's beard whipped from the pfffffft sound that he made with his lips. "You owe ZuZu nothing. Your parents once saved ZuZu, did you know that?"

Millie shook her head. "I did not."

"It is true. Arla and Luc are good people. For their Millie, ZuZu does this for free."

"Oh, wow. What happened?" Millie asked. She loved hearing stories from adventures.

"Bah," ZuZu said, waving his hand in dismissal. "Not even a story worth telling. But come back tomorrow for your friend." He pointed past Millie at the skeleton outside. "You will not be disappointed. That is ZuZu's promise to you."

"Um, well, okay, then." Millie took a couple of steps backward. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow, then, ZuZu."

"Tomorrow!" the mage said and flourished his hands in an arc above his head. "Bye bye now, my little death mage." He made a sweeping motion with his hands now. "Shoo. ZuZu must work."

She laughed and walked toward the door. "Okay, okay. I'm gone." Stepping outside, she patted the reanimated owlbear on the beak. "ZuZu's got this," she said. "I'll be back tomorrow morning. Be nice, don't attack. He's helping us."

The owlbear made the deep rumbling sound again and slightly pushed back against Millie's hand in acknowledgment. Or at least Millie took it as acknowledgment. She didn't know how much things she reanimated could think or behave autonomously, but she was beginning to feel they were at least a little more than the empty husks she'd always thought they would be.

With that taken care of, Millie went toward the Adventurer's Guild to see what kind of trouble she could get into. After all, she was an adventurer now. That's what she was supposed to do, right?