ELDRITCH

A fire crackled within a grand fireplace, warming Gate and me. We sat in red velvet chairs within the living quarters of the Front Manor, Gate's home that also served as the entrance to my estate.

The room was fairly bare, as Gate was not much of a materialist. Each piece of painting and ornament was placed here at the command of my late father against Gate's will.

I shivered slightly in my thick gray coat at the thought and leaned forward to pour myself a cup of tea.

LEON

It's been days since we conversed Gate,

I stated.

LEON

How does the training go?

Gate cracked a smile and tugged slightly on the collars of his black leather robes with his body slouched within the chair.

GATE

Oh, it goes. With winter around the bend, I decided to ease the training on the recruits... and myself.

He added below his breath.

LEON

Thanks again for joining me in this.

He waved his hand,

GATE

No worries.

His head slowly rolled side-to-side along the spine of the chair, and he let out a long yawn.

My mind wandered for a bit, and I smiled softly. Gate smiled back, tilting his head, gesturing for me to share my thoughts.

LEON

Imagine if I became a bearer of a God Item,

I chuckled.

LEON

Wouldn't that be something?

Gate let out a mute laugh as he slumped his head back against the chair.

GATE

Oh, that will be amazing,

He beamed.

GATE

Imagine the sting of utter embarrassment the three kings will experience.

We laughed briefly at the thought.

GATE

After sending hundreds of scholars into ruins, mountains, and crypts in search of godly items, a young sprite of a stout city snatches the power of a god. You'd have to become the next Overlord.

LEON

Ha! I wouldn't even know what to do with all of that power.

And we both had a good laugh. I raised my cup of tea to my mouth, unable to imagine myself as an Overlord. To damnation with it—I couldn't even imagine myself as King. How can I be either when I can't garner respect from Don and Beka?

GATE

So,

He started after a brief moment of silence.

GATE

What is this dilemma between you and Don?

I gagged and winced, burning my tongue as I jerked on my teacup.

LEON

What dilemma? Who told you?

I asked in pain as I reached for a napkin.

GATE

Don.

I grimaced at him as I wiped my mouth.

LEON

So you two were talking.

He let a soft chuckle,

GATE

No, not really. He was talking. I was just listening.

LEON

What was he saying?

I asked, noticing the annoyance in my voice.

GATE

Saying?

Gate repeated, taking a tiresome blink.

GATE

It was more of a rant than anything. He wanted me to talk to you about your... attitude.

He finished carefully.

LEON

My attitude?

I repeated in disgust.

LEON

What's wrong with my attitude?

Gate shrugged,

GATE

He said, you... were being childish.

LEON

Childish!?

GATE

His words—not mine!

He blurted with his hands up in defense.

LEON

I'll show him childish.

I mumbled to myself.

GATE

What was that?

He asked as he adjusted himself in his chair.

But the doors to the living quarters creaked open, and a servant, followed by Otis, appeared at the doorway.

SERVANT

Masters, Lady Eldritch, is here.

I exhaled and forced myself to my feet.

LEON

Let us go meet her.

We escorted Eldritch and her companion, Yuna, into the Great Study and allowed them to sit comfortably at a nearby round table—at this time of year, the guest rooms at the Great Court can get quite cold. Besides, the Great Study was empty save for two enchanting apprentices studying nearby.

But Eldritch, with her arms folded, refused to sit. She was a beast, bulging with muscles, with dark purple skin and black rings that started around her neck. Armored in plated onyx puri, she had auburn-colored waist-length hair that was tightly braided and glared at me with red pupils. Each piece of her armor except her chest plate was enchanted with (Strength Aptitude) Greater En Strength. Her chest plate was enchanted with something deemed exuberant and wealthy, an Enhancement—(Strength Enhancement) Strong Body.

ELDRITCH

Really, there was no need to come all the way back here.

Tch—Such a line reminded me of Cain.

ELDRITCH

I agreed to this meeting to only clarify the reason you wanted this gent's head... and the pay.

Yuna, a young, chubby lady of short stature with red ribbon-like designs that wrapped around her swatch of blue and purple skin, sat in the chair with a straight posture and stared at me with her dazzling purple eyes.

Under her (Mana Aptitude) Black Cloak, Basic Mana Regeneration, I caught a glimpse of her (Fire Affinity) Brown Leather Tunic, Petty Heat Aura. Shame swallowed me as I couldn't help but squirm slightly in jealousy. It seemed as if every guest I met had something going well for them.

ELDRITCH

According to the message you've delivered to me,

She materialized the bounty,

ELDRITCH

This gent, Ire Farcatcher, his bounty was created by the Fire Kingdom. My first question is, why are you after him?

LEON

Simple really. Our city is in the process of expanding. The lands to the south had been purchased by my—

ELDRITCH

And there it is!

She interrupted with a stern scowl. I was caught off guard, unable to reply.

ELDRITCH

What divine entity gave you power over the wilderness? This is exactly what I am talking about, Yuna!

She ranted on, but Yuna didn't even blink at the sound of her name.

ELDRITCH

Leaders of nations—gents, always feeling the need to brandish their dicks around!

GATE

Watch your tone—

ELDRITCH

Or what!?

She barked back.

ELDRITCH

You're going to attack me? Because I insulted your limp-boned Chief?

Gate said nothing.

ELDRITCH

Doesn't feel good, does it? Being belittled? Yet, you want to slay a gent living on his lonesome because you want his land.

LEON

So,

I exhaled strongly,

LEON

It seems to me you do not want to partake in this—

ELDRITCH

When did I say that?

She interrupted again.

ELDRITCH

Let it be known that whenever I get a chance to put stupid gents like you two in place, I will always take it!

She finished, eyeing the two of us before taking a deep breath.

ELDRITCH

Now that I've said my piece, the other matter at hand. How do you intend to compensate for seven hundred million puries?

I gave her a blank look as Gate scoffed,

GATE

After all of that... you would still take up our offer?

ELDRITCH

He has a bounty. Puries and power come before morality throughout these plains—these plains ran by hypocritical gents!

She spat loud enough for her voice to carry through the study.

LEON

Krapht and I agreed on two hundred million puries.

I said quickly. I was getting annoyed by her vainglory and wanted to get her out of my face.

ELDRITCH

Exactly, you and Krapht. Not me.

LEON

Are you asking for seven hundred million puries?

ELDRITCH

Three hundred fifty.

She stated firmly.

ELDRITCH

No?

She asked nearly a second later.

ELDRITCH

I guess we're done here—

LEON

Okay,

I stopped her. Krapht was right about her stubbornness.

LEON

Three hundred fifty million.

ELDRITCH

Agreed.

She then materialized a stack of identical contracts that fell with a thump onto the table.

ELDRITCH

Fuck!

She cursed so freely that my heart missed a beat.

YUNA

Mind your anger.

She said softly without taking her eyes off me.

ELDRITCH

I don't know why the entire stack keeps coming out when I needed just one!

She blurted, ignoring Yuna's remark. She then materialized a pen, scribbled a single note upon a sheet, and slid the sheet toward me before Stashing the rest.

I leaned forward onto the table and noticed that the contract was already pre-filled with three hundred and fifty puries. She had only added an "Mp" at the end of it... Was three hundred fifty her favorite number or something?

ELDRITCH

Before you sign your life away,

She grabbed my attention.

ELDRITCH

I am not the type to dance on other's mistakes. Yuna.

Yuna came to life and finally blinked for once.

YUNA

Have you ever seen this gent with your own two eyes?

She asked me, and Gate and I both shook our heads.

Eldritch scoffed as Yuna continued,

YUNA

We are all too familiar with kingdoms bullying lesser city-states in attempts to annex them. We learned that Cain the Executioner was here a moment ago. We know this bounty was made by the Fire Kingdom. Has it ever crossed your mind that the Fire Kingdom created a false threat?

She asked, and I nodded.

LEON

I still think about it to this day.

YUNA

Please be aware that whether or not we find him, you will be forced to pay your due. As the contract says, we will camp in the area for no more than a week. During that time, you and your people are free to accompany us but do not expect us to keep you safe. If we do happen to find the gent that matches this bounty, we will return promptly. Summarizing it shortly, the seven hundred million bounty that you seek may, in fact, be a gamble... if this turns out to be a false threat.

She concluded and continued her rude, unblinking stare.

I grabbed my nearby pen and read the contract in its entirety. A notable silence spread throughout the hall as I read.

LEON

I understand,

I uttered once done. I signed the contract and then placed my finger onto the soul stamp, allowing the contract details to be etched into my mind and bound to my soul.

LEON

I will send out a party after forty-four hours if you have not returned.

ELDRITCH

We're leaving tonight.

She revealed as she turned to leave.

GATE

Quite the hypocrite,

Gate mumbled quietly as he stood to walk her out.

ELDRITCH

Of course,

She replied to Gate's dismay. She turned to look down on him.

ELDRITCH

To live amongst the plains, you have to be like the gents.

She grumbled, her muscles bulging and pulling on the strains of her armor.

ELDRITCH

You have to be deceitful, hypocritical, and evil.

GATE

Evil?

He questioned, and a smirk sliced across Eldritch's face.

ELDRITCH

Whether you're an emperor, a king, a prince, a chief, a guard, or a hero. Someone somewhere will always view you as the evil one. Let's go, Yuna.

Yuna stood, her eyes still locked on me before she closed them and bowed,

YUNA

Pardon us.

She turned, leaving me in the silence of the Library.

*****

My tranquility was upheaved, and my lair was turned into a network of moving critters and fiends. I had retrieved as much treasure from Kari's Shrine and my lair and had them wrapped into dangling sacks of web. My elokos and arachnid were moving in a flurry, carrying them out and hanging them off the backs of the brumaires that waited outside.

ABIMELECH

A hero, you say?

Abi questioned after me as I bolted up and down my lair.

PAIN

Yes, I overheard the Chief's conversation.

ABIMELECH

I do not have the slightest clue what that is.

I shrugged him off as I handed a crate of sapphire puries to an eloko. I quickly switched gazes and saw wild blindinus chasing after several of my brumaires halfway down the plains toward the College of Emberfell.

They were a single pair—easy prey for my soratakas that flew over the brumaires. A quick switch in my gaze and I saw that Eldritch and her party refused to take a break.

PAIN

They will be upon me in a few hours.

ABIMELECH

Why not flee? Move further south?

I shook my head, remembering how I did exactly that five weeks ago.

PAIN

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

I am going to face her on my own.

I declared, entering my room.

ABIMELECH

Even if you believe you are at a loss?

He asked.

I studied my room—a dirty sleeping area, a few books I had already read, two crates of sapphire and ruby puries, and several pieces of enchanted gear next to a pile of useless clothes.

ABIMELECH

A distraction? I take it?

PAIN

Precisely,

I nodded and bolted into the Oval Room—barren of anything valuable.

PAIN

I would rather be safe than sorry.

I paced into the Arachnid's Lair just as the remaining few elokos scrambled up the exit. Dozens of my familiars and skeletons were lined up facing the exit. The amount of fish and canadeer I had to sacrifice was beyond measurable.

ABIMELECH

I admit, your dismay worries me. Surely you can best her with your sols at your side.

I turned on him and told him carefully,

PAIN

I will not put my animals at risk. They are not expendable bodies. They are alive and filled with emotions.

He held up his arms in defense as I moved past him, squatted, and spread my mana throughout the ground.

PAIN

I will be using my familiars.

I conjured a series of stone walls to block the passage to the library.

ABIMELECH

You have certainly grown in such a short time.

He exhaled with a grin before fading back into my soul chamber. I smiled softly and sat cross-legged in anticipation of Eldritch.

Three hours later, I was alerted by my scouting kagawk. Through its eyes, I watched Eldritch, along with Cosmo, another Warrior, two Archers, and a Mage dismount their horses near the bottom of the hill.

I frowned as the Mage, a chubby young lady, led Eldritch's team directly to my hidden entrance. I clenched my jaws, realizing I had not fought a Mage since those Blasters. My heart was beating in my chest, wondering if my plan would work. Should I flee? I could get quite far away with my Petty Shadow Phase.

I shook my head, getting rid of those thoughts as the air before me began to warp on itself. I leaped onto my feet as a small eyeball appeared and looked up at me. My heart lurched at my throat at such magical prowess before a disembodied mouth and jaw appeared with a wide grin.

MOUTH

Hi.

It uttered before the entrance to my lair exploded into a cloud of debris. My vision was clouded, but my sense of smell and mana was clear as glass. The mouth and eye had already disappeared as I felt mana coursing through the ground at insane speeds.

Silver metal chains erupted from the ground around me—I Quickstepped and Leaped out of its sudden grasp. I reached out into the cloudy debris, condensing the cloud into earthly spikes to rain down on the intruders.

I tumbled to a landing, witnessing one of the Warriors, Joshua, Kinan, Gent, Warrior/Largarmada/Knight, Thirty-two years old, harboring a gigantic (Physical Affinity) Enchanted Giant's Bone Kite Shield, Greater Damage Resistance blocking my rain of assault.

Greater... I have rarely come across such a level of power, and those who had such enchanted items were, ironically, of greater status within the Fire Kingdom.

Ebon and Ivy, the two Archers, bolted out from behind Joshua in opposite directions and fired their arrows at me. One of my Defenders intercepted it at the cost of cracking its shield. Eldritch, Kinan, Lady, Warrior/Demolisher/Destroyer, Fifty-seven leaped over Joshua, spinning through the air at me while Cosmo defended Yuna from the hoard of arachnids with his quick movements.

One of my black arachnids leaped for Cosmo while I dealt with Eldritch—colliding the air into her, causing her to fall into an ambush by my skeletons. Out of the many eyes of my familiars, I saw a chain whipping out from the ground, slapping away my black arachnid mid-air—saving Cosmo. I clenched my jaws, noticing the assault cracked the arachnid's ridiculously tough keratin.

I glanced at Yuna and grimaced—I could not Scan her completely, as if something was interfering with my skill.

YUNA

Watch out for the black arachnids, Cosmo!

She called out as she defended herself from streams of poisons with a shield of Water. She then materialized two (Lightning Affinity) Amber Core Wands, Greater Lightning Output in both hands and emitted Lightning, obliterating the forest arachnids pelting her with poison.

YUNA

They can not use skills, but they are still deadly!

Eldritch shoved my skeletons aside, and I leaped out of the way of more arrows—pain aggravated my right shoulder blade. An arrow? How? I dodged again and saw that the arrows were following me.

Eldritch charged at me—

YUNA

Eldritch behind you!

Eldritch whipped around, but I telekinetically grabbed hold of one of her arms and weapon as a black arachnid collided with her other arm with a deadly hug. But Eldritch covered her arm in Willpower at the last second and smashed through my black arachnid's webbing, crushing my familiar into the ground.

She broke free from my grasp and Quickstepped at me. I quickly formed a wall of dirt and Phased into the shadows.

ELDRITCH

Light! Yuna!

Through the blurry visions of my familiars, Yuna conjured a ball of bright light, darkening the shadows. What was that all about, I wondered. I can Phase out any shadow, but then, she materialized a tomb, the pages flipped, and from out of the book, a hieroglyphic symbol formed in front of the light. Moments later, a flood of bright light pierced through the ground and tugged on me.

I was forced out of the ground, and Eldritch, leaping into the air in expectation, pounced on me. My sword left its sheath to intercept Eldritch's hammer striking into my back. The blow erupted with an explosion, and the force bounced me off the ground.

As I tumbled, Eldritch gave chase. Fucking monster, I thought as I grabbed hold of the soil and conjured Earthly Spikes to pierce into the air.

JOSHUA

Swallow!

A golden crescent force sliced through the spikes before they could form, and my reflexes kicked in as I reeled out of the way. His technique had enough power to cut deeply into the cave walls behind me.

As Eldritch lifted her hammer above her head, Recall Memory echoed, and I leaped into the air as she shouted,

ELDRITCH

Calamity!

And slammed her hammer into the ground. Every inch of ground in front of her melted into hot magma before pillars of magma exploded into the air. The air scorched with heat, yet Eldritch and her party were unphased by it.

My familiars were being destroyed by Ebon, Ivy, and Cosmo. Joshua now stood back, protecting Yuna, who began to charge a bolt of lightning, her eyes locked onto me. As I hung in the air, Eldritch Leaped at me—damned brute was relentless!

She swung at me, and I Teleported behind Yuna—but she spun on me, her wand at the ready—She knew!? But suddenly, she froze—a fraction of confusion painted her face before she was engulfed in fear. But I did not care and came at her with my Fire Blade.

Cosmo appeared in between us with a skill akin to Teleportation, catching me by surprise and bypassing my Petty Danger Sense. His sword crackled with lightning energy as he swung it. It sliced through my Fire Blade, and the bolts of lightning launched me back.

ABIMELECH

You are going to have to use your sword!

He coached from within me, but I had already commanded my sword to pierce through Yuna—she snapped out of her fright and deflected my sword with a ward.

ABIMELECH

Not that one!

I conjured Willpower to force my body to move through the numbness and Phase into the ground. Before Yuna could use symbology, I appeared from behind Eldritch. But similar to Yuna, she could predict my actions and instinctively swung at me. But I was quicker, leaping over her and landing upon the crackling ground that was once magma.

I had to use my sword technique then—which I have yet to gain complete control over.

With Eldritch, as usual, Quickstepping toward me, I grabbed my sword, engulfed it in Willpower, and hurled it at Eldritch. She easily dodged the blade and closed the distance between us. I materialized my staff and Quickstepped away from her. It was as if I was fighting Grungir all over again—she slammed the handle of her war hammer into the ground—

ELDRITCH

Impulsion!

And I was grabbed by a great force and pulled toward her. I aimed my staff and unleashed my stored mana as I cast Fyre. A look of horror painted her face as her entire party called out for her. But my attack did not end there—I was also aiming for Yuna.

But before my funnel of intense flames could reach her, a sphere of water engulfed her, causing a tremendous explosion. Searing mist and steam engulfed the lair, but there was no time to pause—my sword crashed into Yuna and knocked her off the stairs. I grabbed hold of the fog and formed shards of ice to rain down on her.

She covered herself in an armor of chains and brought forth bulky ones to grab hold of my sword, holding it in place—but she was losing it. Joshua Quickstepped in to protect her, but one shard of ice made it through her weakened concentration—piercing through the armor of chains and her fallen ward.

Her cry of pain seemed to stir Eldritch back to her feet. Danger Sense activated, and I began dodging out of the way of arrows that would twist and turn mid-flight. Those Archers were now focused on me, all the while avoiding the few familiars that remained.

I Leaped into the air as the arrows followed me, but Eldritch was suddenly quicker—appearing next to me and smacking me down—the force of her blows shook my skull despite shielding myself with an ice shield. I grabbed hold of the air, orienting myself—water was still in the air.

I landed, cracking the ground beneath me, and saw that Eldritch was still mid-air. I formed a dense spike of ice, but my casting time was too slow as another surprise came, and Eldritch kicked off the air to avoid it—a skill I could only assume. I quickly adapted, grabbing hold of her and smashing her into the ground with Telekinesis. I then promptly formed icicle shards and pelted Ebon and Ivy, but of course, they were too fast to hit.

Eldritch sprang to her feet and roared into the air—another skill of some sort as her body radiated with an unusual red mana energy. My remaining elokos pounced on her, attempting to jab their sharp bones into her unprotected neck—their bones shattered on impact. Just how dense is this damned lady!?

She grabbed their heads and crushed them with ease. I noticed her face was scrunched up in fury, and her eyes were bloodshot red as she grabbed the hilt of her dropped hammer—then vanished. Air and blood expelled out my mouth as her hammer crashed into my torso, causing me to lose my staff. I cratered deep into the lair's walls! My sternum was fractured, and a bone pierced one of my lungs, but I forced myself to focus—Eldritch was charging again!

Dirt slabs erupted out the walls and embraced me, allowing me to Phase into the shadows while Eldritch slammed into the walls. I emerged from Ebon's shadow, but he dodged the swing of my Fire Blade—

ABIMELECH

Use your magic! Stop attempting to get in close!

Ebon Stashed his (Class Aptitude) Oak Carved Short Bow of Danger Sense and materialized an iron puri short sword as he sprang back at me.

I effortlessly caught his sword and punched him in the face—a face dense as stone—I felt as if I had only broken his nose. He acrobatically tumbled backward, abandoning his sword—allowing me to spin around and use it to poorly guard Cosmo's assault—his two-handed attack outweighed my one-handed block, causing the iron puri short sword to dig into my right shoulder.

All of my familiars had been reduced to flailing around limbless or slain. My skeletons have all been crushed, and I have yet to cause much harm to any of these Heroes. No matter how much I commanded my sword, it would not budge from Yuna's grip of chains.

Several arrows pierced through my left side. Cosmo swung again, but I blasted him away with Telekinesis. A loud cracking sound echoed throughout the lair, and I saw that my sword had been destroyed by Yuna's chains. Joshua took Cosmo's sudden departure as room to Quickstepped towards me. More arrows pierced through my side and into my legs, and a familiar feeling of poison slowed my movements.

Damned, just when I thought I was getting stronger—I will not be able to move out of the way. I could at least kill one of them.

ABIMELECH

Use it!

He urged, and I focused my mana into my extended hands. My Lesser En Reflex flared, but I ignored it and uttered—

PAIN

Fire Cast —

The entire lair flared with intense heat, but I continued through the pain,

PAIN

Fire Sw —

My vision tumbled moments after I realized Joshua's (Physical Affinity) Neobonic Long Sword, Petty Size Alteration. Allowing Joshua's Willpowered blade to extend a dozen feet and slice cleanly through my neck.

My body slowly went limp before I lost all feeling of it. I immediately released all of my familiars. My consciousness was unfading, and my facial muscles were numb—my demeanor should look perfectly dead. Thanks to the effects of Lesser Vitality, as long as there is blood in my skull, I will stay conscious for some time. The poison running its course through my skull was a win and prevented me from creating any accidental facial expressions.

EBON

By the damn gods.

I heard him mumble,

EBON

Bastard broke my nose.

COSMO

Here ya go!

EBON

Gah—Don't throw it!

COSMO

Hey Yuna, are you still alive?

I could sense him walking over to Yuna,

COSMO

Yuna?

JOSHUA

The brood was certainly worth seven hundred million puries.

Seven hundred million puries... so Lia was telling the truth. Still, I figured seven hundred million was quite insane.

COSMO

Hey, Yuna, snap out of it.

Eldritch's heavy footsteps approached.

ELDRITCH

Sorry, I lost control there.

She mumbled.

JOSHUA

Well, she was... different... for a Necromancer. What's wrong, Yuna?

I could hear the snapping of fingers.

YUNA

My apologies.

ELDRITCH

Oh, I see.

COSMO

The enchantments are not sealing? Is she alive?

YUNA

Don't touch it!

Her scream echoed throughout the lair.

YUNA

It might be cursed.

ELDRITCH

You don't sound too sure. What is it? Something is throwing you off.

I could vaguely see her. She was slightly hugging herself as if she was freezing.

YUNA

I... I don't know. I was not able to thoroughly scan him or see his distant future.

ELDRITCH'S PARTY

Him!?

Her entire party echoed in unison. I could feel Yuna's nod as she continued.

YUNA

Likely Interference but... his... there was nothing! It was blank... and cold! As if I was staring at a dead person who was... alive.

Her voice began to shake ever so slightly, but she attempted to hide it.

YUNA

For a Necromancer to be controlling such an army without the slightest retardation plaguing his mind. I must say calling him different is an understatement.

ABIMELECH

Have I not said your Recall Memory is godly?

He voiced into my mind.

PAIN

Too often.

ABIMELECH

I dare say you will be frightfully weak without it.

He stated blatantly.

ELDRITCH

Prodigy as well, then?

PAIN

Prodigy?

YUNA

Sorry...

I heard her whimper.

YUNA

His eye and arm... they're cursed. Don't touch anything, Cosmo!

She suddenly yelled.

YUNA

Not even I can understand the dangers of dark magic. We've never seen a sane Necromancer... I don't even want to wonder what horrific rituals she's... he's done.

PAIN

I was also called a prodigy by a Fire Kingdom soldier.

JOSHUA

I'll admit, that was a tough fight despite how short it was.

PAIN

I have also read about prodigy children in books, but they never seemed to be a major issue. Do you have any knowledge about that?

ABIMELECH

Interestingly, I am as clueless as you are.

PAIN

Or are you not absolutely correct and refusing to share?

ABIMELECH

...Yes.

I grunted telepathically at him and focused on Eldritch's heavy footsteps moving further away.

JOSHUA

At least admit it, Eldritch—hell, you lost control.

COSMO

Are you sure those arachnids weren't using skills, Yuna?

None of them seem to take caution of Yuna's words. As if seeming something strange was but a banality for them.

YUNA

If they were,

Her voice returned to normal as she continued on sternly,

YUNA

At least one of us would have been gravely injured.

ABIMELECH

Who was the one to urge you to use your animals?

He asked smugly. He was getting fond of being right about things.

PAIN

Gravely injured,

I pointed out.

PAIN

Not dead.

YUNA

We fought against arachnids before, remember? We fought along the outskirts of an Arachnid's nest to save an idiotic group of botanists.

Cosmo laughed,

COSMO

Oh, I remember! Sad that half of them were dead—

EBON

Can we leave now?

He interrupted in annoyance,

EBON

This place is gross.

ELDRITCH

You mentioned there was a series of tunnels below, Yuna?

YUNA

Yes...

There was a moment of silence before Eldritch sighed,

ELDRITCH

We'll make it quick.

YUNA

Please.

And with Yuna's magic, they broke through my layers of earthly walls and scoured through my lair. Meanwhile, Yuna stood by, staring intensively at my body. She'd occasionally reel away in shivers and heavy breathing.

COSMO

Stop that.

Cosmo moaned like a toddler.

COSMO

Your staring and breathing and whimpering are creepy.

YUNA

You can still feel his mana, can't you?

Cosmo laughed,

COSMO

Actually, I can. Is he really dead?

Yuna kept quiet, her stare occasionally leaving my body.

ABIMELECH

I wonder what she is looking for.

PAIN

Hmph...

EBON

What do you see?

Ebon asked from across the lair. Yuna kept quiet.

EBON

Yuna? What—

YUNA

A dark foggy void.

She whispered, and her stare intensified.

EBON

Get any closer, and you'll kiss his corpse.

But Yuna's glare did not leave my body.

EBON

Yuna!

YUNA

But the void... the void...

EBON

Yuna! Yuna stop staring at it!

She suddenly snapped out of it, and I caught sight of her messaging her head.

Eldritch's heavy footsteps returned.

ELDRITCH

Nothing but sapphire puries... You all haven't burned the body yet?

No response.

EBON

I got it.

ELDRITCH

Yuna, you okay?

COSMO

She thinks the body is still alive.

He chirped carelessly.

YUNA

I just want to leave.

She whispered, sounding further away.

I felt Eldritch's stern glare over my burning body.

ELDRITCH

You're right. I can feel it...

She sighed and took a heavy breath.

ELDRITCH

Whatever—not our problem. We'll let the city take care of it. Let us hope whatever insane magic the bastard did doesn't spite us on our way back. Someone grab the head.

Silence...

JOSHUA

Hey, don't all look at me like that!